The spring TV season is coming to a close, but there’ll be plenty to watch over the summer. Here’s a look at what’s back, and when.
June 3
“Burn Notice” (USA). When we last saw Michael Weston, he had been Guantanamoed by “Management.” But we trust he’ll make his way back to Miami for Season 4, which will bring a new cast member, Coby Bell (“Third Watch”), as a fellow burned spy. Burt Reynolds will also be a guest star this season.
“Royal Pains” (USA). Last summer’s big hit is back for a second season with Mark Feuerstein playing a doctor-for-hire for the ultra rich in the Hamptons.
June 6
“The Hard Times of RJ Berger” (MTV). MTV gets back to scripted comedies, with this sitcom about a geeky high school kid whose social status gets instantly upgraded when everyone finds out he has an enormous, um, certain body part. Sounds like a teenage version of “Hung.” It could either be really awful or really funny. This being MTV, I’d typically learn toward awful, but the trailer actually looks kinda funny and sorta endearing, in a “Superbad” kinda way.
“Drop Dead Diva” (Lifetime). The second season of Brooke Elliott playing a dead vapid model transplanted into the body of a full-figured, smart lawyer.
June 7
“Good Guys” (Fox). It premiered this week, but won’t officially start for another few weeks. Sebastopol’s Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”) brings Colin Hanks (“Orange County”) and Bradley Whitford (“West Wing”) together as mismatched cops. The real star is Whitford’s ’70s porn-stache.
“Lie to Me” (Fox). It’s weird how Fox yanked this from their spring schedule. But Tim Roth is back as a police lie-detection expert. It’ll be back a new season in the fall too.
June 13
“True Blood” (HBO). The vampires are back for a third season, and this time they’re bringing werewolves too. That can’t be good news for Sookie.
June 16
“Top Chef” (Bravo). Season 7 is set in Washington D.C. with a group of diverse, experienced chefs competing for top honors. Eric Ripert joins the show as a semi-regular judge.
June 20
“Leverage” (TNT). Timothy Hutton and Co. are back for a third season of scams and cons. But only directed at people who deserve it.
June 22
“Memphis Beat” (TNT). Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl”) stars in this George Clooney-produced quirky drama about a cop with a passion for the blues. Alfre Woodard co-stars.
June 24
“Futurama” (Comedy Central). Seven years after it was canceled by Fox, the Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”) animated sci-fi comedy is back with all-new episodes. Whew, about time. I think I’ve seen all the original episodes Comedy Central keeps rerunning.
June 27
“Entourage” (HBO). The boys are back for a seventh season. Vince is back in town (with a haircut!) after filming his Enzo Ferrari movie, and Ari wants to buy a sports team.
“Hung” (HBO). Thomas Jane, Jane Adams and Anne Heche are back for a second season of the dark comedy about a very well-endowed guy trying to turn his life around.
June 29
“Rescue Me” (FX). Last time we saw Tommy Gavin, he was laying bleeding to death in his bar. Look for 10 episodes this summer, with the final nine coming next year.
“Louie” (FX). A new sitcom starring Louis CK (“Lucky Louie,” “Parks and Recreation”), and his life as a shlubby loser, standup comedian and single dad living in New York.
July 9
“Eureka” (Syfy). The quirky sci-fi taking place in a small, secret scientific community returns for a fourth season.
July 11
“Children’s Hospital” (Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim). Rob Corddry (“Daily Show”) is behind this web-to-TV medical spoof. It looks sick and twisted and very funny. And take a look at the guest stars: Michael Cera, El Helms, Henry Winkler, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino and Megan Mullally, among others.
July 12
“The Closer” (TNT). Kyra Sedgwick is back for a fourth season as the expert interrogator.
July 13
“White Collar” (USA). Neal and Peter are back to solve more capers, and Neal tries to hunt down whoever blew up his girlfriend.
“Covert Affairs” (USA). Piper Perabo (“Coyote Ugly”) stars as a young CIA agent forced into action before she’s ready. Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity”) is a producer. Sounds kinda “Alias”-like.
July 21
“Psych” (USA). Shawn and Gus are back for a fifth season of procedural comedy.
July 24
“Being Human” (BBC America). After saving the world from a vampire takeover, the supernatural roommates (a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire) are back for a second season of thrills.
July 25
“Mad Men” (AMC). The best show on TV (well, “Breaking Bad” gives it a run for its money) returns for a fourth season. Don Draper’s life has been turned upside down; let’s see how he fares as a single man (very well, I’m sure) and as a partner in the newly formed Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad firm. This is the series of the summer.
“My Boys” (TBS). Jordana Spiro and friends are back for a fourth (and possibly last) season of the ensemble buddy comedy. This is one of my summer favorites, it’s so fun and breezy.
Aug. 1
“Rubicon” (AMC). A new political thriller about an analyst who uncovers a secret society and their global conspiracy. It stars James Badge Dale (“The Pacific”) and Miranda Richardson. Sounds pretty good.
Aug. 16
“Weeds” (Showtime). Mary-Louise Parker and crew are back for a sixth season, though I’m not sure why. I’m halfway through Season 5 on Netflix and not liking the direction the show’s taken. This season will take place partially in Seattle, and Linda Hamilton (“Terminator”) will become a semi-regular.
“The Big C” (Showtime). Emmy-winner and Oscar-nominee Laura Linney and Oliver Platt in a dramedy about a mother diagnosed with cancer, and how it shakes up her life . Gabourey Sibide (“Precious”) also stars. Looks like it’ll be really good.
Aug. 20
“Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town” (IFC). The five original members reunite for an eight-part murder-mystery comedy. Apparently it got tepid reviews when it aired earlier this year in Canada.
