Summer TV Shows on my To-Watch List

I used to be the girl who had at least one TV show that I looked forward to every night. After having my son and moving into this writing gig, I've found I have less and less chance to watch TV. It also doesn't help that we have phones and Ipads at the ready. That seems to have eaten up the time I used to reserve for TV. And, of course, I also love to read, and the only reading time I get is in the evenings. BUT, I find that I miss having go-to TV shows. TV is it's own form or relaxation and believe it or not, it helps with my writing because, ultimately, TV is made of stories. 

So with the summer season shows about to start, I decided to do some research and pick out some shows I wanted to watch or try. 

First, a few favorites that I'm already committed to:

Big Brother (June 22 on CBS) - If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know I'm a Big Brother fan. It's a long-standing part of our summers. A tradition at this point. And for the most part, it doesn't get R-rated so we can watch it with kidlet around, which helps a lot. 

Wayward Pines (May 25 on Fox) - We watched Season 1 and it was a really well done show. I'm not going to say too much about it because I don't want to spoil it if you haven't seen it. But if you're new to it, watch season 1 before jumping into Season 2. I love twisty shows where you aren't quite sure what's really going on and you keep guessing wrong. (This show is based on a book by Blake Crouch, so you can catch up with the story that way, too.)

Some news ones I want to try:

Preacher (Premieres on AMC May 22) - This one is based on a comic book and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, so I'm expecting dark with some comedy thrown in. The previews don't tell you quite what's going on, so I'm hoping that means good twists.

Stranger Things (July 15 on Netflix) - This one has me intrigued because (a) it's set in the 1980s and (b) has Winona Ryder in it. The premise is that her son disappears but there are supernatural forces involved.

Roadies (June 26th on Showtime) - This one really tempts me (and may make me get Showtime). I love rock music, and going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do. This one has some big names behind it, too. Here's the trailer:

Feed the Beast (June 5th AMC) - This one is about two guys opening a restaurant but looks like organized crime is involved. Honestly, it has cooking and David Schwimmer in it, which is enough to get me to take a look at it. :) Here's the trailer:

Vice Principals (July 17th on HBO) - Look, a comedy! I know I haven't listed any of those yet. This one is about two Vice Principals competing for a position. And it's on HBO, so you know it's going to be irreverent.

American Gothic (June 22 on CBS) - This one is billed as a 13-part murder mystery. I like shows that have a guaranteed wrapped up ending, so knowing it has a certain number of episodes entices me.

I probably need a few more comedies mixed in, but I haven't seen as many of those previewed. There are a few that I've missed season one and may go back and try: Unreal on Lifetime, Casual on Hulu, and Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll on FX. We shall see.

So what are you looking forward to watching this summer?

Shameless Saturday: Big Brother

 Welcome to the new weekly feature here on the ol' blog: Shameless Saturday!

So what is it? Well, Shameless Saturday is going to be a place where I (and eventually some guests) share our favorite guilty pleasures. Everything is fair game--TV shows, movies, food, activities. And there will be no judgement here, no raised eyebrows. Life is too short to be ashamed of the things that give us that delicious feeling that only guilty pleasures can bring.

First up on the block (tee-hee, I'm being punny for those of you who watch the show), is...

Big Brother on CBS

Okay, for any of you who don't know what it is, it's a reality show where they lock a certain number of people in a house and cut them off from the outside world for the summer and tape them 24/7. The people in the house compete against each other in competitions with the goal of the being the last one standing at the end of the show and winning half a million dollars. Think: The Real World meets Survivor.

It sounds simple, right? What could be all that entertaining? But somehow, no matter how many seasons they have, I still can't stop watching. They always introduce new twists and turns that keep me tuning in. Plus, it's the ultimate social game, which just intrigues the hell out of me because I'm a people watcher by nature. I love seeing how people align and strategize. 

And this season has already hooked me episode one because they've brought back couples from previous seasons.

There are annoying people, hyped up drama, lots of yelling and crying, inappropriate relationships, evil scheming. It's an all-around guilty-pleasure good time. And I promise, you can't watch it for two weeks without getting hooked. Next episode is on Sunday. Be sure to tune in so you can be shameless with me! :)

So are you a Big Brother fan? How do you feel about the couples that have come back into the house? How do you feel about them making them play in pairs this season? And if you don't watch, what's your favorite reality TV guilty pleasure?