So here we are at the end of another television season. We're all exhausted from watching all of the finales, whether it was American Idol or The Office or Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives (there's still one biggie left to come next week: Lost!), and we're ready to take the summer off and enjoy cheeseburgers and the beach and fireworks and road trips, making sure we don't turn on our televisions unless it's for the news or maybe some daily soaps.
Of course, television doesn't really work that way anymore. There is no complete summer hiatus on the networks anymore. They all have reality shows and new scripted shows too, both network and cable. Here are the four shows that I'm most looking forward to watching this summer, and - God help me - there's one reality show in the mix.
1. Mad Men (AMC): This is part of the new Thursday "Must-See TV" for me (along with 30 Rock and The Office), and I named it the best TV show for a reason: nothing else comes close when it comes to the overall writing, acting, directing, and cinematography of this look at a NYC ad agency in 1960. It's so good it makes me want to take up smoking, and get married just so I can cheat on my wife! The new season starts in July.
2. Burn Notice (USA): I'm so happy this show got a second season. It's a real throwback to the loner hero-type shows that we used to see in the 80s. Jeffrey Donovan plays an ex-spy who settles in Miami and tries to find out who screwed him out of a job, all the while helping other people with their problems with the help of Bruce Campbell and Gabrielle Anwar. Simply one of the most entertaining shows to debut in years.
3. The Mole (ABC): There aren't many times I use the phrase "I'm going to watch a reality show," but this is one that will probably have me hooked. Now, it's in that special category of reality/game show, so that's probably why I like it. This new version won't have Anderson Cooper (he's on CNN now so Jon Kelley takes over), but it's also not one of those dreaded celebrity editions, so I bet this is going to be fun. Premieres on June 2 at 10.
4. Swingtown (CBS): I didn't realize that this show was going to premiere so early (June 5), but it looks like it's worth checking out. Swingers in '70s suburbia with probably lots of pot smoking and disco songs. I could do without the disco, but this could be so dirty that it's fun.
The rest of the summer will be spent catching up on episodes of John Doe I missed and watching stuff like Hulu and AOL Video. Oh, and tennis! How about you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-23-2008 @ 3:51PM
Tacocartguy said...
Criminal Intent anybody?
Is it me, or is Chris Noth just that darn handsome (not in a gay way--not that there's anything wrong with that)
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5-23-2008 @ 4:10PM
mike m said...
Numbers 1, 2, and 4, absolutely.
I'll also be watching the new series of Top Gear(June 15)
Then there's Psych and Monk and the new In Plain Sight. Britain's Got Talent is already on, of course, and America's Got Talent will start soon.
Top Chef and Ultimate Fighter are going to go into July it seems.
And depending on the cast, Big Brother.
This summer looks to be full of stuff to watch. Much better than Winter and even Fall, Summer, the past two years now, has shown to have quite the selection of shows to watch.
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5-23-2008 @ 4:19PM
Dave said...
Baseball.
Definitely NOT the olympics.
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5-23-2008 @ 4:52PM
Cody said...
Don't worry Dave, I will watch enough Olympics for both of us!
5-23-2008 @ 4:24PM
Saavik said...
Hmm . . . I guess I'll mostly be watching the Universal cable channels, with Monk, Psych and Criminal Intent (and maybe Burn Notice and In Plain Sight) on USA and the rest of the fourth series of Doctor Who on Sci-Fi. I'll also be watching Mystery! on PBS. (New episodes of Lewis and Lynley, yay! And I hope Alan Cumming will be a much better host than Gillian Anderson.)
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5-23-2008 @ 4:27PM
scott said...
I'd go with you on 1 and 4, but I am upset that the 4400 is not coming back this summer.
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5-23-2008 @ 8:29PM
MK said...
Has 4400 got cancelled? Bummer!!! I loved that show!
5-23-2008 @ 4:37PM
Toby Obie3 said...
Burn Notice, Mad Men, Psych, the rest of Doctor Who, Monk, In Plain Sight, and one that hasn't been mentioned yet - My Boys!
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5-23-2008 @ 4:46PM
John Howard said...
Actually, there's still two biggies next week.
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5-23-2008 @ 5:11PM
pass said...
Mad Men, Weeds, The closer and maybe Burn Notice.
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5-23-2008 @ 4:56PM
Andrew said...
The Mole! I'm so happy that show is coming back. Anyone who has a blind hatred of reality shows needs to give this one a try...
I will also be watching some NBA playoffs, Olympics, Ultimate Fighter, and maybe some Last Comic Standing when I'm bored.
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5-24-2008 @ 1:25AM
modenadude said...
I'm with you dude, I loved the Mole. Cannot wait for it. And 30 Days is also a show I'll be watching. Really great.
5-23-2008 @ 5:22PM
mj said...
Monk, Psych, and hopefully, Eureka, which is a good show. The Doctor, of course. Wire in the Blood, on BBCA, which is really, really good. Much better than CSI, or shows like that.
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5-23-2008 @ 5:37PM
mike m said...
I, too, will watch Doctor Who, but the shows been on now 7 weeks...it sucks it gets knocked off a week for Eurovision, but it'll be over by July.
I also forgot to mentioned The Apprentice. Sir Alan had better not pick Sophicles to win, or I'll be dumbstruck!
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5-23-2008 @ 5:37PM
mike m said...
I, too, will watch Doctor Who, but the shows been on now 7 weeks...it sucks it gets knocked off a week for Eurovision, but it'll be over by July.
I also forgot to mention The Apprentice. Sir Alan had better not pick Sophicles to win, or I'll be dumbstruck!
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5-23-2008 @ 5:44PM
CRVBOY said...
Burn Notice, what's left of Dr. Who, Battlestar, Next Design Star, Next Food Network Star...
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5-23-2008 @ 5:49PM
Jason said...
Big Brother 10, baby
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5-23-2008 @ 6:16PM
AL said...
Glad to see that there are still some John Doe fans out there. As for me, The Mole and BSG.
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5-23-2008 @ 6:38PM
Bash said...
Mad Men, The Closer, Monk, Psych, Stargate Atlan.. oh wait. They changed the schedule on that one. Seems kinda strange that there won't be any new Stargate on during the summer.
Burn Notice has become too stupid for me. I'd have to get really drunk to actually be able to stand another episode.
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5-23-2008 @ 6:49PM
Ryan said...
SYTYCD, The Mole, Doctor Who, Psych...
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