With the arrival of Summer comes a whole new batch of TV shows with cable and broadcast networks trying to attract viewers with a mix of new shows and favorites returning for new seasons. In the case of some of TV’s favorite shows, such as Breaking Bad, the season is billed as the last ever and will hopefully build to a fitting climax.
As always, HBO leads the way with a host of new shows fighting to bring the cable network back to its 1990s heyday. One of the new shows the network is putting its faith in is Family Tree from the pen of comedy genius Christopher Guest. Using Guest’s usual mockumentary style with improvised performances the show airs on HBO at 10.30PM from May 12th. Other comedies are not quite as eagerly anticipated and have been scheduled for short runs, such as Save Me featuring Anne Heche hearing voices in her head. Save me begins a short run on May 23rd at 8PM on NBC. Fox’s The Goodwin Games has been waiting for over a year for its premiere at 8.30PM from May 20th; the show features members of the Goodwin family battling for an inheritance playing a Trivial Pursuit style game based on the family.
Reality shows also feature heavily in the Summer schedules with The American Baking Contest one of the eagerly awaited additions to this lineup. The show is based on The Great British Bake Off and features ten contestants battling to be crowned America’s best baker. Jeff Foxworthy hosts on CBS from May 29th at 8PM.
Of course the Summer event TV shows also make an appearance in the form of a Stephen King adaptation Under The Dome and the arrival of British zombie drama In The Flesh. Under The Dome is promised to reach a climax based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, the 13 part adaptation is broadcast by CBS and 10PM from June 24th. In the Flesh promises to build on a strong premise of the aftermath of a zombie infestation where zombies, or Partially Deceased Syndrome Patients, still exist in Britain. Shown on BBC America from June 6th at 10PM, the shows charts the return to society of zombie Kieran Walker.
One of the big questions for fans of True Blood is whether the sixth season of HBO’s vampire series can return to form after the disaster of season six. With series creator Alan Ball leaving the series, True Blood fans are eager to see the direction the show takes from June 16th at 9PM.