Summer TV used to be rerun city. Now the digital TV world is my oyster and I’m always looking for the next pearl. It’s the end of May so season finales are over and I can finally catch up on all the TV I missed while watching other TV, plus add some new gems. It’s challenging to find time to watch so many shows, but a girl can try.
(Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a show hoarder. I see a promo for a show I like and immediately set up a recording. Then I can’t erase that program until I’ve watched it. This drives Wilson crazy but he’s a patient man and accepts my disease.)
Both my DVR’s are at about 90% full with backlogs of favorites. The bevy of modern viewing options is surely feeding my addiction but I’m thrilled to have so many choices and not be limited to the old September to May TV season. I’ll barrel through my DVR stockpile, and then check out what’s available on OnDemand and my iPad.
I also poked around the web in search of promising new shows premiering this summer. Of the scores of possibilities, very few caught my eye. Here are a few I’ll check out to see if they pass the test to get into my regular watching rotation.
Sam Waterston & Jeff Daniels star in “The Newsroom”
–“The Newsroom”/HBO
Aaron Sorkin, the guy responsible for three of my favorites—“Sports Night,” “West Wing” and “Studio 60”– has created a show for HBO set in a cable newsroom. I happened to work in a cable newsroom for 11 years so I can’t wait to see what snappy dialogue and political message Sorkin has in store. The cast—led by Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, and Olivia Munn—also has great potential. Premieres 6/24.
—Anger Management/FX
This could be a complete disaster—but like a bad car wreck, who can turn away? A presumably humbler Charlie Sheen plays a therapist with anger issues himself in this half-hour comedy. The premise doesn’t thrill me but I’ll tune in just to see how they handle the irony. Premieres 6/28.
—Beverly Hills Nannies/ABC Family
This could be my summer guilty pleasure. I hate to admit it, but I’m fascinated by extremely wealthy people so eager to be famous, they’re willing to have their family life filmed for entertainment. I’ll enjoy ogling the homes while looking down my nose at egomaniacs in designer shoes and handbags, planning six-figure kids’ birthday parties. Premieres 7/11.
The cast of “Beverly Hills Nannies”
Told you it was slim pickins. But that’s ok, because I’ll have more time to read. I’m dying to catch up on the “Hunger Games” trilogy this summer too.
Below are shows on my “catch up” list. I completely missed out or only saw a few episodes but want to start from the beginning. Let me know in the comments if there are any I should skip or add to my summer schedule.
—Smash/NBC
—The Killing/AMC
—Downton Abbey/PBS
—Veep/HBO
Happy summer viewing!
carpool candy 