Summer TV Heats Up

Thermostats across the country might have been saying summer for a few weeks now, but TV sets have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of summer TV.  That wait is about to end when many of our favorites begin returning next week (and a few potentially new faves).  They'll join other PTR summer faves Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch and So You Think You Can Dance in heating up our television screens for the rest of the summer season.  Today, PTR takes a closer look at what to expect when some of summer's best returning and promising new shows make their debut.  And it all begins next week with the kick off of several faves.




THE CLOSER

NEW SEASON PREMISE: Brenda and co. move into new high-tech digs and a shake-up at the top leaves Brenda and Pope possibly up for promotions.  Meanwhile, Fritz deals with his own career decisions.

BONUS: Expect cases involving a sniper, a serial rapist and a deadly drug-related custody battle

BOTTOM LINE: Brenda's back and we couldn't be happier!

PREMIERES: Monday, July 12th at 9 p.m. (EST) on TNT. For more information, visit tnt.tv. Watch an exclusive sneak peek at TVGuide.com.

COVERT AFFAIRS

PREMISE: CIA trainee Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) gets called up to be a field agent a month shy of finishing her training.  But it might be due to something -- or someone -- other than her test scores.

BONUS: When the "girl next door" gets thrust into the world of intrigue and danger, she gets a killer tech ops expert (Christopher Gorham) to help her navigate it.

BOTTOM LINE: Looks like a lighter cousin to Alias and Perabo has charm and star quality

PREMIERES: Tuesday, July 13th at 10 p.m. (EST) on USA. For more information, visit USANetwork.com. Watch a sneak peek HERE.

PSYCH

NEW SEASON PREMISE: Shawn and Gus return for laughs, hijinks and help solve murders, but this season, Shawn gets a new rival (Lost's Nestor Carbonell who will join the show for a several-episode arc).

BONUS: Expect cases involving fast cars and UFOs.  In the premiere, the duo takes a case involving a Chinese triad gang.

BOTTOM LINE: Get psyched about the return of Psych!

PREMIERES: Wednesday, July 14th at 10 p.m. (EST) on USA. For more information, visit USANetwork.com. 

MY BOYS

PREMISE: PJ and the boys return for more laughs and sports analogies.

BONUS: After more than a year off, it will be nice to see this show return.

BOTTOM LINE: My Boys shows that the dating world isn't easy for women or men

PREMIERES: Sunday, July 25th on TBS. For more information, visit tbs.com.

THE BIG C

PREMISE: A suburban wife/mother's life gets rocked when she learns that she has cancer.  Through the tough news, she finds hope, humor and the lighter side of the "C" word.

BONUS: Laura Linney, Laura Linney, Laura Linney!  LOVE her!!

BOTTOM LINE:  With Linney and Showtime involved, what could go wrong?

PREMIERES: Monday, August 16th on Showtime. For more information, visit sho.com.  Watch a preview HERE.

These are only some of the great shows set to start-up in the coming weeks.  For a full list of premiere dates for all your faves, visit TV.com (NOTE: they have the old premiere date listed for Psych.  The show, according to the official site, returns 7/14 as noted here at PTR).