HOT SHOWS FOR HOT DAYS
Our critic’s picks, from ‘ Game of Thrones’ to ‘ The Tick’
As the weather heats up, so will your TV. Not to the same extent as fall, perhaps — but the days when summer offered nothing but reruns are long gone. Dozens of new shows and returning favorites are coming your way over the next few months.
As great as some of them sound, TV critic Robert Bianco can’t share them with you: Like many a TV series, he’s taking the summer off. But don’t despair: He’ll be back in September, ready and waiting for the fall season.
Until then, enjoy these shows. And your summer.
GAME OF THRONES HBO, JULY 16 ( 9 ET/ PT)
Don’t expect a lot of laughs from this seven- episode penultimate season of HBO’s big hit. Sex, yes. Blood, magic and dragons, yes. But laughs? Usually, no.
THE TICK AMAZON, AUG. 25
If at first you don’t succeed. The Tick returns, this time on Amazon — and this time starring Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman. Sorry, but for me, The Tick will always be Patrick Warburton.
THE CARMICHAEL SHOW NBC ( WEDNESDAYS, 9 ET/ PT)
Jerrod Carmichael’s current- events comedy — TV’s most political — is back for a third season.
I’M DYING UP HERE SHOWTIME ( SUNDAYS, 10 ET/ PT)
Melissa Leo stars in this period drama about L. A.’ s comedy scene that, considering how badly these showbiz stories often perform, Showtime should fear will fall among the walking dead. And speaking of: Fear the Walking Dead ( AMC; Sundays, 9 ET/ PT).
THE TONY AWARDS CBS, TONIGHT ( 8 ET/ PT)
This is reliably one of the most entertaining of all the awards shows. You’ll get to see Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce, and the rest of the cast of the fabulous revival of Hello, Dolly, and that’s not something you want to miss.
CARDINAL HULU, FRIDAY
Billy Campbell gives one of his best performances in this taut six- part mystery — the best series to come down from Canada since, maybe, Slings & Arrows. And did I mention it’s only six episodes?
QUEEN SUGAR OWN, JUNE 20 ( THEN WEDNESDAYS, 10 ET/ PT)
This beautifully acted family drama from filmmaker Ava DuVernay returns for a second season. And it’s coming back with an all- female slate of directors, DuVernay’s way of reminding the bigger broadcasters that they can do better.
THE MIST SPIKE, JUNE 22 ( 10 ET/ PT)
The big screen took a crack at Stephen King’s novella The Mist in 2007. Now Spike attempts to turn it into a series. If you’re a King fan, you might be better off pinning your hopes on the remake of It. Or better yet, the original It.
THE GONG SHOW ABC, JUNE 22 ( 10 ET/ PT)
Normally, it’s unlikely anyone would be very excited about a Gong Show revival. But a few abnormal things are going on with this Show: It’s produced by Will Arnett; it’s lined up some big- name judges; and it’s hosted by Mike Myers, in character ( and prosthetics) as “British comedian” Tommy Maitland.
SNOWFALL FX, JULY 5 ( 10 ET/ PT)
Boyz n the Hood’s John Singleton cocreated this FX drama, which tells the story of the start of the crack- cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles in 1983.
SALVATION CBS, JULY 12 ( 9 ET/ PT)
CBS returns to summer sci- fi with this thriller about the government’s efforts to save the Earth from a fastapproaching asteroid. Look at it this way: If it’s anything like Zoo, at least you’ll get a laugh out of it.
INSECURE HBO, JULY 23 ( 10: 30 ET/ PT)
HBO has a comedy you can count on: Insecure. The second season of this terrific series from Issa Rae arrives next month.
MIDNIGHT, TEXAS NBC, JULY 24 ( 10 ET/ PT)
Did you love True Blood? ( Or did you love it before it went south?) Then you’re the target audience for this NBC supernatural drama, based on another set of books by Charlaine Harris.
DISJOINTED NETFLIX, AUG. 25
Having given CBS ( and TV) some of its best and biggest hits, Chuck Lorre ( The Big Bang Theory) now tries his hands at Netflix. Kathy Bates joins with him, as the owner of a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary.