In the Heat of the Night: Summer TV Season is Here, and Despite Perennially Lofty Expectations Things Remain Much the Same
By Diane Werts, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Jun. 4–Summer is the new fall …
Summer is packed with original shows …
Summer is …
You know, that crucial season about which we annually opine how, this year, it’s going to change the way we watch television — forever!
Enough of that. The TV industry is changing, or not changing, or already changed in ways nobody can quite put their fingers on yet. Yes, cable has turned summer into its own personal playground over the past few years, and no, the networks haven’t come through with the brilliant summer series they keep promising to uncork.
Beyond that, we’re thinking you’d rather hear about the upcoming shows than see us gaze into our crystal ball one more time. If there’s one trend we actually can pinpoint this summer, it’s that cable channels aren’t resting on their single-series laurels, but instead employing existing hits to build entire nights of original offerings. TNT is using “The Closer” to launch the paramedic drama “Saved,” while USA is following “Monk” with its new fake-psychic hour “Psych.”
There. Prognostication over. Sneak peeks start now.
SERIES/SCRIPTED
Falcon Beach (ABC Family, preview Sunday at 8 p.m., premiere Monday at 10 p.m.) – A quiet New England town hosts heated summer romance among oh-so-pretty young people.
Lovespring International (Lifetime, Monday, 11 p.m.) – Improv comedy takes place at a dating service. Produced by Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”).
Windfall (NBC/4, Thursday, 10 p.m.) – Drama about a group of lottery winners including Jason Gedrick, Luke Perry, Lana Parrilla.
Hex (BBC America, Thursday, 10 p.m.) – The British “Buffy”: Boarding schooler imbued with powers from ancient artifacts is pursued by “fallen angels.”
Deadwood (HBO, June 11, 9 p.m.) – Ian McShane is back to ride herd on the ne’er-do-wells of the Black Hills frontier.
Entourage (HBO, June 11, 10 p.m.) – Hollywood star (Adrian Grenier) and his hangers-on start their third go-round.
Lucky Louie (HBO, June 11, 10:30 p.m.) – Stand-up Louis C.K. goes sitcom as a family-man mechanic in this modern-day “Roseanne.”
The 4400 (USA, June 11, 9 p.m.) – Third season continues the saga of “returnees” taken from Earth over a period of years. (Catch up with clip special “Unlocking the Secrets” Sunday at 10 p.m.)
The Closer (TNT, June 12, 9 p.m.) – Kyra Sedgwick keeps going after baddies in last summer’s biggest hit.
Saved (TNT, June 12, 10 p.m.) – Tom Everett Scott plays a slacker turned Portland paramedic.
The Dead Zone (USA, June 18, 10 p.m.) – Fifth and probably final season for Anthony Michael Hall’s creepily enabled crash survivor.
Broken Trail (AMC, June 25-26, 8 p.m.) – Western miniseries with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church.
Kyle XY (ABC Family, June 26, 8 p.m.) – A teen savant begins to explore his abilities.
Blade (Spike, June 28, 10 p.m.) – Kirk “Sticky” Jones segues from “Over There” to superhero status in this action movie spin-off.
Whistler (The N, June 30, 9 p.m.) – The death of an Olympic gold medalist sets off a ski mountain mystery.
Monk (USA, July 7, 9 p.m.) – Tony Shalhoub’s defective detective starts a fifth season.
Psych (USA, July 7, 10 p.m.) – James Roday is just good at details, but with the help of pal Dule Hill, he convinces the cops he’s psychic.
Brotherhood (Showtime, July 9, 10 p.m.) – Providence brothers navigate corruption from different angles: one’s a politician, one’s a killer.
Nightmares & Dreamscapes (TNT, July 12, 9 p.m.) – Stories from Stephen King feature William H. Macy, Kim Delaney, Ron Livingston, Samantha Mathis, Jeremy Sisto, many others.
Three Moons Over Milford (ABC Family, July 23, 10 p.m.) – A cosmic explosion threatens to end the world. Elizabeth McGovern is among those deciding what to do.
Weeds (Showtime, Aug. 14, 10 p.m.) – Second season with Mary-Louise Parker’s dope-dealing suburban mom.
SERIES/REALITY
The Simple Life: ‘Til Death Do Us Part (E!, Sunday, 10 p.m.) – Paris and Nicole aren’t speaking, yet they’re both back in this fourth series where they (separately) act as substitute wives and mothers.
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo, Tuesday, 9 p.m.) – The scrappy comedian keeps trying to maintain the (slight) celebrity to which she has become accustomed.
Queer Eye Vegas (Bravo, Tuesday, 10 p.m.) – First up: a fire-eating magician whose dog is an Elvis impersonator.
Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet, Friday, 8 p.m.) – Sean Astin narrates the adventures of a meerkat family filmed over 10 years in Africa’s Kalahari Desert.
Hell’s Kitchen (Fox/5, June 12, 9 p.m.) – British chef Gordon Ramsay ratchets up the heat on another group of wannabes.
How to Get the Guy (ABC/7, June 12, 10 p.m.) – Romantic reality series follows the trials and tribulations of love as seen through the eyes of four young, attractive women who are looking for Mr. Right.
Million Dollar Listing (Bravo, June 12, 10 p.m.) – Behind the scenes of big-money real estate in Hollywood/Malibu.
Tuesday Night Book Club (CBS/2, June 13, 10 p.m.) – Or: The Real Housewives of Yet Another Middle-Class Suburb.
Haunting Evidence (Court TV, June 14, 10:30 p.m.) – Psychic profiler, medium and paranormal investigator revisit cold cases.
Treasure Hunters (NBC/4, preview June 18 at 8-10 p.m., then Monday at 9 p.m.) – Adventure/mystery game travels to “historically significant locations.”
Lobstermen: Jeopardy at Sea (Discovery, June 20, 10 p.m.) – At work with crews off the coast of Massachusetts.
America’s Got Talent (NBC/4, preview June 21 at 8-10 p.m., then Wednesday at 9 p.m.) – New talent competition from “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell culminates in a $1-million prize. Regis Philbin hosts; David Hasselhoff and Brandy are the judges.
Rock Star: Supernova (CBS/2, July 5, 8 p.m.) – Seeking a singer this summer are M”tley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, Metallica’s Jason Newsted and Guns N’ Roses’ Gilby Clarke.
Big Brother 7: All-Stars (CBS/2, July 6, 8 p.m.) – Houseguests are chosen by viewers from among 20 former contestants.
Beach Patrol: Miami Beach (Court TV, July 10, 8 p.m.) – On duty with the Miami Beach ocean rescue team.
The Contender (ESPN, July 18, 10 p.m.) – Boxers fight for fame in another round of elimination competition.
Sexual Healing (Showtime, July 21, 10 p.m.) – Therapist Laura Berman helps three real-life couples weekly.
Feasting on Asphalt (Food, July 29, 10 p.m.) – Alton Brown travels Route 50 on his motorcycle.
Parco PI (Court TV, Aug. 15, 10 p.m.) – Second season with the New York private eye.
EVENTS
MTV Movie Awards (MTV, Thursday, 9 p.m.) – Jessica Alba hosts. Performances by Christina Aguilera and AFI.
Tony Awards (CBS/2, June 11, 8 p.m.) – Broadway’s 60th annual awards ceremony, from Radio City Music Hall.
Rock Paper Scissors Championship (A&E, June 12, 10 p.m.) – Just what you think.
BET Awards (BET, June 27, 8 p.m.) – Sixth annual celebration of black music, TV, movies, sports.
All-Star Game (Fox/5, July 11, 8 p.m.) – Major League Baseball’s 77th classic, live from Pittsburgh.
Miss Universe Pageant (NBC/4, July 23, 9 p.m.) – Live from L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium.
Emmy Awards (NBC/4, Aug. 27, 8 p.m.) – NBC has NFL football on Sunday nights come September, so the Emmys get pushed up to the last week of August. Conan O’Brien hosts.
MTV Video Music Awards (MTV, Aug. 31, 8 p.m.) – Live from Radio City Music Hall.
DOCUMENTARY
Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday (BBC America, June 11) – Daylong salute includes 3-7 p.m. profile “Queen and Country.”
¡Yo Soy Boricua, Pa’que Tu Lo Sepas! (IFC, June 12, 9 p.m.) – Director Rosie Perez explores Puerto Rican identity and culture.
The Drug Years (VH1, June 12, 9 p.m.; Sundance, June 16, 8 p.m.) – Cultural history of American drug use, in four parts.
Explorer: Drowning New Orleans (NatGeo, June 21, 9 p.m.) – Deconstructing the science behind last summer’s Katrina levee breaches.
P.O.V. (PBS/13, June 27, 10 p.m.) – Docufilm series’ 19th season begins with the Sri Lankan activism of “No More Tears Sister.”
Walter Cronkite (PBS/13, July 26, 9 p.m.) – “American Masters” profile of CBS’ legendary newsman.
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Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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