1. It’s starring 80’s child star Anthony Michael Hall. He grew from a cute little geek into a hunk over the last couple decades. That alone is worth a look.
2. Based on the novel by Stephen King, it also was a movie starring Christopher Walken before getting picked up as a television show.
3. The premise: After a car accident, science teacher Johnny Smith awakens from a six-year coma to discover that his entire life has changed. His mother has passed away. His fiancé has married another man. And he has a son whom he has never met. But most startling of all, he finds he has a psychic ability. Johnny can see into the life of anyone he touches, past, present, or future.
4. Of course, Anthony Michael Hall is an even more incredible actor than he was back in his Brat Pack days.
5. Johnny has a great nemesis in Congressman Greg Stillson (Sean Patrick Flanery from Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) whom Johnny has visions of leading to Armageddon.
Greg Stillson: I’d call first, but I figure you’d sense I was coming anyway.
6. Besides the mystery and drama, there’s always a bit of humor as well.
Johnny Smith: We were always twenty minutes late to every movie we went to! How did ET get to Earth? I don’t know. Why did the Empire strike back? Beats me.
7. There’s a reason Johnny has this power.
Reverend Purdy: I know this isn’t the life you would’ve chosen. But is the life that has chosen YOU. And you cannot deny the possibility that some other force is guiding you, choosing what you see.
Johnny Smith: Just say his name Reverend, I know you’re dying to.
Reverend Purdy: Destiny, Johnny. It is your destiny to help people. I truly believe that.
8. Sarah Bannerman (Nicole deBoer from Star Trek: Deep Space 9) is Johnny’s former fiancé who is now married to another man. She finds herself torn between her feelings for Johnny, the father of her child, and her husband Walt, the loving sheriff who has stood by her side and loved her son like his own.
9. Walt Bannerman (Chris Bruno) is Sarah’s husband and the Sheriff of Penobscot County, Maine. Walt frequently calls on Johnny and his psychic abilities to assist in investigations. Painfully aware of Johnny’s long and deep-running relationship with Sarah, Walt has come to respect and befriend him while, at the same time, fearing the consequences Johnny may have on his marriage and his relationship with J.J.
10. Bruce Lewis (John L. Adams) was assigned to be Johnny’s physical therapist after Johnny woke from his coma. But their relationship quickly developed beyond therapist-patient: Bruce is Johnny’s best friend, as well as a continuing source of humor, optimism, and inspiration for Johnny. Bruce is the one person that Johnny can always turn to, and someone he can trust with his own life.
11. While Johnny was in his coma, Reverend Purdy (David Ogden Stiers) became his legal guardian, and after the death of Johnny’s mother, he gained control her estate. While Purdy certainly craves power and money, his ability to influence people and bring God into their lives through his university and ministry is his primary motivation. He appears to be a man who genuinely believes in what he preaches; he is a hero in his own mind. He views Johnny as someone destined to play an important role in the world – perhaps even fulfilling elements of Biblical prophecy. Purdy tries to be helpful in Johnny’s personal journey, but struggles to keep Johnny’s trust.
12. Rebecca Caldwell (Sarah Wynter) is a psychotherapist who works with juvenile offenders in Washington, D.C. She came to Bangor, Maine, after the mysterious disappearance and murder of her sister Rachel, a recent graduate of Purdy’s Faith Heritage University and a campaign documentarian for Greg Stillson. At first, Rebecca suspected Johnny of being her sister’s killer, but as she grew to know him, he became the only person she could trust. However, when Johnny confides in her and reveals the secrets of his visions, Rebecca embarks on a dangerous course of action, and now Johnny must chose between saving her… or saving the world.
13. The Dead Zone, the source of Johnny’s abilities.
Dr. Tran: We know less about how the brain works than any other organ in the body. What seems to be clear is that your brain has found a new way to work. It’s taking a detour around the damage and tapping into a region of the brain that humans don’t normally use to handle sensory perception. In anyone else, this part of the brain might be considered a dead zone. In your brain, the dead zone is suddenly very much alive.
The 6th season of The Dead Zone begins June 17th on USA Network.
Seasons 1-4 are only $15 right now through Amazon! (Almost wish I had waited.)
Season 5 releases on DVD June 5 and is available for pre-order.
View trailer for Season 6 here:
http://video.usanetwork.com/player/?id=105014
Can I just say I’m embarrassed I’ve never seen this show?? I just loved the book and the movie so much, I never wanted to see the show! And I have always like Anthony Michael Hall. Guess I should add this to the Netflix queue??
I watched the first season, or so, of this, but more recent ones don’t seem to be on over here. Not sure why. I always quite liked it.
So… is it on DVD? I’d hate starting to watch a series at season 6, even supposing it were on AFN, which I doubt. *sigh*
Stephanie – You should! Netflix is a great way to catch up on shows. I bought the first season dvd set and let my father borrow it. He watched the entire season in 2 or 3 days. I don’t think he slept. lol
Fence – That stinks. The show has only gotten better.
Darla – Yes. I put links up to Amazon above now. The good thing about this show is that you don’t have to necessarily watch them all in order. Certain storylines do carry over, but for the most part it’s self-contained stories.
I love this series! Like the Closer I sometimes forget it’s there and then I’m all over it when I rediscover it – thank you for the reminder. Hall is one of the few who started young and seems to have found his feet on stable ground – good.
Can’t wait to watch the show. I don’t usually like Stephen King but this sounds good.
THis is by far my favourit Stephen King book. And I haven’t seen this show past the first one. I loved it too! I’m going to go buy season one on my way home from work tonight.
I agree, I should be watching it. I really like him and have heard great things about this show. Just another to add to the Netflix list.
Great reasons, Angela! *wg*
I always see the commercials and have never watched it. I’ll have to give it a try. They did invent digital cable recording boxes for a reason, lol.
We love young AMH!!
I love Dead Zone. I like A.M.Hall and crack up during the show because he still has many of the mannerisms of the geek in Sixteen Candles.
Yet another really cool list.
I used to watch that show faithfully, but have missed the last three seasons. It was so great. I should rent the DVD’s!
Cool list. I used to watch Dead Zone, but I don’t watch much tv these days. I posted an explanation and a picture of kudzu on my blog, if you’re interested.
P.S. I tried to post this once already, but it went wonky on me. I apologize if this gets posted twice.
You know you’ve got a good list when you can change somebody’s mind about watching a show. I, too, loved the book and the Christopher Walken version. I was afraid the series would be a watered down version of the story but you’ve sold me.
Besides, I had know idea that Nicole DeBore was on the show. A definate bonus.
While I do own all seasons of the Dead Zone on DVD, I’d also like to plug the movie. It’s one of the few Stephen King adaptations that actually went well. It’s also a rare opportunity to see Christopher Walken play a role that’s not… well… Christopher Walken.
Gal
I wish I had cable so I could watch it. 🙁
can’t wait to you finish ‘all together dead’! We will have to talk abou it! 🙂
Sounds like a great show. I’ve never seen it down here in NZ but then, that’s nothing ususual. We don’t get a lot of the shows down here. I’ve only just watched Firefly! It sounds great though – I’m off to check out the DVD.
I started the show when it first came on, but then I didn’t have TV for a while. Maybe I should try to catch up on DVD or something…
I played this week, too! 😀
This is one of my favorite shows!
I’m glad Anthony Michael Hall has built a steady career over the years. Sometimes it’s better to be a working actor who can have a somewhat normal life. Probably more than sometimes.
HOLY COW I didn’t know the Dead Zone guy was that geeky kid from all those Brat Pack movies. HOLY COW! He’s … well he’s damn good looking now. I’ll be watching those movies in a new light.
I have heard of this show, obviously, but not having cable I haven’t seen it. You just piqued my curiosity to the point that I’m adding this show to my Blockbuster rental list.
Really well done TT, as usual. Thanks.
My Thursday Thirteen
~Douglas
-=-
The Splintered Mind – Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude
How did I miss this? Must be the husband who hogs the tv for sports and James Bond movies. Another good reason to join Netflix. I loved the book.
I haven’t watched this show yet, but keep almost watching it. I’ve picked up the dvds sets at the store a few times and was going to buy them but always decided against it. From what you say about the show I might just have to give it a shot.
Oh, I love this show. I can’t believe AMH grew up so handsome!
Summertime TV – The 4400, The Dead Zone, Eureka, The Closer…..hmm. All cable.