Season 2 of Night Gallery is often regarded by fans and critics as the high-water mark of the series . Expanding significantly from its brief six-episode first season, this 22-episode run leans heavily into supernatural horror, dark fantasy, and "comeuppance" tales, moving further away from the sci-fi roots of Rod Serling's earlier masterpiece, The Twilight Zone .
While Serling returned as the curator and host, his creative control was noticeably diminished, much to his own disappointment. The season is characterized by a "hit or miss" nature, balancing legitimately chilling masterpieces with controversial comedic "blackout" sketches—short, 2-to-3-minute punchlines that Serling reportedly detested.
The season features an impressive roster of guest stars including Vincent Price, Orson Welles, Leslie Nielsen, and Edward G. Robinson. Some of the most acclaimed segments include: