With the end of spring also came an end to some of our favorite TV shows – we’re looking at you, Grey’s Anatomy – which means it’s time to replace our weekly ritual. Thankfully, summer’s brought a lineup of shows, both old and new, vying for our attention. Mark your calendars, because here’s a list of shows we’ll be tuning in to this summer.
Sunday
Covert Affairs (USA)
Premiering: July 10, 2012, 9 p.m.
If you don’t already long to have the multilingualism of a UN translator or the vigor of an Olympian, then you will after you watch one episode of this show. Covert Affairs follows Annie Walker, a CIA field operative played by Piper Perabo, who jets off to a different country or saves lives in pretty much every episode. This show has serious action with a splash of romance every now and then—a perfect mix to keep you hooked all summer.
Teen Wolf (MTV)
Premiered: June 3, 2012, 10 p.m.
Though you may not always trust MTV to air quality TV dramas, Teen Wolf is refreshingly good. The cast can act, the storyline is loosely based on the original Teen Wolf, which was like, one of the best ‘80s cult-classics ever, and it stars Tyler Posey.
The Newsroom (HBO)
Premiering: June 24, 2012, 10 p.m.
The genius behind the The Social Network wrote this show, so we’re expecting it to be just as surprisingly brilliant. The Newsroom follows a 24-hour cable news network anchorman who gets sick of pandering to commercial interests. Besides the fact that this is probably going to be really interesting, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, and Dev Patel are also great reasons to set your TiVos.
Monday
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
Premiered: May 15, 2012, 9 p.m.
Feel like watching Simon Cowell and David Hasselhoff judge people? Yeah, we didn’t think so. But America’s Got Talent is always entertaining and ridiculous. Starting its seventh season this summer, it’s like American Idol—you may not have planned on watching it, but alas, it’s something to watch. And you might walk away wishing you were a triple threat.
Tuesday
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
Premiered: June 5, 2012, 8 p.m.
We’re willing to bet there are more than a few collegiette fans of ABC’s addictive Pretty Little Liars. The ongoing high school murder mystery is back, and judging from last season’s juicy closer, things can only get more twisted. And apparently there’s a new conundrum in the works following Maya’s death that’s got Emily plotting some serious revenge.
Wednesday
Baby Daddy (ABC Family)
Premiering: June 20, 8:30 p.m.
A young guy doesn’t find out he has had a baby until the girl he got pregnant drops the child off at his doorstep. He decides to raise the kid on his own—well, with the help of his entire family. It’s been a while since we’ve had a cute sitcom to watch, and with an unusual plot line like this, we might tune in every week.
Thursday
Snooki & JWoww (MTV)
Premiering: June 21, 2012, 10 p.m.
Since 5 seasons of ridiculousness wasn’t enough, Jersey Shore has come out with an adjunct with its two brightest, burning stars: Snooki and JWoww. And that’s pretty much all anyone knows about the show. Since Snooki was pregnant during filming, there won’t be the kind of Jersey Shore drunken melodrama that pulls in its usual ratings. But we’re thinking audiences will see a side of the ladies they’ve never seen before, and that may be interesting.
Friday
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Premiering: July 15, 2012, 11 p.m.
Being that person who doesn’t watch Breaking Bad is kind of like being that person who doesn’t watch Mad Men – you’ll find yourself sold after one episode. The series is about a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a drug dealer to support his family after he finds out he has lung cancer. The show has won a whopping six Emmys and though it may be in its last season, it’s never too late to tune in.