Armageddon is so last week. USA Network’s The Dead Zone (Sundays at 10 pm/ET) ended its first season in 2002 with a hook as fresh as it was horrifying: Psychic Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall) had a vision of Washington, D.C., in nuclear ruin. The man responsible? Ambitious politico Greg Stillson (Sean Patrick Flanery).
Five years later that plot’s still playing out, but now many shows spin on the fear of an apocalypse (Heroes, Sleeper Cell) or have nukes that actually do detonate (Jericho, 24). What was once unfathomable is now almost ho-hum. So how will The Dead Zone — back for its sixth season — keep us hooked on its doomsday scenario? By twisting it, turning it and sending it in
read more
As USA Network's The Dead Zone returns for a new season (premiering Sunday at 10 pm/ET), series star and former Brat Packer Anthony Michael Hall ponders what's in his future.
TV Guide: You filmed the past two seasons of Dead Zone in Vancouver a year ago. Any hints about what's in store for your character, Johnny, this season?
Anthony Michael Hall: He's just finished tracking down Sean Patrick Flanery [who plays corrupt congressman Greg Stillson] for four years.... I can't rememb
read more
Question: Got any scoopage for The Dead Zone?
Answer: Anthony Michael Hall is our special guest in this week's podcast. Lots of stuff on whether this will be the show's final season. (Hint: Sounds like it won't be.)
read more
Question: The Dead Zone: canceled or on hiatus? I had read somewhere that they were supposed to have a split season, but I never saw any new episodes in 2006.
Answer: USA Network will launch the fifth season of Dead Zone on June 11, with a full season of 11 episodes. There has been much speculation that the show won't be renewed beyond that, but USA tells me that they still have a "holding deal" (I never understand these terms) with Anthony Michael Hall continuing through August, which is also when the network's deal with the show's production company expires. So it's possible that during the summer, USA could decide to continue the show beyond this next season. But it still sounds more dead than alive to me ...
read more
Question: I haven't heard any news about The Dead Zone. I'm patiently waiting for scoop.
Answer: The fifth season kicks off June 11 and, barring a major ratings upswing, there probably won't be a sixth. Unless, of course, USA Network — in an effort to trim costs — decides to bring the show back without any of Anthony Michael Hall's costars, as last week's TV Guide speculated.
read more
