As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t help but hold “The Twilight Zone” in high regard for its rich legacy of delivering unexpected twists and thought-provoking commentary on society and culture. The series frequently ventured into the realms of science fiction and horror, yet it wasn’t afraid to deviate from the norm occasionally. One instance that stands out in my memory is Season 3, Episode 36, “Cavender Is Coming.” This unusual episode, starring Jesse White as a well-intentioned angel struggling to earn his wings, was essentially a pilot for a potential sitcom spinoff. In essence, it was an attempt to gauge audience interest in a new series. Regrettably, despite the creative team’s best efforts, this experimental episode failed to strike a chord with viewers or critics, and it continues to be seen as an anomaly that many have criticized.
This episode didn’t resonate as planned for several reasons, but it remains a captivating oddity with a compelling backstory about its creation.
“Cavender Is Coming” Began Life as a Backdoor Sitcom Pilot, but Few Saw the Appeal
This often criticized episode was not well-received by viewers due to several factors, one of the main ones being the use of a laugh track during its first airing, which made it sound like a sitcom from that time period. However, this method might have been fitting if CBS had turned it into a series, but in an episode of The Twilight Zone, a laugh track seems totally out of place. Fortunately, later broadcasts, the entire series collection, and numerous streaming services have removed the laugh track, making the episode more tolerable for viewers today.
Besides the humor provided by the laugh track, viewers found another problem with the episode – its overly familiar feel. The creator of the series, Rod Serling, had previously scripted a very similar episode titled “Mr. Bevis” in Season 1, Episode 33. In this earlier installment, a guardian angel tried to aid an unusual character in distress. Although some aspects were changed, several viewers felt that this latest episode was uncomfortably close to the original.
Title “Cavender Is Coming” sets itself apart from “Mr. Bevis” as it switches the gender of the character under divine guidance, with Agnes (Carol Burnett in her early acting days) taking the role. Throughout the storyline, Cavender endeavors to enhance Agnes’ life to regain his wings, but she eventually understands that her perceived struggles are not so significant after all. Instead, what she truly needed was a new outlook. “Mr. Bevis” wraps up in much the same manner, as Bevis (Orson Bean) comes to appreciate that his life is actually quite good once he takes a moment to reflect. Some viewers, with their keen memories, were left feeling that these two episodes didn’t offer enough distinctiveness.
Perhaps the immense charisma of Burnett could have been a contributing factor to “Cavender Is Coming” not gaining traction. At that time, she wasn’t yet a household name, but her on-screen presence was already imposing, which might have clashed with the vision Rod Serling had for the series he was creating.
It’s been noted that the actress often steals the spotlight from White as Cavender in scenes they both appear. This could create an issue for the proposed sitcom, which aims to showcase a variety of characters seeking help from Cavender. Since Burnett’s Agnes character often takes center stage over Cavender, the network felt there was not much value in further developing the concept.
If Serling had chosen a less charismatic actor for Cavender’s role and omitted the laughter track, we might feel more favorably towards this unusual episode of the series. However, as things stand, many viewers don’t hold this episode in high regard. In fact, some enthusiasts have gone so far as to label it as the worst of the entire series.
Originally, “Cavender Is Coming” was intended as an introductory episode for a sitcom, but unfortunately, it flopped, causing the network to lose enthusiasm for the idea. If things had gone differently, this concept might have become a full series.
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2025-07-13 22:12