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Remember the days when there was absolutely nothing worth watching on TV during the summer? Well, those days have certainly changed, as both broadcast cable, network, and premium channels are debuting some of their best new shows -- and airing a few of their favorites this summer. Here’s my picks on the Top 10 to tune in for to help you beat the heat this summer:

 

1.  “Breaking Bad” (Sunday, July 15, at 10pm on AMC): Get ready for the fifth and final season of one of the best shows on television, “Breaking Bad”. The first 8 episodes of season five will begin on July 15, and the final eight will premiere next summer. Leads Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, who star as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, two meth cookers and dealers, promise that season 5 will be the craziest one yet. Little has been said about the eagerly awaited new season, but rumor has it that “Friday Night Lights” star Jesse Plemons will play a major recurring role in the next season. Cranston has also hinted that he believes that his character will die at the end of the series -- but that he also really has no idea what will happen. Guess we will have to tune in and see!

 

2.  “Pretty Little Liars” (Tuesday, June 5, at 8pm on ABC Family): The liars are back, and are dealing with just as much drama as before in the season 3 premiere. The season opener will include a surprise visitor for Mona (Janel Parrish), Aria (Lucy Hale) and Ezra’s (Ian Harding) relationship may also get shaken up by an unexpected visitor, and Emily (Shay Mitchell) gets into the “special juice” -- which usually results in a great deal of trouble for her. As always, get ready for yet another thrilling and creepy series of episodes, featuring lots of fabulous outfits, of course.

 

3.  “The Newsroom” (Sunday, June 24, at 10pm on HBO): Aaron Sorkin, the mind behind “The West Wing”, is back with a new drama on HBO, this time about a cable news channel. Jeff Daniels stars as the anchor of the news show, with Emily Mortimer as his new executive producer, John Gallagher Jr., Allison Pill, Dev Patel, and Olivia Munn as his news staff, and Sam Waterston as his boss, as they take on the task of telling quality news stories in the face of corporate and commercial entanglements. And like any proper Aaron Sorkin show, there will be plenty of back-stabbing, romance, back-biting comebacks, and drama. While a few of Sorkin’s shows have not been nearly as strong as “The West Wing”, his last two films -- The Social Network and Moneyball -- proved that he is still one of the best writers in Hollywood today.

 

4.  “Breaking Pointe” (Thursday, May 31, at 8pm on the CW): If you loved Black Swan for the actual ballet portion of it, then you will love “Breaking Pointe”. This documentary series follows the life of a group of ballerinas at one of the most competitive ballet companies in the U.S., Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. Underneath the beauty and glamorous costumes, the world of ballet is revealed to be a gritty, dog-eat-dog business. Ballet itself combines grace, extreme athleticism, poise, focus, and unattainable perfection -- all of which these prima ballerinas are striving to achieve. Get ready for lots of tension and tears... and tutus!

 

5.  “True Blood” (Sunday, June 10, at 9pm on HBO): I know, waiting for the premiere of season 5 has sucked, but from what I can tell, it was definitely worth it. When we last left off, a handful of characters either died or came back to life -- Sookie (Anna Paquin), Bill (Stephen Moyer), and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) found themselves in a complicated love triangle, and Alcide (Joe Manganiello) uncovered a giant hole in the cement of a parking structure in the middle of Bon Temps. (Does this mean that Russell Edgington will return?) The season opener trailer features a giant explosion, some sexy scenes, and a lot of the juicy drama that makes “True Blood” so great. Moyer is set to direct an episode this season, and it looks as though we will see more of the Authority. I’m betting this season will definitely not suck -- “True Blood” wouldn’t want to put a stake in its reputation.

 

6.  “Awkward” (Thursday, June 28, at 10:30pm on MTV): “Awkward”, how I have missed thee. The quirky adventures of Jenna finally return, and it looks as though season 2 will be just as uncomfortably hilarious as the first season. In the season premiere, we will finally find out if Jenna (Ashley Rickards) picked Matty (Beau Mirchoff) or Jake (Brett Davern), and any questions that were left unanswered from season 1 will be answered in season 2. Davern has commented that the season is very "fan-friendly" and that Jenna will get herself into all sorts of trouble that will be super fun to watch. I certainly hope so!

 

7.  “Political Animals” (Sunday, July 15 at 10pm on USA): This new miniseries from Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark sounds strangely familiar; “Political Animals” explores the story of a former First Family and all of the nuances that come with the world of politics... and what happens when the gloves come off. Sigourney Weaver stars as Elaine Barrish Hammond, the current Secretary of State and the ex-wife of a former U.S. President. The stately cast also includes Carla Gugino, Sebastian Stan, Ellen Burstyn, Ciaran Hinds, and James Wolk. Judging from the preview, “Political Animals” makes Washington D.C. look a whole lot sexier, meaner, and slicker. If you’re a fan of political thrillers, then this is a definite must-see. (Note: I do realize that this comes on as the same time as “Breaking Bad”; However, AMC tends to show “Breaking Bad” back-to-back, and in cases like this, that’s what our friendly DVRs are for!)

 

8.  “Dallas” (Wednesday, June 13, at 9pm on TNT): The classic drama “Dallas” has been given a reboot, and it picks up exactly where the last one left off. The new “Dallas” includes the next generation of Ewings, who are apparently even more wicked and deceitful than the first batch. Cousins John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson) and Christopher Ewing (Jesse Metclafe) duke it out for the ranch, along with co-stars Brenda Strong, Jordana Brewster, and Julie Gonzalo, while the iconic original Ewings (Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, and Larry Hagman) jump into the brawl as well. The new “Dallas” has the potential to be this summer’s best new soap -- or an utter and complete flop, which has occurred to quite a few reboots of classic shows. Either way, I have a feeling that it will be a lot of fun!

 

9.  “Weeds” (Sunday, July 1, at 10pm on Showtime): It’s time to break out the munchies, cuz “Weeds” is back, and is as outrageous as ever. When we last left off, Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) and her family had relocated to Connecticut, and she had been betrayed by her son, Silas (Hunter Parrish). The season premiere will show Shane (Alexander Gould) continuing his time at Police Academy, and will feature a lot of Nancy’s sister, Jill Price-Grey (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Rumor has it that this could be “Weeds”'s last season, although no deals have been set in stone. The series will also feature a splashy new opening sequence, so be sure to check that out during the premiere.

 

10.  “Saving Hope” (Thursday, June 7, at 10pm on NBC): Originally from Canada, “Saving Hope” is part-medical drama, part-supernatural thriller. When charismatic Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) goes into a coma, he spends his time in a “ghostly" form, watching his fiancé (Alex Reid) and communicating with the living to help save patients. The whole premise is a little bizarre, but supernatural shows can be a lot of fun -- and I have yet to see one set in a hospital, so I am eager to see how this new twist will work out.

 

 

- Sarah Osman, YH Staff