Summer TV Preview: June

Just because your TiVo is finally able to breathe, doesn’t mean there is a lack of TV on the horizon to junk it up all over again. Yes my friends, it’s time for the summer TV season. An annual tradition that usually brings a few cable gems and a lot of broadcast schlock. Of course I love both equally.

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (June 1st, NBC)
I’d like to say there is no way I’ll watch this show but I’d be lying due to one simple word…Sanjaya. I may not watch Idol but damn it all if I don’t love me some Sanjaya. Now the show itself felt like a Survivor rip off when it aired on ABC a few years back and the celebs were F list back then (Downtown Julie Brown? Wubba wubba wubba indeed!) but this time around I think NBC is taking a different approach. While the celebrities are most D to E list, they are mostly people we love to hate so I’m guessing the show will focus more on humiliating the “stars”. Given that Spencer, Heidi, and Spencer’s flesh colored beard are also contestants, that’s enough to make me tune in for at least a couple of nights. One huge negative is the over saturation as NBC is airing this 4 or 5 times a week.

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (June 1st, NBC)
I know this isn’t a new show per say but I can’t wait to see Conan take over for The Chin. I’m hoping he still gets a chance to be a little crazy even though it’s an hour earlier and I’m excited to see Andy Richter return.

The Next Food Network Star (June 7th, FoodTV)
Average chefs with big personalities compete to host a show we’ll probably never watch. I know this show pales to Top Chef but the challenges are still fun and the producers usually cast an interesting cast of half wits and cry babies.

Weeds (June 8th, Showtime)
I’m late to this party but my partner got me hooked on it last year. It doesn’t hurt that I had a huge Mary-Louise Parker crush when she was on West Wing. Seems like the show likes to constantly change the status quo and with last year’s cliffhanger of a health situation certainly seems like that will hold true this year.

Nurse Jackie (June 8th, Showtime)
I'm curious to see if this Edie Falco vehicle lives up to the high standards that Showtime has recently established with Weeds, Dexter and United States of Tara. Haven’t heard much buzz either way but a must-see at least initially.

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (June 8th, Bravo!)
I gave up on this show last year and questioned whether it even belonged on the air any more. Kathy herself seemed like she was ready to move on but then money talked and apparently she’s back for at least one more season. I’ll certainly check in from time to time, but the spontaneity and reality that once made this reality show need to make reappearance.

Top Chef: Masters (June 10th, Bravo!)
I still don’t know if I understand how this new version of Top Chef works but frankly I could give a damn. Famous chefs from across fair land will battle each other week to week to earn the title of Master. There will be Quickfire-type challenges and the format should be somewhat familiar. However, I just can’t see Rick Bayless sharing a bunk bed with Hubert Keller.

NYC Prep (June 16th, Bravo!)
Another title for this show could be Real Housewives of NYC in Training or The Real Gossip Girl. A more accurate title might be Laguna Beach East as the show follows a group of rich NYC kids going through prep school. This has a chance to be the breakout schlock show of the summer or it could be tedious and boring. Either way count me in on premiere night.