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Monday, June 02, 2008

What to watch this summer

Photos: Saving Grace, Psych and My Boys


by Jennifer Squires Biller

Summer is here, Tubers! And when you’re not dipping your toes in the pool or the sand at the beach or in the backyard to grill some burgers, you may want to settle down and watch some quality television.

I know. You don’t normally think of summer as the season for quality television. Well, folks, times have changed.

The past few years, cable networks have stepped up with spectacular summer programming that in some cases puts many of the networks’ fall shows to shame. I’m talking about shows like Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, Saving Grace and Psych, to name a few.

There are a couple summer shows that I wanted to watch last summer, but I just didn’t have time. (I know. I’m a bad TV blogger.) I was particularly interested in My Boys and Mad Men, as well as catching up on Burn Notice. I’m hoping to get on board with those before they debut their new seasons this summer. (A special thank you to TNT and TBS for making part of that effort easier by sending one of the coolest marketing packages ever: comfy Pajama Gram pajamas and pilot episodes and back episodes of shows like My Boys, The Closer, and Saving Grace. Honestly, more networks should do this. It’s tough to talk myself into watching a show when I’ve missed the first season, so sending the best episodes from that season is a sure way to get me hooked. Bravo TNT and TBS!)

So, the good news is that there are plenty of shows for every TV lovers’ taste. Million Dollar Password, one of my favorite game shows as a child, is back on CBS for game show fans. Drama lovers have Saving Grace, The Closer, and Burn Notice. Those who prefer comedy, don’t miss My Boys, Psych, and Monk. (Sadly Psych and Monk don’t return until July though.)

The only bad news here is that Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck on FX aren’t on the summer schedule at all. They’ll return in the fall or winter.

I know you’ve probably got better things to do this summer than watch television, but if you’re on the lookout for some quality shows, you do have some great choices. My picks are in red below with the debut dates. As you know, I rarely pimp reality shows because I detest them, so my picks mostly are for quality scripted shows. It's my blog, so I go with what I love. (My apologies to reality show junkies.) Enjoy!

Sunday, June 1
Million Dollar Password, 8 p.m., CBS
In Plain Sight, 10 p.m., USA
The Next Food Network Star, 10 p.m., Food Network

Monday, June 2
Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, 10 p.m., MTV
The Mole, 10 p.m., ABC

Tuesday, June 3
30 Days, 10 p.m., FX

Wednesday, June 4
Tyler Perry's House of Payne, 9 p.m., TBS
She's Got the Look, 10 p.m., TV Land

Thursday, June 5
Fear Itself, 10 p.m., NBC
Swingtown, 10 p.m., CBS

Friday, June 6
Meerkat Manor, 9 p.m., Animal Planet

Saturday, June 7
America's Best Dance Crew, 10 p.m., MTV

Sunday, June 8
Design Star, 9 p.m., HGTV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 9 p.m., USA
Army Wives, 10 p.m., Lifetime

Monday, June 9
Nashville Star, 9:30 p.m., NBC

Wednesday, June 11
Celebrity Circus, 9:30 p.m., NBC

Thursday, June 12
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, 8 p.m., FOX
The Bill Engvall Show, 9 p.m., TBS
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, 9 p.m., Bravo
My Boys, 9:30 p.m., TBS

Monday, June 16
The Middleman, 8 p.m., ABC
FamilyWeeds, 10 p.m., Showtime
Secret Diary of a Call Girl, 10:30 p.m., Showtime

Tuesday, June 17
America's Got Talent, 9 p.m., NBC
Flipping Out, 10 p.m., Bravo
Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, 10 p.m., Oxygen

Wednesday, June 18
Black Gold, 10 p.m., TruTV

Thursday, June 19
Penn & Teller: Bulls--t!, 9 p.m., Showtime

Tuesday, June 24
Wipeout, 8 p.m., ABC
America's Got Talent, 9 p.m., NBC

Wednesday, June 25
The Baby Borrowers, 8 p.m., NBC
Shear Genius, 10 p.m., Bravo

Friday, June 27
Dance Machine, 8 p.m., ABC

Sunday, June 29
The Factory, 10 p.m., Spike

Tuesday, July 1
Celebrity Family Feud, 8 p.m., NBC
Secret Life of the American Teenager, 8 p.m., ABC
FamilyI Survived a Japanese Game Show, 9 p.m., ABC

Thursday, July 10
Greatest American Dog, 8 p.m., CBS
Burn Notice, 10 p.m., USA

Friday, July 11
Flashpoint, 10 p.m., CBS
Stargate: Atlantis, 10 p.m., Sci Fi

Sunday, July 13
Big Brother, 8 p.m., CBS
Generation Kill, 9 p.m., HBO
I Love Money: Challenge Show, 9 p.m., VH1

Monday, July 14
The Closer, 9 p.m., TNT
Saving Grace, 10 p.m., TNT

Thursday, July 17
Reality Bites Back, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
The Gong Show With Dave Attell, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central

Friday, July 18
Monk, 9 p.m., USA
Psych, 10 p.m., USA

Sunday, July 20
High School Musical: Get in the Picture, 8 p.m., ABC

Monday, July 21
Wanna Bet?, 9 p.m., ABC

Sunday, July 27
Jingles, 9 p.m., CBS
Mad Men, 10 p.m., AMC

Tuesday, July 29
Eureka, 9 p.m., Sci Fi
Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

July 18 for Monk and Pysch? UGHHH!!!! That's too long.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you mentioned Nashville Star, that is my favorite show. I can't believe it's been 6 seasons already! The show is moving over to NBC though so hopefully more people will know about it. Mondays at 9pm, I can't wait. Billy Ray Cryus is hosting, who seems to be blowing up, but mostly because of his scandalous daughter. Either way, there's a lot of good talent on this show, everyone should watch it. Good call Tube Talk!

Anonymous said...

Dude, everyone knows the best thing to watch this summer is AMERICAN GLADIATORS, Crush is so damn hot! Check out this video of her jousting it up...

http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/video/#mea=258326

Watch AMERICAN GLADIATORS on Monday at 8/7c

tube talk girl said...

I love Billy Ray TV Addict! He was a hoot on Dancing With the Stars.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

It's all about Celebrity Circus on June 11th on NBC. Who else likes Stacey Dash?

Anonymous said...

America's Got Talent anyone? That's my favorite of the shows mentioned, and the new season starts back up tomorrow night!

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