Talk Nerdy Top Ten: New Summer Shows We’re Excited About
That’s right — summer has officially started and here is our list of the top 10 new summer shows we at Talk Nerd With Us can’t wait to check out. (Or, actually did check out last night – POSE is fantastic!) Did we miss any you are looking forward to? Let us know in the comment section below!
POSE – June 3rd (FX) 9:00 p.m.
Summer kicks off with this bold and ballsy peek at the world of the late 1980s in New York City, where luxury culture is on the rise. This latest project from the minds of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals boasts the largest ever transgender cast in regular series roles as well as the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors ever for a scripted series. Before we even dig into this brightly colored world of the Balls (a live competition where dance skills, attitude, and fashion are judged for the top prize), this summer entry has already made history. POSE marks Ryan Murphy’s final project with FX before he jumps to Netflix; lord help us all when his mind isn’t constrained by cable tv restrictions.
EDIT: Now that episode one has aired, I’m even more convinced that this is one of the best shows of the summer!
Dietland – June 4th (AMC) 9:00 p.m. (then moving to 10:00 p.m.)
The dead body falling from the sky immediately caught my attention. Is this show about diet fads, the fashion industry, the #metoo movement? I think the answer is yes! Adapted from the 2015 novel from Sarai Walker, Dietland is a dark and twisty revenge fantasy from Marti Noxon (UnREAL) staring Julianna Margulies and Joy Nash. Extra bonus: Aisha Tyler will also host a companion show, Unapologetic, which will air after every new episode and discuss themes from the show.
Cloak and Dagger – June 7th (Freeform) 8:00 p.m.
Our Managing Editor, Terri Clark, had this to say about Cloak and Dagger: Freeform delivers a Marvel-ous modern update of the 1983 Cloak and Dagger comic series. Ty & Tandy’s (Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt) fates first intertwined at eight-years-old through a series of tragic events that cost them loved ones and suffused them with superpowers, something they don’t realize until destiny reunites them at 16. Now, as they try to gain an understanding of what happened to them and their abilities, these outsiders find they need each other to survive and fall in love while doing so. Delivered by a pedigreed stable of Marvel writers, Cloak and Dagger is yet another example of Freeform’s exemplary ability to plug into the real and raw while challenging the status quo. And while their fare–Cloak and Dagger included—is certainly aimed at Millennials, it equally hooks adults with a thirst for sharp, entertaining storytelling. This is your must-watch show of the summer!
American Woman – June 7th (Paramount) 10:00 p.m.
Our little Cher is all grown up. As a single mother in the 1970s, Bonnie Nolan (Alicia Silverstone) finds herself juggling her two kids, and life in general, during the rise of second-wave feminism. Based on the real-life childhood of Kyle Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) this high-styled half-hour comedy/drama hybrid is sure to entertain. James Tupper, Mena Suvari, Cheyenne Jackson and Jennifer Bartels round out the cast now led by John Wells (ER, Shameless) after the original showrunner, John Riggi (30 Rock), departed mid-production. Sounds like lots of drama on screen and off… which is exactly what summer shows are all about!
Yellowstone – June 20th (Paramount) 9:00 p.m.
Kevin Costner stars in this larger than life drama about a modern-day rancher forced to deal with land developers and the creep of modern day society. Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Wind River), Yellowstone also stars Dave Annable, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Gil Birmingham and Jill Hennessey. That’s right, I said Kevin Costner is back on television.
Take Two – June 21st (ABC) 10:00 p.m.
Here’s Terri’s take on another of her new summer favorites: Having loved Rachel Bilson in Hart of Dixie, I was excited to see her return to TV in a funny role. In Take Two, she stars opposite Eddie Cibrian in an action comedy from the creators behind Castle. In fact, the premise is Castle with a few tweaks and a gender flip – Bilson plays a disgraced actress from a cop show who asks to shadow a private investigator in order to facilitate her comeback. Despite the similarities, this show looks to have some great things going for it – more laughs thanks to Bilson’s comedic chops and quirky exuberance and Cibrian’s derring-do and dimples. Take Two may just be your new favorite plucky procedural.
Castle Rock – June 25th (Hulu) Midnight
Set in the notorious small town of Castle Rock, Maine, this epic project from JJ Abrams and the mind of Stephen King attempts to weave the stories and characters of King’s cinematic universe into one of the most anticipated shows of the summer. Like The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock will debut three episodes on June 25th and then release one new episode every week. Here’s a quick look at what to expect, and you’re right narrator guy — I do not have any idea what is going on here. But I love it!
Our contributing writer ShaMya Williams caught up with Castle Rock star Bill Skarsgard last year at NYCC. Check out their interview here!
Making It – July 31st (NBC) 10:00 p.m.
I honestly can’t wait to watch Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman on screen together again. While this doesn’t seem like anything I would expect them to do, it also looks completely awesome. Nick and Amy host a six-episode crafting competition where we’ll meet new contestants each week who will be given two craft challenges, one timed and one themed. The winner will be crowned and there will be glorious prizes and lots of laughs. Bring on the glitter glue!
C.B. Strike – June 1st (Cinemax)
This one is a late entry as the first episode aired last week, but it just hit my radar. C.B. Strike is a Cinemax adaptation of all three Cormoran Strike novels written by Robert Galbraith, also known as J.K. Rowling. Starring Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger, this seven-episode series follows a London detective who takes on cases that are too difficult for the local law enforcement. The series had me at J.K. Rowling.
Jack Ryan – August 31st (Amazon)
This is also a pretty late entry for a summer show but hey, it’s August so it counts. John Krasinski stars in Amazon’s Jack Ryan created by Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) and Graham Roland (Fringe, Lost). Taking over as Tom Clancy’s well-known action character, previously played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Chris Pine, this series follows Krasinski as a CIA Analyst who accepts his first field assignment and ends up trying to overthrow a terrorist network. This looks like a nice way to wrap up the summer season right before we dive back into the fall.
What do you think of our Top Ten and what summer shows are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below!