It's Still a Good Life
Encyclopedia
"It's Still a Good Life" is the thirty-first episode of the science fiction
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
. The episode aired February 19, 2003 on UPN
. It is a sequel to the original series episode "It's a Good Life
". Bill Mumy
and Cloris Leachman
reprise their roles from the original episode. Anthony Fremont's daughter, Audrey, is played by actor Bill Mumy's real life daughter Liliana Mumy
. It was written by Ira Steven Behr
(based on characters created by Jerome Bixby
), and directed by Allan Kroeker
.
With this realization, Agnes tries to influence her granddaughter to use her powers in order to free Peaksville from Anthony's reign of terror. When Anthony learns of his mother's plans he seeks out each co-conspirator one by one, sending them to the cornfield. Agnes finally confronts her son, letting go of all of the emotions that she has suppressed for forty years, and tries to convince Audrey to use her powers against her own father. Audrey is forced to choose between her grandmother and her father, whom she loves very much.
Caught between these two sides, Audrey ultimately aligns herself with her father and she empties the town of Peaksville. Anthony and Audrey are left alone, but Anthony soon realizes that he misses having everyone else around. Audrey then brings the entire world back — not just Peaksville, but everything beyond it. Audrey asks Anthony about visiting New York City
, and her father replies that it's a big city with lots of people. Audrey says that they had all better be nice to her and her dad.
The episode ends with Anthony realizing that his daughter is far more powerful than he is, and he seemingly accepts that she has done a "real good thing" by returning the world outside of Peaksville.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (2002 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is a 2002 revival of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone. It aired for one season on the UPN network, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host....
. The episode aired February 19, 2003 on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
. It is a sequel to the original series episode "It's a Good Life
It's a Good Life (The Twilight Zone)
"It's a Good Life" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It is based on a 1953 short story of the same name by Jerome Bixby.-Synopsis:...
". Bill Mumy
Bill Mumy
Charles William "Bill" Mumy, Jr. is an American actor, musician, pitchman, instrumentalist, voice-over artist and a figure in the science-fiction community. He is known primarily for his work as a child television actor....
and Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
reprise their roles from the original episode. Anthony Fremont's daughter, Audrey, is played by actor Bill Mumy's real life daughter Liliana Mumy
Liliana Mumy
Liliana Berry Davis Mumy is an American teen actress and voice actress. Her most notable roles are as Jessica Baker in the Cheaper by the Dozen movies with Steve Martin, Lucy Miller in The Santa Clause sequels with Tim Allen, Mertle Edmonds on the Disney Channel original series Lilo & Stitch: The...
. It was written by Ira Steven Behr
Ira Steven Behr
Ira Steven Behr born 23 October 1953, in New York City, New York, USA is an American television producer and screenwriter, most known for his work on Star Trek, especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, on which he served as showrunner and executive producer...
(based on characters created by Jerome Bixby
Jerome Bixby
Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby was an American short story writer, editor and scriptwriter, best known for his work in science fiction. He also wrote many westerns and used the pseudonyms D. B. Lewis, Harry Neal, Albert Russell, J. Russell, M. St...
), and directed by Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise...
.
Opening narration
Plot
Anthony Fremont has been terrorizing the residents of the small town of Peaksville for 40 years, still using his telepathic powers to banish those he deems "bad", including his wife and father, to a mythical "cornfield." His mother, Agnes, is shocked to discover that Anthony's young daughter, Audrey, has inherited those powers. This discovery is soon followed by one even more shocking: Audrey can bring back things that her father has banished to the cornfield.With this realization, Agnes tries to influence her granddaughter to use her powers in order to free Peaksville from Anthony's reign of terror. When Anthony learns of his mother's plans he seeks out each co-conspirator one by one, sending them to the cornfield. Agnes finally confronts her son, letting go of all of the emotions that she has suppressed for forty years, and tries to convince Audrey to use her powers against her own father. Audrey is forced to choose between her grandmother and her father, whom she loves very much.
Caught between these two sides, Audrey ultimately aligns herself with her father and she empties the town of Peaksville. Anthony and Audrey are left alone, but Anthony soon realizes that he misses having everyone else around. Audrey then brings the entire world back — not just Peaksville, but everything beyond it. Audrey asks Anthony about visiting New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and her father replies that it's a big city with lots of people. Audrey says that they had all better be nice to her and her dad.
The episode ends with Anthony realizing that his daughter is far more powerful than he is, and he seemingly accepts that she has done a "real good thing" by returning the world outside of Peaksville.
Closing narration
Cast
- Anthony Freemont — Bill MumyBill MumyCharles William "Bill" Mumy, Jr. is an American actor, musician, pitchman, instrumentalist, voice-over artist and a figure in the science-fiction community. He is known primarily for his work as a child television actor....
- Agnes Freemont — Cloris LeachmanCloris LeachmanCloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
- Audrey Freemont — Liliana MumyLiliana MumyLiliana Berry Davis Mumy is an American teen actress and voice actress. Her most notable roles are as Jessica Baker in the Cheaper by the Dozen movies with Steve Martin, Lucy Miller in The Santa Clause sequels with Tim Allen, Mertle Edmonds on the Disney Channel original series Lilo & Stitch: The...
- Lorna — Chilton Crane
- Joe — Robert Moloney
- Cynthia — Kerry SandomirskyKerry Sandomirsky-Filmography:* Wiseguy .... Angela Terranova* Unsub .... Janice* Matinee .... Kelly* Mom P.I....
- Timmy — Samuel Patrick Chu
- George — Paul McGillionPaul McGillionPaul McGillion is a Vancouver-based actor who has worked in television, film and theatre since 1990. He is best known for his role on the television series Stargate Atlantis as Dr. Carson Beckett.-Early life:...
- Timmy's mother — Kirsten Kilburn