A reformed alcoholic is visited by his young son Jerry; but he doesn't have a son called Jerry.A reformed alcoholic is visited by his young son Jerry; but he doesn't have a son called Jerry.A reformed alcoholic is visited by his young son Jerry; but he doesn't have a son called Jerry.
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- TriviaSince there is no clear explanation as to what Jerry is, fans of Tales from the Darkside have come up with a number of theories for Jerry's meaning. Some of the most popular theories are:
That Jerry is Alan's scapegoat. He is not really there, but he is the personification of Alan blaming his drunken behavior on anything except drinking. He ends up missing work, he ends up at the police and his family leaves him. Alan won't admit he was drinking the entire time and all these things happened because he was drinking, not because of Jerry, who doesn't exist.
That Jerry is a personification of booze, trying to make Alan lose his mind so that he'll start drinking again.
That Alan's whole family, Jerry included, isn't real, and that Alan is dreaming them up while he's drunk.
That Alan's boss who offered him the booze is the mastermind behind the whole scheme, and that he's sent Jerry to bother Alan. This theory came from the scene where Alan drinks and then says "waste not, want not". Jerry also looks like a younger version of Alan's boss.
That Jerry is some sort of monster that feeds on the souls and minds of alcoholics.
That Jerry is an allegory for all the torment Alan caused his family.
That Jerry is Alan's tulpa, or more simply put, his imaginary friend that has come to life and now wants to be part of the family.
That Sharon wants her marriage to Alan to end, so she and Petey teamed up and hired Jerry to drive Alan crazy.
That Alan is hallucinating Jerry.
That Jerry is Alan's conscience come to haunt him.
Laurel Productions has never confirmed that any of these theories are true, or what Jerry is supposed to be.
- SoundtracksTales from the Darkside Theme
Composed by Donald Rubinstein
Written by Erica Lindsay
Co-written by Donald Rubinstein
Featured review
Uh Huh...So what exactly happened?
The first episodes of Tales from the Darkside must have been finding their footing, because after some early mediocre episodes, the series was great all the way up to it's ending. This episode was the first to air, after the pilot from a year earlier, and this was certainly not a good way to start the series off. Though this does have the feel of a Darkside episode, it's never explained in the end (Similar to another better episode later in the season, The Tear Collector). The story kind of gives up halfway through and then the ending comes. I suppose the ending was trying to be a twist or something, but it comes off instead as a cheap way to cut half the plot off.
Alan Coombs (Vic Tayback) is a recovering alcoholic. One little problem and his wife wouldn't think twice about leaving him. At work one day, a young boy named Jerry claims to be his son. When he gets home, Jerry is there, and Alan's wife and other son both recognize him as part of the family. Alan has no idea who this kid is.
The reason for the very brief episode description was the very brief story. It cuts out too soon to know what was going on and why this kid was claiming to be Alan's son. The half a story featured here is okay. The acting is alright, nothing special, though. The direction, is adequate, I guess. Everything is okay, except for the lack of story, so it's turned from an okay forgettable episode, to just forgettable.
My rating: * 1/2 out of ****. 30 mins. TVPG
Alan Coombs (Vic Tayback) is a recovering alcoholic. One little problem and his wife wouldn't think twice about leaving him. At work one day, a young boy named Jerry claims to be his son. When he gets home, Jerry is there, and Alan's wife and other son both recognize him as part of the family. Alan has no idea who this kid is.
The reason for the very brief episode description was the very brief story. It cuts out too soon to know what was going on and why this kid was claiming to be Alan's son. The half a story featured here is okay. The acting is alright, nothing special, though. The direction, is adequate, I guess. Everything is okay, except for the lack of story, so it's turned from an okay forgettable episode, to just forgettable.
My rating: * 1/2 out of ****. 30 mins. TVPG
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- TOMNEL
- Jul 30, 2008
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The New Man (1984) in Australia?
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