TV & VIDEO - Aug. 25, 1988

Now here’s a real story from the “Twilight Zone.” It seems that master writer-creator of the original “Twilight Zone” TV show, Rod Serling, left behind three outlines for episodes that he never finished. J. Michael Straczynski, chief story editor for the new syndicated program of the same name (seen locally on KTLA Channel 5), received the submissions from Carol Serling (Rod’s widow), who found them going through Serling’s papers. Two of the outlines are beyond the budget for the new show (too many special effects required, apparently), but the third episode--called “Our Selena Is Dying”--is being completed by Straczynski. “It has to do with the fear of death and how far people will go to avoid that encounter,” Straczynski said. “It’s been a very odd experience collaborating with a dead man.” The episode is scheduled to air in early October.