[ggregg]

The Outer Limits was/is my favorite sci-fi show by a wide margin. You guys are correct, this was the pilot episode.

Cliff Robertson "modified" his radio transmitter at his radio station, KXKVI, to send signals to outer space. It kind of worked like a prehistoric Skype except that his equipment could decode the aliens voice and his to the alien also. He had to go to a business dinner while he was in communication with the alien. His fill in disc jockey, I believe it was Gene Buddy Maxwell (love the name), saw the transmitter was turned down (he didn't realize that most of the power was being used to keep the alien in communication) and cranked it back up. This ended up sucking the alien through space and into Cliff's lab. The alien then had a interesting walk through town, to make a long story, short.

There was always a message at the end of each episode. Usually on how mankind could/should be better.