“Ring-A-Ding Girl”

By Gail Moore Woltkamp 

This one goes out to all those who still love to watch the original Twilight Zone. You can catch the classic episodes on Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, or Tubi and Pluto TV. The latter two air free with ads. Some networks show marathons every New Years Eve or you can own the box DVD set, which I do.

When I was a kid, the original Twilight Zone was airing first-time reruns after its five season run. I was a toddler during the early 70s and my mom and dad and I would sometimes watch it together. 

What mainly appealed to me in my younger years was Rod Serling’s introductions at the beginning of each episode. Serling’s mysterious demeanor with articulate voice and tongue-in-cheek persona made him a Sci-Fi legend. (My cousin does a great impression.)

While at heart, I’m really not a big Sci-Fi fan…I’ve never seen one episode of the X-Files or any other look-alike series…but the Twilight Zone has remained a keeper.

The Twilight Zone aired for five seasons from 1959 to 1964, running 156 episodes. Although I’m much more familiar with certain episodes than others, my list of top favorites goes like this:

Spur of the Moment 

The After Hours 

The Hunt 

Ring-A-Ding Girl

Changing of the Guard 

Mirror Image 

The Fugitive 

The Bewitchin’ Pool 

Some of the more famous episodes fall heavily into the outer space-themed-time travel-odd-creature-on-the-wing-of-an-airplane-category. You know the ones. 😉

But a few of my favorites delight in a different way:

• children teaching grownups a lesson or two, (The Bewitchin’ Pool), 
• the endearing private school professor who thinks he spent his life making no impact on his students, (Changing of the Guard), 
• the sweet and surprising elderly man who won’t go to Heaven without his hound dog, (The Hunt.) 
• and a special favorite, the dilemma of a young woman who takes her turn in the real world only to find she’s actually a mannequin,  (The After Hours.) 

Most episodes have a unique twist or a moral lesson in the end, featuring familiar guest stars who were not so familiar back then.

While I would love to dig deep into “Spur of the Moment” (beware of last minute decisions) I am giving my top prize to Season Five, Episode 13, “Ring A Ding Girl.”

Hollywood star Bunny Blake is given a ring from her hometown that magically acts like a crystal ball, sending her a warning call from family and friends asking her to please come home. Once Bunny arrives home she urges residents of the town to go see her perform at the town hall instead of attending an annual picnic in the park.

Throughout the episode we see Bunny as this kind and sophisticated, yet self- absorbed movie star, now gone Hollywood, wanting attention from her hometown admirers. But in the end we find out something much different.

Bunny was actually killed in an airplane crash and it was her ghost that came back to save her hometown. By diverting the town from going to the picnic grounds they missed getting killed by her plane that crashed there.

I love any story about a girl and her hometown, but this episode struck a definite cord with me. Sometimes the people who have your back are not always who you would expect.

Bunny made the ultimate sacrifice as her spirit was called to save others, a surprise twist that I loved and unfolded in a way “that can only happen in the Twilight Zone.” 😉

⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️💛⭐️