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George Wendt was a really beloved actor recognized greatest to the world as Norm from “Cheers.” Wendt tragically handed away on Could 20, 2025, however he leaves behind an immense physique of labor. Not solely does he have a whopping 269 episodes of “Cheers” (and one memorable cameo on “The Simpsons”), however the man had greater than 170 performing credit to his identify spanning practically 5 many years. In that point, Wendt had the chance to place his small stamp on one other traditional TV sequence.
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The present in query is none apart from “The Twilight Zone.” Created by Rod Serling, the sci-fi anthology sequence, which initially aired within the ’60s on CBS, remains to be broadly regarded at this time as the most effective reveals within the historical past of tv. That is why CBS has revived it a number of occasions through the years, together with the latest, short-lived “Twilight Zone” reboot from horror grasp Jordan Peele. One of many lesser-discussed eras for the present got here within the ’80s when CBS revived the sequence for a brand new era. It is throughout this period that Wendt appeared in an oft-forgotten episode.
As a part of the fourth episode of the revival’s second season, Wendt appeared in a phase entitled “The World Subsequent Door.” It was paired with two different segments, “The After Hours” and “Misplaced and Discovered.” One could be forgiven for not remembering this episode, however for individuals who are curious, the synopsis for the episode (by way of TV Tropes) reads as follows:
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Barney Schlessinger (George Wendt) is a part-time inventor whose devices, typically extremely impractical, are rebuked by his spouse Katy (Bernadette Birkett). Barney has additionally been having frequent goals the place he lives a second life in an alternate world caught within the early twentieth century, the place he’s a famous enterprise tycoon and the discuss of his city. When he is ready to enter this world by way of a wierd door in his basement, Barney learns that his counterpart has goals similar in motivation to his, wanting to flee to a world the place he’s free of the trimmings of fame, whereas the common Barney seeks to realize stated fame for himself.
The World Subsequent Door was not a part of a effectively regarded Twilight Zone episode
This very a lot appears like a traditional premise befitting the present. It is bought a giant sci-fi element. It is bought that traditional “watch out what you would like for” lesson at its heart. It is easy to see why it bought made. That stated, whereas the ’80s “Twilight Zone” revival had its moments, akin to some segments from Wes Craven, it isn’t practically as extremely considered the unique sequence. Furthermore, the episode by which Wendt appeared is not precisely held up as a traditional. As such, it’s totally doubtless that even hardcore followers of the present have not seen it.
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To make issues much more difficult, even those that have been curious to test it out now would have a tough time doing so. The 1985 period of the sequence is not at the moment streaming on Paramount+ alongside the unique sequence. It is somewhat robust to trace down by fashionable TV requirements. Plus, these episodes have been by no means in fairly as heavy rotation on cable, which means it’s miles much less doubtless that viewers would have stumbled upon it.
That is a little bit of a disgrace, looking back. George Wendt made himself a TV legend due to “Cheers.” Undoubtedly, extra folks would most likely like to take a look at his episode of “The Twilight Zone” as soon as they discover out it even exists, even when it is out of sheer curiosity. It’s nothing if not fascinating to think about that Wendt did make his mark on this franchise, even when it was a comparatively small one.
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You’ll be able to seize “The Twilight Zone: The Full 80s Collection” on DVD from Amazon.
