Based on the short story "The Return of the Sorcerer" by Clark Ashton Smith. This story was first published in Strange Tales of Mystery and Terror (September, 1931).

With the premiere of the third season, the show gets new opening credits featuring gallery paintings from past and future episodes, and a new pounding opening theme.

Host: Good evening. We're delighted that all of you could make it this evening because we have something special on tap. In the area of the occult, it's customary to preoccupy ourselves with witches, and too infrequently we dabble on the male side of that time-honored profession, the sorcerer. On display here is a painting showing the natural habitat of this species of black art practitioner. Dark alley, murky light, a few sundry skulls, and the gentleman himself on the right of the picture with the upraised hand and the funny little goat horns. Yes indeed, this is a sorcerer, and for those of you who disbelieve his existence, we invite you to check this out for a little while. Our painting is called The Return of the Sorcerer, and where better place for him to return than right here... in the Night Gallery

Noel: Uh, no, I--I can't kiss you with that frog.
Fern: But it's beauty. I like beauty. Kiss the toad.
Noel: Some other time, maybe.