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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the main objection of television executives?

2. Serling had written a number of __________ before and during college and had hopes of seeing one or more of those works come to fruition.

3. How might Rod Serling be described?

4. Where was the filming of "The Lonely" completed?

5. What does "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" detail?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Rod's experience in the Army.

2. What task is Serling given, which is eventually delivered by him?

3. What is the idea behind the final script for "The Time Element?"

4. What is the initial idea for "The Time Element?" Why is it rejected?

5. What was Houghton's biggest concern for filming "The Lonely?"

6. What did Rod do after being discharged from the Army?

7. Who does Rod want to be the show's producer? Who becomes the producer? Why?

8. What is one of the first jobs for Houghton?

9. Why does Houghton refer to "Walking Distance" as one of the best shows created in "The Twilight Zone?"

10. Why were the executives worried about buying "The Twilight Zone" as a serial?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Serling was a script writer for "Playhouse 90".

Part 1) What was "Playhouse 90"? How did "Playhouse 90" affect Rod's career?

Part 2) What did Serling learn about the television industry from his work on "Playhouse 90?" How did this lead him to other work?

Part 3) How did the difficulties of "Playhouse 90" reflect television in the 1950s? How does it compare to television today?

Essay Topic 2

"The Twilight Zone" lost its time slot for the fourth season.

Part 1) Why did it lose its slot? Why did CBS allow this to happen?

Part 2) Why did Serling not like ABC's offer and suggestions? Should he have switched networks? Why or why not?

Part 3) How did this lost time slot seriously affect "The Twilight Zone"?

Essay Topic 3

"Miniature" never aired.

Part 1) Describe "Miniature". Why was it never aired?

Part 2) How might the public response have been if it had aired? How does this make the situation involving its inability to be aired even more sad?

Part 3) Why might this other writer have been upset by "Miniature"?

(see the answer keys)

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