Season 4 Episode 19
A parody of I Love Lucy, an alien comes to a family’s door asking for ammonia and hilarity ensues. Written by Jule Selbo
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, July 17, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Barter” premiered”Category: Television
Horror History: Sunday, July 10, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Hush” premiered
Season 4 Episode 18
A child innocently builds a device that eats sound in order to make his mother happy, but soon loses control of the creepy machine (which silences things by sucking out their energy and killing them).
Based on a story by Zenna Henderson, adapted by John Harrison (under the name John Sutherland).
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, July 10, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Hush” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, June 19, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Going Native” premiered
Season 4 Episode 17
An alien visitor studies human nature as a photographer.
Written and directed by Ted Gershuny (who, the following year, collaborated with Tommy Lee Wallace on the script for Drew Barrymore’s movie Far From Home)
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, June 19, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Going Native” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 22, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Family Reunion” premiered
Season 4 Episode 16
A man guards his sick son closely and has sole custody, while the boy’s worried mother desperately wants to be reunited with her child. Its later revealed the mother is a werewolf, and their son inherited her lycanthropy; she kills the father to reunite with her son, who has been unable to control his changes.
Written by Edithe Swensen, directed by Tom Savini, and guest-starring Patricia Tallman.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 22, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Family Reunion” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 15, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Do Not Open This Box” premiered
Season 4 Episode 15
Charlie is a sweet-natured but unsuccessful inventor. His wife Ruth (an acid-tongued opportunist who sorely regrets her choice of spouse, and who is openly jealous of their well-to-do neighbor) takes advantage of a deliveryman’s generosity, after the latter expresses his need for a mistakenly delivered item with the title warning inscribed on it. When it becomes evident that Ruth has no intention of returning the box, our deliveryman reveals his true identity. It doesn’t help that Ruth has already opened the apparently empty box…or that the box in fact contained something which, literally, money cannot buy.
Written by Franco Amurri and directed by Jodie Foster and guest-starring Eileen Heckart.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 15, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Do Not Open This Box” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 8, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Cutty Black Sow” premiered
Season 4 Episode 14
On Halloween, a boy is warned by his dying great-grandmother about the Cutty Black Sow, a Celtic demon that steals the souls of those who die on All Hallow’s Eve, and tries to prevent it from getting hers.
Based on a story by Thomas F. Monteleone, adapted by Michael McDowell and guest-starring Paula Trueman.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 8, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Cutty Black Sow” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 1, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Apprentice” premiered
Season 4 Episode 13
A woman goes to work for a museum and is transported to the past and forced to work as a near-slave.
Written by Ellen Sandhaus. Guest-starring Haviland Morris and Wayne Tippit.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 1, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Apprentice” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, February 28, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Deal” premiered
Season 4 Episode 12
A screenwriter makes a deal with Satan.
Written by Granville Burgess and Allen Coulter. Guest-starring Bradley Whitford.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, February 28, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Deal” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, February 21, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Love Hungry” premiered
Season 4 Episode 11
An overweight woman goes to drastic measures to lose weight, but finds herself even more attached to her food than ever before.
Based on the short story “Food for Thought” by Roberts Gannaway. Written and directed by John Strysik, co-written by Jule Selbo.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, February 21, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Love Hungry” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, February 14, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Payment Overdue” was released in theaters
Season 4 Episode 10
A heartless debt collection agent is harassed by a delinquent client from beyond the grave.
Written by Dick Benner.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, February 14, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Payment Overdue” was released in theaters”Horror History: Sunday, November 22, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Sorry, Right Number” premiered
Season 4 Episode 9
A woman receives a bizarre and frightening phone call and figures out its meaning too late. Written by Stephen King.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, November 22, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Sorry, Right Number” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, November 15, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Seymourlama” premiered
Season 4 Episode 8
A nerdy and spoiled young boy is proclaimed the religious leader of a nation, but his parents want to know what the catch is. Written by Harvey Jacobs and Donald Wollner. Guest-starring David Gale and Divine.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, November 15, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Seymourlama” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, November 1, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Grave Robber” premiered
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Season 4 Episode 6
A pair of unscrupulous archaeologists unearth an Egyptian tomb of a prince and awaken the mummy Tapok (Arnold Stang), luring them into a game of strip poker to compete for their lives.
Written by Harvey Jacobs and Donald Wollner. Guest-starring Arnold Stang
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, November 1, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Grave Robber” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, October 25, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “No Strings” premiered
Season 4 Episode 5
A cruel mob boss (T.J. Castronova, who also executive-produced the series) forces a ventriloquist (Barry Dennen) to string up the corpse of his defeated rival as a puppet. A one-man show is held… with results that none involved had counted on. Written and directed by David Odell (author of The Dark Crystal, in which Dennen lent his voice to the Skeksis Chamberlain).
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, October 25, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “No Strings” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, October 18, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Moth” premiered
Season 4 Episode 4
A dying woman is convinced that after death her soul will be trapped in a moth. Written by Michael McDowell, Guest starring Debbie Harry.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, October 18, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Moth” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, October 11, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Spirit Photographer” premiered
Season 4 Episode 3
A photographer decides to take photographs of ghosts. Written by Mark Patrick Carducci and Brian Thomas Jones.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, October 11, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Spirit Photographer” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, October 4, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Mary, Mary” premiered
Season 4 Episode 2
An isolated woman who fears the world turns to her dolls and mannequins for friendship. Written by Jule Selbo.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, October 4, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Mary, Mary” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, September 27, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Beetles” premiered
Season 4 Episode 1
An Egyptologist ignores a sarcophagus’s warnings and unearths a curse. Written by Robert Bloch and based on his short story and guest-starring Arnold Stang.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, September 27, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Beetles” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 17, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Enormous Radio” premiered
Season 3 Episode 22
A couple purchases a new radio which transmits their neighbor’s private discussions.
Written by Guy Gallo, story by John Cheever, and guest-starring Christine Estabrook.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 17, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Enormous Radio” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, May 12, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Cabin Fever” premiered
Season 4 Episode 13
A mysterious man hooks up with a husband and wife and he and the wife cook up a scheme to teach her husband a lesson until things backfire.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, May 12, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Cabin Fever” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 10, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Let the Games Begin” premiered
Season 3 Episode 21
An angel and a devil fight over a dead man’s soul.
Written by Peter O’Keefe
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 10, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Let the Games Begin” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, May 5, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Secret Ingredient” premiered
Season 4 Episode 12
Chris can sell anything to anyone, but when he meets Belinda he soon realises he has met his match.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, May 5, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Secret Ingredient” premiered”Horror History: Sunday, May 3, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Swap” premiered
Season 3 Episode 20
A woman decides to murder her wealthy husband for his money but her plans go horribly awry.
Written by Dick Benner.
Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 3, 1987: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Swap” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, April 28, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Best Shot” premiered
Season 4 Episode 11
Cocky and obnoxious defense attorney Steve and his passive law professor buddy Brett decide to let it all hang out and gleefully indulge in irresponsible behavior while embarking on a cross country joyride. The duo film their exploits on a portable video camera. After Steve accidentally runs down a man on the side of the road, he does his best to hide what he’s done from Brett. However, the dire consequences of Steve’s grave actions eventually catch up with him when the pair stop off at a remote redneck bar in the middle of nowhere.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, April 28, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Best Shot” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, April 21, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Joker” premiered
Season 4 Episode 10
Peter believes that the way to win a girl’s heart is have a good sense of humor. But when he tries to win back the love of his ex-wife using only pranks and elaborate setups, he learns that sometimes laughter doesn’t make everything better.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, April 21, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Joker” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, April 14, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Made For Each Other” premiered
Season 4 Episode 9
Two killers briefly become friends.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, April 14, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Made For Each Other” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, April 7, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “In the Name of Love” premiered
Season 4 Episode 8
A hitwoman meets up with a handsome stranger in a vacation resort only to have romance lead to betrayal.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, April 7, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “In the Name of Love” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, March 31, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “The Legendary Billy B.” premiered
Season 4 Episode 7
Jane is a sleazy tabloid reporter willing to dig up anything on someone just to ruin their lives and get her a story. One night, her photographer gets her interested in Billy Baltimore, a musician who supposedly died back in the 70’s but is rumored to be living in their area. But soon Jane realizes that when you enter someone’s life, you should always make sure there’s an exit.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, March 31, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “The Legendary Billy B.” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, March 24, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Doctor’s Orders” premiered
Season 4 Episode 6
Jake Purly is campaigning on a platform to rid the world of pornography, but after his brother is discovered making a pornographic film, the press is suddenly beating down Jake’s door. To make matters worse, the actress in the film opens a flood gate of memories that Jake would rather not remember.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, March 24, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Doctor’s Orders” premiered”Horror History: Tuesday, March 17, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Homebodies” premiered
Season 4 Episode 5
Two escaped convicts hide out in a model home that just happens to be occupied and while the one, a true psychopath, wants to get rid of the inhabitants of the house, the younger one is torn between loyalty toward his ‘brother’ and saving innocent lives.
Read more “Horror History: Tuesday, March 17, 1987: “The Hitchhiker” episode “Homebodies” premiered”