(steam train whistle)

Clear!

(buzzing and crackling)

(heartbeat thumping)

It's alive, it's alive!

Beware!

Old network TV shows are coming back to life

in a strange new form.

It's called an event miniseries.

24 Live Another Day premieres on May 5th.

Keifer Sutherland and crew are back for a dozen episodes.

Shouldn't they change the name from 24 to 12?

Meanwhile, Heroes will be reborn as Heroes Reborn.

It just got a 13 episode limited renewal

that'll air in 2015.

Okay seriously, which of you sent letters demanding that?

Because we need to have a talk.

The networks may call

these partially reprieved programs miniseries,

but a dozen or so episodes,

that's actually the length of a full season on HBO or AMC.

Maybe the networks are finally catching wise to the fact

that 24 episodes per season is just too damn many!

When you've got to fill out two dozen episodes,

bad things happen!

Story arcs slow down and meander around.

Top quality actors shy away from signing on

because of the time commitment.

Now, I'm not sure we need to see more shows

brought back from the dead,

but I can think of a lot of shows on TV

that would benefit from being boiled down

to a succinct event miniseries.

I'd actually care who Red John was

if the Mentalist had fewer twists and turns and reversals.

Networks, I demand that you give me less!

What series would you like to see trimmed down?

I, myself, could have done

with 10 or 20 fewer episodes of Lost.

Let me know in the comments

and subscribe to the Wired channel.