The Twilight Zonewas an astounding TV show, but one of its best episodes was nearly lost for 21 years after it was hit with a controversial lawsuit.All 5 seasons ofThe Twilight Zonekept audiences on the edge of their seats with its anthology stories, which featured all kinds of weird and wonderful characters, concepts, and phenomena.
Many installments left viewers unable to sleep. Ultimately,The Twilight Zone’s scariest episodeswere memorable because of their eerie atmospheres and chilling narratives. However,there was one notable episode ofThe Twilight Zoneseason 4 that many had never heard of (and still haven’t)because of shocking issues that occurred after it was released.
The Twilight Zone Episode “Miniature” Was Absent From Re-Runs For 21 Years After Its Release
Robert Duvall’s The Twilight Zone Episode Wasn’t Included In The Syndication
If you’re unfamiliar withThe Twilight Zone’s “Miniature,” you’re probably not the only one.“Miniature” centered on Robert Duvall as Charley Parkes, a man who fell in love with a doll at a museum, which he believed had come to life. Despite being institutionalized, and much to the dismay of his mother,Charley was adamant that he and this doll were supposed to be together.
“Miniature” aired on June 05, 2025. However,when the show was later airing re-runs, “Miniature” was nowhere to be found(viaSyfy).This was due to a copyright lawsuit filed againstThe Twilight Zone’s production company, Cayuga, which claimed the idea had been stolen from a script entitled “The Thirteenth Mannequin.”
Why The Lawsuit Against “Miniature” Was Eventually Dismissed
There Weren’t Enough Similarities Between “Miniature” & Submitted Script “The Thirteenth Mannequin”
In reality, this was somewhat true.A script had been submitted toThe Twilight Zone’s team that partially resembled “Miniature,”but it wasn’t accepted. Marc Scott Zicree’s book,The Twilight Zone Companion, stated that “The Thirteenth Mannequin” was about a man who bonded with mannequins who came to life at night.
While there were some similarities between the two ideas, it wasn’t enough to label it as a copyright issue.
The lawsuit was eventually dismissed by a judge, but asThe Twilight Zonewas entering syndication during the legal process,“Miniature” was unable to be added to the list of re-runs.While there were some similarities between the two ideas, it wasn’t enough to label it as a copyright issue. Funnily enough, theJames Spader movieMannequinlater used a very similar concept.
“Miniature” Remains One Of The Twilight Zone’s Most Underrated Episodes
“Miniature” Is Finally Getting More Appreciation Thanks To Streaming
Thanks to the 1984Twilight Zone Silver Anniversary Special, its later DVD release, and the power of streaming,audiences can now watch “Miniature” for themselves.“Miniature” is undoubtedly one of themost underrated episodes ofThe Twilight Zone, but it shouldn’t be. Audiences are typically only unfamiliar with it because the lawsuit stopped it from being broadcast again for over two decades.
The Twilight Zone Silver Anniversary Specialfeatures the dollhouse scenes in color, rather than the original black and white, as part of an early demonstration of the film coloring process.
“Miniature” offers a slightly different tone to most episodes of the show. It’s still eerie and unsettling, like any installment ofThe Twilight Zone, but it’s a lot more profound.The subject matter touches on psychiatric health and blurs the lines between reality and the imagination,and Duvall’s performance is nothing short of stellar, too.
Without a time machine, it’s hard to say whether “Miniature” could’ve become one of thebest or worst episodes of the originalTwilight Zone, especially as it lacked that extra attention others got through reruns. However, upon analysis, it’s undoubtedly an incredibly strong episode ofThe Twilight Zone, and one that audiences are thankful they are able to watch now.
The Twilight Zone
Cast
The Twilight Zone is an anthology series that debuted in 1959, featuring a collection of standalone episodes encompassing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and horror. Known for its macabre or unexpected twists, each story is distinct, exploring various speculative themes and human experiences.
