My Summer Projects...And What Looks Good for Fall So Far

Now that the dust has settled on the fallout of Upfronts this week, we know what's in and out (Yay, Dollhouse! Really, Scrubs again?). On that tip, I'd like to tout the big clip that caught my eye this week out of this fall's teasers. Just when I thought I'd have to ache over the loss of my beloved Juliet on Lost, Elizabeth Mitchell goes and shows up in the ABC remake of V, a show that scared the crap out of me as a kid, but now a must-see for me based on this:



I kinda like the fact that Mitchell has to go from the company of one former Party of Fiver to another, though I was always more of a Charlie fan than Bailey.

Also, this week kicks off what my friends and I have dubbed our "Summer Projects." With the DVR cleaned out, it's time for me to tackle those shows I missed out on the first time around. Summer projects have lead to some of my best discoveries, including Veronica Mars, Battlestar Galactica and Arrested Development. And now I can honestly say these gems rank among my faves of all time. I credit that to the fact that these were friend suggestions, whose opinions I trust for the most part. That usually means I'm guaranteed not to waste my time trying out a show I will ultimately not be into. It's like someone hand-feeding me the cream of the crop!

And so, based on those factors, this summer my projects will include:

The Wire: I know, I know, what the hell am I waiting for, right? I can't tell you how many people, from my colleagues to my dog-walker (seriously), have lambasted me for not being on board already with this HBO drama. It's especially shocking because I love almost all HBO dramas. But I'm biting the bullet officially this time! Soon I too will know the ins and outs of the Baltimore drug scene as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement. I'm on it!

Skins: Before Slumdog Millionnaire, there was Anwar and my friends were all over this British drama about high school life at fictional Roundview Sixth Form College way before Dev Patel ever uttered his final answer in his breakout film. I was able to catch one arc one weekend and immediately felt it necessary to add it to the Netflix queue.

The West Wing: Another "What?! You've never watched?!" show amongst my friends, I'm told Aaron Sorkin's political drama is more relevant than ever now! The truth is that I've been a bit hesitant to tackle this series simply because there seems to be like 20 seasons, and everyone admits that the show takes a downhill turn somewhere around the 12th. I kid, but really, that's A LOT of West Wing to get sucked into. Still, as a fan of Sorkin's previous work, I figure there's no time like the present to delve into President Bartlett's term (hey, just 'cause I never watched doesn't mean I was ever really out of the loop!).

Supernatural: This comes at the tail end of my projects because, let's be honest, I'm getting kind of ambitious with what I think I will have time for. I mean, TV is on vacation, but the Summer Blockbuster season is in full swing after all! Still, this show has everything I'd want out of it. The title alone should have hooked me from it's first run, but alas, I believe I just had too much on my plate at the time. That's not to say I haven't watched a handful of eps featuring those Supernatual hunters known as the Winchester brothers and I enjoyed every one (plus, those boys are awfully pretty). So it only makes sense that I really tackle it from the beginning. In the end, I'm sure I'm only hurting myself for not watching. Right?

And that is that, my friends. Again, with all the blockbusters in theaters and the unofficial summer TV season that kicks off with True Blood (June 14th!) and wrapping up with Mad Men in August, it's a lot. Still, marking them here keeps them within my sight. Wish me luck!