Duck desert heat by surfing summer TV season
Sure, the rest of the country can’t wait for summer.
Beaches. Pristine lakes. The chance to enjoy the sun without feeling like you’re walking on its surface.
But for those of us in the desert who’d rather curl up in an icy bath until Labor Day at the earliest, TV is making it easier than ever to stay indoors.
In addition to the standard summer reality staples — “America’s Got Talent,” “The Bachelorette,” “Big Brother” and “So You Think You Can Dance” — the networks are rolling out nine scripted series.
Here’s a look at what you can expect from them, as well as the myriad cable channels offering original scripted fare this summer.
And, as always, times and dates are subject to change.
NETWORK SERIES
CBS has the high-profile, 13-episode miniseries “Under the Dome” (10 p.m. June 24, KLAS-TV, Channel 8), based on the Stephen King novel about a small town suddenly sealed off from the rest of humanity by a transparent covering. That’s in addition to the second season of “Unforgettable” (9 p.m. July 28, Channel 8), about a detective (Poppy Montgomery) who remembers every detail of her life.
NBC is rolling out the globe-hopping crime drama “Crossing Lines” (9 p.m. June 23, KSNV-TV, Channel 3), headlined by Donald Sutherland; “Camp” (10 p.m. July 10, Channel 3), a summer-camp dramedy starring “Six Feet Under’s” Rachel Griffiths; and “Save Me” (8 p.m. May 23, Channel 3), a comedy about a mom (Anne Heche) who, after choking on a sandwich, claims she can talk to God.
In addition to the soapy “Mistresses” (10 p.m. June 3, KTNV-TV, Channel 13) starring Alyssa Milano and “Lost’s” Yunjin Kim, ABC has picked up the Canadian detective drama “Motive” (10 p.m. Tuesday, Channel 13) to go along with the fourth season of its North-of-the-border cop drama “Rookie Blue” (10 p.m. May 23, Channel 13).
And on Fox, siblings compete for a $20 million inheritance in the comedy “The Goodwin Games” (8:30 p.m. Monday, KVVU-TV, Channel 5), with Scott Foley and “Ugly Betty’s” Becki Newton.
CABLE SERIES
Among cable’s new dramas, Liev Schreiber stars as a professional fixer, the guy who makes the problems of L.A.’s rich and famous disappear, in “Ray Donovan” (10 p.m. June 30, Showtime).
Demian Bichir and Diane Kruger portray detectives tracking a serial killer operating on the border between El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, in “The Bridge” (10 p.m. July 10, FX).
A murder pulls a Detroit detective deep into the city’s underworld in “Low Winter Sun” (10 p.m. Aug. 11, AMC).
Undercover agents from the FBI, DEA and U.S. Customs operate out of a beachfront mansion in “Graceland” (10 p.m. June 6, USA).
“King & Maxwell” (10 p.m. June 10, TNT), based on author David Baldacci’s characters, follows former Secret Service agents turned private investigators (Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn).
From “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry, “Devious Maids” (10 p.m. June 23, Lifetime) follows the lives of five, well, devious maids working in Beverly Hills.
Two moms raise a multiethnic mix of biological and foster children in “The Fosters” (9 p.m. June 3, ABC Family). And a 16-year-old returns home after five years in juvie, just in time for a teenager to be found dead, in “Twisted” (9 p.m. June 11, ABC Family).
Among returning dramas, two of TV’s greatest criminal minds say goodbye with the final seasons of “Breaking Bad” (9 p.m. Aug. 11, AMC) and “Dexter” (9 p.m. June 30, Showtime).
USA has “Burn Notice” (9 p.m. June 6), “Royal Pains” (9 p.m. June 12), “Necessary Roughness” (10 p.m. June 12), “Covert Affairs” (9 p.m. July 16) and “Suits” (10 p.m. July 16).
TNT brings back “Falling Skies” (9 p.m. June 9), “Major Crimes” (9 p.m. June 10), “Franklin & Bash” (9 p.m. June 19), “Rizzoli & Isles” (9 p.m. June 25) and “Perception” (10 p.m. June 25).
HBO boasts “True Blood” (9 p.m. June 16) and “The Newsroom” (10 p.m. July 14). AMC returns “The Killing” (8 p.m. June 2) and “Hell On Wheels” (9 p.m. Aug. 3). A&E offers “The Glades” (9 p.m. May 27) and “Longmire” (10 p.m. May 27). BBC America has new seasons of “Copper” (10 p.m. June 23) and “Being Human” (10 p.m. July 13). And ABC Family has “Switched at Birth” (8 p.m. June 10) and “Pretty Little Liars” (8 p.m. June 11).
Also back for more are Starz’s “Magic City” (9 p.m. June 14), Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” (9 p.m. June 23) and MTV’s “Teen Wolf” (10 p.m. June 3).
And, among cable’s returning comedies are TV Land’s “The Exes” (10:30 p.m. June 19) and “The Soul Man” (11 p.m. June 19), ABC Family’s “Melissa and Joey” (8 p.m. May 29) and “Baby Daddy” (8:30 p.m. May 29), FX’s “Wilfred” (10 p.m. June 20), Showtime’s “Web Therapy” (11 p.m. July 22) and TBS’ “Sullivan & Son” (10 p.m. June 13).
REALITY SHOWS
On the reality side of the networks’ schedules — because you could fill a book with a listing of all the cable reality shows — 13 amateur detectives will attempt to solve a series of murders while living together on a picturesque estate in the competition series “Whodunnit?” (9 p.m. June 23, Channel 13), from “CSI” creator and former Mirage tram operator Anthony Zuiker.
Ten two-person teams will live in the wilderness, competing for $500,000, in “Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls” (9 p.m. July 8, Channel 3), while a dozen two-person teams will live in the wilderness, competing for $250,000, in “The Hunt” (9 p.m. July 31, KVCW-TV, Channel 33).
Employees will take over the boardroom, handling their companies’ biggest decisions, including whether to fire some of their co-workers, in “Does Someone Have To Go?” (9 p.m. May 23, Channel 5).
Jeff Foxworthy hosts the amateur culinary contest “The American Baking Competition” (8 p.m. May 29, Channel 8). Nick Lachey hosts the million-dollar singing competition “The Winner Is” (9 p.m. July 11, Channel 3). And Jane Lynch hosts “Hollywood Game Night” (10 p.m. July 11, Channel 3), in which contestants will compete with and against celebrities.
“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (8 p.m. July 16, Channel 33) is back with Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie. And compatibility tests and cash prizes are part of the dating series “Perfect Score” (9 p.m. July 16, Channel 33).
Those join returning shows “Wipeout” (already airing at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Channel 13); “So You Think You Can Dance” (already airing at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Channel 5); “The Bachelorette” (9 p.m. Monday, Channel 13); “Masterchef” (8 p.m. Wednesday, Channel 5); “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” (8 p.m. May 28, Channel 13); “America’s Got Talent” (9 p.m. June 4, Channel 3); “Celebrity Wife Swap” (8 p.m. June 23, Channel 13); “Big Brother” (9 p.m. June 26, Channel 8); “American Ninja Warrior” (8 p.m. July 1, Channel 3) and “Breaking Pointe” (9 p.m. July 29, Channel 33).
Contact Christopher Lawrence at
clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567.
