Preview of Summer TV Shows 2010

Friday Night LightsNBC Friday 8 p.m. This show began a 13-episode season in October, but it aired only on DirectTV. Non DirectTV-subscribers can catch these episodes, which already began in May 2010. Coach Taylor is now the football coach of the newly-reopened wrong-side-of-the-tracks East Dillon High. Some prior characters are gone, some are graduated but still in Dillon, and the rest are split between Dillon High, where Mrs. Taylor is still principal, and East Dillon, where we meet some new characters as well. You can catch any episodes you may have missed at NBC.com. This show has some great writing and acting and is worth a look if you never watched it or lost touch as it was moved around the time slots.

The Gates ABC Sunday 10 p.m. starting June 20 The Monahan family moves to a private suburban mountain community. But The Gates is not just about their adjustment to their new surroundings, new job for Nick as chief of police, new school for Charlie and Dana, new worries about their marriage on the part of Sarah Monahan. There is something different about this place. Something mysterious, something -- well, you'll just have to tune in to find out what it is.

Rookie Blue ABC Thursday 9 p.m. starting June 24 This show portrays the career of rookie cop Andy McNally, played by Missy Peregrym, as she interacts with her new fellow officers and other people in her family. Think of it as a police force version of Grey's Anatomy.

The BridgeCBS Saturday 10 p.m. starting July 10 This Canadian police drama aired on CTV starting in March, and this summer US viewers get a chance to check it out as well. Besides fighting crime, Frank Leo has to battle with politics and corruption, but he gets a chance at romance as well.

The Good GuysFox Monday 9 p.m. starting June 7 You may have seen a preview episode of this cop show in mid-May, and not it's returning for the summer season. This one has some comedy involved, as it pairs a seasoned detective and his old school methods with an ambitious younger partner who has more modern ideas.

Rizzoli and Isles TNT Monday 10 p.m. starting June 1 Angie Harmon stars as Detective Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Isles, the medical examiner, who team up to solve murders in Boston, with a little help from a group of supporting characters.

Persons UnknownNBC Monday 10 p.m. starting June 7 If you like creepy mysteries, this one's for you. A group of strangers find themselves kidnapped victims. They don't know why and they don't know where they are. As the series progresses over the summer, we're promised some answers and not much else.

Burn NoticeUSA Thursday 9 p.m. starting June 3 We last left Michael Weston as an apparent kidnap victim after risking everything to keep a terrorist from blowing up Miami. Season 4 will bring us answers, more questions, adventures and new characters in this wacky out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire spy drama.

Royal PainsUSA Thursday 10 p.m. starting June 3 This is the summer show that fits with the summer theme. Hank is a doctor who was fired for not making the politically correct choice, and he ends up starting a private practice making house calls to the rich summer residents of the Hamptons. Season 2 promises some new characters and interesting medical scenarios, as well as more twists and turns in the character's personal lives.

Mad Men AMC Sunday 10 p.m. starting July 25 Sterling Cooper has been sold, Don, Joan, Peggy, Harry and Pete are forming a new agency with Roger Sterling, and Betty Draper is on the way to Reno to file for divorce. That's how we left this critically-acclaimed series about a 1960s ad agency at the end of season 3. Tune in to see what awaits this interesting set of characters in 1964.

FlashpointCBS Friday 9 p.m. starting June 4 Another Canadian import, this drama about an elite tactical unit that deals with hostage situations, bomb threats and really bad guys is entering its 3^rd season.

Kate Plus 8TLC Sunday 9 p.m. starting June 6 Jon is out of the picture and Kate is moving forward with new episodes. The sextuplets are turning six and will have another birthday party and some other fun surprises. Plus we get a peek into what Kate's daily life is like now. For those who still care.

The Little Couple TLC Tuesday 10 p.m. starting June 1 Another TLC original show features the real-life struggles and triumphs of Jen and Bill. Jen is a successful neonatologist and Bill is a businessman. Their marriage seems very normal and average, despite the fact that the couple are both way below the average adult height. This season promises to show them working on the new home and turning to the medical profession for help in attempting to have a baby.

Cake BossTLC Monday 9 p.m. starting May 31 This show about a family-run business that makes extreme cakes starts another season of culinary creativity and character interaction.

White CollarUSA Tuesday 9 p.m. starting July 13 Neal experienced a shock in the explosive ending to last season. Was it real? Is Kate really dead? The mystery is sure to continue in this light-hearted show about a con-man turned FBI consultant.

Covert AffairsUSA Tuesday 10 p.m. starting July 13 A new show on USA promises to bring us another memorable character. This time it's Annie Walker, an unlikely CIA agent with ex-boyfriend issues.

PsychUSA Wednesday 10 p.m. starting July 14 This off-beat series about a pretend psychic and his sidekick who solve crimes that stump the Santa Barbara police starts its 5^th season this year.

Lie to MeFox Monday 8 p.m. starting June 7 The human lie-detector and his crime-fighting co-workers had their second season interrupted by the final season of 24. Now that Jack Bauer is off to parts unknown, Dr. Cal Lightman and company are coming back for the rest of season 2, at an earlier time (8 p.m.). Season 3 has also been ordered, and you can see back episodes on Fox.com.

Secret Life of the American TeenagerABC Family 8 p.m. Monday starting June 7 Anyone who's watched this show knows that the American teenager's life is anything but secret from anyone in this town. Everyone knows everyone's business and they're all inter-connected in some way. Tune in to see what happens next as this wacky group heads into its 3^rd season.

The CloserTNT 9 p.m. Monday starting July 12 This popular crime drama starring Kyra Sedgwick as a southern deputy police chief with her own way of approaching high profile murders is entering its 6^th season.

Warehouse 13SyFy 9 p.m. Tuesday starting July 6 Another mysterious semi-supernatural show, this one revolves around unusual crimes, solved by an unlikely group of crime-fighters based out of a warehouse of even more mysterious artifacts.

EurekaSyFy 9 p.m. Friday starting July 9 Season 4 promises to bring big changes to this unusual town full of genius scientists. Back episodes are available online if you need to get caught up.