Daughter of Rod Serling, Anne Serling, is interviewed by TV Time Machine host Jim Benson about her moving and poignant book, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling.
In this journey of the TV Time Machine, we ask you travel with us, as we explore another dimension of legendary writer and creator of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling. In this edition of our program, we are proud to welcome Anne Serling, author of the book, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling. Ms. Serling’s extraordinary book sheds a more personal light on this remarkable gentleman, whose love for his daughters and family was as boundless and timeless as infinity.
Over these audio segments, Anne Serling helps us explore virtually every aspect of her life’s journey with her dad, while we discuss her moving and poignant book about the eternal bond of love and friendship forged between father and daughter. Again, for those of you intrepid enough to take a journey into the wondrous land of Rod Serling, feel free to check that signpost up ahead, as we slip from the restraints of the present, to guarantee that our next stop, is the past! 
Listen to the Interview Below
Anne Serling audio interview Segment One
In this segment, host Jim Benson and daughter of Rod Serling, Anne Serling, talk about the evolution of As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling, and why for Anne Serling, this was the right time to write her book. Ms. Serling also discusses Rod Serling’s early years including his idyllic childhood growing up in Binghamton, New York, fighting in the Philippines during World War II, and how the trauma of his war experiences impacted his life. Anne Serling also talks about her dad’s hilarious sense of humor, his proclivity for playing practical jokes, and what ultimately moved and motivated him to become a writer.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Click above to play audio embedded on this page.
Click here to open audio in separate window (PC users)
Anne Serling audio interview Segment Two
For the second segment, host Jim Benson and Anne Serling discuss how Rod Serling’s live TV drama, Patterns, made him an “overnight success,” and the network and advertising pressures that led to him creating The Twilight Zone. Ms. Serling also talks about her fond and joyful memories of spending summers with her dad and family in upstate New York, the special friendship she had with her father, what it was like having a famous dad writing at home and when it dawned her as a little girl, that daddy did something very different for a living. Anne Serling also talks about vising Disneyland for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opening, and the qualities that she appreciated most about her father.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Click above to play audio embedded on this page.
Click here to open audio in separate window (PC users)
Anne Serling audio interview Segment Three
For the final segment, host Jim Benson and Anne Serling speculate about how prolific Rod Serling would have been in the age of technology and the Internet, and The Twilight Zone’s incredible cultural impact and longevity. Ms. Serling also discusses her father’s later TV creation, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery, and one of its classic episodes, “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar.” Anne Serling also talks about her dad’s later years teaching college students, his ability to relate to younger people, and how, sadly, his addiction to cigarettes led to his untimely death at age 50. Ms. Serling discusses how her dad’s passing at such a young age affected her and her family, and led to her own inner discoveries about loss, grief, and love.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Click above to play audio embedded on this page.
Click here to open audio in separate window (PC users)
