Summer TV suggestions
The shuffle: If you watched "Dancing With the Stars," now try "Raising Hope".
Why? Martha Plimpton and Garret Dillahunt are among the Emmy-worthy hot-steppers making this blue-collar comedy a worthy successor to "Malcolm in the Middle" and "My Name Is Earl." There are no hot-to-trot dance numbers, but if you wait long enough, Cloris Leachman is bound to strip down to her underwear and dash across the living room.
When to watch: 9 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through July 5 on FOX. Also, 22 episodes are available at Hulu.com.
The shuffle: If you watched "The Good Wife," now try "Parenthood".
Why? Network execs should serve jail time for programming two of TV's best dramas against each other in, a one-sided contest that almost kept NBC's "Parenthood" from getting renewed. "Wife" gets high marks for its string of surprising twists, but "Parenthood" pulls off an even trickier feat by creating a family drama that's far from square.
When to watch: Not in summer reruns, but the entire second season is at Hulu.com.
The shuffle: If you watched "American Idol," now try "The Middle".
Why? The family that sang together will laugh together once it gets hooked on this G-rated sitcom that confirms no one does exasperation better than "Everybody Loves Raymond" veteran Patricia Heaton. Double entendres and raunch are nowhere to be found, which may be reason enough to give this a go. Thank goodness it's also hilarious.
When to watch: 8 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC
The shuffle: If you watched "The Big Bang Theory," now try "Community".
Why? Creator Dan Harmon is both genius and sadist, challenging his cast, led by Joel McHale, with complex setups ranging from clay animation adventures to paintball wars. Their pain is our reward. "Big Bang" may deliver more laughs, but "Community" aims higher, almost always scoring an A.
When to watch: 8 p.m. Thursdays on NBC Five episodes available at NBC.com and Hulu.com.
The shuffle: If you partied on Friday nights ... now try "Nikita".
Why? The CW's only show for grown-ups moves to a more viewer-friendly Thursday slot for summer, which provides the opportunity to see Maggie Q rock both a secret-spy organization and a bikini. Those who think the "La Femme Nikita" concept has run its course are underestimating the show's writers and star.
When to watch: 8 p.m. Thursdays, CW. Six episodes available at Hulu.com.
Source: msn
