Guest Author - Dani M. Sanders

When I was a kid, the summer TV schedule was a wasteland. All of the shows were in reruns with the occasional variety special mixed in. The most a viewer could look forward to was catching up on episodes you may have missed the first time around. Luckily, today's TV viewer has fresh content to watch when she plops onto the couch after a long day in the summer sunshine.

The shows that I have enjoyed the most during the past several years have been the ones that premiered during the summer. Summer series tend to have fewer episodes than those on the traditional fall schedule, so there is very little filler. The viewer gets a fun ride every week that contributes to the overall plot. The cable networks tend to lean toward scripted series, while the broadcast networks fill their summer schedules with reality shows.

I did a brief survey of the new summer shows and these are a few that caught my attention:

In Plain Sight (premiering June 1, 2008 on USA), starring Mary McCormack as a US marshal protecting people in the witness protection program.

Brooke Hogan Knows Best (premiering July 13, 2008 on VH1) has Brooke taking over the family's reality show after her brother's accident and her parents' divorce.

The Middleman (premiering June 16, 2008 on ABC Family) is a superhero show in the style of the movie Men in Black.

I Survived a Japanese Game Show (premiering June 24, 2008 on ABC) is a reality show following Americans who participate in those wacky Japanese shows like Ninja Warrior.

The Baby Borrowers (premiering June 25, 2008 on NBC) is based on a British reality show of the same name where teenagers are shown what it is like to be parents with real babies.

This is only a small sampling of the shows premiering this summer. There are also many returning series, as well. Several of my personal favorites are coming back, including Army Wives, Mad Men, So You Think You Can Dance?, The Closer, My Boys, and many more. Watch this space for reviews and recaps galore! I may be reviewing shows other than the ones I listed, depending on time and interest. The summer TV season has truly become a fun place to escape from the bugs and the heat.