Summer TV gives us good prospects
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By MELISSA OLSON
For the Herald
Thursday, June 19, 2008 9:31 AM CDT
I don’t do reality television. It used to be because most of the early programs were catty, staged, and over-the-top, but even I have to admit that reality TV’s been getting better: “Dirty Jobs,” “Mythbusters,” and “30 Days” are all shows that have earned my respect.
I don’t watch any of them regularly, though, and now it’s simply because I prefer my entertainment to be based in fiction.
Only a few summers ago, I would be out of luck right now. For a few years there, the summers were completely dominated by reality television, the kind where a woman’s value can be represented by a red rose, and the poor souls who wanted to undergo plastic surgery could be ridiculed and stared at.
But then something changed: cable took over. While the networks are busy airing reruns and reality, the summers are now owned by channels like USA, TBS, Showtime, and hey, even Lifetime.
So if, like me, you find yourself bored by reruns and “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” (incidentally, I am), read on to find a few summer gems just waiting to be enjoyed:
‘Army Wives’
Season 2 airing now
When it premiered last summer, “Army Wives” made quite a stir, and not just because it was a solid original program on Lifetime, a network known primarily for sappy movies. No, “Army Wives” is the rare military drama that has almost nothing to do with the military itself.
The story of a group of spouses who live together “on post,” while their husbands and wives serve in the Army, the program manages to be touching, not too cheesy, and a fascinating peek into a subculture most of us never experience.
‘The Middleman’
Season 1 airing now
This fledgling ABC Family series isn’t your average cable program: it’s actually based on a graphic novel by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who also created and produces the series. The show is about an art school graduate who is recruited by a mysterious hero to “solve complicated problems” — from aliens, monsters, artificially enhanced gorillas who talk like Scarface, and so on.
It’s kind of like “Men in Black,” with a tiny fraction of the budget and the rapid-fire screwball dialogue of “Gilmore Girls.” If that’s not an ambitious summer assignment, I don’t know what is.
‘My Boys’
Season 3 airing now
Two years ago, this TBS comedy won my heart with its funny, clever pilot about P.J., a female reporter covering the Chicago Cubs and the quintessential tomboy. She hangs out with all guys, she can drink her friends under the table, and she knows a heck of a lot more about poker than she does about relationships.
As P.J., actress Jordan Spiro is winsome, charming, and believable, but the series is made by her hilarious male friends. You don’t have to watch the previous seasons to jump into “My Boys,” but you’ll definitely be wanting to. Find them on DVD and tbs.com.
‘In Plain Sight’
Season 1 airing now
USA is on a hot streak right now, with flagship show “Monk,” the spy drama “Burn Notice,” the most excellent “Psych” (below), and this newest comedy-action program about Mary, a tough, butt-kicking U.S. Marshall who is great at her job but terrible with her personal life.
This somewhat tired premise is saved by sharp, witty writing, a nice sprinkling of action and suspense, and the great back-and-forth between Mary and her partner.
If that doesn’t convince you to tune it, let me just say this: Mary’s partner’s last name is Marshall, and he’s a U.S. Marshall. How great is that?
‘Psych’
Season 3 premieres July 18
“Psych” is a procedural, so there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t jump in as soon as possible. The USA hourlong comedy follows Shawn, a hyper-observant slacker who has convinced the Santa Barbara police department that he’s a psychic.
He solves their crimes, with the help of his sidekick and long-suffering best friend, Gus. And most importantly, the show is hilarious — for a good time, visit usanetworks.com and watch the episode called “Lights, Camera, Homicido.” I almost fell off my couch laughing, and that happens very rarely.
‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’
Season 1 airing now
This brand new Showtime program (the pilot aired on Monday) is a smart, sexy look at the behind-the-scenes life of a successful London call girl.
It’s definitely an R-rated show, but there’s something incredibly charismatic about Belle (played by former “Dr. Who” sidekick Billie Piper, if you’re into that), the title character, who speaks candidly to the camera to explain her crazy, duel-identities life.
The series is based on a real-life blog-turned-book called “Belle du Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl,” and there’s a note of believability in every sordid detail, which makes “Diary” all the more arresting.
A Chippewa Falls native, Melissa Olson graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in film. She works in Madison for the television program Discover Wisconsin. E-mail comments and questions to Melissa at mfo.usc@gmail.com.
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