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» » El club de medianoche The Tale of the Phone Police (1990–2000)

Short summary

Jake O'Brien loves to make prank phone calls. Unfortunately, people who mess with the telephone get taken away by the sinister phone police and once they catch you, you will never have existed.

The Phone Police were inspired by the Thought Police from George Orwell's novel "Nineteen-Eighty-Four", who would remove all traces of a person's existence (though not others' memories of the person). As a reference to the book, the protagonist had the last name of the novel's antagonist, O'Brien.

The only episode where a storyteller was not at the campfire with those listening (Tucker told his story through a telephone, somewhere further back in the woods).

Was the basis for the 'Weird Al' Yankovic song "Phony Calls", a parody of TLC's "Waterfalls".

Griffith Brewer who portrayed The Phone Company Manager, previously appeared in the show before. He first appeared in the episode "The Tale of the Captured Souls" as The Old Peter. The third time he portrayed Captain Abraham Westchester in "The Tale of the Water Demons". The fourth time he made an uncredited appearance as The Old Nathaniel in the episode "The Tale of the Forever Game" in the series revival.

Richard Jutras who portrayed The Pizza Delivery Guy, reappeared a few years later in the episode "The Tale of Vampire Town" as Stanley, in the series revival.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Ffyan
    This is also a non-favorite of mine but I do enjoy watching it sometimes. It's once again a tale which is common in horror on mortals tempting fate and unfortunately meeting it. What make this episode is just on the premise alone how an everyday convenience can turn against you; it's also based on the scurry notion on the other guy on the line is not one you want to talk to much like with the horror films "When a Stranger Calls" and "Scream" that made use of the phone; but also simply the subconscious fear of being at the wrong end of authority.

    I really like the Phone Police whom really are a menacing force, their kinda like the Men in Black as they operate covertly. This organization takes extreme measures toward anyone that abuses the power of commination technology, but also erase all evidence of that person's existence if captured.

    We see the two friends, which I'll admit is one weakness of the episode, it's hard for me to really buy them as friends as Jake seems to be a real bad influence on Chris let alone at times kind of a blowhole toward him. But maybe that's part of the point of the episode, from the empierce it probably taught Jake to be a little more appreciative and respectful that he has a friend to help him.

    Jake, we see is an addict toward the phone as he doesn't know when to say when on crank calls which has made him develop this stupid mindset that he's the best at getting away with anything but little does he know his streak is about to end when he decides to tempt fate by calling the number of the imprisoned crank caller Billy Baxter and finding the source of his number. And he of course takes the bait hook, line and sinker. Really like the look of the whole Phone Police base which is just dark and foreboding as there is hardly any light and it is just dank and decrepit adding to the oppressive atmosphere of the place, that just rings no escape.

    Chris, I think he's a solid protagonist whom really is a good guy the only problem is he's let himself be influenced by the wrong people. It really isn't in him to be bad where Jake talks him into making a crank call which he just can't do very well. However, I really like how cleaver Chris is, as he has to use some covert communications tactics to trick the police into dropping their guard giving him the opening he needs to spring Jake out. Just seeing him work just show how he truly is better on his own, without Pete around.

    There is one moment when Jake says something really stupid, "I didn't do anything wrong." I thought, "Um, yeah you did you committed fraud which is a felony, so you better fix your receiver." But I like that Chris does help him all the same despite the fact Jake might not be totally worth saving, Chris is really doing this because he believes the punishment doesn't entirely fit the crime.

    The suspense is solid as it becomes an escapist thriller, I remember being on the edge of my seat as we are constantly hopping they find a way out as every twist and turn seems to be blocked and even out at the open they are relentlessly being pursued.

    If the episode has a moral that is don't tempt fate, you never truly know who's on the other side of the line.

    Rating: 3 stars
  • Episode cast overview:
    Marcus Turner Marcus Turner - Jake O'Brien
    Ryan Kent Ryan Kent - Chris
    Marlowe Dawn Marlowe Dawn - Annie O'Brien
    Nancy Wood Nancy Wood - Receptionist
    Griffith Brewer Griffith Brewer - Phone Clerk
    Richard Jutras Richard Jutras - Pizza Delivery Guy
    Jason Alisharan Jason Alisharan - Frank
    Ross Hull Ross Hull - Gary
    Raine Pare-Coull Raine Pare-Coull - Betty Ann
    Jodie Resther Jodie Resther - Kiki
    Daniel DeSanto Daniel DeSanto - Tucker
    JoAnna Garcia Swisher JoAnna Garcia Swisher - Sam (as Joanna Garcia)
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