It has never been a particularly well-acted or written program, and some weeks it looks more like a spoof than a drama or horror concoction. Yet The Dead Zone (Sundays, USA Network, 9 p.m.) has become such a cable staple that it’s now into its fourth season and is riding the waves and popularity from The 4400.

The show is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, and follows the adventures of teacher Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall), who emerged from a six-year coma with psychic powers that enable him to solve complex cases, track long-missing people and occasionally even be employed by the government.

The new season has seen an expansion of a storyline that began near the end of last year, with Smith fighting both a future version of himself and fate while trying to prevent a murder, save himself and stop his girlfriend Rebecca Caldwell (Sarah Wynter) from ruining her life in obsessive quest for revenge.

Smith is also engaged in a battle with a power-hungry former Bible salesman turned legislator named Greg Stillson (Sean Patrick Flannery). Their fight, and other situations including the return of journalist and former romantic interest Dana Bright (Kirsten Dalton), will unfold over the course of the next 22 episodes, split into a pair of 11-show summer runs. Executive producer Lloyd Segan also told Zap2It.com that there will be a special Christmas edition of The Dead Zone that airs in December alongside a holiday version of Monk.

Sci-Fi catches ’Firefly’

The show chronicled the adventures of a transport ship called the Serenity, captained by Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillon). The show starred a number of actors currently seen in other shows, among them Adam Baldwin (The Inside), Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyk (Into The West) and Summer Glau (The 4400, as well as prominent character actors Gina Torres and Ron Glass. Whedon’s forthcoming film Serenity, based on the show, may also get some advance punch from the repeat showings.

Numbers game

The Shield finale drew an audience of 3.2 million, wrapping a season that ended with the show being basic cable’s top original series for 2005 in the coveted 18-49 demographic. The opening, commercial-free premiere of The Closer on TNT drew an even bigger audience, getting 7 million viewers and topping the 6.5 million that In The West garnered three days earlier. But it fell just short of USA’s The 4400, which still holds the record for total viewers of a debut episode on cable at 7.4 million.

Locally, CSI (WTVF-TV, Ch.5) edged out Dancing With The Stars (WKRN, Ch. 2) as the area’s most watched show, followed by Law & Order: SVU, a Primetime Live Special featuring an interview with Brad Pitt and Cold Case.