Tube Talk: 10 summer premieres for everyone

By Jessica Zischke, The Dartmouth Staff | 5/23/13 9:00am

Somehow that time has come once again — the time to pack up our winter clothes, put our things in storage and say goodbye to our dear old Dartmouth. For those of us who won’t be taking classes, studying abroad or interning at a high-profile company, this coming summer break may seem daunting. It might feel impossible to fill up so much time with just your bucket list, which is somehow always forgotten after about a week. Tube Talk is here to help!

The new season means new shows and from the looks of it, the networks are rolling out plenty of material to keep you occupied while figuring out your plans to go skydiving or extreme rock climbing. We’ve rounded up a diverse list of the 10 most promising shows sure to fit everyone’s small-screen cravings this summer.

For the Nostalgic Comedian

“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” — July 16 at 8 p.m. on The CW
That’s right, the beloved comedy show that ran for eight seasons on ABC before calling it quits in 2007 is coming back. Unlike many unsuccessful remakes, the original cast members — Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie — will return with Aisha Tyler ’92 replacing Drew Carey as host.

For the Not-So-Functional Family

“The Goodwin Games” — May 20 at 8:30 p.m. on Fox
Carter Bays and Craig Thomas have already made a name for themselves after creating “How I Met Your Mother,” but since when is one hit TV show enough? The duo is hoping for another success with “The Goodwin Games,” a series about three estranged siblings forced to get back in touch with their childhoods and family roots à la Trivial Pursuit in order to inherit the $23 million their father left behind.

For the Post-Apocalypse Obsessed

“Under the Dome” — June 24 at 10 p.m. on CBS
Based on the Stephen King novel, this sci-fi series chronicles the story of the residents in Chester’s Mill, Maine, a small town that is literally trapped in a bubble. This impenetrable barrier from the rest of the world causes panic and anxiety amongst the citizens, which threatens to tear apart the community. It’s up to a few leaders of the town to try to keep everyone calm while discovering more about the barricade and a way to escape.

For the Bad Luck Brian

“Twisted” — June 11 at 9 p.m. on ABC Family
The latest of ABC Family’s teen dramas, “Twisted” follows Danny Desai (Avan Jogia), a teenage murderer. Desai returns home after being released from custody for killing his aunt five years prior determined to return everything to the way it used to be. However, the judgment of previous friends is no longer his primary concern, as Desai quickly becomes the prime suspect in a fellow classmate’s murder.

For the Reality TV Addict

“Princesses: Long Island” — June 2 at 9 p.m. on Bravo
The ultimate guilty pleasure channel is at it again, changing its focus from middle-aged housewives to young college grads. The six young women, now living with their parents in Long Island, face family pressure to find husbands and settle down. “Princesses” looks at the group’s efforts to address their dependency on their relationships, topped with the trademark gossip and alcohol-supported fighting.

For the Katniss Everdeen Wannabe

“The Hunt” — July 31 at 9 p.m. on The CW
Obviously taking some notes from the ever-popularHunger Gamesseries, the people who brought “Ready for Love!” to the small screen are now launching a reality competition show. Twelve pairs will compete against each other in “The Arena,” a fenced-in area in the wilderness. For one month they must live in this enclosure, battling for scarce resources as they hold out for the $250,000 grand prize.

For the Die-Hard “Survivor” Fan

“72 Hours” — June 6 at 9 p.m. on TNT
Brandon Johnson hosts this latest Darwinian-inspired competition in which teams of three must survive in the wild with only a GPS tracking device and one bottle of water. Each episode, filmed around the world, follows three teams as they scramble to find a hidden briefcase with a $100,000 cash prize.

For the Future “Fixer”

“Ray Donovan” — June 30 at 10 p.m. on Showtime
This new drama follows Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber), the go-to man in Hollywood when the rich and famous need a problem to disappear. However, Donovan must deal with his own problems when his father, Mickey Donovan (Jon Voight), is suddenly released from prison.

For the Semi-Classy Drama Lover

“The Vineyard” — July 23 at 10 p.m. on ABC Family
ABC Family’s newest docu-series may quickly become your latest guilty pleasure for the summer. “The Vineyard” follows a group of 11 20-somethings as they spend time on and off the clock with each other in Martha’s Vineyard over the summer. However, don’t tune in for this one unless you’re looking for some teen-friendly “Real World”-esque mischief and love triangles.

For the Hardcore Adventurer

“Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls” — July 8 at 9 p.m. on NBC
NBC’s latest high-stakes reality competition will test the endurance, strength and will to survive of 20 contestants. Host and “Man vs. Wild” star Bear Grylls pushes the 10 teams in this action-packed journey set against the idyllic backdrop of New Zealand’s South Island.


Jessica Zischke, The Dartmouth Staff