Looks like we’ve gone from a holiday week, where there really wasn’t much new to watch, to a week that feels like it belongs in the fall, not the dead of summer…
Tonight, fans of “The Closer” can start to say goodbye to the series, as it airs the first of its final six episodes tonight at 9 P.M. on TNT. But all is not lost, as there’s going to be a spinoff starring Mary McDonnell premiering in just over a month.
Following that at 10 P.M., TNT premieres “Perception,” their second attempt to find Eric McCormack an appropriate post-“Will & Grace” series. In this one he plays a possibly nutty professor who uses his super brain to help the FBI with their most complicated cases. Rachael Leigh Cook co-stars, and whispers about the show in the following video.
“The All-Star Game” is Tuesday, July 10th’s big event, and it starts at 7:30 P.M. on Fox. There are three Giants in the starting line-up, and none in the reserves, so if you’re just watching to root for them, watch early.
Meanwhile, over on ABC, there are two new series premieres. First up at 9 P.M. is “Trust Us With Your Life,” starring Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie. It’s basically “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” with a different title. I always have a hard time watching improv; when it’s good, it’s great. But when it’s bad, it’s stressful and more horrible a viewing experience than watching people being torn apart by lions….Enjoy!
“NY Med” follows it at 10 P.M.–perhaps to clean up after the potential improv massacres? I’ve liked these real-life medical dramas in the past–“Boston Med” and “Hopkins” were previous editions–but this one worries me since it has the stink of Dr. Oz all over it…
On Wednesday, July 11th, “Damages” returns for its fifth–and final–season, although I haven’t watched it since it made its move to DirectTV. I can tell you that Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are back, and not friends, and will face off in court on opposite sides of a case featuring Ryan Phillippe and Jenna Elfman as clients. 9 P.M.
“Big Brother” is back on Thursday, July 12th at 9 P.M. on CBS. There was a time when the show was stupid, but endlessly entertaining. But in recent years, the emphasis has purely been on the stupid. This season, four previous houseguests will be returning, but their identities are a secret for now. As for the rest of the cast, you can learn about that collection of geniuses here.
Of course the most eagerly-awaited return of the week is probably “Breaking Bad” on Sunday July 15th. I’m trying to be happy about its return, and not pissed off the season is being broken up into two parts, meaning we’ll get eight episodes now, and the other eight next year. A year!! And not even, like, at the beginning of 2013. We have to wait until next summer! That’s some serious bullshit right there.
Finally, at 10 P.M. on USA there is the premiere of “Political Animals,” a “limited series event” starring Sigourney Weaver, Carla Gugino, and Ellen Burstyn. The story sounds a bit like a “What if Hillary divorced Bill?” kind of scenario, with Weaver starring as a Secretary of State who has divorced her philandering husband. I’m not sure why they aren’t calling the six episodes a flat-out miniseries–perhaps if it succeeds, they’ll produce more episodes?–but whatever it is, I like that line-up of ladies.
I’m on vacation next week, so you kiddies will have to fend for yourselves. Just be sure to keep watching the tube, boobs!
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
