Writer:	Mae Woods, Walter Hill
Director:	Walter Hill
Star:	John Kassir (voice of The Crypt Keeper)
Guest Star:	Marg Helgenberger (Vicki),  Richard Herd (Phil Stone),  Judy Jean Berns (Globe Secretary),  Richard Jordan (Charlie MacKenzie),  Jon Polito (Nikos Stavros),  Rutanya Alda (Mildred),  John Capodice (Mike)

Walter Hill also directed the episodes, "The Man Who Was Death" and "Cutting Cards". (edit) EC Comic Connection: Story adapted from Shock SuspenStories #12, Dec-Jan 1953-54. Script by Al Feldstein with art by Jack Kamen. (edit)

[Opening wraparound segment with the Crypt Keeper as a bartender.]
The Crypt Keeper: So, what'll it be stranger? Can I interest you in a my-die? Or would you prefer a rum and choke? Or maybe you'd like something a little stronger? I've got just the thing. It's a nasty little snootful about a news hound named Charlie, who needs a murder story and a drink, but not necessarily in that order. Ah what some people won't do for a good stiff one. I call this little eye opener, "Deadline".

[Closing wraparound segment.]
The Crypt Keeper: Poor Charlie. I bet he wishes that he'd killed the story instead. Perhaps now they'll let him write for the paper's horror-scope column. Care for another drink? Or should I just put a head on this one? [Laughs] (edit)

Product Placements

In this episode, the following products and their logos can be seen:

Miller High Life: A hanging pool light sign of the popular American Miller Brewing Company beer can be seen in the bar when Charlie is yelling at the bartender.

Michelob: A hanging bar light fixture featuring the well known Anheuser-Busch brewery beer logo can be seen in the bar next to the Miller High Life pool light when Charlie is yelling at the bartender.

Jack Daniels: A bottle of the popular whiskey is seen when Charlie is calling the paper to give his feed on the diner murder. (edit) Marg Helgenberger receives the "and" credit. (edit) Running Time: [excluding opening title sequence] 25 minutes 53 seconds. (edit) Music: Composed by Steve Bartek. (edit) Crypt Keeper Wardrobe: In the opening and closing wraparoud segments, The Crypt Keeper is dressed as a bartender. (edit)

Rum And Coke

Popular and basic drink consisting of white rum and Coca Cola. It can sometimes be served with a lemon wedge if preferred.

In this episode, during the opening wraparound segment, the Crypt Keeper rewords the popular drink as "Rum And Choke". (edit) Breaking The Fourth Wall

A theatrical and filming technique in which a character is aware of and speaks directly to the audience/camera and in other instances when someone breaks character or interacts with an object or person outside of the environment of the scene such as being handed a gun in the middle of a scene by a crew member, for example. This technique has been used notably in the feature film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the TV series, Saved By The Bell, The Sensational She-Hulk comic book, and of course, this series, as the Crypt Keeper uses this technique to address the audience in every episode.

In this episode, in several scenes Charles MacKenzie breaks the fourth wall when he's talking directly to the audience. (edit)