The dog days of summer

Hey everybody. Long time, no post. Summer's a pretty stagnant time for Lost news: Damon & Carlton have their annual chat at Comic-Con coming up, but that's not for another two weeks, and it's been almost two months since the finale aired. But then again, it's also kind of fun to shoot the breeze about Lost these days, because you know only the real devotees are reading.

On that account I've failed, since I haven't posted in -- wow -- a week and a half. Originally my excuse was going to be that I was at a water park with some family (in case anybody forgot, water rides are awesome), but that was over Independence Day weekend, and since then it's been a case of procrastination.

So what shall I blog about? With actual Lost scoops, as Nadine reminds us, at a premium, how about I direct you to three summer shows that might help you pass the time?

BURN NOTICE
Thursdays@10, USA

The Gist: Expert spy Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) gets "burned" -- i.e. shut out of the C.I.A., with all assets frozen -- for mysterious reasons and winds up in Miami solving cases on his own alongside a hot girl (Gabrielle Anwar) and an old friend (Bruce Campbell). The second season just started.
Compared to Lost it sucks, but... It's the very definition of summer escapist entertainment. Everybody's good-looking, there's a lot of action, and Bruce Campbell, well, I'm pretty sure he's a genius. The character of Weston's mom is a pretty major buzzkill, though.

MAD MEN
Sundays@10 (starting July 27), AMC

The Gist: Ad-exec Don Draper (Jon Hamm in a major breakout role) works at the Sterling Cooper agency in New York City in the early 1960s, a period before all the hippies, when everyone smoked and drank at work and sexism was rampant.
Compared to Lost it sucks, but... Every critic in the world bows at its feet. The period details are impeccable, the performances are terrific, and it blends subtle comedy and drama together in much the same way The Sopranos did. (Like Burn Notice, this summer marks its second season.)

WEEDS
Mondays@10, Showtime

The Gist: Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) is a suburban mother and widow who makes a living selling pot. Except, at the end of Season 3, her entire neighborhood burned down, so now she's relocated her family to the beach town of Ren Mar on the San Diego/Mexico border.
Compared to Lost it sucks, but... Actually, I haven't watched the current fourth season, so I can't say. The problem is, Romany Malco -- who played Nancy's business partner and brief love interest Conrad -- isn't on the show anymore, and he was a terrific character. I recommend buying Season 2 on DVD, which has a pretty brilliant arc (featuring Martin Donovan as D.E.A. agent Peter Scottson); just be warned that you'll be hooked after that.

I hope those three recommendations help you make it through. To that list, I was going to add Degrassi: The Next Generation to the list -- new episodes are currently airing on The N -- but it would be super-embarrassing to admit I watch a Canadian teen soap opera. (Whoops.)

TAGS: Burn Notice, Mad Men, Summer, Weeds
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