I have just come across a really interesting forum on cult television programmes called ‘Playback’. But the thing that really made my day was to see someone mention ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’! You hardly ever hear this show talked about anymore. Even a lot of websites that are dedicated to cult TV shows seem to completely overlook it most of the time.

Someone in the forum states, quite correctly, that there is nothing on today’s television that’s on the same level as Hitchcock’s brilliant series. It also seems strange why this is so… Short programmes with a twist in the tail have always been incredibly popular with viewers. They are the sort of thing that appeals to loads of people. Don’t any TV channels want to attract droves of mystery fans?

Just think about how many different programmes there have been like this over the years; ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Tales of the Unexpected’, ‘The Night Gallery’, ‘Tales From The Dark Side’. There has always been something like ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ on TV… until recently that is. In the last few years there appears to have been a serious ‘half-hour mystery famine’. The only ‘twisted stories’ show that we have these days is ‘Tales from the Crypt’; and the less said about that one, the better…

Maybe someone who’s in charge of programme schedules will read this article (you never know!). I am sure I’m not the only person to miss this kind of show. Mind you, if they come up with something new then it’ll have to be very good to get anywhere near the quality of Alfred Hitchcock. The guy was an absolute genius. I would love to know what films he’d have gone on to make if he was still around.