'The Messiah on Mott Street'. A Rod Serling original, this is a Yuletide heart warmer about ghetto dweller Abraham Goldman (the great gangster actor Edward G. Robinson), an aged and sickly Jewish man who dotes on his grandson Mikey (adorable Ricky Powell). Determined to help the old man, Mikey ventures outside in search of The Messiah, and encounters a helpful man named Buckner (Yaphet Kotto) who just might be Him. With Tony Roberts offering strong support as kindly, devoted physician Morris Levine, this has atmosphere to spare, and an excellent Serling script. The characters are appealing and the performances are simply superb, giving lots of weight to this poignant tale about life & death, and the possibility of miracles. The ending may very well bring tears of joy to the viewers' face. Directed by former actor Don Taylor ("Escape from the Planet of the Apes", "Damien: Omen II").
'The Painted Mirror'. Written and directed by series veteran Gene R. Kearney, based on a story by Donald Wandrei. Frank Standish (Arthur O'Connell), a kindly antiques dealer, now has to put up with his crass business partner, an annoying type played to the hilt by Zsa Zsa Gabor. When customer Ellen Chase (Rosemary DeCamp) brings in a mirror that's been painted over, Frank decides to chip away at the paint, revealing something quite unexpected underneath: the perfect means of permanently getting rid of Gabor. While this segment is really nothing special, it's certainly adequately amusing when we see what is contained in the "mirror". Plus, key scenes with O'Connell and DeCamp have a likably wistful quality, and the acting is all on point. O'Connell and DeCamp are appealing, and the viewer does get tired of Gabor in record fashion. Good fun, overall.
Eight out of 10.