Summer TV

Summer and TV go together like oil and water. Why care about what’s on the tube when you can be out enjoying the sunshine? But times are changing, and this notion that the two don’t mix is growing old, now that you can take your screen to the beach with you.

Say goodbye to trashy reality shows and random cable offerings. Summer programming can now create the same buzz as seasonal insects with everything from dramas to comedies to yet another installment of America’s Got Talent. To whet your appetite, here’s a look at what you will want to be watching in the coming months.

Netflix has a number of offerings old and new to keep serial bingers satisfied during June, July and August. Orange Is the New Black, Netflix’s buzzy women’s prison dramedy, enters its third season in June, promising more hilarity and high stakes from the ladies of Litchfield. The season-three trailer of the series, based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, features the tagline “Sorry not sorry” and a dearth of Jason Biggs (American Reunion), so it’s safe to say the outlook for the new season is trending up.

Netflix will also premiere Wet Hot American Summer in July. A spin-off of the 2001 farcical comedy of the same name, the series will bring back the cast of the cult classic for more wacky, off-kilter fun. Back before Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) was a member of the Wolf Pack or Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) introduced audiences to Pawnee, Indiana, they starred with a cavalcade of future stars in the David Wain feature. The eight-episode series, subtitled “First Day of Camp,” will also throw new names into the mix, such as Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men).

Another film-to-series adaptation coming this summer is MTV’s Scream. The show will adapt the slasher film series for the age of millennials this June. 

This summer will also see the premieres of new Netflix series Sense8 and Between, the latter of which will betray the streaming platform’s binge format with weekly episode releases. 

Another weekly summer thriller will be the second installment of HBO’s True Detective. The anthology series, which captivated audiences with the dynamic duo of Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) and Woody Harrelson (Zombieland) last year, aims to prove it’s worth the wait this July. The second season, which leaves the creepy occult of Louisiana behind, will star Colin Farrell (Total Recall), Vince Vaughn (The Internship) and Rachel McAdams (Midnight in Paris). Set in California, the show may not abandon all of the trademarks of its first season, as showrunner Nic Pizzolatto and his passion for profound themes and gorgeous cinematography are set to return.

HBO will also premiere two new shows: Ballers and The Brink. The former resembles a mix of Entourage and the NFL. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ballers will focus on the muscle-bound actor’s transition from football player to high-profile sports agent. The Brink will bring some levity to the Middle East, as the series will follow a Pakistani geopolitical crisis through government officials played by Tim Robbins (Mystic River) and Jack Black (Bernie). 

Elsewhere on premium cable, Showtime is bringing back Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex for the shows’ respective third seasons.

Looking at network television, you will find more of the same this summer: America’s Got Talent, Big Brother and one too many food-related reality shows. However, NBC will air a promising period drama in Aquarius, a 13-episode “event series” about a police sergeant played by David Duchovny (Californication) whose work in a missing-persons case will lead him to Charles Manson.

Summer television may not get the treatment of other seasonal lineups, but there’s a diverse field of binge-worthy and watchable series coming in the next few months, so it’s best to be sure you’re in the loop.