The Twilight Zone Nearly Had A Different Narrator, And Rod Serling Was Not A Fan

The Twilight Zone's iconic narrator, Rod Serling, was not the studio's initial choice. CBS explored several other options before settling on Serling, thanks to his reputation as a writer who could tackle hard-hitting topics in science fiction scripts without interference from the network. The pilot episode, "Where Is Everybody?", was narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, but the choice proved unpopular with the executives.

They preferred a more engaging narrator and turned to Orson Welles, another Hollywood titan. However, Serling was not thrilled at the prospect of sharing the screen with Welles. The network faced a significant hurdle with Welles' high asking price, which exceeded their budget. After much deliberation, Serling agreed to narrate the show himself, a role he initially found uncomfortable.

For the show's second season, he appeared on camera for the intros, a decision that proved challenging for the typically nervous Serling. Despite his discomfort, Serling delivered memorable performances, and his contributions to The Twilight Zone earned him two Emmys for writing. The anthology series is widely regarded as one of the best sci-fi shows of all time.