Schedule your summer with a promising TV lineup

The summer sun should be keeping everybody outdoors, but in case the rain strikes, as it often… The summer sun should be keeping everybody outdoors, but in case the rain strikes, as it often does, or a bad day keeps those grumpy folks glued to the couch, don’t fear! There are television shows that are worth watching this summer.

Sunday night always brings a hint of sadness for weary weekday workers. “The Dead Zone” on USA at 10 p.m., however, can make Sunday nights seem less dreadful.

Anthony Michael Hall, the poster boy of geeks everywhere in the ’80s, now stars as Johnny Smith, the show’s coma victim turned psychic. The USA series, based on a Steven King novel of the same name, gives Hall the opportunity to show off his true acting chops. He has fine-tuned his character as two parts dramatic and one part comedic; both are absolutely real. The show is entertaining and suspenseful, drawing us in with interesting characters and a strong storyline.

Fans of “CSI: Miami” may have missed out on one of the best new shows this year. Luckily for them, the summer is the perfect time to catch up on the shows that interfere with other favorites. NBC’s Monday night hit “Medium” may share the 10 p.m. spot with “Miami,” but it’s held its own.

Patricia Arquette seems to have resurrected her career and jumpstarted the supernatural trend once again with this series inspired by real-life psychic Allison DuBois. Arquette plays DuBois, the psychic who uses her gift to help solve difficult crimes. It’s all in a day’s work for DuBois, who shows that the most important things in her life are her husband and her three children. Her dynamic with them makes the show more uplifting than a great deal of the other shows on television.

Tuesday leaves something to be desired, but sometimes a repeat of a beloved series can be like a special treasure on a very boring night. “Gilmore Girls” on the WB at 8 p.m. is certainly one of those special treasures. From its beginning, “Gilmore Girls” has shown a style all it’s own with pop culture references that come a mile a minute. Lauren Graham is the show’s shining star as Lorelai Gilmore, the mom every girl wishes she had. The character’s dynamic with her daughter Rory makes for enchanting entertainment that keeps critics raving.

People claim that “Sex and the City” just isn’t the same on TBS. That may be true, but there’s not a single show that can perfectly grasp the female experience quite like “Sex and the City.” Sure they are New York City singles, but their stories aren’t much different from the rest of us. Heartbreak, bad date experiences and friendship still keep people watching at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, even if it is sans nudity.

There’s only one thing that people should be watching on Wednesday nights: the brand-new Fox show “The Inside.” With new episodes every week at 9 p.m., “The Inside” is absolutely addictive. People will love it, if they only give it a chance. Ignore “King of Queens,” and don’t think about the fact that “Alias” will be rivaling it in the fall. It’s shocking and utterly engrossing to watch. The crimes on this show have “Law and Order” and “CSI” beat, and the characters have more spirit than nearly all the primetime shows combined. There’s not a single thing that could be said against it. That’s reason enough to give it a try.

The episode about the East Area Rapist, also know as the Original Night Stalker, is reason No. 1 why nobody should ever watch A’E’s “Cold Case Files” alone. Don’t use this warning to spurn the show, however. “Cold Case Files” is an interesting way to learn about the real process used in catching a criminal, and there’s no night better than Thursday to give “Cold Case Files” a shot. The straightforward series is educational and entertaining, a hard combination to come by.

“Dateline” is too depressing to actually watch, but if you’re spending Friday night in front of the television instead of on the town, don’t get too depressed. CBS at 10 p.m. has one of the best shows on TV, “Numb3rs.”

“Numb3rs” gets overlooked, tucked into the Friday night nook. David Krumholtz and Rob Morrow star as brothers Charlie and Don Eppes, one is a math genius and the other an FBI agent. The two work together, using Charlie’s mathematical equations, to solve the crimes. All of the actors show exceptional talent in this series. The cast even includes well-known actors Judd Hirsch and Peter MacNicol.

Once Saturday night hits, get out of the house for goodness sakes! Too much television can turn anyone’s brain to mush. Plus, everybody knows there’s nothing but junk on Saturday nights, anyway. The lucky people can take Saturday to curl up with their special someones while the singletons can catch up with their friends. Either way, don’t be afraid to do something different. Even the biggest television junkies can’t watch TV every night.