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Summer Television Shows, Summer TV
 
Summer TV Preview
By: John Paulsen
06/03/2005
Updated: 06/13/2005

Television Home / Entertainment Channel / Bullz-Eye Home


I never quite got the summer TV of old. For years, the networks took a three-month break and just showed reruns of popular shows; the argument was that nobody watches TV in the summer. In the last few years there has been a renaissance of sorts -- seemingly led by HBO -- that has opened the floodgates for new (and good) summer programming. The truth is that people will watch TV all year…if it’s good. Most of the networks are now on the bandwagon, debuting new shows or new seasons of veteran shows. Here’s what I’m going to watch (or try to watch) this summer:


Must-Catch Vets

"Family Guy," FOX (6/5): Technically this on-again/off-again animated series returned in the beginning of May, but there are still 10 summer episodes left of this brilliant show.

"Six Feet Under," HBO (6/6): Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan Ball's series about a dysfunctional family that runs a funeral business is back for its fifth and final season.

"Reno 911," Comedy Central (6/14): An unscripted comedy following members of the Reno Police Department enters its third season. The first two seasons were excellent, but you can start watching (and laughing) in June without missing a beat.

"Rescue Me," FX (6/21): Denis Leary stars in this excellent dramedy about Engine 62 in New York City. If you haven’t seen season one, go out and get the DVDs. Stop reading now and go. Go!

"Monk," USA (7/8): An obsessive-compulsive detective fights crime in San Francisco. It’s funny, dramatic and quite touching.


Second-Chance Vets

"The 4400," USA (6/5): The first season of this alien-abductee drama left me lukewarm, but I like sci-fi, so I’m going to give it another shot.

"Entourage," HBO, (6/5): Surprisingly unfunny* for a comedy, this show does provide an interesting look at the Hollywood scene.
*After two episodes of season two, the show is markedly funnier this season. Jeremy Piven has always been great, but the writing for the supporting cast (mainly Drama and Turtle) is noticeably improved.


Must-See Rookies

"American Dad," FOX (6/5): From the creator of "Family Guy" comes this animated series about an odd family led by a security-obsessed father who works for the CIA. Hilarity should ensue.

"The Inside," FOX (6/8): Helmed by two former "Angel" producers, this show focuses on a female rookie FBI agent who is assigned to the Bureau’s Violent Crimes Unit, which is dedicated to investigating only the most heinous crimes.

"Into The West," TNT (6/10): Steven Spielberg serves as executive producer for this miniseries about the 19th century American West. If it is half as good as "Band of Brothers," it’s worth watching.

"Empire," ABC (6/28): This historical mini-series is set in 44 BC, around the time Julius Caesar is assassinated. With a reported budget of $32 million, this ambitious project has suffered several setbacks, but finally has been given a release date.

"Over There," FX (July): Producer Steven Bochco ("Hill Street Blues," "NYPD Blue") helms this drama about a platoon stationed in Iraq and their relatives at home. FX has put out some very good shows of late ("The Shield," "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck"), so this series definitely has promise.


Rookies Worth a Look

"The Comeback," HBO (6/5): Lisa Kudrow ("Friends") returns to television as a former B-list actress who agrees to star in a reality show following her attempted comeback. I’ll watch just about anything HBO puts out, so this one is on the roster.

"The Closer," TNT (6/13): Kyra Sedgwick ("Singles") stars as a CIA-trained police detective with a grating personality who is assigned to lead a special LAPD unit that handles high profile murders. The ads that have run indicate that the show might be a clunker, but I’m willing to give it an episode or two.

"30 Days," FX (6/15): Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me") hosts this one-hour documentary series that will put an individual into an unfamiliar situation for 30 days. I’m not a fan of reality TV, but this sounds somewhat interesting.

"Stella," Comedy Central (6/28): Michael Ian Black ("Ed"), Michael Showalter and David Wain star in this scripted adaptation of the trio’s popular stage show, which follows the misadventures of a trio of "modern-day Marx Brothers."

"Wanted," TNT (7/31): Gary Cole ("Office Space," "The West Wing") stars in this drama about an elite team of crime fighters who form a covert, undercover strike force to help track down Los Angeles' 100 most-wanted fugitives.


Questions or comments? Email John at jpaulsen@bullz-eye.com.



 

 


 

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