Moments of Joy: Summer Sneak Peeks
Cooking Shows – We have a Bobby Hill-like weakness for cooking shows, and two of our favorites are coming back this summer. Hell’s Kitchen (FOX, Tuesday 8 PM) has already started its new season, complete with at least one contestant who’s a likely serial killer. (“When I win, I’m gonna buy two walk-in coolers. That’s all I need. Then I’m gonna start butchering animals.”) Hell’s Kitchen is one of those shows that can rebound from a weak cast solely on the basis of the host – in this case, the foul-mouthed and angry Gordon Ramsay. We know he really puts some people off, but we will watch anything that he’s on. (And seriously, BBC America should just rename themselves “The Gordon Ramsay Network”.) This year’s cast seems to be a good batch of arrogant contenders and clueless cannon fodder, which should be delightful.
And then there’s Bravo’s Top Chef (Premieres June 16), which gives us consistently clever and interesting challenges. It’s much more dependent on the strength of the contestants, but Bravo’s been pretty good with the casting. And this season, they’re going to Washington DC – unlike Project Runway, Top Chef has always made the most of their changes of venue. Though it won’t be the same without bitchy Toby Young on the judge’s panel, we’re willing to give Eric Ripert a chance, if only because he looks like he was created through some sort of artificial means.
But wait – there’s more! Ramsay is also going to host FOX’s new MasterChef (Premieres July 27), which looks to be more like Top Chef in the sense that they’re trying to find a chef with a singular style over somebody who can run a kitchen through a busy dinner service. The fact that the producers of Biggest Loser are involved has us a little worried about the treacle factor, but Gordon should be enough to mitigate that.
Hot In Cleveland (TV Land, Premieres June 16) – This is an original sitcom that will be airing on 
TV Land, of all networks. It’s starring Wendy Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and the suddenly hotter than hot Betty White! This combination of elements both confuses and delights us, mostly because we don’t even know how it all came to be, and we don’t care. Bottom line, this show will either be godawful or the sort of thing that you don’t understand why a broadcast network didn’t pick up and run with. And since one of us is from Cleveland, we’re all the more pumped; until all the jokes devolve into humor about how the entire state of Ohio is a giant farm.
TV Land, of all networks. It’s starring Wendy Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and the suddenly hotter than hot Betty White! This combination of elements both confuses and delights us, mostly because we don’t even know how it all came to be, and we don’t care. Bottom line, this show will either be godawful or the sort of thing that you don’t understand why a broadcast network didn’t pick up and run with. And since one of us is from Cleveland, we’re all the more pumped; until all the jokes devolve into humor about how the entire state of Ohio is a giant farm.Wipeout (ABC, Premieres June 22) – I am not going to lie to you – I love Wipeout. I strongly suspect that I shouldn’t, given that I’m Mr. TV Snob and I am (for example) silently contemptuous of any show with a laugh track. But you know, it’s funny when people fall down. The obstacles are convoluted, imaginative, and nearly impossible to pass. And when somebody fails to make it across the Big Balls or gets racked by the Sweeper Arm, I will always 
laugh. Sometimes you need something that’s just plain fun, and for me, Wipeout fits the bill. (ej)
laugh. Sometimes you need something that’s just plain fun, and for me, Wipeout fits the bill. (ej)In my house, this provides fool-proof entertainment for the kids. In case you didn’t know, all kids think that people injuring themselves is hilarious. Plus John Henson gives great running commentary. (myndi)
Downfall (ABC, Premieres June 22) – This is a real TV show. I want you to remember that. In Downfall, contestants stand on top of a ten-story building and answer trivia questions, while “the largest conveyor belt ever seen on TV” gradually pushes their prizes (or prop versions thereof) over the edge. Also, they can slow down the belt by putting a prized personal possession or a loved one on the conveyor belt. I am not kidding about any of this. Oh – it’s hosted by professional wrestler Chris Jericho. How do you not watch that? (ej)
See, I never watched Chris Jericho wrestle, so my only opinions of him were formed by seeing him on those I Love the 80s specials VH1 did a few years back. And I thought he was sort of cute and sort of witty, so I would also be inclined to give this a whirl. However, I was already in once I realized it sounded like some demented version of that mountain climber game from The Price Is Right where they play the yodeling music. (myndi)
Memphis Beat (TNT, Premieres June 22) – TNT’s original programming has largely been based in the “Sassy Southern woman solves crimes” genre, but they ended up on my radar with Men of a Certain Age. This new series is a cop show, as you might expect, but it’s about a police detective who is also an Elvis impersonator. What’s really got me interested is Jason Lee in the lead – he’s immensely likeable and this will help with the My Name is Earl withdrawal. Some of the advertising I’ve seen looks like Memphis Beat might take itself too seriously, but it’s definitely worth a look. (ej)
I will always give anything with Jason Lee at least a look, although I can’t believe his career path has landed him in the role of a Memphis police officer. I just picture all his former characters, the Kevin Smith ones in particular, mocking him mercilessly. But, if he gets to be witty and snarky and doesn’t have to wear a ridiculous mustache 24/7, I’ll give it a try. (myndi)
Futurama (Comedy Central, Premieres June 24) – Oh. Hell. Yes. The original run of Futurama is
one of our favorite series of all time, and we’re still bitter over its cancellation. Thanks to a strong performance on Adult Swim and the wonderful DVD movies, Comedy Central is bringing back the Planet Express crew, and we could not be more excited. Even the promos make us feel all tingly. New Futurama on TV is big news! We’re eager to see if they’ll be picking up the Fry/Leela relationship where they left it with Into the Wild Green Yonder, but mostly we just can’t wait to see what new adventures the 31st Century has in store. It’s like TV is giving us a all a hug. And… bite my shiny metal ass!
one of our favorite series of all time, and we’re still bitter over its cancellation. Thanks to a strong performance on Adult Swim and the wonderful DVD movies, Comedy Central is bringing back the Planet Express crew, and we could not be more excited. Even the promos make us feel all tingly. New Futurama on TV is big news! We’re eager to see if they’ll be picking up the Fry/Leela relationship where they left it with Into the Wild Green Yonder, but mostly we just can’t wait to see what new adventures the 31st Century has in store. It’s like TV is giving us a all a hug. And… bite my shiny metal ass! Louie (FX, Premieres June 29) – Everybody has a favorite comedian, but almost any professional will tell you that Louis C.K. is the best in the business. Details about his new FX series are sparse, but we can tell you two things for certain. First, Louis C.K. is one of the funniest men alive. Second, FX has a better track record with their original programming than anybody else in the business. 
And for what it’s worth, the minimalist promos have been absolutely hilarious. Yeah, this is going to be good. (ej)
And for what it’s worth, the minimalist promos have been absolutely hilarious. Yeah, this is going to be good. (ej)It almost seems to have some early Seinfeld qualities with the snippets of standup that seemed to be sprinkled throughout. With the freedom granted by being on basic cable and the fact that Louis is a way better actor than Jerry, I have high hopes, too. (myndi)
Big Brother (CBS, Premieres July 8) – We have an unhealthy love of Big Brother over here. (Except for maybe Season 9, which was used as Writer’s Strike filler. That was rough.) It’s another season of watching the hamsters three nights a week, and that’s just fine by us. There’s probably more to say, but we’ll be recapping this thing soon enough. Though we would like to see Jeff come back this year, and we’re we hoping that Julie Chen keeps her possibly pregnancy-induced sassiness from last season. If she keeps that up, we won’t even be able to call her the ChenBot anymore. (ej)
Season 9 has also got the most former contestants who have ended up in jail, a sure point of pride for the network. I’m all about Jeff coming back, of course, but would just love another great group that does not include Jessie, who I fear camps outside the studio gates during the nine months the show isn’t on the air. (myndi)
Mad Men (AMC, Premieres July 25) – What more can we say by now? Last season ended with Don Draper and the best of Sterling-Cooper leaving the firm to start from the ground up. Matthew Weiner has been cagey about when the new season picks up, but given the more prominent role
little Sally is playing in the show, I doubt there’s going to be much of a time jump. It’s going to be great to see everybody again, though I imagine I will go back to being mad at Betty Draper in no time flat. Against all odds, this show keeps getting better every year, which means that it’s possible you will have to view this season through one of those shoeboxes that schoolchildren use to look at eclipses, lest you be blinded. (ej)
little Sally is playing in the show, I doubt there’s going to be much of a time jump. It’s going to be great to see everybody again, though I imagine I will go back to being mad at Betty Draper in no time flat. Against all odds, this show keeps getting better every year, which means that it’s possible you will have to view this season through one of those shoeboxes that schoolchildren use to look at eclipses, lest you be blinded. (ej)Well, you covered it, man. I’m pretty much about to go blind with anticipation!! Oh–and don’t forget the return of EJ, Don and Myndi’s Mad Men Roundtable later this summer! (myndi)
Rubicon (AMC, Premieres August 1) – This show is described as a conspiracy thriller. That’s something we can take or leave. However, it is on AMC, whose original programming slate consists of Mad Men and Breaking Bad, so they clearly know a thing or two. Also, the showrunner is Henry Bromell, who was a producer on Homicide: Life on the Street, which is a series we still speak of in hushed, reverential tones.
Shaq Vs. (ABC, Premieres August 3) – You probably didn’t watch this show last season, so here’s the premise. Shaquille O’Neal challenges various athletes to compete in their field of expertise. Season One saw him in a home-run derby with Albert Pujols, swimming against Michael Phelps, and boxing Oscar de la Hoya. And Shaq gets ridiculous advantages, including head starts or redefining terms like “home run” or “touchdown”. And in the first season, he lost every time. He even lost a game of “HORSE” to Ben Roethlisberger. How can you turn that down? And with Shaq using up all the big name sports last year, I can’t even guess what he’s going to try this year. Fencing? Competitive eating? Whatever it is, you can be sure that Shaq’s not going to be posting a win. (ej)
Unfortunately, this will be bittersweet for us Cleveland Cavaliers fans who watched him not win that NBA title we were expecting this year. (myndi)
Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town (IFC, Premieres August 20) – Our neighbors north of the border have already seen the long-awaited Kids in the Hall reunion, but IFC will be bringing it to America starting in August. This miniseries follows the investigation into the death of Mayor Larry Bowman, which means our favorite sketch comics get to play addled residents of a small town. It’s a little bit of a departure for the Kids, but they’ve all individually dabbled in long-form storytelling over the last few years, so it’s going to be great to see what they can do together. We’re really excited about this one!
The Venture Bros. (Cartoon Network, Premieres August 22) – Adult Swim has a strong lineup in 
the coming months, with the live-action Delocated (about a Witness Protection reality show) returning for a second season (Premieres August 22) and Rob Corddry’s web series Children’s Hospital (Premieres July 11) finally coming to TV. But we’re most excited about Season 4.2 of The Venture Bros. Details about the upcoming batch of episodes have been sparse (other than the announced casting of Bill Hader as Richard Impossible), but the first half of the season was relentlessly awesome, even with Brock Samson disappearing for a run of six episodes. Will 21 find 24’s killer? Is Brock returning to the Ventures? What the heck is the Master up to? Will Sgt. Hatred manage to re-up his supply of Nomolestrol? These and other questions that never occurred to you will be answered, starting in August.
the coming months, with the live-action Delocated (about a Witness Protection reality show) returning for a second season (Premieres August 22) and Rob Corddry’s web series Children’s Hospital (Premieres July 11) finally coming to TV. But we’re most excited about Season 4.2 of The Venture Bros. Details about the upcoming batch of episodes have been sparse (other than the announced casting of Bill Hader as Richard Impossible), but the first half of the season was relentlessly awesome, even with Brock Samson disappearing for a run of six episodes. Will 21 find 24’s killer? Is Brock returning to the Ventures? What the heck is the Master up to? Will Sgt. Hatred manage to re-up his supply of Nomolestrol? These and other questions that never occurred to you will be answered, starting in August.If there’s something we missed, let us know! If something is going to be awesome, we want to get in on the ground floor. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you back here next time for more Moments of Joy.
