July Television Debuts

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Though I doubt the existence of any readers as of now, here's a breakdown of some of the shows that I'm looking forward to which will be debuting over the next few weeks:

No Reservations (Travel) July 5 - Though the main conceit of the show tends to wear on me after Tony's 10th musing about the local milieu and how it has personally affected him, there is something seriously addictive about this series.  Never quite appointment viewing, No Reservations does hold high status on my DVR.  A show that can be joined and enjoyed at any time.

Big Brother (CBS) July 8 - I try to refrain from embracing any reality show too closely, but Big Brother always finds a way to draw me in for at least one episode a week.  Though I haven't read up on the recently revealed cast, I am assuming they have filled the house with the usual collection of self-involved, questionably motivated miscreants that usually populate its rooms.  That's good news for us, the viewers. 

Rizzoli & Isles (TNT) July 12 - Honestly, I would never have given this show a shot were it not for the casting of Angie Harmon who I still admire from her days on Law & Order.  If she can channel the right amount of Abbie Carmichael as Rizzoli (or is she Isles) then I can anticipate enjoying the hell out of this show.  Bonus points also for casting Sasha Alexander as Harmon's titular counterpart.  You may remember her from either Dawson's Creek (playing Pacey's older sister who hooked up with the much younger Dawson) or NCIS (SPOILER ALERT: She gets shot in the head). Regardless, those two together should provide for an interesting show at the very least.

Covert Affairs (USA) July 13 - Covert Affairs probably falls into the same category as Rizzoli & Isles.  My like of the female lead (Piper Perabo, here) will cause me to check it out at the very least.  Additionally, USA's track record of producing light, summer-fare original programming has my attention.  

White Collar (USA) July 13 - A show that started out with a really fun pilot, slowed down for an extended period, and picked up again towards the end of its first season; White Collar has done just enough to get me to tune in for Season Two. Though Matt Bomer (left) is the "star," Tim DeKay tends to do most of the heavy lifting.  Willie Garson also provides excellent, consistent comic relief.  If the writers can get away from the mandate of pigeonholing Tiffani Thiessen's character into every episode, this season should easily surpass the last.

Psych (USA) July 14 - My all-time favorite USA Original (with all apologies to Monk and obviously excluding WWF/E Raw) starts back up on the tale end of a great season finale featuring the return of Yang and the debut of Ying.  Though I felt the last season was weak on the whole, there was enough humor and banter between Dule Hill and James Roday to keep me thoroughly entertained.  The show may lack on the complexity of its crimes, but it excels in chemistry among the cast.  

Mad Men (AMC) July 25- The show that receives more praise than any other returns for Season Four on July 25th.  Though not much has been revealed about the upcoming season, one would expect a jump in time from the end of Season Three to wherever Season Four starts.  I'm looking forward to seeing how far into the creation of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce we join our characters. I would expect that Don and Betty's relationship will be a focus of the season; but who knows what Matthew Weiner has in store. There is no doubt in my mind that whatever it is, it will be outstanding as usual.