Sure, there are plenty of summer TV previews around, but here’s the difference with this one: I’ve seen almost every show on this list (what I won’t go through for you people, eh?).
So here’s my take on what may make for enjoyable viewing during some of the hottest months of the year. A word about August: I know “Weeds” returns then. Don’t start with the e-mails. This summer preview is a list of highlights for June and July. To find out what I don’t recommend or to mention a new or returning summer show that you don’t see listed here or in the online version of this story, share your thoughts at chicagotribune.com/watcher.
SUMMER’S BEST
“ENTOURAGE,” returns 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO: Ruthless agent Ari Gold (hometown boy Jeremy Piven) has a bigger role this season, which is all good. The only fault I can see in the mighty enjoyable first three episodes, in which Vince Chase deals with burgeoning fame, is that there’s not enough of Ari’s long-suffering assistant, Lloyd (Rex Lee). Love Lloyd!
ONLINE BONUS: Have a one-on-one dialogue with Gold at interviewwithari.com.
DEADWOOD,” returns 8 p.m. Sunday, HBO: This sensational, poetic western series returns, and here’s the upshot: Al Swearengen vs. George Hearst — it’s on. You think Al or Sheriff Bullock is going to sit by quietly as Hearst tries to take over the camp? Not [expletive] likely. This show has the best cast on TV, and it’s every bit as good as you remember — possibly better.
“THE CLOSER,” returns 8 p.m. Monday, TNT: I didn’t have much time for this series last season; I found Kyra Sedgwick’s thick Southern accent tough to get past. But this show is simply too good to ignore; the season opener’s twisty plot and “The Closer’s” smart cast (led by a terrific J.K. Simmons) make this police drama compelling. An added bonus: Next week, ace interrogator Brenda Johnson (Sedgwick) has to deal with a visit from her mama (Frances Sternhagen).
“THE THICK OF IT,” 10 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 p.m. Fridays, BBC America: There are only a few episodes left in the summer run of this reality-style political comedy, but it re-airs in full beginning Aug. 17. It’s ruthlessly realistic about how much intelligence is required to be a Cabinet minister, or at least advise one. Not too much, it turns out. Somehow “The Thick of It” is able to spin comedy gold from that fairly terrifying fact. Peter Capaldi’s performance as a ferocious political enforcer is absolutely not to be missed.
“PROJECT RUNWAY,” returns July 12, Bravo: Am I still mad that Chloe Dao won on the second season of this fashionista must-see? Yes. Will that stop me from watching this season? Please. That’s about as likely as Tim Gunn wearing plaid Capri pants. My only request as “Runway” goes forward: Please allow temperamental divas such as Santino a real chance at winning in future, if they have definite talent; don’t just keep the wild types around as kooky accessories.
ONLINE BONUS: Read Gunn’s blog on the third-season auditions at bravotv.com. A sample: When some designers tired out before their audition presentations, he writes, “I wanted to rally them with that salient line from ‘Valley of the Dolls,’ ‘Sparkle, Neely, sparkle!!'”
“RESCUE ME,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays, FX: New York City firefighters, led by Denis Leary, do naughty things, struggle with women, razz each other, and one of them even messes around with Susan Sarandon. What’s not to like?
SOLID OFFERINGS
“STARGATE SG-1” and “Stargate Atlantis,” both return July 14, Sci Fi Channel: Jack’s back: Richard Dean Anderson returns as Jack O’Neil for several of “SG-1’s” Season 10 episodes, and Morena Baccarin from “Firefly” and “Serenity” joins the show as Vala’s all-grown-up daughter, Adria. Given that “Farscape’s” great Ben Browder and Claudia Black are already in the “SG-1” cast, it’s pretty much a geek dream team.
“LAST COMIC STANDING,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays, WMAQ-Ch. 5: This is the kind of weightless but enjoyable show that fits perfectly with the season. And as summer reality TV goes, “Last Comic” is funnier than most.
“CHAPPELLE’S SHOW: THE LOST EPISODES,” begins July 9, Comedy Central: Not really the real thing, but an odd-and-sods trio of “Chappelle” episodes cobbled together from what the comic shot before he left his hit Comedy Central show. And no, I haven’t seen these.
“THE DEAD ZONE,” returns 9 p.m. June 18, USA Network: Fans of the Greg Stillson story line are in luck as this supernatural series returns for a fifth season; the oily politician, well played by Sean Patrick Flanery, continues his ascent to power, with help from the mysterious Malcolm Janus (the fine Martin Donovan).
“RENO 911!,” returns July 9, Comedy Central: Haven’t seen the fourth season episodes for this show, but I don’t need to. I know the antics of Reno’s least competent peace officers are guaranteed to make me laugh.
“THE 4400,” returns 8 p.m. Sunday, USA Network: It’s missing the spark of the show’s great first season, but in its third year, “The 4400” gives Garret Dillahunt (“Deadwood”) a showcase for his many talents; another standout is “Star Trek” veteran Jeffrey Combs.
“IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA,” returns June 29, FX: Haven’t seen the second season yet, but this biting comedy showed promise in its run last year. Danny DeVito joins the cast this year, and the show will get exposure on the Fox network starting Sunday, when the first of three Season 1 episodes airs at 8:30 p.m. on WFLD-Ch. 32.
“TRUE CARIBBEAN PIRATES,” debuts July 9, History Channel: Arrrgh, matey, if you be knowin’ any kids under 10 with a fine collection of plastic swords and pirate eye-patches, they’ll be sure to love this chronicle of the roving privateers and such types who roamed New World waters way, way back in the day.
“THE INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW” special, 8 p.m. June 18, HGTV: What to do on Father’s Day? After you make Dad’s favorite meal and do whatever fun stuff he wants to do, park him in a chair, get him the beverage of his choice and watch him drool over the cool TVs, gizmos and gadgets on display at the annual home electronics trade fair.
“LUCKY LOUIE,” debuts 9:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO: HBO deserves a hand for greenlighting this experimental comedy, which is filmed in the traditional manner of a multicamera sitcom, but has the bleak, black humor of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” at its core. Still, you have to wonder, if a show about rich young guys living the Hollywood high life (“Entourage”) draws only 2 million viewers for HBO, will a show about a squabbling couple barely making ends meet reel in more viewers than that?
“FEAR FACTOR,” returns 7 p.m. Tuesday, WMAQ-Ch. 5: I don’t usually advocate watching this rather predictable reality show, but Tuesday’s episode features past reality-show veterans from “American Idol” and “The Amazing Race” and the like; it culminates, according to a press release, in “one of the most explosive fights” in the history of the show, allegedly between host Joe Rogan and former “Race” jerk Jonathan Baker. I’ll tune in to see if Rogan flattens Baker.
“TYLER PERRY’S HOUSE OF PAYNE,” debuts 6 p.m. June 19, WCIU-Ch. 26: Perry, the entrepreneur behind the “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”/Madea films and plays, expands his reach into the TV realm with this new syndicated comedy about a multigenerational family living under one roof. Fans of Perry should find this short-run series (prelude to a longer series that arrives in the fall) right up their alley, but the gossipy, predatory Claretha character is a tiresome collection of cliches.
“HGTV DESIGN STAR,” debuts July 23, HGTV: Everybody’s doing it — having a reality competition to find the next “star” in a particular field. HGTV unveils its version of the now-standard reality competition, in which every throw pillow and stencil counts.
“BIG BROTHER: ALL STARS,” returns June 21, WBBM-Ch. 2: I don’t quite get the allure of this show (the complicated ejection rules frankly make my head hurt), but it’ll be worth checking out to see which former contestants make it into the all-star “Brother” house.
“ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA,” debuts July 5, WBBM-Ch. 2: I’m theoretically against any reality show involving Tommy Lee, especially if music is involved. But last year’s singing contestants were so good that it’ll be worth watching to see if another Suzie McNeil turns up.
“MEERKAT MANOR,” 7 p.m. Fridays, Animal Planet: Cutest critters ever get their moment of glory in a family-friendly documentary series that took a decade to make.
CHOICE RERUNS
The third season of “THE WIRE” begins repeats 7 p.m. Sunday on HBO.
This summer, two episodes of “HOUSE” air Tuesdays and two episodes of Season 5 of “24” air Fridays on WFLD-Ch. 32.
Cable’s Sleuth Channel started airing “HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET” from the show’s stellar beginning in early June.
The classic “PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE” begins nightly repeats on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block on July 10.
ONLINE BONUS: If “THE OFFICE” repeats on NBC aren’t enough for you, Webisodes of the show debut on nbc.com July 13.
ENJOYABLE ESCAPES
“FOOTBALLERS WIVES,” 9 p.m. Sundays, BBC America: Your one-stop source for the expensive adventures of baby-swapping, gin-swilling, designer-clad celebrity wives of fictional soccer players. Uberwife Tanya makes the most depraved, Versace-wearing tabloid denizen look like an innocent schoolgirl. That’s why we love her (the frosted eyeshadow is another draw).
“HEX,” 9 p.m. Thursdays, BBC America: It takes awhile to get going, but this supernatural Brit drama shows promise. The Anne Rice-flavored “Hex” may be a bit pretentious and slow-moving, but it has a romantically alluring fallen angel named Azazeal. Hot fallen angels? Bring it on.
Entertainment kingpin Tyler Perry expands his empire to the small screen with “HOUSE OF PAYNE.”
“THE JANICE DICKINSON MODELING AGENCY,” 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oxygen: Can this former supermodel and “America’s Next Top Model” judge’s particular brand of crazy sustain an entire series? Perhaps not, but I’m willing to bet it’s good for at least a few weeks of summer-style brainless escapism.
“KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Bravo: Griffin’s an acquired taste for some, but for those who are in sync with her acerbic sense of Hollywood’s absurdity, this glimpse at her D-list life is the summertime equivalent of a big bowl of cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream with a chardonnay chaser.
“THE ROCK PAPER SCISSORS CHAMPIONSHIP,” 9 p.m. Monday, A&E: How cool is it that people can not only compete at this schoolyard sport on national television, but that participants in the final tournament have a shot at winning $50,000? I’m just waiting ’til they start televising Thumb Wrestling Olympics. I’m so going to win that.
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moryan@tribune.com
THE WATCHER: chicagotribune.com/watcher
