Jack Klugman offers a wonderful performance here as the down and out trumpet player who can't catch a break after derailing into alcoholism. If you're used to his Felix Unger character from 'The Odd Couple', he may surprise you in this one with his depth as a performer. The same could be said for John Anderson, who appears at least once in just about every TV series of the Fifties and Sixties, most notably in Westerns. It's hard to say which actor is playing more against type, as each finds himself in an atypical role.
Unlike many characters who find themselves on the 'other' side, it was curious to see Joey Crown (Klugman) reacting to his 'death' so nonchalantly - "I'm dead. That's it. I'm just plain old deceased". Most of the time there's some incredulity involved, but Joey seems to take it in stride. What he learns from Gabe (Anderson) though, is enough to set him back on an Earthly path where he can embrace and enjoy the good things along the line that don't involve blowing a trumpet. It's an almost tearjerker story, but for Joey's excitement at the prospect of playing once again and finding someone to share it with. A very heartwarming ending that didn't go for irony as many of the episodes did.
Nothing to do with the story per se, but I'm wondering now why this show would offer theater posters for 1953's "Big Leaguer" and 1957's "Edge of the City" in the lobby scene. Could be they were in re-release, though I'm not familiar with how that works. Maybe that's something that could be answered by the Archangel Gabriel.
Unlike many characters who find themselves on the 'other' side, it was curious to see Joey Crown (Klugman) reacting to his 'death' so nonchalantly - "I'm dead. That's it. I'm just plain old deceased". Most of the time there's some incredulity involved, but Joey seems to take it in stride. What he learns from Gabe (Anderson) though, is enough to set him back on an Earthly path where he can embrace and enjoy the good things along the line that don't involve blowing a trumpet. It's an almost tearjerker story, but for Joey's excitement at the prospect of playing once again and finding someone to share it with. A very heartwarming ending that didn't go for irony as many of the episodes did.
Nothing to do with the story per se, but I'm wondering now why this show would offer theater posters for 1953's "Big Leaguer" and 1957's "Edge of the City" in the lobby scene. Could be they were in re-release, though I'm not familiar with how that works. Maybe that's something that could be answered by the Archangel Gabriel.