Crossing Lines

Reel Life With Jane’s Ultimate Guide to Summer TV 2013


Crossing Lines

Who says broadcast TV is dead in the water? Sure, we might have more offerings on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and Hulu, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great new and returning shows on the good old tube. That would be “The TV” for you youngsters.

TNT has a great slate of summer TV crime drama, including “Major Crimes” and “King & Maxwell” (Rebecca Romijn woops ass!), not to mention “Perception” and “Rizzoli & Isles.” These are great shows to watch if you love crime drama, but don’t necessarily love all the grief and gore that go along with it (“Hannibal,” anyone?).

New shows also include Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” FX’s “The Bridge,” USA’s “Graceland,” BBC America’s “Broadchurch” and NBC’s “Crossing Lines,” as well as Showtime’s “Dexter,” BBC America’s “Being Human,” and HBO’s “The Newsroom.”

We’ll say buh-bye to some amazing shows, including the aforementioned “Dexter,” as well as AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” USA’s “Burn Notice” and Comedy Central’s “Futurama,” all beginning their final seasons.

Let’s take a look at some new and returning shows. Tell us your favorites in the comments below.

LONGMIRE (A&E, Monday) This dark modern western starring Robert Taylor as a burned-out Wyoming sheriff was a simmering hit last summer. As season two starts, Walt Longmire and his combative deputy, Vic Moretti (Katee Sackhoff), are as irritated with each other as ever. Read Connie Wang’s recaps here.

PRISONERS OF WAR (Hulu, Tuesday) The second season of the Israeli series that inspired one of my favorite shows, “Homeland,” hits the web.

WIZARDS VS. ALIENS (The Hub, June 1) Russell T. Davies, the man behind the modern “Doctor Who,” created this children’s series about two 16-year-old British boys — one a wizard — battling aliens.

THE KILLING (AMC, June 2) A co-production deal with Netflix saved this moody show from cancellation. Season 3 picks up a year after the Rosie Larsen case, with the former detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) working on a ferry dock and Holder climbing the Seattle P.D. food chain. Read Jane’s recaps here.

THE FOSTERS (ABC Family, June 3) The production team behind the flight-attendant reality series “Fly Girls” turns to fiction with this new teenage drama about lesbian moms raising a family of foster and biological children. Teri Polo and Sherri Saum play the mothers; Jennifer Lopez is an executive producer. Read Kimberly Strand’s notes here.

MISTRESSES (ABC, June 3) This sudsy drama, based on a British series that ran from 2008 to 2010, stars Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim (“Lost”), Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan, all having extramarital sex. Read Kimberly Strand’s notes here.

BURN NOTICE (USA, June 6) That’s a wrap for this long-running spy dramedy that ends its run with season 7.

GRACELAND (USA, June 6) This heavily hyped new crime show puts seven strangers in a design-catalog beach house sharing surfing lessons and bonfires. Created by Jeff Eastin (USA’s “White Collar”), it’s loosely based on a true story about undercover agents from different federal agencies sharing a Southern California house.

PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD (Syfy, June 8) This Canadian spinoff of the British series “Primeval” moves the time-traveling-dinosaur action from England to Vancouver, British Columbia. The cast is mostly new, including Niall Matter (bad boy Zane on Syfy’s “Eureka”).

SAM & CAT (Nickelodeon, June 8) Sam Puckett (Jennette McCurdy) of “iCarly” and Cat Valentine (Ariana Grande) of “Victorious” get their own show in this double spinoff. The preternaturally mature Sam and the ditsy Cat will meet, become friends and start a baby-sitting service.

KING & MAXWELL (TNT, June 10) Jon Tenney reprises his scruffy “Closer” and “Major Crimes” character and pairs up with Rebecca Romijn. The two disgraced Secret Service agents are now Washington-based private eyes. Cue the fun banter. Read Jane’s recaps here. Also on TNT: “Major Crimes,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Perception,” “Falling Skies,” “Franklin & Bash,” and “The Hero.” TNT knows Summer TV, yes it does.

PUSSY RIOT: A PUNK PRAYER (HBO, June 10) HBO’s summer documentary series begins with Mike Lerner and Maxim Pozdorovkin’s film about the Russian punk band which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Magic City (Starz, June 14). Jeffrey Dean Morgan returns as the smoldering Ike Evans, owner of the glitzy Miramar Hotel in Miami, where Frank Sinatra mixes with the Mob and human mermaids swim naked in the pool. Watch the season two trailer here.

INSPECTOR LEWIS (PBS, June 16) With 27 feature-length episodes, Lewis (Kevin Whately) is closing in on his former guv’nor in the Thames Valley police, Inspector Morse. But this summer’s three cases, which lead off the “Masterpiece Mystery!” season, may be Lewis’s last. “Mystery!” will continue with the Morse prequel “Endeavour,” a new adaptation of “The Lady Vanishes,” and the long-awaited seventh season of “Foyle’s War.”

TRUE BLOOD (HBO, June 16) The erotic supernatural drama begins its first season without the daily attention of its creator, Alan Ball, who stepped down as showrunner after Season 5. With those hot vampires Eric and Bill still causing havoc, I’m guessing it’ll still attract a good following. And I’m sure Sookie will be cleaning up blood, as usual.

FUTURAMA (Comedy Central, June 19) This long-running animated show (it debuted in 1999) begins its final season, having been canceled for the SECOND time.

CROSSING LINES (NBC, June 23) This crime drama follows a team of globe-trotting investigators at the International Criminal Court. The American-German-French production features Donald Sutherland and William Fichtner chewing up the scenery.

DEVIOUS MAIDS (Lifetime, June 23) This spinoff of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” scored a 13-episode order from Lifetime. Edy Ganem, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramírez, Judy Reyes and Roselyn Sánchez play the attractive Beverly Hills domestics.

UNDER THE DOME (CBS, June 24) This miniseries based on a Stephen King novel centers on a town in Maine that finds itself cut off from the rest of the world. It’s no “Simpsons” movie.

DEXTER (Showtime, June 30) Michael C. Hall’s adorable serial killer reaches the end of the line — one way or another — as this Showtime stalwart enters its eighth and final season.

RAY DONOVAN (Showtime, June 30) Showtime’s new drama follows a Hollywood fixer who lives in suburban Calabasas, making deals and doling out violence while coping with his tightly-wound wife, young kids, troubled brothers and menacing gangster father. The all-star cast includes Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, Elliott Gould, Katherine Moennig and Eddie Marsan. Think “The Sopranos” on Sunset Boulevard.

MOONE BOY (Hulu, July 10) Chris O’Dowd of “Bridesmaids” and “Family Tree” created this series — about a young Irish boy’s imaginary friend — for the British network Sky; it will have its American premiere online at Hulu.

CAMP (NBC, July 10) Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers and Sisters,” “Six Feet Under”) plays a summer camp director in this new drama, an American production filmed in Australia.

THE BRIDGE (FX, July 10) Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir play the lead cops in this dark Nordic thriller adaptation. The serial-killer tale shifts the action from the Denmark-Sweden frontier to the United States-Mexico border.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix, July 11) Jenji Kohan, creator of “Weeds,” boards the Netflix bus with a dark comedy about a Brooklyn woman (Taylor Schilling, NBC’s “Mercy”) sentenced to a year in federal prison. The series is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir.

BEING HUMAN (BBC America, July 13) With its original ghost, werewolf and vampire long gone, this story of supernatural friendship returns for a final season with several new cast members. By the way, look for Lenora Crichlow, who played Annie the ghost, on the new ABC sitcom “Back in the Game” this fall.

THE NEWSROOM (HBO, July 14) Aaron Sorkin’s much maligned drama about romance and idealism in a television newsroom returns for a second season.

HERE COMES HONEY BOO BOO (TLC, July 17) Yes. She’s back.

TEEN BEACH MOVIE (Disney, July 19) Disney’s latest most-likely-to-be-a-franchise candidate stars Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell as two teenagers transported to an alternate dimension/beach party movie.

DEBBIE MACOMBER’S CEDAR COVE (Hallmark, July 20) The channel’s first original scripted series, based on one of Ms. Macomber’s series of novels, stars Andie MacDowell as a small-town judge. Yes! Andie MacDowell! One of my favorite actresses ever!

UNFORGETTABLE (CBS, July 28) Canceled and then resurrected, this murder mystery rejoins CBS’s schedule more than 14 months after its first season ended. Poppy Montgomery stars as Carrie Wells, a heroine with a very good memory (thank goodness).

BROADCHURCH (BBC America, Aug. 7) This contemporary murder mystery set in a seaside resort was a smash hit in Britain, where its eight-episode first season averaged more than nine million total viewers. “Doctor Who’s” David Tennant stars as a senior detective.

THE WHITE QUEEN (Starz, Aug. 10) This 10-part British production, based on historical novels by Philippa Gregory, is set during the War of the Roses. James Frain plays Warwick, the Kingmaker, and Rebecca Ferguson, Amanda Hale and Faye Marsay play noblewomen fighting for power.

BREAKING BAD (AMC, Aug. 11) Walter White’s long spiral from high school chemistry teacher to international drug lord comes to an end with its final eight episodes. Sniff…

LOW WINTER SUN (AMC, Aug. 11) Based on a British miniseries, this dirty-cops story stars Mark Strong, Erika Alexander, David Costabile, Sprague Grayden and Alon Aboutboul. Murder, deception, revenge and corruption begins with the murder of a cop by fellow Detroit detective, Frank Agnew (Strong).

What summer shows did I miss? Tell us your favorites in the comments below, including why we should be watching them. 

Comments

23 responses to “Reel Life With Jane’s Ultimate Guide to Summer TV 2013”

  1. K.L. Connie Wang Avatar
    K.L. Connie Wang

    Season 2 of Continuum has already started on Syfy.

  2. […] who? Well, season two of “The Newsroom” will be starting July 14.  Maybe I should read Reel Life With Jane’s Ultimate Guide to Summer TV 2013 to get some more […]

  3. Jane Boursaw Avatar

    Oh yeah. Good call. Syfy has some cool summer stuff. And we love all their cheesy original movies. “Independence Daysaster” is an ‘aliens attack’ movie premiering June 27. Ryan Merriman and Tom Everett Scott star. They also have the most entertaining press kits around!

  4. Jane Boursaw Avatar

    And um, yeah, I did not write that Game of Thrones Season 3 post – you did! I guess it just lists it since I’m the one who pushed it out.

  5. Jane Boursaw Avatar

    I did, however, write that King & Maxwell recap. As well as the Major Crimes recap listed on this comment. 🙂

  6. Richard Keller Avatar

    Since I’ve unplugged the TV so the kids would do something else and I’m working on my book, not much is being watched.

  7. Richard Keller Avatar

    Since I’ve unplugged the TV so the kids would do something else and I’m working on my book, not much is being watched.

  8. Jane Louise Boursaw Avatar

    You’re my hero for unplugging the TV while working on a book with that many kids in the house.

  9. Jane Louise Boursaw Avatar

    You’re my hero for unplugging the TV while working on a book with that many kids in the house.

  10. Richard Keller Avatar

    And my wife is taking college courses. I can barely get through a show on Netflix without nodding off.

  11. Richard Keller Avatar

    And my wife is taking college courses. I can barely get through a show on Netflix without nodding off.

  12. Jane Louise Boursaw Avatar

    Wow – and the wife taking college courses. Make that superhero – both of you!

  13. Rebecca Reynolds Avatar

    Believe it or not, we still haven’t had time to watch Sunday’s episode of The Killing yet.

  14. Jane Louise Boursaw Avatar

    I watched (still good), but haven’t had time to post a recap yet! Today…

  15. Rebecca Reynolds Avatar

    I’m getting some quotes for my true indie rant.

  16. Rebecca Reynolds Avatar

    Er, guestitorial rather.

  17. Sheryl Avatar

    Excited about the return of Magic City and The Newsroom!

  18. Kerry Dexter Avatar

    looking forward to the return of Rizzoli & Isles — really like the way the friendship between two very different characters is handled, and Harmon and Alexander hit the right notes with that. I’ll be interested to see how Cedar Cove turns out. as I recall, Hallmark did an okay job with Macomber’s holiday novels as holiday themed movies — good humor and conflict without being too sappy — so I’ll hope for the same with Cedar Cove, and I’m with you, Andie McDowell in the lead is a draw. besides, ever since Judging Amy went away, there’s been room for well done judge stories —

  19. Kuan-Lin Connie Wang Avatar

    But Honey Boo Boo is such a train wreck. You can’t look away!

  20. BJ Lardie Avatar

    I’m not watching much. Pretty bored. Trying to find other things to do. AGT is about it and then books. And oh yeah, Pawn Stars has new episodes right now. The number 1 show in America. I was wondering if he really makes any money. He has a lot of overhead. For instance: Storage Wars actors make $700,000/year and they only spend like $5,000 on products. Yet Pawn Stars make a million a year yet spend $500,000 year or more…… I just would not be surprised if they claimed bankruptcy. I was just wondering. His overhead is HUGE!

  21. Kerry Dexter Avatar

    Jane, what are you thinking about Cedar Cove so far? have to say I have mixed feelings. characters seem a tad too predictable, which may be why I keep being exasperated that writers seem not to have yet figured out quite how to make a throughline for the stories as each episode ends. but maybe the show’s still finding its rhythm, or I’m still figuring out just what that is.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      I watched the first episode and liked it well enough, but mostly because I’m such a devoted fan of Andie MacDowell. Been meaning to catch up on the other episodes, but you know how that goes. Never enough time. I also like that it’s rated either G or PG – gotta check – so you can be watching with a kid and not be too worried about something inappropriate happening.

  22. […] Reel Life With Jane's Final Guide to Summer TELEVISION 2013Reel Life With Jane, on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:01:37 -0700Certain, we may have more choices on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and Hulu, but that doesn't imply there aren't some nice new and returning Presentations on the nice old tube. That Might be …. Here COMES HONEY BOO BOO (TLC, July 17) Yes. She's back. […]

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