Stephen King's 'The Stand' on ABC

A gripping postapocalyptic horror story based on the 1978 novel, with a strong cast (including Rob Lowe in a particularly compelling performance as a deaf man). It portrays the battle between good and evil in an America that has been decimated by a virulent plague, killing all but a handful of people. King conjured up monster ratings with `The Stand,' along with an Outstanding Miniseries Emmy nomination.