It's summertime, and used to be it was filled with repeats and all cable shows, but in the time of greediness, the networks have joined in and are throwing new shows out there like it's fall time. I'm gonna give you the quick rundown of the shows I'm looking forward to, and hopefully you'll check some of them out. I'm gonna try to recap a few as well.
Last night on TNT is The Closer and Saved both premiered. Because it's TNT they'll repeat it about 1023808108 times, so don't worry. I watched the first season of The Closer and it was excellent. It's procedural but with a nice through line. Kyra Sedgwick is adorable and sassy, and if you like Law and Order and procedurals like that, you'll probably like this. Plus it has some great, funny moments. Saved is the other show starring Tom Everett Scott. Not only he is yummy, but he's got some acting chops. He plays a paramedic, having quit in his quest to be a doctor just like his father, leading a fast paced, on the edge life, saving people and going to late night poker games. Look, I'm just watching it for Tommy.
Sunday June 11th, another amazing show started... Deadwood. If you haven't seen the past two seasons, get them on Netflix. It's on HBO so not only will it repeat a bazillion times, but they can curse, and boy do they ever. It took me a full season to get into the show because I had no idea what the hell they were saying. But it's like riding a bike, once you get it, you get it. Or better yet, did you ever see that episode of The Simpsons where Bart goes to Paris and doesn't understand the language. Finally, he's been there so long that he finally just starts speaking it fluently, not even realizing he's speaking it? That was funny as hell, and very much how Deadwood is. Plus, Timothy Olyphant plays a Wyatt Earp meets Doc Holiday character that's spectacular.
In the vein of The Amazing Race and The Da Vinci Code, both of which I love (haven't seen the movie, but loved the book), is Treasure Hunters. The teams are of 3, but are similar to The Race, they have pre-existing relationships. Brothers, best friends and even a mullet. Yes, I said mullet. The teams race around the world following clues that will eventually lead them to a treasure. Good thing is, the audience at home can participate in the hunt and win a treasure of their own at the end. I have no idea what that means, but it sounds fun. The show starts on Sunday, June 18th. Thank goodness, I need something to do on Sundays now that my beloved Grey's isn't on.
At the end of June, Spike TV's trying to branch out to scripted television. I don't watch Spike TV, didn't think I ever would, until they announced a series based on the Blade comics and movies. Unfortunately they didn't get the scrumptious Wesley Snipes. (not sure why, it's not like he's busy or anything) But they did get the next best thing, maybe ever better, rapper Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones from the short lived but amazing show Over There. I'm really looking forward to it.
Don't think I'm crazy but I'm kinda looking forward to Simon Cowell's America's Got Talent. It's sorta the same thing as American Idol but definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, Regis Philbin hosts for God's sake. Oh, and David Hasslehoff is a judge, along with Brandy and some British guy. It's sorta a clone of Idol and The Gong Show. The idea of someone being on stage and being forced off with a big buzzer is just awesome. It premieres on NBC on June 21st.
So you're really going to think I lost it when I tell you the next show I'm gonna try to watch. Making the Band 3. Yes, yes, I know, I'm crazy right? Over Thanksgiving weekend I was in Vegas. Was having a blast but while some of us were getting ready we had the television on and this dumbass show was on. Can you believe all five us in the room were entranced. Watched at least a few hours of it. That and Run's House, which also premieres its new season the same night. Yeah, the drama of having an all girl band run by P. Diddy Puff or whatever his name is isn't really that appealing, but I'm gonna give it a try. If anything we'll see some dumb girls in high heels either falling, getting into a fight, or having some really messed up outfit on. Run's House, all about the "Run" in Run DMC, was really good last season. His kids are just spoiled enough to be intriguing, but not so spoiled I want to kick them in the crotch. That's always a good thing, not wanting to kick people in the crotch.
Sci Fi is also premiering some great shows too. Not only is Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis back (July 14th), but a new show called Eureka will begin July 18th. The "Gates" are staple Sci Fi shows, but Eureka isn't in space or on some bizarre planet (although that'd be cool). It's about aU.S. Marshall who gets stuck in a town full of geniuses with his delinquent daughter and a whole bunch of awesome gadgets and experiments. Joe Morton is one of the co-stars and he rocks it as the local mechanic/rocket scientist. Also in the reality realm on Sci Fi is Who Wants to Be a Superhero. I think this is a great idea for a show. It's produced by comic book genius Stan Lee and a group of would be superheroes perform tasks to see who's the top superhero. The best thing is the costumes are completely made up by the person, not some savvy producer. Just by the open casting calls I saw on Leno and the local news it's sure to be hilarious. Look for that on July 27th.
On it's sister network, USA, a show called Psych begins. Simply, it's about a kid with amazing deductive powers that poses as a police psychic. That doesn't sound too interesting but I swear it's really good, funny and of course I like it because the lead guy's just adorable. The West Wing's Dule Hill is his straight man sidekick. That'll premiere on July 7th.
One more show that started last week is Windfall. It's about a group of twenty friends who end up winning the biggest lotto jackpot of about $380M. It's about $20M a piece. It's a bit soap opera like, with the woman from one couple still being in love with the guy from another couple. And a guy who wins the millions but can't cash the check because of some mysterious past so he gets some girl he just met to sign for him and he'll give her money. I saw the pilot, which was pretty good and plan to watch more, since there's really nothing else on.
I hope this is enough to get you excited about summer. It's usually such a dreary time for television, I'm glad networks are taking it seriously. And we can thank Beverly Hills 90210 (or maybe it was Melrose Place) for that, since it started premiering their shows in the summer with great results, however many years ago.
