Summer TV

A while back I asked for some help picking some summer TV to watch. I had given up on the early summer reality shows, and was looking for something to fill some summer hours. Well, its been busy since then and I haven't had a lot of time to watch TV, but Shari and I have watched a few things that I wanted to share my opinions on.

First up, Top Chef (IMDB) on Bravo. Shari had heard good things about this one, so we DVRed the beginning of third season when it replayed in a marathon and have been watching the new episodes since then. If you haven't heard about this show, it is a pretty simple reality show. There are a group of chefs who were selected from around the country, and they compete in different competitions in the kitchen each week. At the end of a given episode, the contestant with the worst results is asked to "pack up their knives" and leave. Although simple, it is a very good show, and I think this is because of the diverse chefs, competitions and judges each week.

Next up, the pair of detective shows on USA. Shari and I have always enjoyed Monk (IMDB), and its new season started a few weeks ago. If you haven't heard of this show, Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is a detective that is severely obsessive-compulsive, and the show is about he works through his issues to solve crimes. We've only made it through one of the three new episodes so far, and while it is still a decent show, I think the concept has gotten a bit stale. The shows feel a bit repetitive in the crimes and Monk's behaviors are getting a bit old as well. Its still good TV, but not that exciting.

The last show we've been watching is Monk's USA partner, Psych (IMDB). This is a funny show (in its second season) that is about a private detective, Shawn (James Roday) who is super observant and has a photographic memory. Rather than explain this, he and his partner, Gus (Dule Hill), pretend that he is psychic and that he is using these special abilities to solve crimes. Its a funny show and the dynamic between the partners is great. In addition, the supporting cast plays their parts perfectly. The detective's father is skeptical of his son's abilities and is constantly doubting him, and the police that call in the psychic are great in their slightly dimwitted roles. It think its definitely worth checking this one out.

That's three picks for now, let me know what you think of these or other summer shows!