Here's an absurd story if I ever heard one: Harry Anderson (Night Court) is a struggling writer (Dick Miller is another one of those great small parts is his long-suffering agent) whose answering machine contains a voice (his voice, mind you) that starts to ruin/run his life! It gets even stranger (if that is possible), when Harry erases his "alternate universe" voice out of anger (for proposing to an estranged girlfriend) and reaps the wrath of its "friends"! "Friends?" you ask? Telephones ringing with voices reading traffic reports or operators telling him he called the wrong number, Harry is slowly becoming a basket case, unemployed, his life spiraling out of control. Perhaps Harry should plug his answering machine back up before everything goes completely to hell in a handbasket? When his voice pitches a big miniseries to a famous producer, Harry might have to renegotiate terms with it. Just writing the synopsis has me shaking my head in disbelief. What a bonkers plot in this episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The series, because it features a wide array of directors and writers, would be all over the map in quality and mood of material, so something like "All a Clone by the Telephone" is just an example of the surreal end of the spectrum. To be honest, while going through the first season, there have been so few episodes which have been good and scary (Tom Savini's "Inside the Closet" a definite highlight; truly an unsettling experience, due specifically to that chilling ending), with far more instances where the stories and characters were more approaching broad comedy within a bizarre scenario. Seeing Harry Anderson tormented by his own "alternate" evil voice across an answering machine while those it talked to confront him about things he himself didn't actually say certainly has to be one of the series most oddball tales. Anderson, with a knack for physical comedy, knocks it out of the ballpark, but I have to say that I really am still yearning for that really great episode with all the pieces in place. There have been some good episodes here and there, but I think when the show continues to play as a fantasy comedy it squanders its potential.
Review of All a Clone by the Telephone
