The Twilight Zone

Short-story readers who like a sting in the tail will be at home, and the 1950s social bite still lands. Ed Wynn plays a street pitchman who tries to talk Mr. Death out of collecting him, and he sells the argument like a man who has done it a thousand times. Serling's clipped, flat delivery makes each odd little tale feel like a warning.

Each story stands alone, so you can start anywhere; season 4 stretches to an hour, then season 5 goes back to half hours.