New shows heat up summer TV

Meteorologists predict that summer 2006 will be the hottest
season in years. It looks like summer television will be turning up
the heat as well.

For the average TV watcher, summer is a time for deep reflection
on months past. We remember frustrating finales, anxiously await
the DVD releases of our beloved current (or perhaps old and
obscure) shows, and flock to the comic-book blockbusters and
surmounting sequels that fill the summer theaters.

As is tradition, the film industry is ready to step in and take
the burden off the shoulders of prime-time television come late
May, and then the movies take a breather for the September TV
sha-bang.

But, like it or not, summer TV isn’t just filler any more.
Sure, networks use the off-season for narrative experimentation and
flop-ready reality dreams, but the slew of quality programming
infiltrating the small screen proves the summer off-season is the
new on-season.

Not only did “The O.C.” earn such popularity in its
six-episode run in summer 2003 that it was given a season contract
with Fox (and as far as I know, it’s still around), but HBO
summer hits “Entourage” and “Deadwood” have
garnered loyal multi-season audiences and shiny awards along the
way.

The slightly dirty and entirely promiscuous “Sex and the
City” and “Melrose Place” premiered in the summer
months, and so did reality fist-fights “American Idol”
and “Survivor.” I’d like to think that behind the
media-hype and overdramatic personas are a few very well-produced
programs.

So who wouldn’t premiere the next smoking television
phenomenon smack dab in the middle of a wet hot American
summer?

From what I hear, Paris Hilton is pretending to be married,
comics are standing, and dancers are thinking. They’re back
for more. But what’s new?

“Brotherhood” (Showtime) ““ If your brother
were a Mob thug and you were a state representative prone to drug
dealing, the Irish-American family tension could be plucked like an
E string. It’s “Boondock Saints” on drugs. Oh
wait…

“Saved” (TNT) ““ We know the drill with golden
hits “ER,” “House” and “Grey’s
Anatomy,” but “Saved” focuses on the underpaid,
overworked EMTs instead of glamorizing the medical profession. Even
though we don’t want to be them, everyone loves an
underdog.

“Treasure Hunters” (NBC) ““ I’m pretty
sure the liability waiver for this show was longer than the Bible.
“The Amazing Race,” but more intense.

“Tuesday Night Book Club” (CBS) ““

Five attractive, middle-aged women balance a family, a household
and a job. “Desperate Housewives,” but real.

“Dog Bites Man” (Comedy Central) ““ Part
improvisation, part mockumentary, with entirely fake newscasters
interacting with “real people” both in front of and
behind the camera.

“Psych” (USA) ““ So far a critically acclaimed
dramedy about a regular guy who can solve crime with his
photographic memory … and claims to be psychic. Get the
sixth-grade reference? Psych! It’s a paranormal
“CSI” with comic aspects. Hmm.

“Kyle XY” (ABC Family) ““ If Clark Kent is from
Krypton, then where is Kyle XY from? Well he doesn’t have a
belly button, and he appears to speak like a toddler. But
apparently it doesn’t matter, because the overwhelming
marketing campaign has led the sci-fi drama to be the second-most
searched show on TV.com. It even passed up
“Smallville.” Now that’s pretty out of this
world.

“Chapelle’s Show: The Lost Episodes” (Comedy
Central) ““ So it’s not really new. And the three
episodes compiled of unused footage from Dave Chapelle’s
relatively entertainment-friendly days would hardly be called a
season. But Charlie Murphy called it “brilliant.”
It’s Dave Chapelle. Enough said.

And if none of the newest delicacies suit your fancy,
don’t worry. “Reno 911″ is still marching
strong.

Dickau will be watching more than late-night reruns of
“Fresh Prince” and “Family Guy” on DVD this
summer. E-mail him at ddickau@media.ucla.edu.

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