New Television Series for Summer 2009

10 Things I Hate About You

Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC Family. First episode on July 7th.

Based on the 1999 movie of the same name, two sisters with different personalities move to a new high school where either comedic or interesting things occur. Larry Miller stars as the overprotective dad.

Dark Blue

Wednesdays at 10/9c on TNT. First episode on July 15th.

Dark Blue tells the story of a team of police officers whose deep undercover activities are often unknown to other officers. Dylan McDermott stars as Carter Shaw, leader of the undercover team.

The description emphasizes the personal difficulties of each officer on the team. We will have to wait and see if the plots can be both character driven and an interesting story.

Hawthorne

Tuesdays at 9/8c on TNT. First episode on June 16th.

Jada Pinkett Smith stars as the title character in Hawthorne. Smith's character, Christina Hawthorne, leads the dedicated nurses of Richmond Trinity Hospital. Costars include Michael Vartan from Alias.

Jada Pinkett Smith is listed as an executive producer. I guess she really wanted to do a hospital show, addressing a real shortage in television dramas.

Hung

Sundays at 10/9c on HBO. First episode on June 28th.

Thomas Jane plays Ray Drecker, a financially strapped high school basketball coach who puts his biggest physical asset to work. Jane Adams plays Tanya, his girlfriend who agrees to help with marketing his assets, i.e his pimp. Anne Heche will appear as Ray's remarried ex-wife.

Trailer shows real comedic potential, I hope they can keep the conecept funny over 19 episodes,

Mental

Tuesdays,at 9/8c on Fox. First episode on May 26th.

Follow Dr. Jack Gallagher, played by Chris Vance, as a maverick psychiatrist who treats patients with unknown psychiatric conditions.

House with crazy people.

Merlin

Sundays at 8/7c on NBC, First episode on June 21st.

The story of Merlin the sorcerer re-imagined with Merlin as a young man looking for adventure. Originally shown on the BBC.

"Cross-generational appeal" means my kids will like it.

Nurse Jackie

Mondays at 10:30/9:30c on Showtime. First episode on June 8th.

Edie Falco makes her long awaited return to television as the title character in Nurse Jackie on Showtime. This half hour black comedy or dramedy features Falco as Jackie Peyton, an ER nurse in a New York hospital.

See my take on pilot episode here.

The Philanthropist

Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC. First episode on June 24th.

Billionaire Teddy Rist undergoes a life changing experience and decides to refocus his life and money towards adventurous philanthropy. James Purefoy ("Rome") plays Teddy Rist. Other notable cast members include: Neve Campbell as Teddy's wife, Jesse L.Martin ("Law & Order") plays Teddy's business partner Phillip Maidstone, and Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar Little in "The Wire").

I am not sure about the concept but the The Philanthropist has an impressive cast.

Royal Pains

Thursdays at 10/9c on USA. First episode on June 4th.

Offbeat medical drama about a wrongfully fired New York surgeon starting a new career treating the rich and famous in the Hamptons. Mark Feuerstein stars as Dr. Hank Lawson, and Paulo Costanzo as Evan Lawson, Hank's CPA brother who gets him to the Hamptons.

You may remember Mark Feuerstein from The West Wing, Good Morning Miami and Caroline in the City.

Warehouse 13

Wednesdays at 10/9c on SciFi. First episode on July 15th.

Two Secret Service agents guard a government warehouse in South Dakota filled with top secret supernatural objects. Adventure will ensue when they must retrieve objects that must he stored in the warehouse for safekeeping. Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly play the two agents. Saul Rubinek plays Artie the eccentric caretaker of Warehouse 13.

The trailer gave me a taste of the X-Files and Eureka thrown in a blender.