"Insight" (1960) TV series 1960-1984

Directors:

Lew V. Adams
Richard Beymer

Writer:

Michael Ray Rhodes (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 15 | unknown

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Morality | Christian | Religion

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 9 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Ellwood Kieser

...

Himself - Host / ... (262 episodes, 1960-1984)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (250 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Paulist Productions

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The series was produced in the United States, and nearly all of its episodes were set there, but the animated opening credits show cars driving on the left-hand side of the road.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Accuse My Parents (#6.7)" (1993)

An overlooked and underrated masterpiece

Insight is one of television's lost classics, an anthology series that successfully explored religious and spiritual themes while (usually) avoiding a heavy-handed approach. Considering the quality of the writing, direction, and acting in this series, it is amazing that it has not achieved a greater degree of popularity; it's regular use of symbolism, surreal images, and rather inventive plot and narrative devices should have guaranteed it a place in television history alongside other excellent anthologies such as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. The series dabbled in every format from comedy and satire to fantasy and speculative fiction to deliver it's modern-day morality plays. At times light-hearted and humorous, at other times downright chilling, it was always effective in it's delivery. And who can forget the Reverend Kieser's narrative intros that suggested a cross between Sermonette and Rod Serling's narrations?