Buster Keaton is okay but J. Pat O'Malley shines in the Zone

Comedy rather than terror is the rule in this pair of episodes from "The Twilight Zone," neither of which was written by series creator Rod Serling. To my surprise "Once Upon a Time" (December 15, 1961) was written by Richard Matheson and provides a rare opportunity for outright slapstick in the Zone. The episode features the great silent comedian Buster Keaton as janitor Woodrow Mulligan. Disgusted with the fast paced and high priced society of 1890, Woodrow steals a "time helmet" from the inventor who employs him, and travels to 1962. Of course, he is in for quite a bit of future shock. The 1890 sequences are down in silent fashion, with cards instead of dialogue, but the humor is trite rather than funny. Keaton is fine, but the gags are second-rate at best, which is really a surprise since the episode was directed by Norman Z. McLeod, who directed the Marx Brothers films "Horse Feathers" and "Monkey Business." This is just one of those cases were major talents come together and produce a small pop instead of a big bang. Notice that Jesse White plays the repair man, in a bit of prescient casting.

"The Fugitive" (March 9, 1962) stars J. Pat O'Malley as Old Ben who impresses the kids in the neighborhood when they play Martian by turning himself into a horrible looking alien. Old Ben has a special fondness for Jenny (Susan Gordon), who lives in the same apartment building with the sour Mrs. Gann (Nancy Kulp). Meanwhile a couple of strangers are asking questions about Old Ben. It looks like Ben will have have to leave, but not before he does something for his young friend. This is clearly the better episode of the pair on this videotape and one of the few "Twilight Zone" episodes that would qualify as a modern fairy tale. O'Malley has fun as one of the friendlier aliens we ever encounter in the Zone.