On Tuesday, USA Network announced its summer slate of new and returning shows. I was happy to see the return of familiar faces like Royal Pains and look forward to meeting new friends like Mr. Robot, which recently slayed at SXSW, and Complications. I interviewed Jason O’Mara about Complications for the June issue of Channel Guide Magazine, and he was an utter dream and his thrilling show is a total adrenaline-rush. It certainly proves the line from Wicked, “No good deed goes unpunished.”
And, as you can imagine, I’m beyond the moon with excitement at the news that Playing House has a premiere date for Season 2. Whoo hoo!! I first fell in love with the show last spring when in interviewed Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair; I immediately felt an connection to them and their balls-out senses of humor. Like most of Playing House’s fans (aka Jammers), I quickly imagined myself as a third member of their best-friendship.
I long for the day that Lennon and Jessica’s witty characters realize that they won’t be able to raise Charlotte as a happy child unless their other good friend — a tall, former tuba player who looks kinda like Jo from the Facts of Life — stopped by. Or stood in the background (have I ever mentioned that I won a motorcycle on The Price is Right and I played a cop on The Shield?) No? I didn’t?!? Oh, you mean, “no,” as in “There’s no room for Kellie.” LOL, that’s okay, I still love Lennon’s Maggie and Jessica’s Emma and I’ve already put in an order for hedgehog cupcakes for August 4.
Here’s a look at Summer Schedule 2015: USA Network…
CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST, USA’s first reality series returns for its third season and promises even more over–the-top Todd Chrisley moments. The self-titled “Patriarch of perfection” and his wife Julie continue to raise their two teenagers, Chase and Savannah, eight-year-old son Grayson and two-year-old granddaughter Chloe – all under one roof.
Season seven of Royal Pains brings us back to the sun-drenched Hamptons with Hank (Mark Feuerstein) setting his sights on obtaining what’s been missing in his life, while Evan (Paulo Costanzo) juggles his promotion with his desire to start a family with Paige (Brooke D’Orsay) and Divya (Reshma Shetty) fights to keep her family together. The series also stars Ben Shenkman and Campbell Scott.
From the creator of “Burn Notice,” comes the fast-paced and unpredictable thriller, COMPLICATIONS. The series stars Jason O’Mara as Dr. John Ellison, a suburban doctor who, while still dealing with the emotional effects of his daughter’s death, intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life. The series also stars Jessica Szohr, Beth Riesgraf (“Leverage”), and Lauren Stamile (“Burn Notice”).
WWE TOUGH ENOUGH is an action-packed competition reality show from the ratings juggernaut WWE. Featuring a new format, with live elements, the series gives unknown athletes a chance at being crowned the next WWE Superstar or Diva. Fans can expect harder challenges, fiercer competition and rivalries that are more dramatic than ever.
In the fifth season premiere, Pearson Specter Litt has scored a hard-fought victory, but the fight has left The Firm shaken. Although she avoided jail time, Donna (Sarah Rafferty) has left Harvey (Gabriel Macht), after more than a decade of working together. She is now working for his long-time rival Louis (Rick Hoffman). And while Jessica (Gina Torres) readjusts to being single, Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel (Meghan Markle) are giddy after his marriage proposal.
This techno thriller follows Elliot (Rami Malek), a young programmer who works as a cyber-security engineer by day and a vigilante hacker by night. When the mysterious leader (Christian Slater) of an underground hacker group recruits him to destroy The Firm he is paid to protect, he must make the decision of a lifetime. MR. ROBOT also stars Portia Doubleday (“Her”), Carly Chaikin (“Suburgatory”) and Martin Wallström (“Simple Simon”).
Season three resumes after an attack on Mike (Aaron Tveit). Paul Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) gets coerced into a high-risk operation, while his pregnant counterpart Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) is on a mission to find the person who nearly killed her. Joe ‘Johnny’ Tuturro (Manny Montana), Dale Jakes (Brandon Jay McLaren) and Paige (Serinda Swan) each seek normalcy as federal agents with the FBI, DEA and ICE living in an undercover world of their own.
The critically acclaimed comedy returns for a season two with an innovative windowing structure that, each week, will allow viewers to preview next week’s episode on their Video-On-Demand platforms. Childhood best friends Maggie Caruso (Lennon Parham) and Emma Crawford (Jessica St. Clair) are in store for their biggest adventure yet — raising a baby. This season, Maggie and Emma navigate their way through life as co-parents to Maggie’s daughter Charlotte. The colorful residents of Pinebrook, CT also return, including Emma’s first love Mark (Keegan Michael Key).
