Jesse Cardiff is an arrogant and frustrated pool shark. He's beaten everyone whose ever entered the pool hall. But he suffers the inevitable comparisons to the legendary Fats Brown. Fats, however, had died 15 years prior. Jack Klugman made his second appearance on the Twilight Zone in the role of Cardiff. He does an excellent job showing the anger and frustration of Jesse Cardiff, a man whose let his life pass him by in order to prove himself the best.
However, that's not good enough. Alone in the pool hall, he says aloud that he would give anything to play Fats Brown. Enter the man himself. Jonathan Winters shows that he's much more than a comedian in the role of Fats. He agrees to a game with Cardiff, but the stakes are very high. Namely Jesse's life. All the while Fats tries to convince Jesse there is more to life than pool. He also warns him to be careful what he wishes for. He just might get it.
Rod Serling made it one of his trademarks to include a moral message in his episodes. He put a good one in this episode.
However, that's not good enough. Alone in the pool hall, he says aloud that he would give anything to play Fats Brown. Enter the man himself. Jonathan Winters shows that he's much more than a comedian in the role of Fats. He agrees to a game with Cardiff, but the stakes are very high. Namely Jesse's life. All the while Fats tries to convince Jesse there is more to life than pool. He also warns him to be careful what he wishes for. He just might get it.
Rod Serling made it one of his trademarks to include a moral message in his episodes. He put a good one in this episode.