'Dead Zone' Cut To 13 Episodes

The USA Network announced yesterday that it has cut back its order for the Michael Piller genre series The Dead Zone.

Only 13 episodes of the series have now been ordered, Zap2It reported, down from an initial number of 22. This means the show's first season will be a half-sized one.

The reason given for the reduction was to make sure the show didn't get lost in the schedules when the major networks launch their Fall line-up of programs in September. With a 13 episode order premiering on June 16th, the show will end its run on September 8th. This is just days away from the expected start of the TV Fall season, when more big-names shows, such as Enterprise, will return to steal the television limelight.

The USA network is likely to keep its options open on the series. If it proves a hit with viewers and network executives, USA ould place an orcder for the remaining 9 episodes, or green light a second season.

The Dead Zone is based on the 1979 novel by Stephen King. It will star Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith, a man who wakes up from a coma to discover he has strange psychic powers. Deep Space Nine actress Nicole De Boer (Ezri Dax) will play Johnny's former girlfriend, and is amongst a wealth of former Star Trek talent associated with the series. Besides its creator Michael Piller, former Voyager scribes Joe Menosky and Michael Taylor are on the writing staff.

More can be found in the original report here at Zap2It.

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