TV Patrol: Summer TV?

I can only hope…..

Yes, summer is Big Brother, but since it doesn’t start till July 8th, everyone’s been asking: “What the hell is there to watch on TV?” Not a hell of a lot, I’m afraid.

Okay…. NBC is bringing out it’s summer reality winners. America’s Got Talent & the new Losing It With Jillian (from “Biggest Loser” fame) both premiere this Tuesday, June 1st at 8 & 10pm. Last Comic Standing begins next Monday, June 7th, at 8pm & they will also be testing the waters with a new 13-week sci-fi drama, Persons Unknown at 10pm. Here’s a quick summary: “…it revolves around a group of strangers who wake up in a deserted town with no recollection of how they got there; to escape, they must work together to solve a surreal puzzle.” Could this be our new LOST? Law & Order: Criminal Intent returns for it’s 9th season on Sunday, June 20th, at 10pm. These episodes are already airing on USA Network on Tuesday nights. The new sitcom 100 Questions has already begun airing on Thursday nights at 8:30pm, as of May 27th. I watched & I may not watch again. Other shows in the works but I couldn’t find airdates are America’s Next Great Restaurant with Bobby Flay as the host & Breakthrough with Tony Robbins.

ABC has, of course, The Bachelorette, which already premiered last Monday night. It will be joined by True Beauty this week, May 31st, at 10pm. For those who don’t remember, this is the Tyra Banks/Ashton Kutcher “reality” show about trying to find inner beauty from skanks & whoredogs (5 tools & 5 bitches). I can’t believe this show is back! Game show WipeOut is back on June 1st. They will also introduce some new shows in June. The Gates airs Sunday, June 20th at 9pm. “The image of perpetual suburban bliss, each street is lined with perfectly manicured homes protected by the massive iron gates, but a dark and delicious secret is buried just beneath the surface of this picturesque neighborhood.” Okay…. could THIS be the new LOST? The new drama, Scoundrels, will follow at 10pm. The show’s male lead, Neal McDonough “is so against having sex with Virginia Madsen ( his co-star) that he was fired for it”. It goes against his Catholic faith. He has been replaced by David James Elliott. Two other dramas will join the mix, Rookie Blue (obviously a cop drama) on Thursday, June 24th at 9pm & Downfall, a game show that hurls contestants off the roof of a 10-story building, will air Tuesday, June 22nd, at 9pm.

FOX doesn’t have much in the mix. Hell’s Kitchen will premiere it’s 7th season opener on Tuesday, June 1st, at 8pm. This time the 16 wannabes will try to get a chef’s job in one of Ramsey’s London restaurants. Glee will have it’s finale on June 8th & then the following week, June 15th, Hell’s Kitchen will go to 2-hours. Ratings hit Lie To Me will return Monday, June 7th, at 8pm. On July 27th, the new Master Chef (with Gordon Ramsey, of course) with air at 9pm. This is a reality show which takes everyday cooks & tries to make them culinary geniuses. Ramsey, along with wine maker Joe Bastianich & chef Graham Elliot Bowles, will be the judges. Oh and if you thought Sons of Tucson, (the awful comedy about a guy moving in with 3 kids & pretending to be their dad) was cancelled, it’s only on “hiatus” & will return on June 6th in the 7:30pm time slot. It may still get the axe though….please!

CBS is sticking mostly with repeats of all of their ratings-grabbing shows. They usually beat everything else on TV, even in repeats. They will also recycle some of their cancelled shows, such as Three Rivers on Wednesdays & Flashpoint on Fridays at 9pm, pushing Medium repeats to 10pm. Of course, Big Brother 12 (July 8th) will air on Sundays & Thursdays at 8pm. New show Arranged Marriage, will premiere on Sunday nights at 9pm, but there is no set air date yet. This “reality” show allows family & friends to find a mate for 4 different 20-somethings & they will immediately marry. The show will then follow the disaster that is sure to ensue.

Cable Networks stand to gain some ground over the summer. Many shows are returning to the airwaves. Here are just a few:

Burn Notice USA 6/3

Royal Pains USA 6/3

Whale Wars APL 6/4

Drop Dead Diva Lifetime 6/6

True Blood HBO 6/13

Entourage HBO 6/27

Hung HBO 6/27

White Collar USA 7/13

Psych USA 7/21

Mad Men AMC 7/25

I know it’s not much, but I’m looking forward to a few of these including Big Brother, Whale Wars, True Blood & Mad Men. I do have some books to read too…… If anyone knows any other summer shows, feel free to add them in the comments. Happy Summer …. and don’t forget your sunscreen!