Cable Television's Summer Series Returning Stars and Hot Premieres
The summer brings the normal broadcast television shows to a close and viewers head over to cable networks for summer entertainment. The top 2 networks for summer shows are USA Network and TNT Network. There are many shows on these channels worth watching, but if you only have time for a few these are my picks. I have listed 3 shows that will be new this summer and 3 returning series. The returning series DVD information is also listed. I hope these series will make for some summer fun. Please let me know if I missed some of your favorites!
*NOTE: Two of the shows have changed their premiere dates since this article was written. The changed dates have been added to the sections.
Graceland
Channel: USA Network
Date: June 6, 2013 10 pm
Season Number: NEW
Cast: Vanessa Ferlito (CSI:NY, 24), Brandon Jay McLaren (Harper's Island, Falling Skies), Daniel Sunjata (Law & Order: SVU, Grey's Anatomy)
The USA Network leaves the comedy comfort zone and heads to a place of drama with the new series Graceland. The hour long show from creator Jeff Eastin (White Collar) with be part of the Thursday night lineup. Set in southern California, the show revolves around an FBI agent and a con man who assists him. The two live in a beach house that is home base to agents from the FBI, DEA and U.S. Custom's Agency. The series was previewed to have a darker tone than other shows on the network, but the creator promises the humor and location will keep the show light enough to fit with the network's style. Promos should start airing on USA soon if they have not already.
Cold Justice
Channel: TNT Network
Date: August 27, 2013 10 pm
*NEW DATE: September 3, 2013 10 pm
Season number: NEW
Cast: None fiction
The unscripted procedural drama will follow two women as they work to solve cold cases. Kelly Siegler was a Texas prosecutor for 21 years and she tried 68 murder cases during her career. Yolanda McClary was a crime scene investigator who spent 26 years with the Las Vegas Police Department and worked on 7,000 cases. Using new forensic technology, fresh eyes to study the evidence and question suspects again will hopefully solve these long forgotten cases. The Dick Wolf (Law & Order franchise) produced show has been picked up for 8 episodes. Look for more information as the series premiere gets closer.
King & Maxwell
Channel: TNT Network
Date: June 10, 2013 10 pm
Season number: NEW
Cast: Rebecca Romjin (Ugly Betty, Eastwick), Chris Butler (The Good Wife, True Blood), Jon Tenney (The Closer, Lassie 1994), Michael O'Keefe (Brothers And Sisters)
The new TNT crime drama King & Maxwell will be part of the Monday night lineup and take place in Washington D.C. The book series of the same name by crime novelist, David Baldacci as 6 books as of 2013. David Baldacci is consulting on the show to keep the characters close to what is in the books. The show runner Shane Brennan helped make NCIS: Los Angeles a hit on CBS. The series about ex-secret service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell will show how they use their unique skills to out smart the suspects and cops. Michelle always wants to be one step ahead and their chemistry is unstoppable.
Royal Pains
Channel: USA Network
Date: June 12, 2013 9 pm
Season number: 5
Cast: Mark Feuerstein (The West Wing, Good Morning Miami), Paul Costanzo (Joey, Road Trip), Campbell Scott (Damages, The Pilot's Wife), Brooke D'Orsay (Gary Unmarried, Two And A Half Men), Jill Flint (The Good Wife)
The series Royal Pains returns to the Wednesday lineup for a 5th season. The series follows former emergency room doctor, Hank Lawson and his accountant turned CFO brother, Evan as they run HankMed a concierge doctor practice. Taking place in The Hamptons the practice also includes physician assistant Divya Katdare who keeps the brothers in line. Evan's new bride Paige Collins and the owner of the brother's home, Boris Kuester von Jurgens-Ratenicz add to the humor and drama of the series. (Former regular Jill Flint might or might not be seen again.) The series is filled rich and famous clients also has a decent share of local hard working residents that Hank must keep well. Hank uses a style that is part MacGyver and part HOUSE to save the lives of his patients. Don't let the wealthy setting turn you away because series is full of heart and real people. Seasons 1-4 of the series are available on DVD if you need to catch up.
Necessary Roughness
Channel: USA Network
Date: June 12, 2013 10 pm
Season number: 3
Cast: Callie Thorne (Rescue Me, Homicide: Life On The Street), Marc Blucas (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Scott Cohen (Gilmore Girls), Mehcad Brooks (Desperate Housewives)
Necessary Roughness will start the show's 3rd season in the Wednesday night lineup. The drama follows Dani Santino after her divorce as she restarts her career as a therapist. The single mother becomes the mental health professional for the New York Hawks NFL football team. (The team is fictional.) Dani soon finds herself taking on other celebrity patients. This busy schedule makes money no longer an issue, but the issues of balancing motherhood and work take center stage. Dani also tests the waters of romance and how hard it can be to date again. Her toughest client Terrence "T.K." King of the Hawks keeps her on her toes. Based on the real football player Terrell "T.O." Owens formally of the Dallas Cowboys you never know what to expect from T.K. The lighthearted manner that she uses to deal with her own life does not follow her into sessions. She is tough on her patients and these wealthy celebrities need all the toughness she can give. The first season of the series is available on DVD, but I have not been able to find a release date for the second season.
Perception
Channel: TNT Network
Date: June 18, 2013 10 pm
*NEW DATE: June 25, 2013 10 pm
Season number: 2
Cast: Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That, Las Vegas), Kelly Rowan (The O.C.), Arjay Smith (Malcohm In The Middle)
The crime drama Perception starts the second season in the Tuesday lineup. The show follows Dr. Daniel Pierce, a neuropsychiatrist who has the disorder of schizophrenia. This condition does not keep Daniel from his daily life, but it does add another element to it. Teaching at fictional Chicago Lake Michigan University, Daniel meets many of the people in his life though this job. His assistant, Max Lewicki and FBI agent, Kate Moretti, a former student are his strongest connections to the outside world. Kate started getting assistance from Daniel on her toughest cases at the beginning of the series. One major stories in season 1 of the show was Daniel's relationship with Natalie Vincent. She seemed to be on of his illusions, but it turns out she was not completely imaginary, but based on a crush he never had the courage to speak to. That person turned out to be his doctor, Caroline Newsome. They become friends after his treatment. Will that be enough for him to let go of his imagined version called Natalie? The first season DVD set will be released on May 21, 2013 and contains the 10 episode season.
