The school year was a blur of studying, partying and sneaking in a few episodes of Gossip Girl whenever you could. Now that it’s mid summer, you’re ready to chill and spend some quality time in front of the tube—but all your favorite shows are on break! With so much out there, how are you supposed to know which shows will make you as happy as Glee once did? Never fear—we’ve assembled a list of current and upcoming shows you’re sure to like, based on what you already love.
If you love… Glee
Then you should be watching… Drop Dead Diva
See it: Sundays at 9/8c on Lifetime
There’s no substitute for Glee’s fantastic song and dance routines, but Drop Dead Diva is a great way to get your summer fix of underdogs and happy endings. The show follows Deb, an aspiring model who died in a car accident and came back in the body of a brilliant plus-size lawyer. She has to learn to get by on her brains instead of her looks, and it’s no picnic for a girl who used to get free drinks just by showing up at a bar. Diva can get a little formulaic, but it’s the sense of joy and empowerment that will keep you coming back to this Lifetime favorite.
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If you love… The Bachelorette
Then you should be watching… Love in the Wild
See it: Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC
Need more than just The Bacheloretteto satisfy your craving for travel, dating and drama? Look no further than Love in the Wild, a show that gives you all that and more. Here, men and women are paired up to perform insane challenges in the jungles of Costa Rica. After each challenge, the couple gets to go on a romantic date and decide whether or not they wish to stay together for the next challenge. According to the show’s website, “Sparks will fly and hearts will break.” We’re already sold!
If you love… Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl
Then you should be watching… The Lying Game
See it: Mondays at 9/8c on ABC Family, starting August 15
Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl have a few things in common—beautiful people in bad situations, being watched by a nameless person who knows all of their secrets. ABC Family knows how addictive these shows can be, and they’re bringing us another show based on the work of Pretty Little Liars author Sara Shepard. The Lying Game tells the story of Emma, a foster child who learns she has an identical twin sister who was adopted by a wealthy family. Emma and her sister Sutton decide to try the usual twin trick of switching places, but then Sutton disappears… and Emma is left with a mystery.
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If you love… True Blood
Then you should be watching… Alphas
See it: Mondays at 8/7c on Syfy
Alphas gives you the humans-in-extraordinary-situations element of True Blood, a collegiette™ favorite! The show follows five people with superhuman mental and physical abilities, brought together to form the incredible Alpha team. They solve crimes that were perpetrated by others with Alpha-like abilities, meaning that regular crime-fighting teams can’t solve them. Like True Blood, Alphasis smart and has great characters, a winning combination.
If you love… Modern Family
Then you should be watching… Curb Your Enthusiasm
See it: Sundays at 10 on HBO
Modern Family accomplishes something pretty incredible: It’s an absurd comedy with human characters that you can actually relate to. Curb Your Enthusiasm was doing the same thing 10 years ago, and is still going strong today. The classic that made Modern Family possible is back with new episodes after a two-year break. The mockumentary-style show follows the day-to-day mishaps and social gaffes of comedy writer Larry David, played by himself, much as Modern Family follows the day-to-day problems of an upper-middle-class family in today’s world. Plus, Larry David wrote Seinfeld, so if you can’t get enough of Jerry’s puffy shirt you’ll be glued to your TV.
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If you love… Franklin and Bash
Then you should be watching… Suits
See it: Thursdays at 10/9c on USA
Like the hilarious Franklin and Bash, Suits features a dynamic duo of lawyers who solve crimes together using good looks, charm and minimal knowledge of the law. The main character, Mike, doesn’t even have a law degree, but he’s a genius and has a photographic memory, so there you go. He teams up with Harvey, a famously great lawyer, and the two have marvelous chemistry. For more of the not-so-realistic law drama and quick banter that you love on Franklin and Bash, this is your go-to show.
If you love… American Idol or Dancing With the Stars
Then you should be watching… The Glee Project
See it: Sundays at 9/8c on Oxygen
What could be better than a combination of two great collegiette™ loves: Glee and reality television? The Glee Project, in which young people compete to earn a role on Glee, will fill the void American Idol left behind with inspirational performances and heartbreaking eliminations galore. Each week the contestants receive homework assignments, create music videos and even perform in front of Glee creator Ryan Murphy. For hardcore Gleefans, contestants practice in a room identical to the show’s Glee Club classroom, and even got “slushied” one week as part of their preparation!
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If you love… Jersey Shore
Then you should be watching… The Bachelor Pad 2
See it: Mondays at 8/7c on ABC, starting August 8
Yes, this counts for Bachelorette fans as well, but we teamed it with Jersey Shore because these two shows have the most in common: really outrageous, kinda-sorta-incredibly obnoxious people that are together only for your entertainment. Yes, there is still dating and a possibility of “lasting love” in The Bachelor Pad 2, but let’s be honest—we’re just in it for the drama and hilarity that we know will ensue when you take all the craziest, most desperate Bachelors and Bachelorettes and force them (read: bribe them with money and 15 minutes of fame) to live together. Let the fun begin!
Sources:
Show Websites
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/11/entertainment/la-et-alphas-20110711
http://www.tvguide.com/special/summer-tv/
http://www.allyourtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=66
The HC Team
Images:
http://imthinkingaboutsomething.blogspot.com/2010/08/drop-dead-diva-s02e05-senti-mental.html
http://sharetv.org/shows/love_in_the_wild
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8428069-the-lying-game
http://scifipulse.net/?p=50015
http://dctobc.com/2009/10/curb-your-enthusiasm-season-7-episode-5-hd-quality-streaming/
http://www.poptower.com/suits-usa-tv-show.htm
http://smallscreenscoop.com/the-bachelor-pad-season-2-cast/314000/
http://thegleeproject.oxygen.com/gleeproj/photos/the-glee-project-ep6-tenacity#fbid=TL83SHoELKz?20