[IMG:L]Don’t get stuck wasting your summer away like one big, cheesy reality-competition show. Instead, maximize your indoor hours with a week’s worth of the season’s best TV …
Couch Night #1
2009 MTV Movie Awards
(May 31, MTV)
Say what you will about the MTV Movie Awards being past their prime — they may have even peaked in the mid-‘90s — but (a.) it’s still the most exciting movie-awards ceremony not named the Oscars, and (b.) it’s pretty much all we’ve got between March and September (sorry, Tonys and ESPYs). For star watchers, there’s no shortage of A-listers in attendance, and, yes, MTV usually makes good on its promise of a surprise or two. In addition, Andy Samberg is an uncharacteristically fresh and contemporary choice for hosting duties; he’ll be up for anything. Another plus for MTV: Twilight is nominated for the most Golden Popcorn staues, which means this year’s show will increase by approximately one trillion viewers.
KEEP READING: A Changing of the Guard at NBC!
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Couch Night #2
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien Premiere
(June 1, NBC)
If there’s such a thing as a summer blockbuster on the small screen, this is it. Even the most ardent Conan detractors will be forced to watch the new Tonight on June 1 out of sheer curiosity — and although there’s no word yet on who Conan’s opening-night guests will be, you can bet on some huge names. For example, when Jimmy Fallon took over Conan’s Late Night on March 2, his first guests were Robert De Niro, Justin Timberlake and Van Morrison. Two guests who would make sense for Conan’s debut? Will Ferrell, O’Brien’s A-list buddy and frequent visitor who just so happens to have a surefire blockbuster (Land of the Lost) to promote that week, as well as an appearance on TV’s Man vs. Wild (which is a must-watch in its own right); and the White Stripes, one of Conan’s favorite bands and go-to musical guests during his Late Night stint. Conesy will also have a celeb guest on retainer: Andy Richter, his longtime Late Night sidekick/cohort, who was brought on as The Tonight Show’s announcer and occasional sketch player.
KEEP READING: We Didn’t Forget About You, Sports Fans!
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Couch Night #3
NBA Finals or MLB All-Star Game
(June 4 [latest possible start date], ABC; July 14, Fox)
We know, we know: You’re not here to read about sports — hence the decision to give these two events just one spot on our list. But for the relative few who are as enthusiastic about Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart as they are about Kobe and LeBron (or Albert Pujols and A-Rod, for that matter), these two sporting events are justifiable inclusions. First up is the start of the NBA Finals, which, if the basketball gods are compliant, will pit Kobe Bryant’s Lakers against LeBron James’ Cavs in a veritable Goliath vs. Goliath showdown that’ll be the sport’s most-watched championship since, well, last year’s Lakers-Celtics Finals. Slightly less dramatic but still a biggie for any sports fan is the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The pre-gameday festivities (i.e., the Home Run Derby) may be more exciting than the game itself, but there’s too much tradition involved to stop watching now. Plus, with every team guaranteed one representative, even Washington Nationals fans (if that’s not too much of an oxymoron) will have someone to root for.
KEEP READING: Your Last Chance to Miss One of TV’s Best Shows!
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Couch Night #4
Pushing Daisies Finale
(June 13, ABC)
‘Member this gem of a show, once upon a time universally hailed by critics? Uh, yeah — well, say goodbye! After the June 13 series finale (which caps off a pointless three-episode return from a five-month hiatus), Pushing Daisies goes the way of shows like Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks and Andy Richter Controls the Universe: the great-but-unwatched cemetery. Ironically, ABC had enough of playing its own version of a life-reviving piemaker, but at least the network allowed for one last hurrah (before rumors of a Daisies movie begin in earnest). So expect maximum morbidity in this finale — with, of course, the levity of cuteness between Ned (Lee Pace) and Chuck (Anna Friel).
KEEP READING: A Very, Um, Well-Proportioned Night on HBO!
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Couch Night #5
Entourage and Hung Premieres
(June 28, HBO)
Two highly anticipated premieres — as well as the third episode of True Blood’s second season — in one night? That makes June 28 the best pound-for-pound TV night of the summer (apologies to June 8, when Weeds and Nurse Jackie return and debut, respectively, on Showtime). Entourage comes back after a mere seven-month break, and things finally appear to be looking up for Vince (Adrian Grenier) after being hired by Martin Scorsese in last season’s finale. For us, there are (reportedly) guest stars aplenty, including but not limited to LeBron James, Andrew Bynum, Tom Brady, Lil’ Wayne and Aaron Sorkin. And then there’s Hung, HBO’s latest endeavor whose title refers to … ya know. Thomas Jane stars as Ray Drecker, who let’s just say uses the title “quality” to his financial advantage. But the (obligatory multiple double-entendre alert!) prickly premise isn’t Hung’s biggest asset: Oscar-winning writer-director Alexander Payne (Sideways) helmed some of the episodes.
KEEP READING: It’s Been Too Long, Heidi (No, Not That Heidi)!
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Couch Night #6
Project Runway Premiere
(Aug. 15, Lifetime)
There’s summertime (read: disposable) reality TV, and then there’s Project Runway, a pleasure so widespread that it can’t even be considered “guilty” anymore. After a bitter lawsuit that hurt Runway devotees irreparably and cost the series unnecessary time off the air (those poor finalists had to show off their collections at Bryant Park last Feb. anonymously — for shame!), the beloved series finally returns … on a different network: Lifetime. The only other change is that Runway was filmed in Los Angeles instead of New York City for the first time. Speaking of filming, most of season 6 has been in the can for over eight months now, which hurts a bit, sure, but once Heidi Klum announces that first design challenge, viewers will forget all about the delay — and life’s other problems!
KEEP READING: TV’s Best Show Premieres During the Summer?!
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Couch Night #7
Mad Men Premiere
(Aug. TBA, AMC)
This summer, we’ll have to wait a little bit longer than usual for the season’s — nay, the year’s — best show to return. But with Mad Men, much like Lost or Curb Your Enthusiasm, a little extra time will go a loooong way. (However, we expect that you’ll devote bonus couch hours to the season 2 DVDs, out July 14.) Every single detail of the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series (including its premiere date, for chrissake!) is being kept tightly under wraps a la The Sopranos — for which Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner was a writer — but it’s relatively safe to expect some sort of continuity with last season’s cliffhanger finale involving the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Don Draper (Jon Hamm) crisis and the Sterling Cooper crisis. Know what else is relatively safe to expect? More awards!
More:
2009 SUMMER TV PREVIEW
10 New Shows You Can’t Miss | What’s Next on Your 10 Favorite Returning Shows
Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien: The Ultimate Wish List
