What Does The Twilight Zone’s First Episode Have in Common with Back to the Future?

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As a lifelong fan of both sci-fi and pop culture trivia, I can’t help but marvel at the fascinating connection between “The Twilight Zone” and “Back to the Future.” Growing up, these two iconic franchises were staples in my household, with their timeless stories and captivating settings leaving an indelible mark on my imagination.

Numerous episodes from “The Twilight Zone” delve into the concept of time travel in some form or another. Contrary to belief, “Where Is Everybody?” – the inaugural episode of this classic anthology series (often aired on SYFY) – is not one of them. Nevertheless, the debut episode maintains a connection to one of the most renowned works of time travel literature, if not directly through the mechanics of time travel, then through the concept of time itself.

It’s interesting to note that the picturesque, yet deserted town depicted in “Where Is Everybody?” is strikingly similar to the location where young Marty McFly attempted to manipulate his own parents into falling in love.

What’s the connection between the first episode of The Twilight Zone and Back to the Future?

Absolutely! The premiere of “The Twilight Zone,” which initially aired on October 2, 1959, was actually filmed in the same location as the popular 1985 movie “Back to the Future” (currently streaming on Peacock). Both productions took place on Universal Studios’ backlot in Universal City, California, specifically at a set known as Courthouse Square. Interestingly, this set was constructed a decade before “The Twilight Zone,” having been first used for the 1948 film noir “An Act of Murder.” Due to its timeless, small-town charm, the set could be easily adapted for any Universal project requiring such a setting.

Following its completion, various films such as “It Came From Outer Space” and the TV series “Leave It to Beaver” were shot on this set. After the production of “Where Is Everybody?”, the Courthouse Square set gained prominence in popular titles like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” the “The Incredible Hulk” TV series, “Knight Rider,” and “Gremlins.” It even starred as Hill Valley in “Back to the Future.” To this day, it continues to serve as a set, most recently seen in the 2024 film “MaXXXine”, where it played itself, featuring in a horror movie that unfolds on the Universal Studios backlot.

For More on The Twilight Zone

Have you heard that before the series creator, Rod Serling, the original narrator for ‘The Twilight Zone’ was someone else? Fan feedback from Season 1 influenced Rod Serling’s approach to the show. Also, every parody of ‘The Twilight Zone’ in The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” series.

The iconic scene showcases a courthouse, town square, and quaint stores, creating a visually appealing tableau. “Where Is Everybody?” cleverly employs this setting, intensifying the eeriness. In this episode, a man wakes up in a deserted town with no recollection of his identity or arrival. As he becomes increasingly lonely and unhinged, it’s eventually disclosed that he isn’t truly in a town; instead, he’s a prospective astronaut undergoing a psychological test within an isolation chamber to assess the impact on human psyche during solitary space travel towards the Moon. He had hallucinated the entire experience.

In the fictional universe of “Back to the Future,” Hill Valley serves as a realistic yet idyllic setting. It’s where Marty McFly resides, and it was also home to his parents in the 1950s. Interestingly, the clocktower, a landmark symbolic of Hill Valley, is absent from the “Where Is Everybody?” scene. This architectural feature was not initially part of the Courthouse Square set but was incorporated for “Back to the Future.

Nevertheless, pay close attention, and you’ll notice that our Sergeant Mike Ferris appears to be roaming the same town that Marty McFly would speed through in a DeLorean time machine, several decades down the line. (Or perhaps four years prior, as part of Back to the Future is set in 1955, which makes it four years before The Twilight Zone premiered.)

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2024-11-21 01:16