The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone -
USA Network Television






Anthony Michael Hall is Johnny Smith (pictured above), a psychic who awoke from a deep coma with abilities he never had before. Based on the Stephen King novel, "The Dead Zone" is in its sixth season. The basic story is the same: Johnny helps people by predicting and averting their dire futures. And he's better than a police lie detector at reading people's past alibis too, so he's pretty helpful to Sheriff Walt Bannerman (Chris Bruno), at least in the first few seasons.

Hall is likeable and strong as Smith, finally shedding his earlier adolescent typecasting (remember "Sixteen Candles" and "Weird Science"? And then remember him buffing up for "Edward Scissorhands"? Please don't say you're too young!) Unfortunately though, the overall show is a little boring. The dialogue gets too maudlin sometimes and it just doesn't grab the attention the way the original book does. To be fair, the novel is one straight story and the series has to stretch out several episodes in several seasons. Still, the writers don't quite make it interesting enough, in spite of placing Johnny and gang in different and sometimes dangerous situations every week.

So you're not really missing much, although it's not terrible. It's more of a show you'll watch if it's on, but will be fine if it gets preempted for some reason.

Directors:
Jon Cassar
James A. Contner

Writers:
Joel Metzger (writer)
Katie Wech (staff writer) (2007)

Primary Cast:
Anthony Michael Hall ... Johnny Smith (75 episodes, 2002-2007)
Chris Bruno ... Sheriff Walt Bannerman (58 episodes, 2002-2007)
John L. Adams ... Bruce Lewis (53 episodes, 2002-2007)
Nicole de Boer ... Sarah Bracknell Bannerman (50 episodes, 2002-2007)
David Ogden Stiers ... Rev. Gene Purdy (37 episodes, 2002-2007)
Bill Mondy ... Deputy Roscoe (31 episodes, 2002-2006)


Read the original Stephen King book:
The Dead Zone (Signet) Read more!

Medium

Medium - NBC/Lifetime
a kate west recommendation




I have to admit I didn't love this show at first. I thought it was boring and implausible. But it grew on me. And who doesn't want to believe in the after life? Patricia Arquette (pictured above) is Allison DuBois, a psychic working (unofficially, of course) for the District Attorney's office. The show is based on a real life Allison DuBois, who claims to be the real deal. I like the way those from beyond send Allison clues and messages in dreams and it's up to her to interpret them. Cool format to introduce each episode. And that's probably the way it supposedly works in real life. But mostly Arquette gives such a real performance as a mother and wife, that I bought into it.

Then there's Allison's yummy husband. Jake Weber as Joe DuBois (pictured right). He is a lovely intellectual (an engineer helping out little projects for space, etc.).

I also like all these juicy parts for "older" women who get fewer movie roles (for no particular good reason whatsoever). Kyra Sedgwick on "The Closer", Holly Hunter on "Saving Grace" and Lili Taylor on "State of Mind". Good for them. Three seasons into "Medium", I decide to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the show - there's a lot to think about here.

•Patricia Arquette - Allison DuBois
•Miguel Sandoval - D.A. Manuel Devalos
•David Cubitt - Detective Lee Scanlon
•Sofia Vassilieva - Ariel DuBois
•Maria Lark - Bridgette DuBois
•Jake Weber - Joe DuBois

Production
• Glenn Gordon Caron Creator
• Kelsey Grammer Executive Producer (yes, from "Frasier")
• Glenn Gordon Caron Executive Producer
• René Echevarria Executive Producer
• Ronald L. Schwary Executive Producer
• Steve Stark Executive Producer


The First Season:
Medium - The Complete First Season

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!

Supernatural

Supernatural - WB Network
a kate west recommendation




Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki of "Gilmore Girls" and Jensen Ackles) are two crime-fighting brothers. The twist in this case, is that the criminals are other-worldly. In three seasons, the boys lost their dad, John Winchester (sexy Jeffrey Dean Morgan from "Grey's Anatomy"), tracked down the demon responsible for killing their mother and Sam's girlfriend and helped a heck of a lot of damsels in distress along the way.

It's a pretty basic show about ghost hunters and it's the charisma of the actors that makes the show work. That, and the fact that all three - dad and boys - are scrumptious to look at make the show all the more fun. Supernatural mavens rejoice.

Cast:

Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles - pictured above right)
Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki - pictured above left)
John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

Series Directed by
Kim Manners		(11 episodes, 2005-2007)
Robert Singer		(6 episodes, 2005-2007)
Philip Sgriccia		(6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Charles Beeson		(3 episodes, 2007)
Peter Ellis		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
David Nutter		(2 episodes, 2005)
Mike Rohl		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Writing credits
Eric Kripke		(40 episodes, 2005-2007)
Sera Gamble		(9 episodes, 2005-2007)
John Shiban		(9 episodes, 2005-2007)
Raelle Tucker		(8 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ben Edlund		(3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Cathryn Humphris		(3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Richard Hatem		(2 episodes, 2005)
Terri Hughes		(2 episodes, 2005)
Ron Milbauer		(2 episodes, 2005)
Matt Witten		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Trey Callaway		(2 episodes, 2006)

Starting Out:
Supernatural - The Complete First Season Read more!

Ghost Whisperer

Ghost Whisperer - ABC





This show is a harmless indulgence. Melinda Gordon sees dead people. Throughout three seasons, her lifelong mission is to help the newly dead find the light.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is adorable and sympathetic as Melinda, except for being married to such a hot husband (rrrrr), Jim Clancy (David Conrad). Her supportive husband knows all about her special gift and is totally fine with it as her real job. Except lately his character appears less and less (actors tiff?). Her day job is working in her own antique store (Same As It Never Was) with friend Delia Banks (Camryn Manheim). She had the challenging job of passing over her previous co-worker and friend Andrea Moreno (Aisha Tyler) the year before. Sometimes it sucks to be her.

It's a cute show and fun to indulge in ghost speculation. Jay Mohr is the helpful young professor sweet on Melinda, and her husband isn't even jealous (however it would be nice if instead of saying things like "between you and I", he would more properly say "between you and me". Thank you Professor of Academia.). Sure it's fluffy and corny (and OK, pretty saccharin), but could this show be cuter? The title says it all.


Ghost Whisperer Cast and Crew:
Jennifer Love Hewitt - (Melinda Gordon)
David Conrad - (Jim Clancy)
Aisha Tyler - (Andrea Moreno)
Jay Mohr - (Professor Rick Payne)
Camryn Manheim - (Delia Banks)

Production Credits:
Mark Snow (Composer (Music Score)
John Gray (Director)
John Gray (Executive Producer)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (Producer)
John Gray (Screenwriter)

First Season:
Ghost Whisperer - The Complete First Season Read more!

Pee-wee and Poltergeist

Pee-wee's Big Adventure
and Poltergeist
a kate west reflection





The 1980's were the cinematic frivolous response to the heavy hitting 70's power movies. And my generation loved them. In particular, my brother and I loved "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Poltergeist". To this date, we can pretty much quote every line. To view them again as an adult is to trip down nostalgia lane and find that they still stand the test of time.

Tim Burton is now an established Gothic director and his "Pee-wee" film is as far away from that style as you can get, but still holds fascination. It is a well-made version of the manic Pee-wee world, created from the "Pee'wee's Playhouse" television show and as a character from the reputable Groundlings Theatre main show.

Basically, Pee-wee is a child in a grownup's body, living in a world as a child might see it, with scary bad people trying to steal his bicycle, the one possession he holds most dear. The colorful universe he exists in delights the viewer and all those quotable lines ("I know you are, but what am I?" "I love that story!" "I like you Dottie, LIKE!") are embedded in our collective consciousness forever, for better or for worse. Objectively, it's a fine cinematic achievement and kudos to Burton for capturing that voice so well.

The late beloved Phil Hartman (also of the Groundlings, as well as Saturday Night Live) has a fun little cameo, as do many other notable celebs. That fact that the entire storyline revolves around Pee-wee's adventures in searching for his bike is yet another indication of the brilliant simplicity of the film. Plus it's just plain great fun.

Tobe Hooper supposedly directed the modern ghost classic "Poltergeist" but we all know that Producer Steven Spielberg had a heavy hand in it's execution as evidenced by many a suspenseful scene. The quintessential closeup of horror-stricken faces and the old-fashioned special effects may seem dated but again, are so powerfully engrained in our memories that we love them anyway.

The Freeling household needs to be purged of poltergeists when daughter Carol Anne (the late Heather O'Rourke) is missing. Apparently, she's still in the house, just in another dimension. Aided by supernatural experts, played by Zelda Rubinstein and the late Beatrice Straight, frantic mother Diane (JoBeth Williams) is finally able to get her baby back, after battling many dead things. It may seem tame by today's standards, but back then it was pretty scary stuff, especially little brother Robbie's (Oliver Robins) fight with a demented clown doll (shiver!)

Just be wary of those eerie words, "They're here!"

Pee-wee
Directed by:
Tim Burton

Writing Credits:
Phil Hartman
Paul Reubens
Michael Varhol

Cast:
Paul Reubens ... Pee-wee Herman
Elizabeth Daily ... Dottie
Mark Holton ... Francis
Diane Salinger ... Simone
Judd Omen ... Mickey
Irving Hellman ... Mr. Crowtray
Monte Landis ... Mario
Damon Martin ... Chip
David Glasser ... BMX Kid
Gregory Brown ... BMX Kid
Mark Everett ... BMX Kid
Daryl Keith Roach ... Chuck (as Daryl Roach)
Bill Cable ... Policeman #1
Peter Looney ... Policeman #2
Starletta DuPois ... Sgt. Hunter
Professor Toru Tanaka ... Butler
Ed Herlihy ... Mr. Buxton
Ralph Seymour ... Francis' Accomplice
Lou Cutell ... Amazing Larry
Raymond Martino ... Gang Member
Erica Yohn ... Madam Ruby
Bill W. Richmond ... Highway Patrolman
Alice Nunn ... Large Marge
Ed Griffith ... Trucker
Simmy Bow ... Man in Diner
Jon Harris ... Andy
Carmen Filpi ... Hobo Jack
Jan Hooks ... Tina
John Moody ... Bus Clerk
John O'Neill ... Cowboy #1
Alex Sharp ... Cowboy #2
Chester Grimes ... Biker #1
Luis Contreras ... Biker #2
Lonnie Parkinson ... Biker #3
Howard Hirdler ... Biker #4
Cassandra Peterson ... Biker Mama
Jason Hervey ... Kevin Morton
Bob McClurg ... Studio Guard
John Paragon ... Movie Lot Actor
Susan Barnes ... Movie Lot Actress
Zachary Hoffman ... Director
Lynne Marie Stewart ... Mother Superior
George Sasaki ... Japanese Director
Richard Brose ... Tarzan
Drew Seward ... Kid #1
Brett Fellman ... Kid #2
Bob Drew ... Fireman
John Gilgreen ... Policeman at Pet Shop
Noreen Hennessey ... Reporter (as Noreen Hennessy)
Phil Hartman ... Reporter
Michael Varhol ... Photographer
David Rothenberg ... Hobo
Patrick Cranshaw ... Hobo (as Pat Cranshaw)
Sunshine Parker ... Hobo
Gilles Savard ... Pierre
James Brolin ... Himself - as 'PeeWee'
Morgan Fairchild ... Herself - as 'Dottie'
Tony Bill ... Terry Hawthorne
Dee Snider ... Twisted Sister / Dee Snider (as Twisted Sister)
Milton Berle ... Himself (uncredited)


Poltergeist Cast

• Craig T. Nelson, Steven "Steve" Freeling
  
• JoBeth Williams, Diane Freeling
  
• Oliver Robins, Robert "Robbie" Freeling
  
• Heather O'Rourke, Carol Anne Freeling
• Dominique Dunne, Dana Freeling
  
• Zelda Rubinstein, Tangina Barrons, Clairvoyant
• Beatrice Straight, Dr. Lesh
  
• Richard Lawson, Ryan
  
• Martin Casella, Dr. Marty Casey
  

Watch It:
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (Widescreen)

My Other Obsession:
Poltergeist (25th Anniversary Edition)

www.groundlings.com Read more!