Journey step started: Feb 17, 2023
Journey step ended: June 4, 2023
Click the Google sheet to the right to see every item covered on this step of the journey.
The Book — The Movie — The TV Series
The TV Series
Day 441: Mar 17, 2023
So I’ve reached an interesting point in my journey. I’m about to start the TV series The Dead Zone and there are 6 seasons (80 episodes).
Normally, I’d do an episode a day. Then, having finished off all the material related to this book, I would circle back to older books and pick up any new podcasts or other releases that came out while I was working on The Dead Zone. For example, the Kingslingers recently released a 9-part series about The Shining.
Plus, a new Children of the Corn movie has come out and as bad as I’m sure it is, I’m a completist.
So here’s what my plan will be: I’ll focus on the first season of The Dead Zone TV series as I hear it really is just an adaptation of the novel stretched out over 13 episodes.
Then for seasons 2-6, I’ll watch an episode a day (maybe 2 if I can squeeze it in) and I’ll do my circle-back activities simultaneously.
Here’s hoping I can get to Firestarter in the summer!
I’m kicking off Episode 1 of the first season of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. I like this episode already from just the title alone, “Wheel of Fortune”, indicating that I’m about to see a scene from the book that was never considered for the movie!
Instead of being hit with a hockey puck in the head, little Johnny is merely run into on the ice and bangs the back of his head. Guess they saved a few bucks not having to figure out the logistics of a puck injury.
Anthony Michael Hall, as a teen star in Breakfast Club (and other big hits) and then as the central character of The Dead Zone TV series.
Johnny Smith’s mother is courting the local pastor? I’m assuming at this point the father is not in the picture at all.
Interesting take…
I really did miss this scene from the book. It’s good to see it acted out!
Guess we’re not gonna see Sarah barfing from bad carnival hot dogs.
I’m perfectly cool with Sarah’s husband being married to the sheriff who is hunting down the serial killer. That’s a story change that doesn’t bother me in the least.
I knew I had seen this actor before! David Ogden Stiers, who plays Reverend Purdy (the guy who married Johnny’s mother and milked her dry of her money) was also in M*A*S*H.
Oh wow – Sarah had gotten knocked up by Johnny before the accident. She & the new hubby raised the boy as their own.
That’s an interesting plot twist.
Another change I really liked: In the TV version, the doctor actually goes to visit his mother and is reunited with great emotional impact.
And that wraps up Episode 1! I probably won’t be commenting as much on other episodes, but I was excited to see the book retold (and reshaped a bit) in ways that I enjoyed more here than in the movie.
Anthony Michael Hall is no Christopher Walken, but he’s got good charisma and fits the roll of Johnny Smith very well.
I’m excited to see how the rest of this series goes!
Day 442: Mar 18, 2023
Watching the second episode of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
I really enjoyed the series premier. It covered a lot of ground from the beginning of the book that was completely passed over in the movie. Plus, there were some rather significant changes in the supporting characters that made it intriguing!
I’m not a fan of the fact that they skipped a lot of Johnny’s progression as a psychic and his tortuous rehabilitation after 6 years of immobility.
They seemed to go right from waking up to working on the hunt for the serial killer. There’s a lot of character development for Johnny that was completely bypassed.
The TV show writers also completely dropped Johnny’s very personal pain of waking up after 6 years and finding the love of his life, his fiancé, has moved on and remarried. In the TV series, he practically just shrugs his shoulders and says “Oh well”. By Episode 2, he’s grabbing a lunch with them.
And that lack of emotional angst makes it very jarring to see Johnny and Sarah suddenly start doing it on the kitchen table.
In the book & movie, you felt their pain of a future that could have been, a future cut tragically short.
Here, however, in Episode 2, it’s just banging and cheating.
**EDIT** Ok – that scene was just a fakeout. He was having a vision of what *would* have happened had she stayed any longer while visiting his place.
And the killer, Frank Dodd, has been identified and killed by the Sheriff with Johnny’s help. What the hell are they going to do with the NEXT 11 episodes?
Well, the second episode took a deep, disappointing dive in story telling. My enthusiasm from the first episode has dramatically waned.
I was hoping for a full-season adaptation of the novel, but with Dodd out of the way so soon, I don’t see how.
There should have been more episodes around the serial killer, building a mystery. Frank Dodd should have had a bigger role so that when the big reveal happens, it’s impactful. But here, it felt like a box to check off.
Day 443: Mar 19, 2023
Watching the third episode of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
While the premier episode gave me great hope and excitement for this series, the 2nd episode brought that crashing down. Will this 3rd entry improve prospects?
The serial killer, Dodd, has already been caught and is dead. What remains for the next 11 episodes? You’ve got the student & restaurant fire and Stillson’s campaign left.
“As his guardian, naturally I’m concerned about him.”
How can one be a guardian to a grown-ass man? Johnny isn’t mentally impaired for physically incapacitated. This makes no sense.
Of course, no one believes him. I wonder if by Episode 60 and hundreds of correct predictions if people will get over their skepticism.
I tuned in for some Stephen King. Ended up with a 20 minute long hockey game sequence.😴 💤
Not a bad third episode. Not bad at all. It furthered the story along nicely. I don’t know if Johnny the hockey coach is going to replace the personal tutor from the book. But it looks like he’s now done with the high school career so there still may be a tutoring gig in his future.
Still no sight of Stillson though. If the story arc is going to take us there, I wish there had been hints of it during these first three episodes.
Day 444: Mar 20, 2023
Watching the fourth episode of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Johnny helps a WWII vet find a long lost love interest. There was absolutely nothing to screencap or observe during this absolutely dull episode.
My hope of a 13-episode adaptation of the novel is dashed.
Day 445: Mar 21, 2023
Settling in for the fifth episode of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
So far, it’s been two good episodes and two bad ones. Which way will it tip today?
I’ll admit that having Smith’s psychic abilities be out in the open and part of the jury’s discussion as they deliberate was quite interesting.
Nothing lamer than series in which the superpower has to be kept secret. I find what they’re doing here more realistic and refreshing.
Well, that episode, while borrowing heavily from Twelve Angry Men nearly beat-for-beat (it’s a favorite movie of mine) wasn’t all that bad.
I wonder what we can expect next? A literal Mr. Psychic Smith Goes to Washington?
Day 446: Mar 22, 2023
Now watching the sixth episode of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
I’m not catching a overall epic storyline happening. It’s more of a “psychic issue of the week” method of story telling.
Kids are spying on Johnny Smith from the bushes. Johnny says to his friend, “When did I turn into Boo Radley, huh?”😂 😂 😂
A lady in a seen through the upper window of a house sings “This little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine..”
It’s nothing more than a throwaway Easter egg to a scene from the book that itself may have been an Easter egg to The Shining (see above).
Total fan service here.
Being down in the South where religious universities run amok, this scene gave me the most chills.
The fact that there is actually a Faith Heritage College and a Faith Heritage School, this is too on the mark.
There’s a pair of storylines here, either one of which could have consumed the episode on its own.
A young serviceman from neighborhood is MIA overseas. But more importantly, the pastor dude who took up with Johnny’s mother is covering up something surrounding his mother’s death.
It had a surprising, and rather emotional, ending. I may have gotten a bit teary-eyed.
Day 447: Mar 23, 2023
Now watching the Episode 7 of Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
These have been self-contained episodes, dropping psychic Johnny into various situations. I appreciate most that his powers are out in the public and he doesn’t shy away from them. But will the lack of an overarching story wear this premise thin?
Fun TV plot contrivance: The same hospital doctor who treated Johnny for years while he was in a coma is the same one that’s treating him for burns and chemical inhalation.
Does this hospital only have one doctor who treats everything?
The plot of this episode has Johnny Smith accidently being exposed to some drugs and its affecting his psychic visions as he trying to help save a girl on the run from a violent drug dealer.
Mmmmmkay….
Day 448: Mar 24, 2023
Season 1, Episode 8 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone has Johnny waking up in an alternate universe where there never was a car accident and he’s married to Sarah with two kids.
It has the feel of a Star Trek holodeck-run-amok plot.
Who wore it better?
So Johnny saves a mall from blowing up. But what that had to do with the entire alternate universe/life plot escapes me.
Maybe I tuned out during a critical part, but this episode didn’t make much sense to me.
After 8 long days, I realize I’m only 10% way through all of those The Dead Zone TV episodes.
The thought of pushing through to finish the remaining 72 episodes has me like…
Day 449: Mar 25, 2023
I’m up to Episode 9 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. Today, Johnny finds himself in the middle of a bank robbery.
That’s not a half-bad performance by the guy who’s playing the bank robber. I might have to use that line one day myself!
Day 450: Mar 26, 2023
I’m 10 Episodes in to USA Network’s The Dead Zone. It’s been mildly entertaining – not the best thing I’ve ever seen, but far from the worst. It’s just that there are 80 episodes in this series and my compulsion won’t allow me to cut corners!
Looks like Johnny Smith had a vision of the future of Karens taking over they way they have in the 2020s.
I thought I’ve seen this episode somewhere else before…
Day 451: Mar 27, 2023
Watching Season 1, Ep 11 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. How this series gripped the nation and earned six seasons without me ever having heard about it… I just don’t know.
Kristen Dalton, who plays the journalist Dana, is one fine looking woman!
It is far too unrealistic that she would have had a romantic relationship with ole’ Rev Purdy.
This whole episode played out like an avant-garde college play. Dana tells Johnny about her past with an abusive boyfriend, but she acts out the abuse (in Johnny’s vision) while she tells it.
It’s a bit too clever of an attempt and came off distracting.
This single scene may have been worth making it through 11 episodes so far!
While Johnny attempts to have his first intimate encounter since the accident, he is riddled with visions of all of his and her past relationships – as well any others who have slept with them!
This was the funniest thing I’ve seen since Monty Python. Bravo!
Day 452: Mar 28, 2023
Watching Season 1, Ep 12 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. I have enjoyed the occasional bits of comedy I’ve seen sprinkled throughout this series. It’s not been too much, but just enough to leave you with a light buzz and wanting to hang around.
This episode has quite an intriguing premise, actually.
While holed up in a cave, Johnny has visions of a Native American shaman from 600 years ago, who in turn, is having visions of Johnny.
They are able to communicate with each other and work to help each other out, even if they can’t physically touch. Johnny is able to warn the shaman about an impending meteor strike that would wipe out his tribe.
This premise could make for a quite interesting feature-length film.
But if you think on the logic too much – warning somebody in the past about an event that’s already happened – you’re head will hurt.
Day 453: Mar 29, 2023
I had given up hope that the TV series, The Dead Zone, would have anything more to do with the novel. After the second episode with the serial killer, the next ten episodes were just “psychic drama of the week” stories, some more amusing than the others.
But from the very first few seconds of the Season 1 finale, I knew something was very different.
Boy, did they cram in a ton of plot in the first 8 minutes. They introduced Stillson. They covered the restaurant and the fact that Johnny is tutoring some rich guy’s kid.
They completely did away with any relationship building between the kid and Johnny, though. This scene here is pretty much the kid’s only appearance.
As in the novel, Johnny & Sarah did the deed. However, it wasn’t out of some “gotta get this out of our system” one-time-only deal. In the book and movie, Johnny never actually got to do it with Sarah before the accident. But here in the TV series, not only had they been together, she had gotten pregnant by him and had his baby!
So this was just a booty call.
And this is how we end the season finale. Johnny’s vision after shaking Stillson’s hand.
If people watched this series without knowing the novel, this would have come across as one helluva cliffhanger!
Day 454: Mar 30, 2023
Season 1 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone ended with a cliffhanger as Johnny shakes Stillson’s hand and see a future of Washington DC on fire.
What excitement does Season 2 hold?
Why did Anthony Michael Hall have to get such an odd haircut for season 2? Is this another throwback to Walken’s initial hairdo in the movie?
Johnny has a creepy phone stalker in this season. Interesting…
Johnny admits he hasn’t had a vision in weeks? Maybe it’s the haircut that sapped his strength. 🤔
Their explosions budget certainly increased in Season 2!
This character, who seemed to be able to cleverly manipulated Johnny knowing his psychic powers, would have made an excellent series-long arch villain. I’m disappointed he was just a one-and-done bad guy.
While watching this episode, I took a peek at the IMDB trivia for this series. This one blew my mind!
“The cane that Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall) used throughout the series is the same one used by Stu Redman in The Stand (1994) and Andre Linoge in Storm of the Century (1999), just with a different head. All three stories were adapted from Stephen King novels.”
Day 455: Mar 31, 2023
Watching the second episode of Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
It’s a rather dull episode about kids trapped in a mine that was once owned by Johnny Smith’s grandfather.
Day 456: Apr 1, 2023
Watching the third episode of Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
This looks like the 2nd half of a 2-parter. The last episode led us to believe that Sheriff Bannerman (who is Sarah’s current husband) is dead. The question is: Do I even care?
Johnny is traveling through Walt Bannerman’s mind and experiencing his whole romantic history with Sarah.
His whole, boring, romantic history. He’s just not a compelling character.
So, Johnny meets Death inside Walt Bannerman’s mind.
Is Walt going to die, removing himself from the love triangle altogether?
Walt lives and the triangle of love continues.
Day 457: Apr 2, 2023
Watching Season 2 Episode 4 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Despite the episode name, this had nothing to do with the novel he would write over a decade after this aired.
In this episode, Johnny has visions of a drug causing birth defects years down the road. It’s not exactly a riveting plotline.
Johnny successfully got the drug company to issue a recall before their drug hit the stores.
Breathtaking tension and suspense in this episode! 🙄
Day 458: Apr 3, 2023
Today is all about Episode 5 of Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. Season 2 is the longest of the six with 19 episodes. This is gonna be a long slog.
Johnny Smith gets injured every other week since coming out of the coma. He’s been shot. Had his leg torn falling down a hill. Now he’s run over by a car.
It doesn’t count as an Easter Egg when its a blatant ripoff.
Here, the books store clerk blatantly rips dialogue out of Harold Lauder’s mouth from The Stand.
Day 459: Apr 4, 2023
Onto Season 2 Episode 6 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Early on in this episode we get to the “If you could go back in time to kill Hitler, would you?” thought experiment. This show is so much more interesting the closer it gets to the source material.
How does Greg plan to stop Stillson’s rise to power? By supporting his opponent in his election. And who is his opponent? Why… it’s Major Dad!
This masseuse looks uncannily like a certain daughter of a certain former President.
It’s been an interesting episode of political intrigue and double-crosses, Vietnam War flashbacks, and Johnny seeing that there are no good guys out there. Gerald McRaney (the “Major Dad” politician) elevated the episode with some great acting!
If this series could only maintain this level of intensity throughout the entire season, we’d be talking about a memorable series like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos.
Day 460: Apr 5, 2023
Watching the 7th episode in Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Crazy lady is Tracey Gold from Growing Pains???!!!
Overall, this was a “meh” episode with a trope twist transgender ending that does not age well.
Day 461: Apr 6, 2023
I watched Season 2, Episode 8 yesterday of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. I didn’t get a chance to post my notes, so here we go – a day late and definitely a dollar short.
I had assumed from the outset that there would be more of an adversarial relationship between Reverend Purdy and Johnny Smith. Instead, they have a very cozy relationship with the Reverend serving as a plot convenience whenever Johnny needs political or business influence to get something done.
This has been an absolutely riveting episode – the best of the series so far! From having to convince the stewardesses, the air marshal and the pilot that the plan will crash, to having partial visions which have differing interpretations – the tension was high and I quite forgot to take continuous notes!
If there’s one episode to see of this series, it’s S02E08.
All that’s missing in this clip is “The ice… is gonna BREAK!”
Day 462: Apr 7, 2023
Now watching Season 2, Episode 9 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. I doubt this will live up to the sheer brilliance of the previous episode, but here’s hoping…
“Listen to me carefully. You’re a threat to national security.”
A bona-fide, publicly known person with future-predictive capabilities would be considered a threat, I’m sure!
Day 463: Apr 8, 2023
Next up is the 10th episode of Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone. I’m at the halfway point of what has been a rather solid season so far with only minor hiccups.
Johnny finds himself in the middle of an organized crime war when he warns a mob boss about an impending assassination. And there’s a tenuous connection to Greg Stillson through a woman at the center of this crime war.
It sounds better than it actually is. It’d be a cool premise if this were a Godfather type of crime family. But no – they’re all fairly bland.
Sarah working for the Stillson campaign is a decent plot change to life from the movie version. It opens up so many avenues to explore.
Day 464: Apr 9, 2023
Watching Season 2, Episode 11 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
I had an enjoyable time last night chatting about this series with some other King fans on Discord. Several had fond memories! I can’t believe I had no clue this series even happened until I began researching as part of this journey.
Two of Johnny’s friends from years back visit. One needs a heart transplant and Johnny “sees” that he’ll successfully get one. But Johnny further discovers that the donor will be the other friend who will die in a car accident.
Johnny spends time with Rev Purdy trying to pull strings to get another donor, causing chain reactions of recipients who will die from lack of organs.
As a living kidney donor, all this talk of saving & sacrificing lives – it cuts deep.
Day 465: Apr 10, 2023
Today I consumed Episode 12, Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
This episode is about an alternate timeline in which Johnny’s best friend, the physical therapist, never moves to Maine. Instead, he takes over his father’s place as preacher of a church in Indiana.
Johnny comes out of his coma and without the positive influence of his friend, takes on a much darker personality. Eventually, you see Johnny planning to assassinate Greg Stillson.
What a strange way to introduce such a key plot point from the book!
There is one major difference: Stillson doesn’t use a baby as a shield in this version of events.
Johnny is still taken out by armed security and dies in this timeline, though.
Day 466: Apr 11, 2023
Now watching Season 2, Episode 13 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Two episodes ago, Johnny had to choose between two friends which should live and which will die. That experience wrecked him a bit and he became a recluse. So his friends decide to hold an intervention for him.
Did he just say, “Flo, herself… She’s a firestarter”???
Whaaaaa?
Day 467: Apr 12, 2023
Tonight, it’s all about Season 2, Episode 14 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
Given the title of this episode, will Johnny be having visions of… I don’t know… The Stand?
Now this is just too freaky.
In a show filmed in 2003, the plot centers around an airborne contagion from China. Johnny has a vision as to what will cure those infected and he writes it on the whiteboard before passing out.
Day 468: Apr 13, 2023
Episode 15 of Season 2 for USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
This episode features a vision within a vision within a vision within…
It has serious “Groundhog’s Day” vibes. But just like that famous movie, this was quite romantic as well.
I thought that when I hit this stage of my journey that I would feel like I was stuck in quicksand, but I honestly have to say that I’m enjoying this series!
Day 469: Apr 14, 2023
Now watching Season 2 Episode 16 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
This was a different way to open the episode. A disclaimer voiced over in the first few seconds.
I guess it was inevitable that a secret US military operation would draft Johnny’s powers to hunt terrorists – especially as this episode was only a couple of years removed from 9/11.
This episode played out like SEAL Team 6 with a psychic guiding their movements. Again, another quality episode!
Day 470: Apr 15, 2023
Season 2 Episode 17 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone is up on deck.
Not even psychic powers can make a long trek through the forest interesting.
Day 471: Apr 16, 2023
Now watching Episode 18 Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
I’m a huge fan of the Rocky saga (and to a lesser extent, the Creed trilogy). So I’m somewhat excited by this professional boxing plot where Johnny has a vision of a longshot contender dying in the ring.
Ladies & gentlemen… We’ve got ourselves a training montage. But the music isn’t exactly “Eye of the Tiger”.
Day 472: Apr 17, 2023
I’ve reached the final episode of Season 2 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
There’s gotta be a cliffhanger here. I wonder what it’ll be.
This dark-hooded fella has popped up randomly in a few episodes this season. There’s been no clues given who he is or what he wants. But it seems like the season finale is now going to revolve around this mysterious figure.
Is that a young Mark Wahlberg?
I just checked IMDB and no, it’s some other actor. But I swear they could be brothers!
Johnny’s running around a construction site without a hard hat. There’s no way he wouldn’t have been stopped by somebody the minute he stepped into the area – especially in New York where this episode is supposedly based.
The plot of this episode is bonkers.
So Johnny is having visions of this guy from the future who in turn is having visions of Johnny. This future fella also just happened to have woken up from a coma with powers.
But this guy is from a post-apocalyptic future and is negotiating with Johnny to give him info about what happened in exchange to checking in on his wife and kid.
My brain hurts.
And with this shocking reveal of a magazine cover from the future, we have our season-ending cliffhanger.
Day 473: Apr 18, 2023
Now starting with Season 3 of USA Network’s The Dead Zone.
The first episode kicks off a 2-parter. Must be a big episode!
“The digital equivalent of a ‘hanging chad’”
Wow – haven’t heard the phrase “hanging chad” in a couple of decades!
The episode opens up with Greg Stillson and his cronies looking at tampered electronic ballot machines.
Is this the source of the “Stop the Steal” conspiracies 17 years later?
The writers certainly painted Johnny Smith into a corner in this episode! Good thing it’s a 2-parter.
Day 474: Apr 19, 2023
Watching Season 3, Episode 2 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
I’m 30 minutes into this episode and have yet to find a screencap or short clip to share. Very underwhelming.
We know Johnny is going to get out of prison. But I find myself not caring if he does.
Hmmmm… This wrapped up in a very unsatisfying way.
So Rev Purdy, who’s been portrayed as a good guy up until now, is now implied to have masterminded the “suicide” of his accountant and managed to tie it to the death of Rachel, getting Johnny out of prison.
Not very plausible, but it is what it is.
Day 475: Apr 20, 2023
On to Episode 3, Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Nothing really to write about here. While searching for a missing girl, Johnny has numerous visions of the night of his own accident that sent him into a coma. There’s apparently some mysterious man that helped him crawl away from his overturned vehicle before it exploded.
I should have guessed, but the guy who helped Johnny out of his crashed vehicle was… a vision of Johnny from the future.
But if Johnny was injured enough to be in a coma for 6 years, he’s awfully lucid inside the car while all banged up.
Day 476: Apr 21, 2023
Up next is Episode 4, Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
This episode centers around a shock jock radio talk show host. Such a tired trope!
They finally decide to tell the kid that Johnny is his biological father.
“You’ve got two dads,” means something quite different in this series!
You’ve got to be cold-hearted if you weren’t moved by this scene.
“What am I supposed to call you?”
“Johnny. Just Johnny.”
Day 477: Apr 22, 2023
Now watching Season 3, Episode 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
I like the premise: Remember that government psychic squad that Johnny Smith helped a few episodes back? Well now there’s apparently some young woman out there who killing off psychics and Johnny’s her target.
By now, I should be used to the fact that the way things are set up at the beginning of the episode never turn out to be what they appear.
The young lady was actually on the run from a tech group that worked to take over the government psychic ops program. Then there’s this group of off-the-grid hackers (oxymoronic, no?).
Not a particularly good episode.
Day 478: Apr 23, 2023
Hitting the halfway mark of Season 3 with Episode 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny has gone from working with super-secret government psychic agencies thwarting international terrorism to spying on a potentially cheating Sheriff Walt at Sarah’s request.
No, Walt’s not having an affair. But he does have skeletons in his closet and asks Johnny to butt out of his affairs.
We’ve entered into a psychic soap opera zone here, folks.
Day 479: Apr 24, 2023
Now watching Episode 7 from Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
The plot of this episode involves a pair of twins who mess with Johnny by staging a fake murder that he thinks is real. But then one of the twins actually goes and commits a murder.
It was a stupid episode.
Day 480: Apr 25, 2023
Up now is Episode 8 from Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny (talking about his visions): “I have zero control over how these things work.”
His statement is blatantly untrue! Episode after episode, we see how he can pause a vision precisely where he wants, walk around a scene, zoom in to get missed details, etc. That was an utter bullshit thing to say.
This was a very soap-opera level plot. Johnny stops a wedding because he has a vision that the bride’s former fiancée (who was thought to have been killed years ago) was actually alive.
Sounds cheesy, but they wrote a rather effective script and executed it well!
The groom should’ve considered combing his hair for his own wedding day.
Day 481: Apr 26, 2023
Watching Episode 9 from Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
I’m officially halfway into the series – 40 episodes watched, 40 more to go!
Two very recognizable guest stars in this episode: Robert Michael Iler (the kid from The Sopranos) and Judge Reinhold.
As school restrictions and policies become more draconian, this episode became a rather heavy-handed morality play about the security state that developed in the aftermath of 9/11 (which was only 3 years prior to the airing of this episode).
Day 483: Apr 28, 2023
Next up is Episode 11, Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Lots of strip club action in this episode – rather risqué material for a USA Network episode.
Day 484: Apr 29, 2023
Finishing off Season 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
We’re at the season finale which means we’ll get another cliffhanger.
Oh, and creepy post-apocalyptic future dude is back.
This episode ties right back to the season opening two-parter (Finding Rachel) involving the mysterious murder of a young woman, an accountant for Rev Purdy’s org who was murdered but made to look like a suicide, and some shady shit going on between Purdy and Congressman Tillson.
Johnny has it all figured out now… and entire season later.
Ah – finally, the big twist at the end of the season.
Day 485: Apr 30, 2023
Kicking off Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Along the same lines of Spiderman 2 (2004), The Dead Zone Season 4 (2005) kicks off with the super-powered protagonist having lost his powers.
“My visions are gone.”
And, as usual, I fell for the fake-out. Johnny’s visions being gone was itself a vision. Damn it! The get me every time with that!
No!!!!! Didn’t Johnny know that was the SAME cane used by Stu Redman in The Stand???
Day 486: May 1, 2023
Watching Episode 2, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
This episode had strong “Silence of the Lambs” and Buffalo Bill vibes.
Day 487 May 2, 2023
Watching Season 4 Episode 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny runs into another person who has the gift of visions of the future.
Coincidentally, she turns out to be smokin’ hot.
The digital effects were a bit hokey, but this overall vision was a disturbing sequence – almost lifted directly from the movie “Candyman”!
Day 488 May 3, 2023
Next is Episode 4, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Gotta be honest, this season is REALLY dragging…
This episode, about a missing young artist and Johnny’s wandering around the world of art dealers, is really dull.
Day 489 May 4, 2023
Now watching Episode 5, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Will THIS be the episode that turns this season around for me?
Johnny connects with a severely autistic kid who is unable to verbally communicate. But Johnny is able to get a millions visions off of him through everything the kid touches.
This series has turned into a Scooby Doo murder mystery series, where the villain is discovered at the end who then spends 5 minutes explaining his perfect crime, “if it wasn’t for that meddling psychic”.
Day 490 May 5, 2023
Now playing Episode 6, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
The writers this season are producing one “nobody cares” plot line after another. Today, it’s about trying to locate some old rock star who supposedly died by driving his car off the cliff. But as has been done a dozen times before, Johnny sees he’s still alive and heads off to look for him.
The best part of this episode is that afterwards, I only have 30 more days (i.e. 30 more episodes) to go! I can do 30 standing on my head!
Day 491 May 6, 2023
Today I watch Episode 7, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Lourdes Benedicto plays an attractive INS agent working to save smuggled women from being suffocated in a shipping container.
She’s made a career playing roles in crime shows, but be on the lookout for her as she enters the MCU with Secret Invasion!
Day 492 May 7, 2023
Next is Season 4, Episode 8 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Another disappointingly dull episode from Season 4. Johnny stops a former science student from developing some new chemical material that will be used by Stillson in the future for some nefarious purpose.
Only 28 episodes, exactly 4 weeks, left in this series!
Day 493 May 8, 2023
Now watching Episode 9 of Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny’s dad is played by Michael Cudlitz, who later played the red-headed tough guy Abraham in The Walking Dead.
Quite an impressive explosion and building collapse for a USA Networks budget.
Day 494 May 9, 2023
Playing Episode 10, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Last episode, we dealt with Johnny’s dad. This episode focuses on Sarah’s father.
I think we’re witnessing some severe writer’s block in this season.
Day 495 May 10, 2023
Watching Episode 11, Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny gets involved with Congressman Stillson and his girlfriend.
And I’ve lost all caring.
Only a few more weeks of this series to go!
Day 496 May 11, 2023
It’s the final episode of Season 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Based on just the episode name alone, I hate it.
Only three minutes in and one can already tell that “A Very Dead Zone Christmas” is going to be “A Very Stupid Episode”.
This snowball scene went on for about 7 minutes. It’s what happens when the writers room runs out of steam and you still have to fill out the 41 minute long episode.
Day 497 May 12, 2023
Only 2 more seasons left! Now watching Episode 1, Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Johnny Smith getting smoochy with Congressman Stillman’s fiance. We’ve officially entered into “Days of Our Lives” soap opera territory.
Aaaaaand… she dead.
Day 498 May 13, 2023
Next is Episode 2 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
This episode opens with Johnny Smith having a “vision” of the waitress’s assets.
Johnny and Bruce are stuck on a highway that’s turned into a parking lot and everyone Johnny comes in contact with is going to die that day one way or another.
It was a decent episode – the first in quite a while! It had a surprise twist that wasn’t obvious from the beginning and a good, action-packed ending. I hope this portends better things to come for Season 5!
Day 499 May 14, 2023
Now watching Episode 3 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
It’s a really darkly lit version of Home Alone as two of the gangsters henchmen chase Johnny and some others throughout his own house.
I don’t know how they did it, but it looks like they cast George Carlin to play one of the bad guys in this episode. Right?
Day 500 May 15, 2023
My 500th consecutive day of exploring every nook & cranny of Stephen King’s creative output came and went without much fanfare.
Maybe when I hit 1,000 days, I’ll get some recognition from the master himself?
For now, I just settle in to watch Episode 4 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Smart move bringing back the attractive reporter from the first couple of seasons.
Now there’s a slogan that never seems to go out of freakin’ style… 😡
This episode had it all: Anti-abortion protests, white power groups, xenophobia, racism and closeted gay men afraid to come out to their families.
Was this episode released in an election year?
Day 501 May 16, 2023
Next up is Episode 5, Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
I swear, Sheriff Walt gets knocked out in every episode. With the number of concussions he’s had, he really shouldn’t be carrying a gun, let alone driving a car.
This whole episode is about the theft of a holy relic: John the Baptist’s index finger.
In this clip, Rev Purdy gives a monk the finger. Then the monk sniffs the finger.
I kid you not.
Day 502 May 17, 2023
Now watching Episode 6, Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
There’s an assassin with a gun to the head of two potential victims and the sheriff gives such a weak command to drop his weapon. He was so chillaxed about it.
These actors are really just going through the motions at this point.
Day 503 May 18, 2023
I see a faint light at the end of the tunnel as I watch Episode 7 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
That scream went on for waaaaay too long for the little tiny fall she had.
Day 504 May 19, 2023
Next up is Episode 8 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
As Johnny infiltrates a cult compound, the law decides to reenact the script written during the Waco, TX Branch Davidians raid.
Day 505 May 20, 2023
Now watching Episode 9 of Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
This was years before King would write “Revival”.
Day 506 May 21, 2023
Season 5, Episode 10 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone” is now on deck.
I swear this is the unluckiest family ever. Now Sarah has been kidnapped.
If I were a member of this inner circle, I would just stay home all day and never go out. Jeez.
Day 507: May 22, 2023
I’m finishing off Season 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”. After this, only one more season to go
Is “Oatees” cereal real or did they have to invent it for just this scene?
Day 508: May 23, 2023
Here we go with the final Season of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”. Seems like I’ve been stuck here forever!
They recast the kid, JJ. I wonder what the previous kid did to piss them off?
There’s a town festival and everyone Johnny touches is gonna die at some point during it, even as he scrambles around trying to save them.
Every time he saves one person, he touches another and that person is gonna die. Poor Johnny Smith can never get down time!
Spoiler Alert
Looks like Sheriff Walt bit the dust for real.
Now I wonder what THAT actor did to piss off the producers?
Day 509: May 24, 2023
Now watching Season 6, Episode 2 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Sheriff Walt’s body isn’t even cold yet and they’ve already replaced him with a… Revlon beauty model?
This is an important PSA: Don’t put all your personal shit on a WORK computer!
Day 510: May 25, 2023
Next up is Season 6, Episode 3 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
We’ve finally reached the end of the writers’ room creative juices. We’ve now got:
JOHNNY. IN. SPAAAAAAAACE!
All joking aside, this actually was quite a touching episode. They played the emotional strings of Walt’s death, the birth of Sarah & Walt’s child, the avoidance of a space shuttle disaster (the Challenger incident still haunts me to this day) – it all worked well.
I am surprised that this late in the game that they pulled off such a good episode. This might be the best one they’ve done since the airplane episode from Season 2!
Day 511: May 26, 2023
Now watching Season 6, Episode 4 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
They arrest the bad guy, thanks to Johnny’s vision.
But there’s still 16 minutes left in the episode, so that must mean… THEY’VE GOT THE WRONG GUY!
Day 512: May 27, 2023
Next up is Season 6, Episode 5 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
It’s a “Buried Alive” episode but not one that’s very interesting. The dynamic between Johnny and this new Sheriff is very bland as they race around various cemeteries looking for a fellow trapped below the dirt in a coffin.
Shock of shocks! They find the guy and rescue him in time.
And in what has to be the absolutely stupidest turn of events, Johnny ends up buried in the same coffin as the guy he was trying to save.
Day 513: May 28, 2023
Now playing Season 6, Episode 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
It’s “Murder on the Boring Express”.
I haven’t watched broadcast TV in years. Do they still do those stupid, distracting animated ads at the bottom of the screen DURING key moments of the show?
Day 514: May 29, 2023
I am down to the final seven episodes of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”!
Having completely run out of ideas, the writers have put Johnny back into a coma.
The only positive thing about this episode is the sweet hookup that finally happens between Johnny and Sarah.
Day 515: May 30, 2023
Now watching Episode 8, Season 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”!
No wonder Johnny keeps forgetting about the Stillson Apocalypse. Everywhere he turns, there’s another disaster about to happen that only he can prevent!
Johnny’s primary enemy in this episode is a Rube Goldberg series of unlikely events.
Day 516: May 31, 2023
Next is Episode 9, Season 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
In the dumbest plot line to date, a guy frames a priest for the murder of his wife. And then he confesses it all to Johnny with the bare minimum of questioning!
Day 517: Jun 1, 2023
Playing Episode 10 of Season 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
There’s good ole “whats-his-name”.
Oh yes, that’s Bruce. Where’s he been all season?
So in this episode, Bruce’s girlfriend gets kidnapped with a ransom demand that the girlfriend’s father, who’s a jockey, throw an upcoming horse race.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Day 518: Jun 2, 2023
Getting close to the end with Episode 11 of Season 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
In an otherwise dull episode with a plot I couldn’t care less about, there was a touching moment at the end when the psychic girl from last season discovers her birth mother for the first time.
Day 519: Jun 3, 2023
Now watching Episode 12 of Season 6 of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”.
Bringing up Johnny’s father in the second-to-last episode ever was quite a bold plot point.
Day 520: Jun 4, 2023
🎉🎉🎉
The final episode ever of USA Network’s “The Dead Zone”!
🎉🎉🎉
The Kingcast scored an interview with Anthony Michael Hall, star of “The Dead Zone” TV series!
Listening to Anthony Michael Hall recount his time as Rusty in National Lampoon’s vacation is riveting. He had to back for reshoots 8 months after principle photography wrapped up – but 8 months can transform a young man.
Chevy Chase busted his balls by saying to him, “Nice pimples. How’s puberty?” 😂 😂 😂
They are halfway through the episode and haven’t even begun to discuss The Dead Zone TV Series. You kind of get the hint that the Kingcast hosts hadn’t watched it ahead of time.
And I don’t blame them!
Learned that just like the movie, The Dead Zone TV Series was completely filmed in Canada. I would never have known from watching the show. Really makes one think how easily interchangeable much of the US is with Canada.
Now listening to Chat Sematary talk about The Dead Zone TV Series.
I’m impressed that the host, Deanna Chapman, also watched all 80 episodes. But she did it in a 2-week span! I, only the other hand, took exactly 80 days to accomplish this feat.
I might’ve broken down mentally if I had to binge-watch this show like that.
I’m so glad that I wasn’t the only one to see that at the beginning of the TV Series, Johnny used a walking stick that he never seemed to need. He was completely able run from here to there just find whenever the plot called for it!
And that wraps it up for this milestone step of my journey!
I leave The Dead Zone with a few thoughts and stats:
Number of items consumed: 108
Hours spent: 94
Days passed: 107
Movies watched: 1
TV Episodes watched: 80
Current ETA for completing the journey: July 2027
In summary, I found:
🟢 The book to be very good.
🟡 The movie to be slightly overrated.
🔴 The TV series to be a complete waste of time.
Step rankings (based on entire experience – not just the book):
1. The Stand
2. Doctor Sleep
3. The Shining
4. Night Shift
5. ‘Salem’s Lot
6. Carrie
7. The Dead Zone