USA Kills ‘Dead Zone,’‘4400’
Eroding Viewership, New Series Are Reasons Behind Cancellations
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 12/20/2007 4:48:00 AM
Two of USA Network’s long-running original series, 4400 and Dead Zone, will not return for new seasons in 2008, according to USA Network officials.
Dead Zone, which starred Anthony Michael Hall as a man with psychic powers, debuted in 2002 as basic cable’s most-viewed series ever at the time with 6.4 million viewers but suffered gradual audience declines over its six year run. The one-hour drama finished its final season this past summer averaging 2.3 million viewers –well below the 4.1 million the show garnered in its first season, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The 4400, which chronicled the lives of 4,440 people who returned to earth after being abducted by aliens, actually outdistanced Dead Zone’s series debut viewership record in 2004 by pulling in 7.4 million viewers in the first of its six-episode limited season. Overall, The 4400’s freshman season averaged 6.1 million viewers, but the series could only muster 2.4 million viewers on average in its fourth and final season this past summer.
“We wish we could keep all our great shows alive forever, but we feel we need to give some of our new shows a platform to grow,” Jeff Wachtel, USA executive vice president of original programming, said in a statement. “It's with great sadness that we say goodbye to two shows that had a great run and helped create the resurgence of original programming on our network and on all of cable.”
USA’s other series, writers strike permitting, would include a seventh season of Monk, a third season of Psych and the sophomore run of Burn Notice. Its new entries are In Plain Sight, To Love and Die and The Starter Wife, which emanated from the limited series the “characters” network premiered last May and June.
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That is really awful that you have canceled dead zone it was one of my and the whole families favorite. Michael Anthony Hall is also a favorite of ours. This was one of the better shows out there and we could hardly wait to see what would happen next. Not to mention the fact that you left us all waiting to see what would happen and now you just drop it that just isn't right.
Kathy S - 6/8/2008 10:38:00 PM EDT -
These were two of my favorite shows. Goes to show you that you shouldn't watch networks like USA because just when they have you hooked, they pull the plug on your nightly escape from reality. Boo!
Willie Q - 12/28/2007 10:54:00 AM EST -
I will say this, USA is not the only channel pulling shows that have been there forever, and the unfortunate thing is that they're not replacing it with any thing worth watching. Of all those "wonderful" shows that were named as being a replacement for shows like 4400 and Dead Zone, I won't watch any of them. Too bad you made it necessary to add USA to the list of channels to avoid.
Stacy Lang - 12/21/2007 10:31:00 AM EST -
Dead Zone's season finale pretty much ended the series anyway - so I guess the psychic powers kicked in and they knew in advance. Would be nice if USA did an ending to the 4400, maybe as a 2-hour movie. Just as a thank you to those of us who did watch.
bob goldman - 12/21/2007 7:53:00 AM EST
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