#1
One Step Beyond
Ah, this one. Before `The Twilight Zone`, there was `One Step Beyond`, hosted by the rather serious John Newland. It promised "actual events," mind you, and often delivered a good, chilling tale of the supernatural or unexplained. No monsters, just psychological unease, usually in stark black and white. It felt like watching a flickering ghost story on a small screen, giving you that delightful shiver. A true early anthology gem.
#2
Peter Gunn
Now, `Peter Gunn`. A real slick piece of work for its time. Craig Stevens as the private eye, all cool and collected, navigating those smoky jazz clubs. And that music by Henry Mancini? You heard it once, you never forgot it. The black-and-white cinematography was pure film noir, making every shadow and every dame look just right. It had a rhythm, a style, that other detective shows tried to copy, but rarely matched.
#3
The Saint
Roger Moore, before he was 007, was Simon Templar in `The Saint`. This British import brought a dash of international intrigue right into our living rooms. Templar was this dashing, debonair adventurer, always outwitting villains with a charming smile and a clever plan. It was a proper bit of escapism, showing us fancy locales and daring deeds, even if you knew most of it was filmed on a soundstage. Good, clean fun.
#4
The Name of the Game
This was a big one, a real spectacle. `The Name of the Game` rotated its big-name stars—Franciosa, Stack, Barry—through 90-minute episodes, each a mini-movie about the publishing world. It was Universal trying something new, a kind of long-form drama that let you spend more time with a story. You got a sense of continuity, even with different leads. It felt grand, like the movies were coming to your set.
#5
Then Came Bronson
Ah, `Bronson`. Michael Parks on that Harley, traveling America, looking for answers after a tragedy. It was a quiet show, more about the people he met and the questions he pondered than big action. A bit melancholy, sure, but it tapped into that '60s wanderlust, that search for something beyond the everyday grind. Made you think about hitting the open road yourself, even if just in your mind.
#6
My Living Doll
My Living Doll was a hoot. Julie Newmar as Rhoda, the gorgeous robot learning to be human, and Bob Cummings as her handler, trying to keep her existence a secret. It was classic sitcom fare, with mistaken identities and mechanical mishaps. Funny how they always had to get her in trouble just to be saved. A silly premise, maybe, but Newmar made it charming. A very '60s kind of comedy.
#7
Run for Your Life
Ben Gazzara as Paul Bryan, told he only had a couple of years left. So, he decides to live them to the absolute fullest, traveling and encountering all sorts of folks and situations. It was a dramatic premise, exploring life and death in a way few shows dared. Each week was a new adventure, a new lesson. Made you think, really, about what you'd do with your own precious time.
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