A&E Reopens BATES MOTEL, Mother.

Looking to keep pace with other networks A&E has skipped the pilot episode stage and gone ahead and ordered 10 episodes for the series Bates Motel, a prequel series to Alfred Hitchcock's seminal horror film Psycho. The series is said to explore the formative years of one Norman Bates, his relationship with his mother, Norma, and his rise to becoming a serial killer.

Lost Executive Producer Carlton Cuse and Friday Night Light's Consulting Producer Kerry Ehrin will be the show runners.

"We are proud to be partnering with Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin on their thrilling reinvention of one of the most compelling characters in cinematic history," A&E president and GM Bob DeBitetto and A&E exec vp programming Dave McKillop said in a joint statement announcing the news Monday. "It's a provocative project from two of the best storytellers in the business and we're looking forward to getting started."

Production and casting are to begin right away so the show can premiere in 2013. THR says in its report that Bates Motel has "...been dubbed as a cross between Twin Peaks and Smallville." Um. Okay. Those two shows could not be further apart. If you say so.