Summer TV

It used to be that television was a vast wasteland of endless repeats and made for T.V. movies. While still true to a great extent, in part thanks to the resurgence of crazy game shows and competition shows. I mean the horror of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here is too much for me to take, but I am still hopeful that all is not lost because there are some shows worth watching.

Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family) - Season 3 returns this June, the baby has arrived and now the consequences of unprotected sex. I think teens can learn more from this show than having Bristol Palin talking about what a mistake she made. Yeah, it gets religousy but at the end of the day, it's drama! Oh and they are writing in Molly Ringwald's real-life pregnancy. It will be awkward and fantastic.

Burn Notice (USA) - USA Network has definitely come into its own in terms of originally programming. Burn Notice is a prime example of that. You get Miami, former spies, MacGuyver-esque manuevers and Jeffrey Donovan looks good in a suit and shades.

Speaking of looking good in a suit. Mad Men, not coming back until August and totally worth the wait I hope. Kennedy's in office and Betty Draper is pregnant. Peggy finally told Pete about the baby. Consequences!

Law&Order: Criminal Intent - Out of all the police procedurals out there, this is my favorite of Dick Wolf's franchise. The addition of Jeff Goldblum to the cast definitely takes it up a notch. The ripped from the headlines formula should be stale by name but it works for me, I know that they'll be a more satisfying resolution and with any murder I've always wanted to know the why more than the how and Criminal Intent delievers every time.

Following that show is In Plain Sight. I know that Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter are holding down the tough lady cop over on TNT and I respect them for it but I'm just not into their shows, much like the way that I'd rather watch Bones than CSI. Mary McConnell's raspy voice and the occassional nudity of Cristian de la Fuente, keep me coming back for me.

And well, Project Runway is back.

Just realized that all these shows are on cable. Network television is dead to me during the summer months.