It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting warmer, and there’s nothing at all to watch on TV. With Game of Throne’s amazing fourth season now behind us, and no more Breaking Bad seasons to keep us focused until September, the TV can seem like a foreign entity. You want to watch something, but just have no idea what. And it’s not like you don’t enjoy the outdoors or embracing the weather, but sometimes after a long hard day at work you just want to throw on a show before you crash for the night. Well, the TV landscape is changing, and the summer is no longer a dump-zone for shows that aren’t quite good enough to air in the fall. This guide is here to help steer you in the right direction, towards solid TV, and away from boredom.
The Last Ship – June 22, 9 p.m., TNT/Space
A new series from Michael Bay, which means if it’s not good, it will at least be entertaining. But I am looking forward to this show. It focuses on characters aboard a Navy ship out in the Arctic, when a pandemic wipes out 80 per cent of the globe. The survivors on the ship, untouched, must then adapt to the world that is left. It is a cool premise with lots of promise.
Big Brother – June 25, 8 p.m., Global/CBS
This show would probably not make anybody else’s list, and there’s a good chance that you are rolling your eyes at it, but trust me, do yourself a favour and watch this year’s edition. Big Brother is the original hit summer show. It’s my favourite summer TV pastime, on three nights a week so that you always have something to look forward to. It’s definitely obnoxious and can be a little much at times, but what better way to spend an evening then watching other people fight and lie to each other. It’s perfect entertainment, and this year promises to be another beauty.
The Leftovers – June 29, 10 p.m., HBO
A bleak, serious spectacle, The Leftovers could be the next big show to follow the mood and feel of Breaking Bad. Headed by Damon Lindelof, one of the main minds behind “Lost”, and featuring Liv Tyler, it has some promise in its cast and management. The premise of the show is that 2 per cent of the population suddenly disappear, and the rest of the population must cope. It is not really certain what the angle of the show is, if they are trying to find out the source of the disappearances or not, but it definitely has intrigue. And are you starting to notice a theme in TV this summer? People die or disappear, and the rest of the people left are suckers. I can’t wait for this one.
Under The Dome – June 30, 10 p.m., CBS
Last year’s star of new summer shows, Dome returns for its highly anticipated second season. But with that anticipation comes a lot of skepticism, as it was originally supposed to be just one 10-episode season. The show and concept are awesome, but just how long can the people stay under the dome, and how much story do the producers have at their fingers to make the show last. Make sure you tune in to find out, and let’s hope that the folks at CBS know what they’re doing.
Extant – July 9, 9 p.m., CBS
A new show from Steven Spielberg, “Extant” stars Halle Berry as an astronaut who returns home somehow pregnant after being alone in space for 13 months. It is a cool idea, with lots of directions to explore, and with CBS summer track record as of late, I’m certainly interested.
Welcome to Sweden – July 10, 9 p.m., NBC
It is a show made by Amy Poehler’s brother Greg, about his real life experience moving to Sweden for his show business career. And it has Amy, Gene Simmons, and Will Ferrell, so that alone makes this show worth checking out.
The Strain – July 13, 10 p.m., FX
This show has huge potential, on a network that has a great reputation (Sons of Anarchy, The League). It is somewhat like “The Walking Dead”, as it focuses around a virus that affects people and turns them into zombies or vampires or something. We do not really know yet, but we do know that the show seems to focus more on terror and suspense than just a cool idea and big spectacle, and this definitely could be the show of the summer.
