Deadwood and Oz: DirecTV to Air Cancelled Series

Cementing their reputation for scooping up beloved cancelled series, DirecTV has announced that they’re going to be airing two more; Deadwood and Oz.

Deadwood is a historical-based drama, centered around an outlaw camp in the Old West. The HBO series was nominated for 22 Emmy Awards and won seven in its all too-brief 36 episode, three season run. The drama showcases the talents of thespians like Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Brad Dourif, W. Earl Brown, John Hawkes, Paula Malcomson, Dayton Callie, Leon Rippy, William Sanderson, Robin Weigert, Sean Bridgers, and Bree Seanna Wall. HBO committed to produce a pair of movies to wrap up the series but they never materialized, leaving the show without an ending.

Oz gives viewers a look into the harsh and often horrific world of the Oswald State Correctional Facility. The series ran for six seasons and 56 episodes on HBO. The large cast includes Kirk Acevedo, Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, Rita Moreno, Harold Perrineau, J.K. Simmons, Lee Tergesen, Eamonn Walker, Dean Winters, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Edie Falco, George Morfogen, Lauren Velez, B.D. Wong, Zeljko Ivanek, Zakes Mokae, Christopher Meloni, Kathryn Erbe, Luis Guzman, David Lansbury, Eddie Malavarca, Mark Margolis, J.D. Williams, Bill Fagerbakke, Scott William Winters, Granville Adams, Tom Mardirosian, Craig Grant, and Evan Seinfeld.

Which HBO series is better? Oz or Deadwood? Deadwood Oz I like them both equally. I don't like either one. View Results  Loading ...

DirecTV kept Passions alive when NBC cancelled it but that didn’t last a full year. More recently, DirecTV has been helping to keep Friday Night Lights alive by partnering with NBC to produce the show. The satellite television provider recently announced plans to begin airing short-lived network series like Smith, The Nine, and Eyes on the DirecTV’s exclusive Channel 101.

The provider will also be airing all episodes of Deadwood and Oz. This will mark the first time that either series has been run on television outside of HBO. As Variety reports, the shows’ gritty content, harsh language, and small episode count has limited interest by regular syndication outlets.

Patty Ishimoto, the 101 Network’s VP-general manager, said, “We are committed to bringing the highest-quality shows to our subscribers, and these are two of the most riveting dramas ever made for television.”

DirecTV will start airing both drama series on Sunday nights beginning May 31st. Episodes will also be offered via DirecTV’s on-demand service. They’ll run unedited, without commercial interruption, and in high-definition.