They say that behind every comic is a great tragic human. For Jonathan Winters and Jack Klugman, their presence in a very dramatic "Twilight Zone" episode is a far cry from Maudie Frickett (Jonathan Winters' old lady character) and Oscar Madison (Klugman's "Odd Couple" stage and small screen role) as they play pool players who meet up in a mysterious setting where Winters, as a supposedly deceased pool champion, is challenged by the envious Klugman. Having spent his entire life focusing on nothing but becoming the best pool player, Klugman is admittedly angry about his lack of a life in trying to surpass Winters' records. Winters is more introspective, telling Klugman that you have to still have a life while striving to be the best in whatever you do, and it becomes very apparent that Klugman has lost the fight with reality in his obsession with overtaking Winters.
This episode was released on the tail of "The Hustler" where Jackie Gleason's Minnesota Fats showed that comics could be serious when given the right part, and strangely moving as well. This episode features the challenge of a game of pool between the two as Klugman's aggravation becomes very apparent as Winters shows everything that he is made of. It is mainly interesting for their performances and the aspect of each of the character's performances, yet there's not much to get out of this other than the fact that these two troubled men are facing their demons in different ways. Winters gets to be subtle and introspective, while Klugman is tense and ready to explode at any second. It is a contrast of temperaments, a ghost story, and a parable about how obsession can destroy. Not every episode can be a complete gem, but there's much to enjoy and learn from those that simply comment on the human condition.
This episode was released on the tail of "The Hustler" where Jackie Gleason's Minnesota Fats showed that comics could be serious when given the right part, and strangely moving as well. This episode features the challenge of a game of pool between the two as Klugman's aggravation becomes very apparent as Winters shows everything that he is made of. It is mainly interesting for their performances and the aspect of each of the character's performances, yet there's not much to get out of this other than the fact that these two troubled men are facing their demons in different ways. Winters gets to be subtle and introspective, while Klugman is tense and ready to explode at any second. It is a contrast of temperaments, a ghost story, and a parable about how obsession can destroy. Not every episode can be a complete gem, but there's much to enjoy and learn from those that simply comment on the human condition.