Entertainment, TV, Television - Navy Times

Lineup: The series of summer

A sampling of summer TV fare on network and cable:

June

Sunday

“The Next Food Network Star” (Food, Sundays, 9 p.m.): A third season of contestants chop, dice and saute their way in competition to land their own cooking series.

Monday

“Creature Comforts” (CBS, Mondays, 8 ET/PT): Animated series inserts excerpts from real-person interviews into the mouths of animals commenting on everyday life.

“Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, Mondays, 9 ET/PT): Wannabe restaurateurs try to impress Gordon Ramsay.

Tuesday

“America’s Got Talent” (NBC, Tuesdays, premiere 9 ET/PT, regular time 8 ET/PT): Talent competition returns with new host Jerry Springer and new judge Sharon Osbourne.

Wednesday

“American Inventor” (ABC, Wednesdays, 9 ET/PT): Second-season search for America’s best new invention.

“Ghost Hunters” (Sci Fi, Wednesdays, 9 ET/PT): Plumbers by day, two self-proclaimed skeptics present evidence of paranormal phenomena.

“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (TBS, Wednesdays, 9 and 9:30 ET/PT): Comedy series from the creator of “Madea”, surrounding a multi-generational family in Atlanta.

“Destination Truth” (Sci Fi, Wednesdays, 10 ET/PT): Adventurer Josh Gates travels the world to reveal unexplained mysteries such as the Malaysian Bigfoot.

Thursday

“Speeders” (Court TV, Thursdays, 8 ET/PT ): Real-life stories of cops pulling over displeased motorists.

June 8

“Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board” (Disney, 8 ET/PT): Original movie; mountain-boarding-themed sequel to “Johnny Tsunami”.

“Standoff” (Fox, Fridays 9 ET/PT): Summer return of drama about two FBI crisis negotiators paired professionally and romantically.

June 10

“Planet’s Best With Terri and Bindi” (Animal Planet, Sundays, 8 ET/PT): The mother-daughter duo hosts specials from their home in the heart of the Australia Zoo.

“John From Cincinnati” (HBO, Sundays, premieres at 10 ET/PT, regular time 9): In Imperial Beach, Calif., a dysfunctional family intersects with new arrivals to the community: a dim-but-wealthy surfing enthusiast and a man spurned by the family years ago.

“The Loop” (Fox, Sundays, 9:30 ET/PT): Return of series in which young executive struggles to work hard and play hard.

June 11

“ Big Love” (HBO, Mondays, 9 ET/PT): Polygamist Bill Henrickson returns with his three wives and his home-improvement store.

June 12

“Bad Girls Road Trip” (Oxygen, Tuesdays, 10 ET/PT): “Bad Girls Club” Season 1 housemates Leslie, Aimee and Zara travel cross-country to meet one another’s friends and family.

“Miami Ink” (TLC, Tuesdays, 10 ET/PT ): The artists at Miami Ink tattoo shop search for a replacement for Kat Von D.

June 13

“Last Comic Standing” (NBC, Wednesdays, 9 ET/PT): Search for the funniest comedian.

“Rescue Me” (FX, Wednesdays, 10 ET/PT): Return of Denis Leary’s comic drama about the crew of a New York City firehouse.

June 15

“Man vs. Wild” (Discovery, Fridays, 9 ET/PT): Explorer Bear Grylls puts himself in remote survival scenarios armed with only a knife, water bottle and flint.

June 16

“Confessions of a Matchmaker ” (A&E, Saturdays, 10 ET/PT): Matchmaker Patti Novak gives viewers an inside look at the real world of dating.

June 17

“Bridezillas” (WE, Sundays, 9 ET/PT): Fourth season of meltdowns and hissy-fits from brides set on having their perfect day.

“The 4400” and “The Dead Zone” (USA, Sundays, 9 ET/PT and 10 ET/PT): Both series return for all-new seasons.

“Platinum Weddings” (WE, Sundays, 10 ET/PT): Couples plan lavish, costly weddings.

“Meadowlands” (Showtime, Sundays, 10 ET/PT): New series about a family in the witness-protection program who relocate to a seemingly normal neighborhood and discovers the difficulty of escaping the past.

“Ice Road Truckers” (History, Sundays, 10 ET/PT): Truck drivers face danger as they haul supplies to diamond mines over frozen lakes that double as roads.

“Flight of the Conchords” (HBO, Sundays, 10:30 ET/PT): Comedy series follows a two-man, digi-folk band from New Zealand as they try to make a name for themselves in New York.

June 18

“The Closer” (TNT, Mondays, 9 ET/PT): Season 3 for Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick) and the Priority Homicide Division.

“Heartland” (TNT, Mondays, 10 ET/PT): New series about an organ-transplant surgeon who takes risks to save lives.

June 19

“P.O.V.” (PBS, Tuesdays, 10 ET/PT, times may vary): The series of documentaries on social issues returns for its 20th season.

June 21

“Live From Abbey Road” (Sundance, Thursdays, 10 ET/PT): Filmed at London’s Abbey Road Studios, each episode offers three acts along with insight into the process of making music. Artists include The Killers, Gnarls Barkley, Snow Patrol and Dave Matthews.

June 25

“History Detectives” (PBS, Mondays, 9 ET/PT, times may vary): A fifth season of investigations.

June 28

“Burn Notice” (USA, Thursdays, 10 ET/PT): New series about a fired spy who launches a personal investigation to find out the reason behind his termination.

July

July 9

“Greek” (ABC Family, Mondays, 9 ET/PT): Series focuses on college life and the social minefield that is the Greek system.

July 12

“Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” (BBCA, Thursdays, 8 ET/PT): Chef Gordon Ramsay advises restaurants.

July 13

“Monk ”and “Pysch” (USA, Fridays, 9 ET/PT and 10 ET/PT): Both series return for all-new seasons.

July 17

“The Bill Engvall Show” (TBS, Tuesdays, 9 ET/PT): Domestic comedy about a family counselor with an unconventional family.

July 18

“America’s Next Producer” (TV Guide, Wednesdays, 8 ET/PT): Aspiring producers compete for cash, a production office and a first-look deal.

“Saving Grace” (TNT, Wednesdays, 10 ET/PT): Holly Hunter stars as a cynical police detective facing a personal crisis.

July 19

“Mad Men” (AMC, Thursdays, 10 ET/PT): New drama series follows big-time ad man Dan Draper in 1960s New York during the “Golden Age” of advertising.

July 22

“Time Makeover” (Fine Living, Sundays, 8 ET/PT): Experts show everyday people how to manage their time wisely.

“The Kill Point” (Spike, Sundays, 9 ET/PT): Action-drama series focuses on two men squaring off amid a bank heist gone horribly wrong and the hostage negotiations that ensue.

“HGTV Design Star” (HGTV, Sundays, premiere at 10 ET/PT, regular time 9): Interior-design competition heads to Vegas.

July 24 “Damages” (FX, Tuesdays, 10 ET/PT ): Emmy winner Glenn Close stars as a top-flight litigator.

August

Aug. 2

“Color Correction” (HGTV, Thursdays, 9:30 ET/PT): Color expert Constance Ramos bails out homeowners in the midst of color disasters.

Aug. 5

“The Company” (TNT, Sundays, 8 ET/PT): Three-part, six-hour miniseries following Cold War CIA agents; based on the 2002 novel by Robert Littell.

Aug. 13

“Weeds” (Showtime, Mondays, 10 ET/PT): Mary-Louise Parker returns for a third season in her Golden Globe-winning role as a pot-dealing suburban mom.

“Californication” (Showtime, Mondays, 10:30 ET/PT): David Duchovny stars as a novelist struggling to raise his 13-year-old daughter while carrying a torch for his ex-girlfriend.

Aug. 14

“I Wanna Be a Soap Star 4” (SOAPnet, Tuesdays, 8 ET/PT): Aspiring actors compete for a role on “Days of our Lives”.

Aug. 16

“Blog Cabin” (DIY, Thursdays, 9 ET/PT): Internet users determine the design and features of a log cabin that is built and given away to a viewer.

Aug. 17

“High School Musical 2” (Disney, 8 ET/PT): Premiere of Disney Channel original-movie follow-up to megahit “HS Musical”; the cast hosts the evening from a pool party in director Kenny Ortega’s backyard.

Aug. 18

“Find Your Style” (HGTV, Saturdays, 10:30 ET/PT): Designer Karen McAloon helps design-challenged homeowners.

Aug. 19

“American Princess” (WE, Sundays, 10 ET/PT): Twelve young women travel to England and are trained in etiquette, grooming, presentation and aristocratic style to compete for cash and an English title.