Summer doesn’t have to be a dead-zone for television (although, let’s face it, it still pretty much is…no matter how many shows you watch normally, that number is probably cut in half during the summer). Cable has made their TV seasons year round, and there’s signs that many broadcast nets want to do the same. Fox has been especially vocal about their desire to become a year round network, and only last week launched the new season of 24 which will play well into July.
What else is on tap for June and July? Well in addition to pure-junk like Showtime’s Penny Dreadful and a second season of Under the Dome, there’s also some quality programming mixed in there…
Honorable Mention: “24” isn’t a new show, but it’s been four years since it went off the air and this reboot almost qualifies.
Runner-Up: “Extant”…Ordinarily, Halle Berry starring on a TV show would be an enormous deal. Unfortunately, this is on CBS, so it’s bound to be creatively unfulfilling. Plus, why dump a promising show with an A-list star into the dead zone of Summer? Makes no sense to me.
5. “Married”…A new comedy on FX starring Nat Faxon and Judy Greer, who’s always worth watching. I’m mostly including it here because anything on FX needs at least one viewing.
4. “The Strain”…I’ll confess to being burnt-out on fantasy-horror shows, but there’s no doubt this’ll be better than Penny Dreadful and most of the recent ones. Some of the teasers airing on FX (there’s that network again, clearly dominating Summer) are very effective in getting you to want to know more.
3. “The Leftovers”…I’m a big fan of the book this new HBO drama is based off of, and the only reason it’s not higher is because the TV ads make it look more like a psychological thriller when the book was more of a dramedy. Does this project have a sense of humor? Not so far.
2. “Halt and Catch Fire”…Like FX, anything on AMC is worth watching at least once. This show about 80’s computer programmers trying to compete with a Monopoly-holding IBM may be their most promising in years.
1. “Tyrant”…Looks exciting and relevant, it’s just too bad the show is only six weeks from premiering (June 24th) and FX still hasn’t released a proper trailer instead of those confusing desert teasers. The show deals with the American-living son of a Middle Eastern dictator who hasn’t been “home” in twenty years, but must return (with his white American wife and two American kids) for his cousin’s wedding. Promises to delve into Middle East politics and family dynamics. Not sure why a show like this isn’t premiering in the Fall or Winter when people are a bit more serious-minded, but it’s definitely good counter-programming for Summer.