It used to be that, once the major networks shut down their programming schedules, there was little of interest to watch on TV during the summer months except reruns and Reality crap. However, in recent years, the cable networks have aggressively courted viewers with original scripted shows, some of them quite compelling. Looking over this year’s summer schedule, I actually see quite a lot to watch. Vote in our poll to tell us which shows you’re watching this summer, or that have at least caught your interest.
In the poll below, I’ve done my best to compile a list of all the scripted series airing this summer. Some of these shows have already premiered, and some are still upcoming. I’ve intentionally left Reality shows off the list, but feel free to vote Other and tell us about those in the Comments. It’s also likely that I may have missed something.
Of the returning series, I’m already actively watching the new seasons of ‘Suits’, ‘True Blood’ and ‘Wilfred’. (‘Suits’ is my favorite of those.) I also look forward to more of ‘Alphas’, ‘Hell on Wheels’ and ‘Louie’. ‘Covert Affairs’ is sort of a guilty pleasure of mine, sometimes more guilt than pleasure, but I’m sure that I’ll tune in again.
Among new shows, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far of ‘Dallas’, ‘Longmire’ and ‘The Newsroom’. ‘Political Animals’ looks very intriguing. I don’t hold out a lot of hope for ‘Perception’ or Charlie Sheen’s new sitcom ‘Anger Management’, but I’ll give them a shot anyway.
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EM
None. However, I have a basic-cable setup that gives me little besides broadcast channels anyway. And I like to aggressively limit my (telecast) TV viewing anyway. I look upon the summer drought as a vacation from regular TV. I still have catching up to do with Blu-rays and DVDs and a tiny bit on my DVR. If I feel like just tuning into something, I’ll usually put on my local Antenna TV or MeTV station for classic reruns.
Josh Zyber
AuthorI’ve added a “None of the Above” option to the poll.
EM
Engaged. 🙂 🙂 🙂
William Henley
Futurama for sure! I am still working through the first season of Hell on Wheels so I expect that I will watch season 2 as well. Dallas I am unsure about. That was my mom’s show when it was on, and I was like 11 when it went off the air. I saw the season premiere, and I will admit that its good.
Tron sounds interesting, but for some reason my provider has dropped Disney XD in HD.
I am not sure if there are going to be any new episodes this summer, but I am hooked on Dance Moms. I have had a few debates as to if its a real reality show or a “scripted” reality show. ie they take real events, but the way they react to or at said events is scripted. The reason I am going for this is that there is no way those moms could act like that in front of their kids and not be investigated by CPS unless it was scripted. Still, I am hooked on this show.
Josh Zyber
AuthorAll “Reality” shows are scripted. There’s not a damn one of them that has anything to do with actual reality.
William Henley
Yeah. But this show is still fun to watch. Even if the show is scripted, those kids are AMAZING dancers.
Jason
uhhh… So You Think You Can Dance is a favorite of my wife.
William Henley
Yeah, but I think this list just covers Cable Summer shows. Otherwise I would have voted America’s Got Talent, but I think both of those are considered reality shows.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThe list includes major network shows like Rookie Blue and Saving Hope, but there are far fewer dramas and comedies on those networks over the summer than there are on cable. Reality shows are excluded. There are simply too many of them to keep track of. America’s Got Talent is considered a “Reality Competition” program. You can vote “Other” for shows like that.
Julian
Shouldn’t “Anger Management” be called “reality TV” too? It sounds like something straight from Sheen’s (scripted) life!
I’m all set for “The Newsroom”, “True Blood” and “Tron”, but unfortunately won’t be able to enjoy any one of them for the forseeable future. (True Blood Season 4 premiered last week over here; now that’s sad). I never download, but I can’t blame the friends that do …
JM
Amy Sherman-Palladino’s ‘Bunheads’ and Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Newsroom.’
Eric Hulen
Grimm is back in late August. Should it be on this list too?
Josh Zyber
AuthorThat’s kind of debatable. The other shows I have on the list that premiere in August are all cable series that will have short runs of 10-13 episodes. Grimm is expected to have a full 22-24 episode season, and the majority of those episodes will coincide with the fall TV season. I would personally consider that a fall show that’s premiering a little early, but I can see why that would be confusing since at least one show on the list (Boss) premieres four days later.
For what it’s worth, I didn’t see Grimm listed on any other web sites’ run-downs of summer TV when I was Googling to compile this poll.
Eric Hulen
Alright sounds good to me.
Kyle
I miss the days of all reruns in the summer. With the constant flow of new TV, it’s impossible to find time to catch up on shows and movies you missed. I liked having loads of time in the Summer to do this!
Josh Zyber
AuthorLots of Breaking Bad love here. I probably ought to catch up with that show, huh?
Aaron Peck
Noticed you got the new ‘Tron’ on there, which is a good little cartoon, but also need ‘Phineas and Ferb’ and the new ‘Gravity Falls’. I’m perplexed why the Disney Channel can have such good animated shows – funny and clever – but their kid sitcoms are devil spawn.