I look at summer television like comfort food for my brain.  Returning series like UnREAL (Lifetime), Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles (TNT), Aquarius (NBC), Angie Tribeca (TBS), and Odd Mom Out (Bravo) are like those friends you look forward to hanging-out with, on vacation; because they don’t have any of the hang-ups that you have to deal with, during the rest of the year.

This year’s crop of new summer shows is varied, and features a few stand-outs among the fluff.  Following are my favorites.

While not a sports guy, by any means, I was pretty surprised to find myself sucked-in to ESPN’s 5-part documentary, O.J.: Made in America.  But the unanimously favorable reviews were right – it’s very well done; and makes a fascinating companion piece to FX’s gripping The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.  I’m only halfway through the second two-hour episode, but I’m all for anything that deals with a decidedly prurient subject, presented in an erudite way.  Also, that scene of Bea Arthur (as the ringleader of 1988's Circus of the Stars 13), presenting O.J.'s magic act was well worth the price of admission!

TBS’ new sitcom, Wrecked, is a sitcom that thinks of itself like a drama – and it works, to great (if somewhat sophomoric) comedic effect.  It’s is pretty much what you’d get if the noble characters from Lost were reimagined as base, crass stereotypes of the people you might actually find on a plane.  The frat-bro and his girlfriend (who’s way too good for him), the slacker flight attendant, the dreamy British special forces agent, the middle-aged Australian tourist, the earnest goofball who tells everyone he’s a cop, etc.  If you ever watched Lost, secretly hoping the survivors would go all Lord of the Flies over a bag of airplane pretzels, this is the comedy for you.

AMC’s Preacher should be on the watch list of any fan of dark humor, sacrilege, touches of the supernatural, well-developed characters, and brutal, gory mayhem that’s choreographed meticulously; regardless of whether they’re familiar with the late-‘90s graphic novels by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, or not.  It’s deliciously noir, and revels in that fact.  It’s no surprise that this multi-genre series that is equal parts comedy, drama, horror, and suspense (which is partially why it was in development for more than a decade, with various heavyweights attached) found a home on the same network as The Walking Dead.  The chemistry between the actors is terrific, especially among the three leads; and it’s nearly impossible not to root for these antiheros to come-out ahead.

I was first drawn to USA’s Queen of the South, because the actress portraying the main character bears a striking resemblance to my friend Gigi.  Then I found out that the telenovela upon which the new series is based (on Telemundo), stars Kate del Castillo – aka, the actress who introduced Sean Penn to El Chapo (talk about narco street-cred!).  So I downloaded the English translation of Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel, La Reina del Sur, and loved it; and I was thrilled to find that I loved the series, as well. The characters are well-conceived, and fully realized by the actors portraying them.  The cinematography is stunning, and the action scenes are shot with panache.  There’s a palpable sense of urgency felt by the viewer, as the characters run from the cartel, dodge the police, and fight to stay alive – all with teasing glimpses of the Queenpin we know Teresa will become.  It’s addictive, to say the least.

If I had to award one series “Summer’s Best New Show,” that honorific would go to TNT’s gripping Animal Kingdom.  Based on David Michôd’s acclaimed 2010 Australian film of the same name – itself inspired by Melbourne’s infamous Pettingill crime-family – Animal Kingdom is brooding and dark and ripe with all sorts of deliciously nasty things that, by the middle of the season, have only just begun to emerge from the rocks under which they’ve been hiding.  It’s virtually impossible to take your eyes off of Ellen Barkin, while Shawn Hatosy delivers a pent-up intensity that’s palpable.   An adrenaline-fueled rocket – Animal Kingdom is taut, it’s tense, and it’s on Tuesdays.

So, there you have it.  A documentary, a spoofy sitcom, and a trio of intense dramas that feature as their source material a cult comic, a best-selling Spanish novel, and an award-winning film from down-under.  Now, that’s summer TV!

Five Summer TV Faves

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