Although this show was broadcast only for a very brief period in 1961, I still remember it. indeed, it is difficult to forget. Like "The Twilight Zone", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Thriller", "Way Out" was an anthology series. However, in this case the emphasis was on the weird and the sardonic. Although the manner in which prologues presented by Roald Dahl were clearly influenced by Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Serling, Dahl bestowed upon them a bizarre and sardonic character all his own. Indeed, it sometimes seems as though he may not even be of this Earth.
While the production values were not costly, that deficiency was more than offset by the excellent quality of the writing and acting. Some truly first-rate people contributed to the making of this program.
I understand that this series was discontinued because it did not go over well in "the heartland". Viewing some of these stories, even today, one can easily perceive how that could well have been the case. Many of these stories, such as "The Croaker" (in which even the kid is dishonest) still leave the viewer feeling a little bit uneasy. "Leave It to Beaver", it isn't!
Those who crave flashy sci-fi special effects will certainly be disappointed here. However, if you enjoy interesting and original writing, good acting and stories that are truly OUT THERE, give "Way Out" a try.
Incidentally, for those who are interested, "Way Out" is still out there, on YouTube.
While the production values were not costly, that deficiency was more than offset by the excellent quality of the writing and acting. Some truly first-rate people contributed to the making of this program.
I understand that this series was discontinued because it did not go over well in "the heartland". Viewing some of these stories, even today, one can easily perceive how that could well have been the case. Many of these stories, such as "The Croaker" (in which even the kid is dishonest) still leave the viewer feeling a little bit uneasy. "Leave It to Beaver", it isn't!
Those who crave flashy sci-fi special effects will certainly be disappointed here. However, if you enjoy interesting and original writing, good acting and stories that are truly OUT THERE, give "Way Out" a try.
Incidentally, for those who are interested, "Way Out" is still out there, on YouTube.