Blogcritics Author: Sean Paul Mahoney

Music Review: Madonna - Hard Candy

Sean Paul Mahoney — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:20:20 EDT

Madonna's still on the dance floor but the confessions are minimal.
In 1983, at age 11, I saved up the appropriate funds, earned from doing chores around the house, to buy Madonna’s self-titled debut record. When I had first heard “Holiday” on the radio that previous summer, I was entranced. It sounded a little like the disco my aunts and uncles used to listen to and a little like the R&B...

TV Review: Gossip Girl

Sean Paul Mahoney — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:49:21 EDT

Gossip Girl is a taut, well-acted soap with juicy story lines, witty one-liners, and an engaging cast.
I have to admit something. Even though I’m in my 30s I love high school set dramas. Maybe it’s all the John Hughes I watched in the '80s. Maybe it’s the hours of Beverly Hills 90210 I devoured in high school. Or maybe I just enjoy watching young, pretty people mess up their lives. Whatever it is, you can imagine my excitement...

Hated the VMAs? Blame MTV, Not Britney

Sean Paul Mahoney — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:33:21 EDT

The main question we asked ourselves was �Why are we watching this?�
With cocktails in hand, my friends and I gathered around the television to witness the return of Britney Spears. After weeks of hype and rumors, the evening had finally arrived. Ms Spears was finally returning to MTV’s Video Music Awards in Las Vegas to reclaim her pop star glory. As we all know by now that didn’t happen. What...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Dear Emmy Voters: A Last Minute Plea to Avoid Voting Monotony

Sean Paul Mahoney — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:54:35 EDT

Dear Emmy Voters,As the July 19th announcement of the 2007 Primetime Emmy nominations quickly approaches, this concerned couch potato has some last minute Emmy wishes. Last year, you guys started to think outside of the box and I applaud that. But this year, perhaps you could take that one step further.For example, I know you feel like you have to nominate most of the actresses from Desperate Housewives but it makes the Best Actress in a Comedy Series category an uninteresting one. I say if you want to pat DH on the back for an Applewhite-free season, hopefully you nominated Marc Cherry and Joe Keenan for writing the excellent “Bang” episode. Harrowing, funny, and humane, this episode will most likely be remembered as one of DH’s best ever and certainly the highlight of the season. In place of the ladies of Wisteria Lane, may I suggest Tina Fey (30 Rock), America Ferrara (Ugly Betty), Jamie Pressly (My Name is Earl), Anne Heche (Men in Trees) and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)? While we’re talking actresses, how about mixing up the drama category as well? Mary McDonnell from Battlestar Galactica, Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls, and Connie Britton of Friday Night Lights could spice up a list usually reserved for Mafia wives and tough lady cops. Throw in Kristen Bell for her last season as Veronica Mars and Sally Field for Brothers and Sisters and we’ve got a real race on our hands.As far as the Best Drama series goes, I’m praying you did not nominate any shows about doctors or cops. Sure, we all love when they catch the bad guy or when the two unstable doctors finally shack up but is it always award-worthy? I think not. You got it right last year with 24 so I have faith your wisdom will prevail. Still, let me gently remind you that Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, and Brothers and Sisters are really good shows that don’t have spin-offs in Miami or characters who say the word “vajajay”.When it comes to comedy, you savvy voters are really in tune. Last year’s winner, The Office, looks to be a sure thing again. Other NBC offerings like My Name is Earl and 30 Rock seem like good choices. Ugly Betty is bound to be an Emmy favorite. So the fifth spot could go to Entourage or to the final season of King of Queens. Not terribly exciting but it could be worse. Maybe injecting Extras, The Sarah Silverman Program, or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia could give this category a much needed shot in the arm.When it comes to comedic performances, you kids like to award Academy favorites like Tony Shaloub and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. That’s all well and good, but this year belongs to Steve Carrell and America Ferrara. The country is smitten with The Office and Ugly Betty and these actors are the reason why. Trust me, Elaine and Monk will be fine if you give the awards to someone else. I promise.The non-series nominations could prove to be an exciting bunch. I am not sure what awards you should give to Discovery’s awesome Planet Earth yet I do know you should just mail them out now. There is nothing like this show and it may be the greatest nature series in the history of television. The same goes for NBC’s Tony Bennett: An American Classic. Directed with style and class by Rob Marshall, it single-handedly resurrected the musical variety special. Giving the octogenarian Bennett an Emmy would not only be the right thing to do but would also be a fitting tribute to a living legend. Also, I hope you Emmy Elite can put aside your ambivalence toward Spike Lee to nominate his superb documentary When the Levees Broke. This unapologetic look at a nation's response to Hurricane Katrina and the citizens it affected is heartbreaking and uplifting without being preachy. Of all the programs I watched last year, this film had the biggest emotional impact on me. Finally, I do realize that my last-minute campaigning might be a moot point as the ballot mail-in deadline was June 20. Still, I remain optimistic that this year’s Emmys will be chock full of fresh faces and groundbreaking shows. Or at the very least I won’t have to sit through another Doris Roberts acceptance speech. Sincerely,Sean Paul Mahoney

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson - My December

Sean Paul Mahoney — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:34:59 EDT

If we are to believe everything we read, we are supposed to hate My December the third album from Kelly Clarkson, even though most of us have yet to even hear the darn thing. After all, it’s been publicly dissed by Clive Davis, head of Clarkson’s label, yielded a luke warm single, generated a plethora of tabloid headlines and subsequent firings of members of “Team Clarkson.” This sort of public flogging is the usual response when a female artist branches out in a new direction. Christina Aguilera’s Stripped received a similar reaction when it was first released. Each time Madonna dons a new hat the press lines up to take shots at her. So Kelly must have known this was coming. The hubbub surrounding the album has erased the big question on everybody’s mind - “Is it any good?”It’s better than good. In fact, it’s Clarkson’s most consistent and adult release to date. Is it jam packed with upbeat, catchy ditties filled with hooks? No, but I’ll get to that in a moment. The main complaint from Clive & Co. has been that My December has no singles. Hogwash. Despite the abrasive first single “Never Again,” My December has tangible radio-friendly songs. “One Minute” is a rocking, Garbage-esque ode to a fellow who can’t make up his mind, and that seems like a natural hit. “How I Feel” is an infectious, upbeat, new wave-infused ditty that fondly recalls the days of Pat Benatar and Patty Smyth, without feeling stale. And any teen drama worth it’s salt would snatch up “Don’t Waste Your Time” or the heart-wrenching “Be Still” for the dramatic montage of the week. The second single “Sober” delivers Clarkson’s first non-adult contemporary ballad and does so brilliantly. The sappy production values that weighed Breakaway down have been ditched for a sparse, raw sound. Producer David Kahne, no stranger to rocker chicks having produced songs for Stevie Nicks, Regina Spektor, and The Bangles, among others, seems well matched with Kelly’s powerful voice. Thematically, nearly every song represents the classic “girl scorned” lyrics that any graduate from “Alanis University” can churn out. Somebody has hurt our little Idol and she’s pissed. The only problem is her writing tends to repeat the same sentiment. She’s passed on lyrics from hit makers like Max Martin in favor of going at it alone. While her ambition is risky and admirable it doesn’t always produce great songs. For example, “Hole” and “Judas” are two extremely ticked off laments that are too similar in lyrical content, bogging down the diversity of the record. Also, some of her journal-like lyrics, although confessional, aren’t exactly the thing you’ll find yourself humming in the shower. This is a minor complaint, however. The main achievement of My December is that listeners are finally given an honest peak into the life of the singer once crowned American Idol. The album’s final track “Irvine” is a revelation. Sang in a higher register, the song paints a beautiful and heartbreaking picture of a girl who feels isolated and alone. It’s a showstopper and proof positive that this is an artist who is evolving. he world fell in love with Clarkson because of her what-you-see-is-what-you-get personality and her amazing voice. So it’s ironic that we would expect her to just smile, look pretty, and sing pop songs. My December is a testament to standing ones ground, staying strong in the face of adversity, and being honest, consequences be damned. Which, to me, makes for a compelling listen from a fascinating artist who’s only just begun ruffling feathers. 8 out of 10

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Should Gays Flatten Travolta's Hairspray?

Sean Paul Mahoney — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:44:07 EDT

It's official, hell has frozen over. Gays are boycotting a musical? Make that one gay. Washington Blade managing editor Kevin Naff told MSNBC last week that he won’t be seeing the big screen musical Hairspray when it opens next month and he encourages others to do the same. "Travolta, a prominent Scientologist, has no business reprising an iconic gay role, given his [religion's] stance on gay issues. It's well known that Scientology rejects gays and lesbians as members and even operates reparative therapy clinics to 'cure' homosexuality." Naff said.Several media outlets picked up this silly tidbit and by Friday the film’s executive producer and the director of the original 1988 film, John Waters, responded to the New York Daily News. “First of all, he is playing a loving mother, not [the late gay politician] Harvey Milk.” Waters commented.” I'm all for gay troublemaking, but is this journalist going to police the religion of all actors? Do we boycott Nicole Kidman because she's Catholic?" Waters went on to praise Travolta and the new version of the film.So who’s right? I think Waters and Naff are both missing the mark here.As a movie nerd, I hold the original film in high esteem. Sure, many Waters purists consider this his “selling out” movie but I think it’s one of his best written. Not only does Hairspray brilliantly satirize 1960’s Baltimore and the hypocrisy of segregation but it also gave film lovers a star-making performance by Ricki Lake, a lovely swan song for Divine as Edna Turnblad (the role Travolta now plays), and Ric Ocasek and Pia Zadora as beatniks! Nobody makes camp like Waters but this time out he did it with real heart, quotable dialogue, and fully developed characters. So it baffles me that a cinematic update is necessary. Sure, I get the whole was-a-movie-now-it’s-a-musical thing. I don’t think the world really needs musical versions of movies like Sunset Boulevard, The Color Purple, and Legally Blonde but if it makes more people go to the theater, then so be it. I am opposed, however, to turning a hit musical that was originally a film back into a new version of the film. The 2005 bastardization of The Producers should have permanently put a stop to this trend. Still, hope springs eternal in Hollywood when it comes to squeezing every last dime out of a successful property. Previews for Hairspray present a slick, safe, family friendly musical packed with stars for every demographic. Look it’s the kid from High School Musical! Look it’s Queen Latifah!While fans of the musical might be jumping out of their seats, the film’s loyalists are likely to groan, “Where’s Debbie Harry?” Waters has made a killing off the stage musical and his endorsement of the new version seems to be one of fiscal stability and not one of nonbiased opinion. The only boycotting that should happen concerning this movie is one that calls for an end to remakes and unoriginality. Hollywood is convinced that moviegoers don’t want fresh, inspired films. But sleeper hit likes Hot Fuzz, Knocked Up, and Pan’s Labyrinth are proof positive that audiences are ready to embrace films that aren’t sequels and rehashes. The Broadway world echoed this sentiment earlier this month when Grey Gardens and Spring Awakenings both swept the Tonys. In spite of this, the trend of turning toys, television shows, and theme park rides into splashy films shows no sign of letting up. And it’s inevitable. Fine. But do we have to embrace every hackneyed remake? I say no and Hairspray might be where I put my foot down.Where Naff’s hissyfit is concerned, I think the gay community has bigger fish to fry than Travolta. As a gay man, I think issues like the denial of basic civil liberties, workplace discrimination, and hate crimes are just a tad more important. Reprogramming homosexuals is a crock that intellectuals have long snickered at, so to slap Scientology on the wrist seems to be more about a cry for publicity rather than a call to arms. The jury is still out on whether I’ll personally go see Hairspray. On one hand, my inner Divine fan poo-poos the notion of watching Travolta and tween hotties potentially destroy my beloved cinematic memories. On the other hand, my inner movie musical dork sort of loves the idea of Stephanie Zinone and Danny Zucko finally on screen together!

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Attack of the C.H.U.D.S.!

Sean Paul Mahoney — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:26:31 EDT

In our celebrity-obsessed culture, a frightful beast has been born. They lurk on message boards and entertainment websites waiting to pounce. They hide in the virtual bushes of cyberspace counting down the moments until an innocent smart ass makes a crack about their deity of choice. I'm talking about the celebrity super fan, or the C.H.U.D.S. (Celebrity Hyper-obsessed Undercover Defense Squad). Not to be confused with the less frightening, underground dwellers from the fun 1984 film. Identifying C.H.U.D.S. is quite easy. They type in all capital letters with bad grammar. These individuals are passionate, obsessive, and totally blind when it comes to their celebrities. Use this recent response concerning Paris Hilton's incarceration as an example:"WE? LOVE? YOU? PARIS? STAY? STRONG? PRINCESS ?THEY ?PROSECUTED? JESUS? TO!??TEAM PARIS "Eek. Let's forget for one second confusing prepositions for adverbs. Ignore the ridiculous Messiah comparison. The all-caps and psycho punctuation are the dead give away here. Also telling is the narrative as if they are actually speaking to Paris herself. If you see this kind of response, run like hell! Once you've bashed a superstar with a crazed fan base, batten down the hatches for a no-holds barred psycho fest. Just ask MeMe Roth, founder of The National Action Against Obesity. A few weeks back, this zealot basically said in an appearance on Fox News that Jordin Sparks shouldn't win American Idol because she's overweight and therefore a bad role model. "When I look at Jordin I see diabetes, I see heart disease, I see high cholesterol," Roth said. "That's what's so sad about this -- she is not the vision of health -- she is the vision of 'unhealth.'" Roth, not a doctor or a nutritionist, but a tool with a background in PR and marketing had no right saying such ridiculous tripe. Well, Jordin's fans didn't take these remarks lightly. Fox and Roth received dozens of angry letters, emails, and even death threats! Sure, the thin and humorless MeMe Roth needs to shut up and eat a pizza. But demanding her execution? That seems a little severe. Sparks herself was "disturbed" to hear of these threats, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.Obviously, this has gotten out of control. The celebrity stalkers of yesterday could be found wandering around Brad Pitt's yard or riffling through Madonna's garbage. Law enforcement agencies would step in and cart the wacko in question off to jail. This new breed of "number 1 fans" resides primarily online using modern technology to assist them in round the clock protection of their favorite performer. I recently met a woman who volunteers her free time to police message boards on behalf of a certain pop star. She actively attacks this singer's critics and seeks out negative posts about him. She considers this to be her calling. Seriously.In addition to being downright scary, this is particularly annoying to us critic-types. It brings intelligent discussion to a screeching halt and opens the floodgates for rambling, combative posts that dilute the topic at hand. Exhausted critics and readers alike are usually left thinking "Yeah we get it. You love so-and-so. Enough already!"I had my first run in with the C.H.U.D.S. a few years ago. I reviewed a made-for-TV movie starring Lucy Lawless. The movie was garbage and my review said as much. Mere hours after my review was posted, my e-mail was flooded with nonsensical messages defending Lawless and personally attacking me. The ironic thing is, I like Lucy Lawless and would even consider myself a fan. The C.H.U.D.S. couldn't see this. The hate mail continued for weeks until I was forced to shut down the account. I could only explain myself so many times until I decided to call it quits.Since then, I have learned to ignore the celeb-obsessed. I continue to say whatever I want, ruffled feathers be damned. Dealing with passionate, outspoken fans comes with the territory of being a critic. I dish out criticism so therefore I can take my lumps with the best of them.That said, I no longer post my personal e-mail on my reviews, have several accounts just to be on the safe side, and will never say anything bad about Jordin Sparks. Ever.

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

TV Review: The Wives of Summer - The Starter Wife, Ex-Wives Club, and Army Wives

Sean Paul Mahoney — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 00:16:47 EDT

On the big screen, guys like Spider-Man, Shrek, and Jack Sparrow rule. On television, though, the ladies are all the rage this summer. In particular, wives. I sampled each of the programs hopping on the estrogen bandwagon and here’s what I came up with.USA Network’s The Starter Wife, starring Debra Messing, pulled in a whopping 5.4 million viewers for its two-hour premiere last Thursday. It’s easy to see why. The limited-run series, based on the book by Gigi Levangie Grazer, is a fizzy light summer cocktail. Oh, it’s nothing we haven’t seen a million times before. You know the drill -- pampered rich wife gets dumped by childish husband for younger mistress and then has to re-invent herself. Yet there are several reasons to keep watching. Most surprisingly, Messing’s performance as Hollywood wife Molly Kagan is at the top of the list. The chaotic neuroses displayed on Will and Grace were never to my liking. In fact, I think Grace Adler was one of the more irritating characters on television over the last ten years. So, it’s refreshing to see Messing in a vulnerable role, free from slapstick and mugging. She gives Molly a heart and gives you a reason to root for her, regardless of how familiar the terrain is. The fabulous supporting cast (Judy Davis, Joe Mantegna, and Anika Noni Rose) turns clichéd characters into entertaining counterparts along for the ride. Plus, the glossy, gorgeous production values are pure eye candy. This is a story about wealthy people and every frame looks rich and luxurious. Of course, it’s pretty much a sure thing that Molly will find love and herself at the end of The Starter Wife. She’s not going to get run down by a bus in the final half-hour. This is not that kind of movie. This aims to be total escapism entertainment and does so successfully.More ousted spouses are to be found on ABC’s reality show Ex-Wives Club. Founding members of the club in question are celebrity exes Marla Maples, Angie Everhart, and K-Fed’s other baby-mama, Char Jackson. The opening credits remind non-Us Weekly readers that Maples was married to Donald Trump, Everhart was married to Sylvester Stallone, and that Jackson was dumped by a back-up dancer for Britney Spears. Each episode, the ladies help poor guys and gals get their lives back through therapy, makeovers, and revenge. Basically, it’s a real life version of The First Wives Club meets Extreme Makeover. Emotionally manipulative and groan-worthy, it’s "turn your brain off" television and a guilty pleasure of epic proportions. A recent episode featured a soldier home from Iraq who found his wife in bed with another man. Our girls took this heartbroken man and turned him into a datable stud and reunited him with his young daughter at Disneyland! Aww... The wives themselves are a mixed bag. The less said about the pulled and phony Maples, the better. Everhart turns on her usual ex-supermodel charm while Char Jackson is bubbly, down to earth, and sincere. A likeable presence, Jackson might just have a future in television. Success, which has notoriously eluded her ex, might just be the best revenge.Not to be left out of the craze, Lifetime threw its hat in the ring on Sunday with the new drama Army Wives. If you’re expecting a hard-hitting docudrama with pinpoint accuracy, then you are obviously unfamiliar with how Lifetime operates. Naturally, real military wives will roll their eyes at the show’s melodramatic tone while soap fans with a healthy suspension of disbelief are bound to indulge in the program’s charm. I, for one, had low expectations and was pleasantly intrigued by the pilot. Kim Delaney returns to the peak of her powers as the grand dame of military wives and Sally Pressman shines as Roxy, a bartender who’s new to base life. The dialogue is smart and the storylines are quickly well established. However, there are some problems here. The subplots are plodding, supporting characters are weakly fleshed out, and the look of the show is a tad chintzy. These complaints are minor, really. The fact is Army Wives could have easily been Police Wives or Wall Street Wives. The mission is to tell compelling stories about relationships, regardless of setting. With time and a little tweaking, Army Wives might pull it off.The main thing each of these shows did was entertain, even if they didn’t always stimulate my intellect. Listen, I like my television diet to be balanced with equal parts protein and junk food. In the summer, it tends to be more of the latter. So thankfully I have a freezer full of fat-free ice cream sandwiches and Ugly Betty reruns to even me out.

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Jordin's A Winner But Her Song Is Another Loser

Sean Paul Mahoney — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:38:32 EDT

The votes have been counted, the confetti has fallen, and the tears have been shed. The sixth installment of American Idol has come to a close. Jordin Sparks won but her song, “This is My Now,” is another syrupy soft rock stinker. Congratulations to the songwriters who won the nationwide competition are in order, I suppose. These two unknowns will be laughing all the way to the bank as the trite ditty inevitably shoots up the charts. That being said, the tradition of picking mature Richard Marx-like ballads for young contestants is perplexing. After all, this is a show based on what the youth of today wants and I hardly think they want another song to listen to in the waiting room of their orthodontist’s office. Take a look at the iTunes top songs and songs like “Buy U a Drank” and “Party Like a Rock Star” tend to support my theory. After enduring months of Ryan Seacrest, is a catchy radio friendly hit too much to ask for? Or as “This is My Now”’s lyrics say ”I've settled for less now I'm ready for more.”It’s not shocking that the song is a dud because Idol’s rich history of crap-tacular ballads is a painful and nearly criminal one. Take for example, “Flying Without Wings” by Rueben Studdard. Please. With predictable R&B production values and greeting card lyrics, it’s a natural for weddings and graduations. And that’s not a good thing, people. We already have a surplus of tooth rotting anthems like this thanks to Diane Warren, author of co-dependency classics like “How do I Live Without You” and “Because You Loved Me”. Still, I guess the song works on multiple levels for both Rueben and Clay. For Studdard, the “wings” in question could be buffalo, while Aiken’s could be fairy. Worse still is Carrie Underwood’s “Inside Your Heaven”. The lyrics, which could be interpreted as either a romantic invitation or code for an unusual sexual request, are baffling and laughable. Sheena Easton did this kind of tripe better 25 years ago and at least she had the common decency to bring along Kenny Rogers. Underwood’s powerful voice is undeniable but the lame arrangement and goofy writing are pure musical hell.Kelly Clarkson has several advantages when it comes to “A Moment Like This”. First of all, it was television history when she won and fans will always remember her heartfelt performance of the song on the finale. Secondly, the woman could sing the phonebook and make it sound appealing. The song itself is far from great and would have never received radio play if it wasn’t for AI or Clarkson. Equally forgettable are “I Believe” and “Do I Make You Proud” by Fantasia and Taylor Hicks, respectively.I know, I know. At least these songs don’t have violent or sexual content but their overall mediocrity is also offensive. Idol producers assume that fans of the show don’t want anything different or at the very least memorable. This is as insulting as it is inaccurate. But if we don’t demand it, then the formula is unlikely to change. These singles are cash cows, plain and simple. After six seasons, we expect them to top the charts and to hear them everywhere.So the next time you run to your local grocery store to buy pasta and “This is My Now” wafts over the produce aisle like a stale fart, remember this is your American Idol.

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Endless Summer... Television: Some Seasonal Alternatives

Sean Paul Mahoney — Sun, 20 May 2007 17:20:47 EDT

The time of year us television fanatics dread most is quickly approaching. Summer. As the temperature rises, the quality of network programming plummets faster than Nicole Richie’s waistline. You know it’s officially summer when So You think You Can Dance becomes appointment television. Panicked at the thought of watching bingo, celebrity impersonators, and wannabe pirates all season, I did some research and found some alternatives that sound promising. Other than the aforementioned dance show which possesses a guilty pleasure quality, the only other network show that seems remotely interesting to me is the CW’s Hidden Palms from Scream creator Kevin Williamson. The preview I watched had a soapy, The OC meets Twin Peaks kind of vibe that could be fun and addictive. The show, which premieres May 30, hopes to end Williamson’s post-Dawson’s Creek career slump. The CW took a page from FOX’s playbook by airing a teen drama in the summer and I think it’s a wise move.In cable land, the programming is a tad more diverse. Naturally, Bravo will serve up another helping of Top Chef on June 6 in an effort to help us forget that Project Runway won’t be coming back until fall. I have no interest in finding America’s next top basket weaver or nail technician, so in protest I’ll mostly avoid Bravo until Tim, Heidi, and Nina return. I will, however, be tuning in for Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-list on June 5. I watched the season three opener and it’s funnier and more poignant than previous seasons. Griffin’s recent divorce and personal tribulations definitely add drama to the mix. Love her or loathe her, she’s a fascinating and utterly watchable comedian.Showtime, the little network who continues to beat HBO at its own game, shows no signs of slowing down this summer. Meadowlands, set to debut on June 17, is a drama about a family relocated through the witness protection program to a twisted suburban community filled with secrets. Known as Cape Wrath in the UK, this import is generating a lot of buzz and the trailers look intriguing. This should keep me occupied until the fabulous Weeds returns August 13 with more episodes and Matthew Modine and Carrie Fisher joining the cast. Last season’s cliffhanger was amazing and I can’t wait to see what happens next. The long-awaited David Duchovny vehicle Californication also premieres in August on Showtime. The premise sounds a little self-indulgent but I’ll hold off judgment until I see an actual clip.Aside from the occasional Valerie Bertinelli baby-stealing movie, I rarely watch Lifetime. That might change in July, when State of Mind debuts. The therapist drama stars the always-fascinating Lilly Taylor and was written by Amy Bloom, a novelist I personally love. Bloom’s work is insightful and could translate well on the small screen.TNT’s audience favorite, The Closer comes back on June 18 along with the new Treat Williams doctor show Heartland. Not really my cup of tea but both are guaranteed to be more stimulating than E!’s tanning salon reality show (I’m not kidding, by the way) Sunset Tan. More to my liking on TNT is Saving Grace popping up in July. Sure it’s another detective show but it has Holly Hunter, an actress I happily watch clean out a junk drawer. I’m also excited to see LOGO’s first animated series, Rick & Steve The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World. Done in Lego-style animation, the series features the vocal talents of Alan Cumming, Wilson Cruz, Margaret Cho, and Taylor M. Dooley. Friends who’ve attended screenings say it’s hilarious, subversive, and even a little cute.More hits return this summer like USA’s The 4400, FX’s Rescue Me, and ABC Family’s Kyle XY. I don’t yet watch any of these programs but summer might be a good time to pick one of them up. 30 Rock is another show that I like but for some reason never watched so I hope NBC airs re-runs. I've recently become a Greg Berlanti fan so the Everwood DVDs might be a nice escape.If all else fails, reading a book or going to a movie (which, for the record, don’t look that great either) are also an option. Realistically though, I’m bound to indulge in some of the cheesier summer television shows. So don’t judge me if my next article is about pirates, bingo, or even a tanning salon.

Sean Mahoney is a pop culture junkie and freelance writer based in Los Angeles.