SEASON FIVE OF USA NETWORK'S ORIGINAL SERIES �THE DEAD ZONE� STARRING ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 18 AT 10:00 PM ET/PT
Sean Patrick Flanery, Martin Donovan, Kristen Dalton, Dedee Pfeiffer & Ben Cotton Guest Star in the Hit Series from Lionsgate and CBS Paramount International Television
NEW YORK -- May 9, 2006 -- THE DEAD ZONE, the hit series starring Anthony Michael Hall (�61*,� �The Pirates of Silicon Valley,� �Sixteen Candles�), launches its fifth season on USA Network Sunday, June 18 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Based on characters from the Stephen King novel, the drama returns as one of the highest rated original scripted series in basic cable history, its sustained success is fueled by an outstanding cast, powerful storytelling and striking visual effects.
Produced by Lionsgate and CBS Paramount International Television in association with Piller� and The Segan Company, THE DEAD ZONE is a psychological thriller blending action, romance, the paranormal and a continuing quest for justice. In one of the most demanding roles on series television, Hall stars as Johnny Smith, a man injured in a near-fatal car crash, who emerges from a six-yearlong coma with psychic powers that allow him to see into the past and future through visions triggered by touch.
Also starring in the ensemble cast are Nicole deBoer (�Star Trek: Deep Space Nine�) as Johnny�s former fianc�e, Sarah; Chris Bruno (�Another World�) as Sarah�s husband, sheriff Walt Bannerman; John L. Adams (�Pacific Blue�) as Johnny�s best friend, Bruce; David Ogden Stiers (�Curse of the Jade Scorpion�) as Reverend Purdy, the executor of the Smith family trust; and Spencer Achtymichuk as Little Johnny Bannerman, Johnny Smith�s biological son with Sarah who is being raised as Walt�s.
Sean Patrick Flanery (�Dead Lawyers�) returns to reprise his role as Johnny�s archenemy, the unscrupulous young congressman Greg Stillson. Original cast member Kristen Dalton (�The Dead Zone� Seasons 1 & 2) returns to guest star, reprising her role as TV reporter Dana Bright. Martin Donovan (�Traffic � The Miniseries�), Dedee Pfeiffer (�Cybill�) and Ben Cotton (�Slither�) are also among this season�s guest stars.
In a bizarre turn of events at the end of last season, Stillson begs Johnny to help him investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend Miranda (Laura Harris), the daughter of Senator Harlan Ellis. Johnny reluctantly agrees to lend a hand, only to discover that Miranda deliberately �disappeared� after learning that Stillson murdered his own father. Though Johnny desperately tries to help her escape this dangerous liaison, Miranda is ultimately forced to accept Stillson�s proposal of marriage in order to save Johnny�s life.
In the new season premiere, Johnny races to find a way to stop the Ellis-Stillson wedding, convinced that Miranda is in grave danger. Meanwhile, a political crisis develops which brings the brazenly ambitious Stillson one step closer to the White House.
As the season unfolds and Johnny continues to explore the potential and the limits of his psychic abilities, the mystery surrounding his destiny and his fated role in a potential future Armageddon deepens. In episodes ranging from high-stakes adventures to political thrillers, he continues to use his powers for good. He takes on a dangerous escaped convict on the loose; joins a cult to try to prevent a Waco-like catastrophe; poses as a thief in order to keep a museum robbery from going bad; and investigates an apparent hate crime only to discover that the victims and the perpetrators are not who they appear to be. In one particularly brain-teasing episode, his multiple visions from an attacker, a victim and a rescuer wreak havoc with his own sense of reality and identity.
Johnny�s visions are rendered through fast motion, slow motion and freeze frame photography, enhanced by cutting-edge digital effects and masterful editing. These powerful visual sequences propel the stories, adding mystery, suspense and emotional impact. The series� visual effects are produced by Stargate Digital Studios. Sam Nicholson, Pete Ware and Jaison Stritch are the visual effects producers.
THE DEAD ZONE was created for television by acclaimed executive producer Michael Piller (�Star Trek: The Next Generation,� �Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,� �Star Trek: Voyager�) and his son, co-executive producer Shawn Piller (�Star Trek: The Next Generation,� Star Trek: Voyager�). Executive producers are Michael Piller, Lloyd Segan (�The Bachelor,� �Boondock Saints,� �Bones�) and Tommy Thompson (�Dark Angel,� �Quantum Leap�). The series is produced by Robert Petrovicz. Shawn Piller is co-executive producer. Anthony Michael Hall is producer. Michael Taylor, Loren Segan and Christina Lynch are supervising producers; Kira Domaschuk is co-producer; Karl Schaefer is executive consultant; and Juan Carlos Coto is consulting producer. Eric A. Stillwell and Amber Woodward are associate producers.
Coinciding with the new season launch, THE DEAD ZONE: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on DVD Tuesday, June 13. The 3-disc set contains all 12 episodes from the fourth season of the hit series and is packed with special features including deleted scenes, audio commentaries and an in-depth production design featurette. �The Production Design of THE DEAD ZONE� takes fans behind the scenes into the award-winning production design department to showcase the unique look of the series. Also included on the DVD is a tribute to the late Emmy�-nominated writer Michael Piller, one of the show�s creators.
Explore the world of Johnny Smith and the rest of the Cleaves Mills clan at the official site of THE DEAD ZONE. Devoted viewers of the show get an in-depth look at the entire series run with detailed episode guides, character profiles and downloadable show scripts. Behind the scenes interviews with the actors and weekly blogs by the writers and producers allow fans a glimpse into the creative process, while the site's active community forum houses detailed discussions of the on- and off-screen doings at THE DEAD ZONE. To visit the site, log on to http://www.usanetwork.com/thedeadzone/.
For photos of THE DEAD ZONE, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com.
Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio and is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 5,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and is a foundation for the growth of the Company�s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
CBS Paramount International Television
CBS Paramount International Television is one of the most diverse suppliers of current and library programming to the international television marketplace featuring drama, comedy, talk, court, game shows, entertainment news, news and movies of the week from a catalog of over 70,000 hours of programming. The slate of programming comes from CBS Paramount Network Television, CBS Paramount Domestic Television, King World Productions, CBS News and Spelling Television, and can be seen in over 200 countries and in more than 30 languages. Additionally, the Division is involved in the development and production of television programming customized for the international marketplace and producing product with international partners. CBS Paramount International Television is a unit of CBS Paramount Television, a division of CBS Corporation.
USA Network
USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 basic cable network across the board in 1Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
|