Since the standard TV season is over, the summer series has kicked into high gear.

Top Gear (UK) is back in full force and good as ever. I think the US edition comes back on at the end of this month too. True Blood, the best trash on TV is back as well and the character arc changes they are making a pretty smart. The series was getting ultra whiney by a lot of the characters and many of them have grown up and changed in the first 2 episodes so that’s promising.

Real World/Road Rules challenge is back on (“Rivals”) and I just watched my first episode so that’s always fun to watch. Weeds is back too, which at this point I think I watch just out of habit now. They always do something to keep me watching and I genuinely like the characters. Last season had a crazy ending and they’ve jumped the timeline ahead 3 years which was a surprise for me. Much like True Blood a lot was getting stale so the writers have found a new road to shake off some shackles (plus the actor that plays Shane has become a man since last season and grown like a foot and a half, so that helps explain that). Still a bit early to see if it’s worked, but I’m hopeful.

I’m watching Franklin & Bash and Falling Skies on TNT, which are both new. I think F&B is the first lawyer show I’ve put any time into and I like it. Falling Skies is filling my sci-fi spot in place of Fringe (which had a fantastic season) and The Event which was canceled (bummer since the final few episodes were very good too). Wise choice with starting the show 6 months after the alien attack, we can avoid the expected “shock and awe” beginnings there and get on with things faster. Show seems kinda slow so far but it’s still intriguing. It’s 4 shows in so far and we’re getting a better take on the invading force, which I like.

Comedy is going strong with Wilfred and Louie on FX (continuing their awesome original programming line up, year round) and Futurama on Comedy Central. Last weeks Futurama in particular was really funny.