the dead zone

(S05E09) This week's episode provided some revelations, just like the title promises. There are answers to questions about Gene Purdy's past that the show has only hinted at prior to now.

(S05E07) Finally, an episode worthy of the quality of The Dead Zone I have grown accustomed to! And okay, okay, it was a stand alone episode, and it didn't do anything to further the "theme" of the series (Stop Greg Stillson!), but you know what? It was the kind of episode that took full advantage of the wacky weirdness of the dead zone and its potential for really messing with Johnny's mind.

(S05E06) This episode of The Dead Zone was pretty fun -- it was still stand alone, but I can see that I am in the minority about that, so I tried to roll with it and enjoy it. One of the best things about this episode was its homage to Midnight Cowboy. Johnny pairs up with a shorter actor (Benjamin Ratner), and the way the actors are dressed and the way they interact is very reminiscent to Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy. Am I the only one who saw that? They reversed the colors the actors were wearing (Johnny wore black, and Boyd Lumely wore tan), but I'm pretty sure they were doing a tribute.

(S05E04) Now that The Dead Zone is in its fifth season, the writers are lurching about a bit for compelling things for John Smith (formerly Johnny) to do. In last night's episode the" Articles of Faith," the writers pre-packaged a storyline that is vehemently anti-race/hate crime in the form of John Smith using his psychic powers to solve one such crime.

Our weekly wrapup of what's in America's favorite TV magazine.

• On the cover: Kyra Sedgwick is The Closer, about to start its new season.
• Matt Roush is excited about the new season of both Deadwood and Entourage, but not that excited about Lucky Louis.
• Who's in and who's out on the new season of The 4400.
• In the print edition: an interview with American Idol's Elliott Yamin; a Q and A with The Dead Zone's Anthony Michael Hall (I didn't even know this show was still on); Bryan Singer talks about the A&E special about Superman, Look, Up In The Sky;  an A to Z guide to the world of 24; and a preview of the new season of Entourage.

It seems like the 2005-06 TV season just started, doesn't it? But in less than two weeks, it will be officially over. As it is, most shows have already shown their season (or series) finales, with only a few left to go over the next week or so. So when Memorial Day hits in a week-and-a-half (jeez... time files), we're going to be facing three-or-so months of reruns and reality dreck like the latest Big Brother.

Or are we?

Thank goodness for the cable channels. What they've realized is that it's better to launch new seasons of their original scripted shows away from the crucible of the regular network season and capture the bored and restless masses over the summer.