Top 10 TV Shows You Should be Watching
Summertime is a notoriously bad time for TV. Whether it’s reruns, bad reality shows, or rerun after rerun of the handful of new shows out there, summer TV can be a bore.
Sure, we could put away the remote for a season and get out and spend time with friends and family, but who wants that?
Instead, Richmond.com picked 10 shows that you should be involved with now. And, thanks to On Demand, DVD rentals, downloads and DVR, you can be.
"Mad Men"
I know, I know, people are sick of hearing that they should be watching this show. It’s like being told to eat your vegetable or floss. Except it’s not. "Mad Men" is so good that it’s as if we found out that ice cream, chocolate and Cheetos were as good for your health and well-being as flossing and veggies. Season 3 kicks off in August, so now the perfect time to catch up. If you don’t start watching all your teeth will fall out and you’ll die and early death. At least it’ll feel that way.
"Raising the Bar"
This TNT court-room drama stars Mark-Paul Gesselaar (Zack Morris still has it) who plays a young public defender. The show centers on young lawyers in the public defender's office and the district attorney's office. If you like "Law & Order," you'll enjoy the courtroom aspects of the story lines and one added element, the judges involved in hearing and making decisions on the cases. The third episode of season two aired this week, but there is still time to catch up with Season One on DVD and On Demand.
"Entourage"
Season Six is about to begin on July 12. If you missed season five, you’re in luck because it just came out on DVD this week. This hilarious drama on HBO is about an A-list actor (loosely based on Mark Wahlberg) and his childhood friends trying to make it in Hollywood. This is one of those shows where you can watch the whole season in one sitting.
"Damages"
Seriously, this FX drama is a treat, and one no one is talking about. Season 2 just finished, making it a perfect time to snap up Season 1 on DVD. The show opens with a blood-soaked young lawyer running from a gruesome murder scene. Through flashbacks, through the whole season, we learn the story of this lawyer, her evil (or good?) mentor / boss / framer, maybe, played by Glenn Close. It has drama, suspense, humor, mystery, sex, murder … it’s just good TV.
"The Shield"
This bad/good cop drama made Emmy history by earning the most nominations ever for a basic cable drama series for season one. The final seventh season of the Shield is now available on DVD. Don’t be surprised if you see the series hit the big screen.
"True Blood"
There’s no doubt about it, this is the year of the vampire. And "True Blood" is the most delicious indulgence for those "Twilight," Sookie, Ann Rice fans out there. Some call it drama, others call it Sci-Fi … I call it vampire porn, but however you say it, it’s Must-See-TV.
"UFC Unleashed"
Spike TV is having an Unleashed marathon from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. They will follow the marathon with "Ultimate Knockouts 7" You’ll see some of the greatest MMA fights in the history of the sport. Prepare to Tap-Out.
"Top Chef"
This show, another Bravo favorite, pitches chef against chef in a season-long quest to be named Top Chef. Hosted and judged by regulars: Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, plus a guest judge, the chefs must endure two challenges (quickfire and elimination) to win the episode. And each challenge can have several obstacles including time, specific ingredients, location, handicap, etc … At the end it amazes you and makes you hungry all at the same time.
"Project Runway"
The Peabody Award-winning show (yup, look it up) is far superior to the new Bravo replacement, "The Fashion Show." You have Tim "Make it Work" Gunn and the ultimate in Super models, Heidi Klum. What more could you ask for? The 6th season will air on Lifetime beginning August 20 and will feature guests judges such as Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker and Lindsay Lohan. (Wait, Lindsay Lohan? Can she keep clothes on?)
"Family Guy"
This is not recommended for people who don’t have a sense of humor or who aren’t interested in watching a breast-feeding toddler think of ways to slowly eliminate his entire mother. It’s sort of a merge between the satiric South Park and Matt Groening’s the Simpson’s.
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