by Moe Zilla

Created on: January 26, 2008

Why wait for the TV networks to premier their new shows in the fall? HBO and the other cable networks are releasing new shows and new episodes during the summer.

This summer, new episodes of "Monk" will appear on the USA Network, as well as my favorite detective show, "Burn Notice," about a disgraced CIA agent working as a private investigator. But for a really fun detective show, try "Psych," about a detective so clever people mistake him for a psychic. It was the highest-rated new show when it premiered in 2006, and this summer it's heading into its third season!

In addition, TNT will broadcast the second season of "Saving Grace," the second-most popular cable show in television history. (Academy Award winner Holly Hunter plays a hard-drinking police detective who contends with a hard-boiled angel.) And another gritty police drama - "The Closer" - launches its fourth season in June. It's already earned Kyra Sedgwick an Emmy, and last season's finale brought in the highest ratings ever for an advertising-supported network. (Why settle for reruns of "Law and Order"?)

It looks like the networks are fighting hard to keep up. CBS has promised viewers a hysterical show called "Jingles," in which the promotional songs for real products are written by contestants! Since Hollywood's writers are on strike, they're having to rely on some clever reality programming. They've even brought back Gordon Ramsey for another summer season of "Hell's Kitchen!"

But ultimately the biggest treat in the summer season may be shows that didn't run in the fall season. For example, NBC still has 17 episodes of "The Office" waiting to broadcast, so it's possible the season finale could come sometime in June! And I still haven't given up hope that this summer might finally see the launch of the six-episode Heroes spin-off, "Heroes: Origins" (even though its status is officially "on hold.)

The writer's strike interrupted the schedule of lots of shows, both in the fall season and in the summer season. But that should ultimately make the summer season of 2008 into one of the most interesting seasons of all!

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