Summer TV 2015: 40+ Shows to Watch
The Astronaut Wives Club (ABC)
Premieres: Thursday, June 18 at 8/7c
What It's About: "The race for space was fought in heels," ABC claims in promos for this new drama, which focuses on seven astronauts' wives — including JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Once Upon a Time) and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) — in the 1960s.
Awkward (MTV)
Returns: Monday, Aug. 31 at 10/9c
What's Next: The farewell season of MTV's long-running comedy features Matty making a final play for Jenna, the potential return of "Jakara" and all the major events that come with the end of high school (including prom, which Lissa — or, rather, Princess Lissa — is pretty pumped about).
The Bachelorette (ABC)
Airing: Mondays at 8/7c
What's Next: With a fake gay romance and a special appearance by Amy Schumer, this season of The Bachelorette is already off to a wonderfully weird start — and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Beauty and the Beast (The CW)
Returns: Thursday, June 11 at 8/7c
What's Next: Vincent and Catherine's relationship will face new challenges in the supernatural drama's third season as they attempt to co-habitate. (And are those wedding bells we hear in their future?)
Becoming Us (ABC Family)
Premieres: Monday, June 8 at 9/8c
What It's About: From executive producer Ryan Seacrest, this new reality series follows 17-year-old Ben and his girlfriend Danielle, both of whom have fathers in the midst of transitioning into women.
Big Brother (CBS)
Returned: Wednesday, June 24 at 8/7c
What's Next: A new crop of houseguests enters the Big Brother home to compete for the $500,000 grand prize. (Who will win? Not even Big Sister Julie Chen knows the answer!)
Chasing Life (ABC Family)
Returns: Monday, Aug. 17 at 9/8c
What's Next: Newly engaged April attempts to enjoy the perks of her impending nuptials — from shopping for the perfect dress to throwing a wild bachelorette party — in spite of her recent relapse. Her life becomes even more complicated when a mystery arises about her father's death.
Defiance (Syfy)
Premieres: Friday, June 12 at 8/7c
What It's About: Season 3 finds the titular town saying a tragic farewell to two longtime residents and hello to a pair of new threats: the Votanis Collective’s ruthless General Rahm Tak (Oz‘s Lee Tergesen) and the hot-headed, purple-skinned Omec race.
Devious Maids (Lifetime)
Airing: Mondays at 10/9c
What's Next: While the Stappords' mysterious new daughter continues to raise hell in Beverly Hills, Zoila wrestles with her little paternity secret, Rosie finds herself torn between two men and Carmen faces the truth about her new (married) boyfriend.
Extant (CBS)
Returns: Wednesday, July 1 at 10/9c
What's Next: Joined by roguish bounty hunter JD Richter (Supernatural's Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Molly (Halle Berry) searches for her alien offspring in the second season of CBS' sci-fi thriller.
Faking It (MTV)
Returns: Monday, Aug. 31 at 9:30/8:30c
What's Next: As Karma attempts to forgive Amy and Liam for sleeping together, Shane adjusts to dating a famous athlete and Lauren remains delightfully judgmental.
Falling Skies (TNT)
Premieres: Sunday, June 28 at 10/9c
What It's About: With the Espheni’s power core destroyed, the humans are now ready to fight on their terms, even if it means resorting to hand-to-hand combat. As the final season plays out, Tom and the 2nd Mass prepare for an all-out battle to determine the fate of Earth.
The Fosters (ABC Family)
Returns: Monday, June 8 at 8/7c
What's Next: Stef hunts for the driver of the car that hit Maria, Jesus and Ana; Callie befriends a runaway foster teen; Brandon faces unexpected competition in his music program; and Jude struggles with dating Connor publicly.
Graceland (USA Network)
Returns: Thursday, June 25 at 10 pm
What's Next: Things weren't looking too great for Aaron Tveit's possibly less-than-alive Mike Warren at the close of Season 2, and we can't promise they'll improve (much) when Season 3 premieres later this month. That is all.
Hannibal (NBC)
Returns: Thursday, June 4 at 10/9c
What's Next: Hannibal and Bedelia, sporting new identities, are now on the run in Europe, with [Spoiler] hot on their trail. The second half of Season 3 introduces yet another twist — the arrival of a serial killer known as the Great Red Dragon.
The Last Ship (TNT)
Returns: Sunday, June 21 at 9/8c
What's Next: Tom Chandler (Eric Dane) and his shipmates face a whole new fight in Season 2, as their enemies intend to limit the distribution of the cure for the virus as a means to obtain more power.
Major Crimes (TNT)
Returns: Monday, June 8 at 9/8c
What's Next: A double homicide will reunite Detective Sanchez with the team, and Captain Raydor will make a major decision that will affect her son Rusty.
Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Returns: Sunday, July 12 at 10/9c
What's Next: Several new — yet familiar — faces will be stirring things up in Season 3: Josh Charles (The Good Wife) is coming on board as Daniel Logan, a charismatic salesman who takes a special interest in Lizzy Caplan's Virginia, while Maggie Grace (Lost) will appear as Christine Wesh, a new doctor at the clinic.
Mistresses (ABC)
Returns: Thursday, June 18 at 9/8c
What's Next: You'll barely even notice Alyssa Milano's absence in the sudser's third season, given the additions of Jennifer Esposito (Blue Bloods), Rob Mayes (The Client List) and Brian White (Scandal). And fear not, the finale's Joss-Harry cliffhanger won't be brushed aside via a time jump; there will be payoff.
Mr. Robot (USA Network)
Premieres: Wednesday, June 24 at 10/9c
What It's About: A cyber-security engineer by day/vigilante hacker by night (Rami Malek, 24) finds himself at a crossroads when the mysterious leader (Christian Slater) of an underground hacker group recruits him to destroy the very firm he is paid to protect.
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Returns: Friday, June 12
What's Next: Along with the return of Alex (Laura Prepon), the Netflix original series' third season will introduce Pornstache's mom (played by Last Man on Earth's Mary Steenburgen). One person you shouldn't expect to see much of (if any) in Season 3? Jason Biggs' Larry.
Playing House (USA Network)
Premieres: Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 10/9c
What It's About: Childhood best friends Maggie and Emma continue to navigate the adventures of raising Maggie’s baby in the best way they know how — together. (New episodes will be available On Demand a week prior to their cable debut.)
Power (Starz)
Returns: Saturday, June 6 at 9/8c
What’s Next: What’s Next: With his nightclub in jeopardy after Holly’s shooting, Ghost is forced to do the one thing he was trying to avoid: Double down on his drug business to keep everything afloat. Oh, and there’s also the niggling matter of Ghost’s right-hand man, Tommy, discovering that Ghost’s honey, Angie, is an Assistant U.S. Attorney edging closer to the truth about her lover. Plus: Look for Ghost’s wife, Tasha, to keep secretly socking away her husband’s cash — and for newly freed ex-con Kanan to make another stab at dominance in the drug game.
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
Returns: Tuesday, June 2 at 8/7c
What's Next: After escaping from Charles' compound — with or without Mona — the girls are more determined than ever to unmask "A," while simultaneously being pressured to finalize their post-high school plans. This sets the stage for a game-changing time jump halfway through the season.
Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Returns: Sunday July 12 at 9/8c
What's Next: Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) joins the cast as Paige, a businesswoman in need of Ray's particular expertise. To complicate matters further, we'll also meet Paige's father Andrew, played by Ian McShane (Deadwood).
Rectify (Sundance)
Premieres: Thursday, July 9 at 10/9c
What It's About: When the body of a missing person is discovered, the cops once again turns to Daniel for answers. Elsewhere in Season 3, Amantha is given an opportunity that for the first time in a long time has nothing to do with her brother; Tawney and Ted Jr. struggle to see if their marriage has a chance; and the future happiness of Janet and Ted Sr. is put to the test.
Rookie Blue (ABC)
Returns: Thursday, June 25 at 10/9c
What's Next: Let’s start with the exciting, didn't-see-that-coming twist: Nick's mysterious love interest Juliet is a cop, too! Then there's the we-didn't-want-to-see-that-coming twist: Duncan appears to be putting the moves on newly single Chloe. Elsewhere, Andy is struggling with the news that Sam's ex Marlo is pregnant, Dov makes an unexpected friend, Gail is embracing the idea of motherhood with a bucket list, and a drug-free Chris is back (but hardly out of danger).
Scream (MTV)
Premieres: Tuesday, June 30 at 10/9c
What It's About: Inspired by the classic horror film franchise, Scream follows the aftermath of a twisted YouTube video gone viral. (Spoiler alert: that "aftermath" involves lots of deaths in the small town of Lakewood.)
Sense8 (Netflix)
Premieres: Friday, June 5
What It's About: From the minds of Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix trilogy) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5), this 12-episode series follows eight strangers from around the world who suddenly find themselves linked.
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX)
Premieres: Thursday, July 16 at 10/9c
What It's About: Denis Leary (Rescue Me) stars as a washed-up '90s rocker who re-enters the biz, writing songs for a female lead singer (Victorious' Elizabeth Gillies). John Corbett (Sex and the City) also stars.
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Airing: Mondays at 8/7c
What's Next: We already miss Mary Murphy and her Hot Tamale Train, not that we aren’t thrilled to have Paula Abdul on board as a permanent judge.
Stitchers (ABC Family)
Premieres: Tuesday, June 2 at 9/8c
What It's About: A promising college student with a rare neurological disorder is recruited by a top-secret government agency to enter the minds of deceased victims — and, in some cases, deceased criminals — in order to solve classified cases.
The Strain (FX)
Returns: Sunday, July 12 at 10/9c
What's Next: After failing to defeat the Master in Season 1, Dr. Goodweather and his team shift their focus to developing a biological weapon with which to wipe out the show's brand of deadly creatures.
Strike Back (Cinemax)
Premieres: Friday, July 31 at 10/9c
What It's About: In the fourth and final season, the elite operatives of Section 20 are tasked with cracking a missing-persons case in Bangkok – only to discover that a simple kidnapping is actually the first step in a global terrorist plot. New cast members include Michelle Yeoh, Will Yun Lee, Dustin Clare, Max Beesley and Michael McElhatton.
Suits (USA Network)
Premieres: Wednesday, June 24 at 9/8c
What It's About: As Season 5 opens, Harvey has difficulty adjusting to changes around the office, Donna must acclimate to working for Louis, Mike and Rachel debate how and when to share their big news, and an up-and-coming partner makes his presence known to Jessica.
Switched at Birth (ABC Family)
Returns: Monday, Aug. 24 at 8/7c
What’s Next: As Bay continues to recover from her assault and her split from Emmett, Daphne revels in a new relationship. And what’s this about an unexpected pregnancy?!
Teen Wolf (MTV)
Returns: Monday, June 29 at 10/9c
What’s Next: As Scott's friends face senior year — and an uncertain future — an evil force known as "the Doctors" assembles in Beacon Hills. Plus, Pretty Little Liars' Cody Christian joins the cast as a lone wolf with a shady past (and a possible affinity for one of the main characters’ girlfriends).
True Detective (HBO)
Returns: Sunday, June 21 at 9/8c
What's Next: Season 2 of HBO's anthology drama stars Taylor Kitsch (pictured), Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Colin Farrell — all of whom are drawn together by a mysterious crime investigation.
Under the Dome (CBS)
Returns: Thursday, June 25 at 9/8c
What's Next: CSI's Marg Helgenberger joins the cast in Season 3, which promises to answer any lingering fan questions, including the biggie: Why did this dome come down in the first place?!
UnREAL (Lifetime)
Airing: Mondays at 10/9c
What It's About: This twisted new drama follows the producers of a Bachelor-esque reality show, revealing the lengths they'll go to make good TV. (Spoiler alert: No one has any boundaries, and things get crazy really quickly.)
Untitled Caitlyn Jenner Series (E!)
Premieres: Sunday, July 26
What It's About: This offshoot of Keeping Up With the Kardashians will document the new life of Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (Netflix)
Premieres: July 31
What It's About: This eight-episode series serves as a prequel to the 2001 comedy, set at a fictional Jewish summer camp. In addition to newcomers like Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm, First Day of Camp features the film's original cast, including Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper (both pictured).
The Whispers (ABC)
Airing: Mondays at 10/9c
What It's About: An FBI agent (American Horror Story's Lily Rabe) unravels a potential supernatural conspiracy involving violent children and their shared imaginary friend named "Drill." Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Barry Sloane (Revenge) also star.
Zoo (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, June 30 at 9/8c
What It's About: Based on the novel by James Patterson, Zoo focuses on Jackson Oz (Mad Men's James Wolk), a renegade zoologist investigating a mysterious spike in animal attacks on humans.