What’s good on TV this summer? That’s the question I’ve been hearing from family, friends, and coworkers since the end of May sweeps, and to be quite honest, I’m still not sure how to answer. I keep hearing good things about Lifetime’s Army Wives, but after missing the first three episodes, I figured the ship had sailed without me. The third season of Kathy Griffin’s My Life on the D List was both hilarious and touching, but — bam! — it’s already finished. And while I’ve got a backlog of The Closer, Ice Road Truckers, and MI-5 on my DVR that I’m hoping will tide me over till my network favorites return in September, I decided last night that it was time to broaden my TV horizons — or run the risk of waking up in a cold sweat on my couch and discovering that I actually care about who wins season 2 of America’s Got Talent.
That terrifying premonition prompted a trek over to USA to check out The Dead Zone, a show that I’ll freely admit I haven’t watched since its first season. Unfortunately, last night’s episode found Anthony Michael Hall’s psychic hero Johnny (pictured) in a coma, which left his not-quite-charismatic love interest Sarah (Nicole de Boer) at the center of the action. How is it that this woman freely admits Johnny’s premonitions are almost always right, and yet, as she brings him into the ER of a nearly abandoned (and very creepy) hospital to treat a late-night bout of appendicitis, she ignores his groans of "I can’t stay here, I’ll wind up in a coma"? Sure, there were a couple nifty moments — like Johnny’s cryptic babblings of "freezing in Reno" eventually pointing Sarah to an icy storage unit in a hospital wing marked off for "reno-vation" — but there wasn’t a single twist in the story arc that wasn’t telegraphed from the very beginning. Well, except for that painfully pat denouement where the lonely patients woke up in the solarium and fell in love. Still, I’m wondering if I ought to give The Dead Zone one more chance to redeem itself (with an episode that has its main character in the foreground). And, more importantly, back to my original question: What’s good on TV this summer?
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Lots:
Mad Men on AMC
Burn Notice on USA
Kyle XY (ok, not as awesome as the two above, but still) on ABC Family
Heard John from Cincinatti (HBO) is interesting, but it’s not for me.
You already know this Michael but Damages, Damages, Damages. I am hooked after 1 episode. Also, Top Chef…, so you think you can dance and although I disagree, some people seem to like Mad Men.
My Boys on TBS is back tonight. Great show! I fell in love with it while watching a marathon of it yesterday.
USA’s offerings aren’t a bad lot. “The Dead Zone” is better than a lot of the reality TV offerings networks are showing. “Burn Notice” is okay and “Monk” is pleasant enough. I like “The 4400″ more but at this point it’d be hard to jump into, with its serialized nature. The best of the bunch, though, is “Psych,” which really cracks me up. Dule Hill is notably hilarious.
USA has the best to offer — “Psych” is my favorite, but I also love “The 4400,” “Burn Notice” and “The Dead Zone.” If you have to watch just one of them, watch “Psych” — it’s just so much fun to watch, and it’s full of pop culture (perfect for EW!)
“Rescue Me” on FX is awesome, but it might be hard to come in as a newbie. I’m also liking “Eureka” on SciFi and “Kyle XY” on ABC Family.
Here’s a weekly lineup for you:
Monday: Hell’s Kitchen FOX
Big Love HBO
Tuesday: Damages FX (I agree with you Bussy, it is awesome and I can’t wait for the season to unfold)
Wednesday: Rescue Me FX
Top Chef Bravo
Thursday: Mad Men AMC
I’m lost for Friday because I go to the movies. Those shows should tide your DVR for a while. But trust me on Damages…good show!
Burn Notice is well worth your attention for the summer. It’s amusing, breezy, and filled with fascinating characters.
I never miss Big Love. I never thought I’d get into a show about polygamy, but it’s just superbly acted and the storylines are very compelling. I missed Jericho the first time around so I’m glad CBS gave it a second chance–it’s good too. Doctor Who is a fun bit of escapism as well.
I like the anonymous person’s weekly lineup a LOT and it’s pretty much what i’ve been watching most of the summer (with Entourage on Sundays included.)
In fact, one of my favorite random moments on Entourage this season was Anthony Michael Hall showing up at a party at Drama’s condo and urinating off a balcony…seems like a better use of AMH than having him in a coma for 44 minutes.
Yes, it’s lame, but here we go. Making the Band 4 on MTV. It entertains me to no end. Puffy’s fight last week with Lori Ann – that was some good tv.
Obsessed with Top Chef. Sad that Kathy Griffin is over – her reading the phone book would make me laugh. My guilty pleasure, however, is Rock of Love on VH1. It’s got to be the trashiest show ever in life, but my is it good. Even better are the re-caps on the VH1 Celebreality blog!
The Dead Zone had been on a several-season story arc that involved a crooked politician who would somehow cause armageddon. They replaced the writers and abruptly ended that storyline, killing off a main character in the process (Walt), and sort-of shelving another (Bruce). This season has been just okay, but it’s better than most of what’s on TV. I also watch So You Think You Can Dance, and reruns of How I Met Your Mother.
This summer we’re enjoying:
The Closer
Burn Notice
Entourage
Damages
and I wish I could say ‘Deadwood’ but HBO was short-sighted and canceled it in favor of that John from Cinncinnati crap. *sigh*
Burn Notice (!!!!!)
Psych
Dirty Jobs
“Ice Road Truckers” has been a disappointment. Deadliest Catch has yet to be matched, much less surpassed.
Michael, the place to be this summer is BBC America. The GREAT shows I have found there:
Murphy’s Law
MI5
Gil Mayo Mysteries
Hex
And for comedy, they have the Graham Norton show. Not for the faint of heart, but it is funny. BBC America rules!
My weekly summer schedule:
Monday: Kyle XY
Tuesday: Eureka
Wednesday: Top Chef
Thursday: Burn Notice (and re-runs of Supernatural)
Friday: Psych
Saturday: nada (what’d you expect?)
Sunday: The Dead Zone (which is, I’ll admit, a little off this season).
The irony is, my tv-viewing schedule is actually fuller during the summer than during the “tv season” – I guess I just like quirky counter-programming.
I agree with previous posters…Hell’s Kitchen, Big Love, Top Chef, Rescue Me, Entourage, and Damages had a great first ep. I so badly wanted to love John from Cincinnati, but last night I was just hoping the hour would end already. At least Weeds is coming back to SHO soon! Oh yeah and if you like Hells Kitchen, check out kitchen nightmares on BBC America
I feel like I’m watching more stuff now than I did in season.
Dexter (for this reason I’m glad I picked up Showtime in anticipation of Californication)
Big Brother (Thursdays and on Showtime)
Top Chef
The Next Food Network Star (which has reached its disappointing conclusion)
State of Mind
Saving Grace
always Always ALWAYS Late Show with David Letterman
reruns of The Amazing Race
Oops, forgot Weeds reruns and the hilarious Scott Baio show.
I’ve been spending my tv time catching up on shows I never saw during the regular season. For me that’s: Friday Night Lights (it’s on north of the border), Jericho, and How I Met Your Mother.
Also been enjoying Flight of the Conchords.
How about Greek on Monday Nights!?!?!
Oh and though it’s only for a week, I never miss Shark Week either. Last night’s kick-off episode was terrifying.
I have been keeping up with only two shows this summer….1. Hells Kitchen and 2. Comedy Central’s funny funny funny show Lil’ Bush (any other Lil’ Bush fans out there?)
This summer, I’m all about PSYCH on USA and MY BOYS (whose 2nd season starts tonight). Dule Hill and the white guy (don’t know his name) are hysterical on PYSCH. The show is light and a great way to end the week on Friday nights (and yes I have no life–don’t judge me!). As far as MY BOYS, it’s another great, little subtle comedy. I just wish TBS would order more than 10 episodes per season.
I’m surprised at how much I’m loving summer TV. Tonight marks the return of “My Boys,” which I fell in love with last year. I also adore “The Closer,” “The 4400,” and “The Dead Zone,” though I am annoyed that DZ killed off one of its best characters. USA’s “Monk” and “Psych” are usually good for a laugh, but not appointment TV for me. I tuned into Lifetime’s “Side Order of Life” this weekend and I am hooked. That new Lili Taylor show “State of Mind” after it is pretty good too–the return of MSCL’s Brian Krakow (aka “pink shirt guy” on Felicity) got me to watch.
I can’t believe more posters haven’t said that this is the summer of Flight of the Conchords.
The Travel Channel – esp. Anthony Bourdain, Samantha Brown, Bizarre Foods
Survivorman and Man vs. Wild (even with the possible “cheating” scandal that’s brewing) are both amazing shows. I’m not sure if I should be amazed or disgusted that there are so many edible things in nature, regardless of their taste.
The second season of Big Love has been great! Great performances all around and no Emmy love which is surprising for an HBO show.
Flight of the Conchords, Rescue Me, Burn Notice, Kathy Griffin (probably her best season), Big Love, Scott Baio. Damages had a great episode 1 and Mad Men sits on my DVR at the moment.
The only good things on TV this summer are Doctor Who (Fridays on Sci-Fi) and Hell’s Kitchen. And I’m not too upset if I miss Hell’s Kitchen, either. Other than that, it’s pretty much whatever crap is on and not completely unwatchable.
More often than not, I read a book instead.