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Although “The 4400” might seem like an “X-Files” clone (right down to the Canadian locations that stand in for America and the same pool of Canadian actors that appeared in many episodes of “The X-Files”) but beyond the initial premise, the two shows diverge on considerably different paths. A comet is detected rushing on a collision course with Earth. The United States and other countries launch missiles to take it out but fail to even slow it. Suddenly, the comet changes speed and course. That’s when Homeland Security Agent Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”) and her boss Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote of “E.T.”) realize it isn’t a comet. Whatever it is stops around the lake of Mt. Rainer in Washington. Suddenly, a huge ball of light explodes depositing 4400 humans on the shore of the lake. All of these 4400 people were abducted over the last 60 years. To them it seems as if it is only moments after their abduction. Among those abductees is Homeland Security Agent Tom Baldwin’s (Joel Gretsch from “Taken”) nephew Shawn. Shawn disappeared he was with Tom’s son Kyle. Kyle’s been in a mysterious coma for the last three years. Tom asks his former boss Dennis to assign him to the case in hopes that he might find an answer as to what happened to Kyle. ***

Created by Scott Peters (“The Outer Limits”, “Highlander”), Rene Echevarris (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) and produced by Francis Ford Coppola with Ira Steven Behr (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, “The Twilight Zone”) and David Hewitt Wolfe (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, “Andromeda” and “The Dead Zone”), “The 4400” offers a lot of potential with a clever premise that begins to take shape within the pilot episode. Although the first couple of episodes suggest that “The 4400” will be nothing more than a variation on “The X-Files” by the stunning conclusion of the first season, you’ll view the series in a different light. The top notch writing, direction and production made “The 4400” one of the most successful non-network series of 2004. ---

Sadly, there are no extras included here. A making of featurette or interviews with the production crew/cast would have been welcome. My guess is that we’ll see a re-release with extras once the second season premieres and concludes. ---