Summer TV Heats Up

 by: Anna Zapotosky

It used to be that once your favorite Fall television season finale had run, you were left feeling abandoned.  It would be a hot, sweaty eternity until your beloved shows would return.  Summer TV usually meant crappy TV.  Those days are long gone, as summer shows have become increasingly more anticipated and entertaining.  This summer’s lineup is no exception. 

What has seemingly become the standard, HBO doesn’t disappoint with season five of True Blood.  Season four finale left “Truebies” hanging for more and seeking answers to their burning questions.  It seems as though many of those who were considered dead will rise and the unknown fates will be revealed.  This season strays a bit from the norm, whereas past seasons had plots that focused on religion and government, this season will finally address the “Authority” that has been mentioned so frequently in the past.  Look forward to many new characters and story lines all while keeping the suspense and horror that makes it so addicting. 

Keeping on the HBO “must see” bandwagon is their debut of ‘The Newsroom’.  Oscar winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin dives into the world of broadcast journalism.  Most likely the debut of the new show will take a condescending view of the media.  Expect a ‘NewsRadio’ feel done with a Sorkin twist.  A typical script has 60 pages of dialogue; ‘The Newsroom’ averages 80.  Fast talking and witty best describe the beat of this debut.  Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterson and Emily Mortimer make up the all star cast, now the question remains, can Sorkin deliver?

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ust when you think that Charlie Sheen is gone for good, he returns and possibly better than ever.  In his new show ‘Anger Management’ (feel free to insert your own joke here) he plays “Charlie” (yes, again), a ex-baseball player who, in fury, broke a bat over his own knee ending his sports career and decides to become a shrink.  Despite being on FX, the network that brought you the insanity of ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Anger Management’ is a comedy that doesn’t have any of the shock factors, but overall is a well written show that has plenty of laughs.  Charlie’s clients will keep you smiling as you thank God you don’t have their anger issues. 

If you missed season one of Web Therapy on Showtime, you’re not alone.  This Lisa Kudrow show has gone under the radar and viewers are finally starting to catch up to one of the funniest shows of the summer. It actually started off as an online show.  How about that for a grass roots effort?  Entering season two, Kudrow plays a therapist who conducts her abbreviated (hilarious) sessions via iChat.  This season promises to be a winner with guests like Conan O’Brien and Meryl Streep.

If reality shows is what you crave, as usual, there are plenty of those this summer.  The standards are back ‘Master Chef’ (season three) and ‘Hells Kitchen’ (season ten) on Fox (can’t get enough of Chef Ramsey screaming?) but the real surprise winner comes wearing a ten gallon hat.  “Last American Cowboy’ follows real families working on cattle ranches in Montana (Animal Planet).  A long, long way from us here in Connecticut, yet eye opening to how the rest of our country lives.  If that sounds a little too deep for your taste, don’t worry, Snooki & JWow are back on their own ‘Jersey Shore’ spin off- Guaranteed to lower your IQ level by at least ten points.  Sex sells in ‘Bachelor Pad’ on ABC.  Take all ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ rejects, put them together under one roof and prepare for drama and very little clothing.  Turn the AC up and enjoy.

Summer TV Line-up:

“Secret Millionaire” – Season 3 – Returns Sun. June 3 at 8pm on ABC

“Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. June 3 at 9pm on ABC

“Drop Dead Diva” – Season 4 – Returns Sun. June 3 at 9pm on Lifetime

“The Glades” – Season 3 – Returns Sun. June 3 at 9pm on A&E

“Longmire” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. June 3 at 10pm on A&E

“Teen Wolf” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. June 3 at 11pm on MTV

“Hell’s Kitchen” – Season 10 – Returns Mon. June 4 & Tues. June 5 at 8pm on Fox

“MasterChef” – Season 3 – Returns Mon. June 4 & Tues. June 5 at 9pm on Fox

“Push Girls” – Season 1 – Premieres Mon. June 4 at 10pm on Sundance

“Pretty Little Liars” – Season 3 – Returns Tues. June 5 at 8pm on ABC Family

“Jane By Design” – Season 1 – Returns for part 2 on June 5 at 9pm on ABC Family

“Rizzoli & Isles” – Season 3 – Returns Tues. June 5 at 9pm on TNT

“Franklin & Bash” – Season 2 – Returns Tues. June 5 at 10pm on TNT

“Royal Pains” – Season 4 – Returns Wed. June 6 at 9pm on USA

“Necessary Roughness” – Season 2 – Returns Wed. June 6 at 10pm on USA

“Love in the Wild” – Season 2 – Returns Thurs. June 7 at 8pm on NBC

“Saving Hope” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. June 7 at 10pm on NBC

“Comedy Bang! Bang!” – Season 1 – Premieres Fri. June 8 at 10pm on IFC

“Bunk” – Season 1 – Premieres Fri. June 8 at 10:30pm on IFC

“True Blood” – Season 5 – Returns Sun. June 10 at 9pm on HBO

“Our America with Lisa Ling” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. Jun 10 at 10pm on OWN

“Tia & Tamera” – Season 2 – Returns Mon. June 11 at 8pm on Style

“The Secret Life of the American Teenager” – Season 5 – Returns Mon. June 11 at 8pm on ABC Family

“Bunheads” – Season 1 – Premieres Mon. June 11 at 9pm on ABC Family

“Dallas” – Season 1 – Premieres Wed. June 13 at 9pm on TNT

“Burn Notice” – Season 6 – Returns Thurs. June 14 at 10pm on USA

“Suits” – Season 2 – Returns Thurs. June 14 at 10pm on TNT

“Falling Skies” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. June 17 at 9pm on TNT

“Baby Daddy” – Season 1 – Premieres Wed. June 20 at 8:30pm on ABC Family

“Inside Men” – Season 1 – Premieres Wed. June 20 at 10pm on BBC America

“Futurama” – Season 7 – Returns Wed. June 20 at 10pm on Comedy Central

“The Soul Man” – Season 1 – Premieres Wed. June 20 at 10pm on TV Land

“The Exes” – Season 2 – Returns Wed. June 20 at 10:30pm on TV Land

“Snooki & JWoww” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. June 21 at 10pm on MTV

“The Newsroom” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. June 24 at 10pm on HBO

“The Great Escape” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. June 24 at 10pm on TNT

“Aqua Teen Hunger Force” – Season 9 – Returns Sun. June 24 at 11:45pm on Adult Swim

“Craft Wars” – Season 1 – Premieres Tues. June 26 at 10pm on TLC

“Wipeout” – Season 5 – Returns Thurs. June 28 at 9pm on ABC

“Anger Management” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. June 28 at 9pm on FX

“Wilfred” – Season 2 – Returns Thurs. June 28 at 10pm on FX

“Awkward” – Season 2 – Returns Thurs. June 28 at 10:30pm on MTV

“Louie” – Season 3 – Returns Thurs. June 28 at 10:30pm on FX

“Brand X with Russell Brand” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. June 28 at 11pm on FX

“Weeds” – Season 8 – Returns Sun. July 1 at 10pm on Showtime

“Episodes” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. July 1 at 10:30pm on Showtime

“Web Therapy” – Season 2 – Returns Mon. July 2 at 11pm on Showtime

“The Closer” – Season 7 – Summer Return Mon. July 9 at 9pm on TNT

“Perception” – Season 1 – Premieres Mon. July 9 at 10pm on TNT

“Opening Act” – Season 1 – Returns Mon. July 9 at 10pm on E!

“Trust Us With Your Life” – Season 1 – Premieres Tues. July 10 at 9pm on ABC

“White Collar” – Season 4 – Returns Tues. July 10 at 9pm on USA

“Covert Affairs” – Season 3 – Returns Tues. July 10 at 10pm on USA

“Final Witness” – Season 1 – Premieres Tues. July 10 at 10pm on ABC

“Damages” – Season 5 – Returns Wed. July 11 at 10pm on DirecTV

“The Franchise” – Season 2 – Returns Wed. July 11 at 9pm on Showtime

“Beverly Hills Nannies” – Season 1 – Premieres Wed. July 11 at 9pm on ABC Family

“Big Brother” – Season 14 – Returns Thurs. July 12 at 9pm on CBS

“The Real L Word” – Season 3 – Returns Thurs. July 12 at 10pm on Showtime

“Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse” – Season 2 – Returns Fri. July 13 at 9pm on TBS

“Leverage” – Season 5 – Returns Sun. July 15 at 8pm on TNT

“Political Animals” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. July 15 at 10pm on USA

“Breaking Bad” – Season 5 – Returns Sun. July 15 at 10pm on AMC

“Small Town Security” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. July 19 at 10pm on AMC

“Sullivan & Son” – Season 1 – Premieres Thurs. July 19 at 10pm on TBS

“3” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. July 22 at 9pm on CBS

“Bachelor Pad” – Season 3 – Returns Mon. July 23 at 8pm on ABC

“Design Star” – Season 7 – Returns Tues. July 31 at 9pm on HGTV

“Hell On Wheels” – Season 2 – Returns Sun. August 12 at 9pm on AMC

“Major Crimes” – Season 1 – Premieres Mon. August 13 at 10pm on TNT

“Boss” – Season 2 – Returns Fri. August 17 at 10pm on Starz

“Married to Jonas” – Season 1 – Premieres Sun. August 19 at 10pm on E!