Home » Film & TV » American Television » Summer Isn't All Reruns But It Sure Seems Like It

Summer Isn't All Reruns But It Sure Seems Like It

© F. Colin Kingston

The great thing about the summer rerun season is that it offers viewers a chance to catch episodes of their favorite shows that they may have missed during the season. It also offers viewers a chance to sample standout episodes of other series they didn't get a chance to watch during their original airing.

In years gone past, summer also meant the "summer replacement series." The major networks used to give shows a six or eight week tryout in the summer. If the ratings merited it, the show would return in the fall. Shows such as THE SONNY AND CHER COMEDY HOUR got their start this way. With few exceptions such as SURVIVOR and BIG BROTHER, most new summer programming can now be found exclusively on the various cable networks.

Here is a listing of notable reruns and new programming that are worth watching this week. If you have suggestions for future listings, send me an e-mail at F_Colin_Kingston@suite101.com. I'll pass along your recommendations to our readers. Enjoy.

Sunday, August 6th

E! THE TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY, E!, 9:00 - 10:00 p.m., PST The Entertainment network focuses on profiling the cast of varoius television series all month long. Tonight they profile the trials and tribulations of the cast members from the ABC classic series EIGHT IS ENOUGH.

I LOVE LUCH MARATHON, Nick-at-Nite, 9:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m., PST Nick-at-Nite is featuring a nine hour marathon of classic episodes from I LOVE LUCY. The marathon is to commemorate the birhdate of Lucille Ball. The episodes were chosen by fans who voted on the Nick-at-Nite web site. Included is my favorite episode in which Lucy does a television commerical for "vitameatavegi-mix."

Monday, August 7th

BRAVO SALUTES GENE HACKMAN, Bravo Cable Channel, 7 - 8 p.m., PST The series profiles Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman. Included are interviews with Clint Eastwood and Roy Schieder.

WEST WING, NBC, 10 - 11 p.m., PST NBC repeats the pilot episode of WEST WING starring Martin Sheen as President Josiah "Jeb" Bartlet. WEST WING tied with HBO's THE SOPRANOS for the most Emmy nominations of any television series for 1999.

Tuesday, August 8th

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, WB, 8 - 9 p.m., PST This repeat finds Buffy and friends heading off to college.

HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, Court TV, 9 - 10 p.m., PST Lily Tomlin (LAUGH-IN) guests as a woman suspected of killing her husband.

Wednesday, August 9th

E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY, E!, 9 - 10 p.m., PST The series profiles the cast of NBC's THE FACTS OF LIFE (NBC, 1979 - 1988.)

The copyright of the article Summer Isn't All Reruns But It Sure Seems Like It in American Television is owned by . Permission to republish Summer Isn't All Reruns But It Sure Seems Like It in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.