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House of Payne
Too much sun damages the skin. That European getaway no longer fits your budget. Thank goodness TV has planned a rich summer session.
In addition to such returning favorites as Rescue Me and So You Think You Can Dance, networks and cable outlets are debuting a full curriculum of shows. Here are nine that might convince you to spend some summer nights indoors:
Army Wives: Grey’s Anatomy fans should tune in for this promising look at the hunks and heroines in military families with problems that go beyond whether to bunk with McDreamy. The cast, including Catherine Bell and Kim Delaney, deals with touchy issues, not the least of which is the current war in Iraq. If this all sounds a bit grim for summer viewing, keep in mind that the drama is wrapped in Lifetime packaging, which means plenty of midriff shots, heavenly hunks and bubble baths.
Premiered 10 p.m. June 3, Lifetime. 3 stars.
House of Payne: I know Tyler Perry is supposed to be the Great Black Hope, but too often he seems to pile on the stereotypes rather than shattering them. By the second episode, the title character has broken into a love song about fried chicken and his daughter-in-law has ended up on the street with a crack addiction. Still, you’ve got to give Perry props for tackling subjects others of any race would be too afraid—or too ignorant—to touch.
Premieres 9 p.m. Wednesday, TBS. 2 stars.
Fast Cars and Superstars—Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race: The idea of stars such as Serena Williams and William Shatner gunning against one another carries some slight appeal, but during the first few weeks of the competition they’re only competing in time trials, which holds all the excitement of `Celebrity Chinese Checkers.’ Even feigned enthusiasm from host Kenny Mayne can’t keep this from coming off as a lemon.
Premieres 8 p.m. June 10, ABC. 1 star.
John From Cincinnati: At first blush it appears that David Milch, who previously rode herd on NYPD Blue and Deadwood, now has a jones for surfing. It’s a con job. This new series may be about a dysfunctional family of wave riders, but it’s actually about religion, with the title character stirring up the waters. Milch still has an ear for great dialogue, as long as you’re not offended by the constant use of the f-word, and an eye for talent, with a cast that includes Bruce Greenwood, Luis Guzman, Ed O’Neill and Rebecca De Mornay. I’m not sure where this series is going, but I’m committed to the ride.
Premieres 10 p.m. June 10, HBO. 3 stars.
Making News: Texas Style: A local news station in Odessa-Midland, the 159th-biggest market in the country, gets the reality-series treatment, which means you’ll discover just how much time is invested in poofing hair, performing promotional stunts and negotiating contracts rather than gathering news. Too much time is spent reviewing and previewing the action in and out of commercials, but the remaining context gives you a better idea of what anchors do when the camera goes off.
Premieres 8 p.m. June 11, TV Guide. 2 stars.
Confessions of a Matchmaker: Finding love is frustrating enough in our personal lives that we don’t need another reality series, especially if it’s not hosted by Chuck Woolery. But this effort deserves a few viewing dates, thanks to Patti Novak, a no-nonsense counselor who doesn’t hesitate to rip on a client’s weight or force another to come out of the closet. It’s also smartly set in Buffalo, N.Y., a town that could use all the cuddling possible.
Premieres 10 p.m. June 16, A&E. 2 ½ stars.
Meadowlands: This limited series about a secluded English town populated by families in the witness-protection program is so leaden I thought my TV set was going to sink into the floor. The town is nicknamed The Safest Place on Earth. It’s also one of the most boring.
Premieres 10 p.m. June 17, SHO. 1 ½ stars.
Flight of the Conchords: Two mild-and-crazy guys from New Zealand try to survive the New York music scene in this extremely dry sitcom that takes slacker comedy to a new high ` or is that low? The spoofs of various music formats, from rap to folk, are more ambitious and more hilarious than anything from the catalog of Tenacious D.
Premieres 10:30 p.m. June 17, HBO. 3 stars.
Heartland: The last time Treat Williams donned scrubs, he scored with the bittersweet Everwood. This time, he’s not nearly so lucky. His Nathaniel Grant is a heart-transplant surgeon who lacks the bedside manner of Marcus Welby or the wit of Gregory House. Consider this one DOA.
Premieres 10 p.m. June 18, TNT. 2 ½ stars.
