MY SUMMER, MY TIVO: WHAT TO WATCH UNTIL FALL
RETURNING SHOWS
Entourage (HBO)
Season Four kicks off tonight, which is a treat considering how often we’re accustomed to waiting between seasons of our favorite shows.
Hell’s Kitchen (FOX)
I love reality cooking shows, but this is actually my least favorite because the contestants are far less talented and compelling that those competing on Top Chef. However, given that it’s a summer filler series and there aren’t many other tempting options, I watch it. I am not a huge fan of restaurant owner and head chef Gordon Ramsay (the so-called Simon Cowell of the Kitchen) and his antics.
http://www.fox.com/hellskitchen/
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
Laugh-out-loud funny. I absolutely love watching her missteps and adventures as she performs and openly disparages other celebrities. I don’t know why more people aren’t watching this show. I would LOVE to interview her.
http://www.bravotv.com/Kathy_Griffin/
Last Comic Standing (NBC)
Watching tightly wound comedians interact and unravel on national television makes me feel normal. Oh yeah, and there are some damn funny people competing for that title.
http://www.nbc.com/Last_Comic_Standing/
The Next Food Network Star (Food Network)
Whenever there is absolutely nothing on TV, I just turn to this channel. I don’t know how to cook, but I like to eat. So there you go.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_nf_vote
Rescue Me (FX)
Despite the creepy Season 4 advertising image of enraged Neanderthal Denis Leary, this show is fantastic and totally TiVO-worthy.
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/rescueme/
Top Chef (Bravo)
Probably my favorite reality show (since I gave up on Survivor two seasons ago).
http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef
NEW SHOWS
John from Cincinnati (HBO)
This one is a head-scratcher. I watched the first episode last week and will give it a few more, but I am not committed by any means. And although this show is entirely different from creator David Milch’s brilliant but prematurely cancelled Deadwood, my expectations for the quality of his new show are very high and I hope that this series delivers.
http://www.hbo.com/johnfromcincinnati/
Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
I don’t know much about this show, but I am intrigued by the trailer. It looks like a quirky and entertaining pseudo-documentary about a pair of New Zealand musicians trying to make it big in NYC.
http://www.hbo.com/conchords/about/index.html
Meadowlands (Showtime)
I know even less about this show, but Showtime has proven to be a real threat to the HBO juggernaut with some very high quality original series (see: Dexter), so I’m in for a few episodes.