The answer to the crossword is SERLING, which refers to Rod Serling, the creator of the iconic television series The Twilight Zone. Serling was an American screenwriter, playwright, and producer who wrote more than 150 scripts for television and radio during his career. He is best known for his work on The Twilight Zone, which aired from 1959 to 1964 and has since become a classic of science fiction and fantasy.