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Shows To Make Your TV Sizzle

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 30, 2008

TAMPA - TAMPA - The best new summer series debuts tonight when Mary McCormack stars as a tough, sexy and sarcastic U.S. marshal in the USA network's "In Plain Sight."

Tell Kyra Sedgwick, Holly Hunter and Mary-Louise Parker to move over. Those fabulous ladies of summer are getting some company.

McCormack, 39, who has had a lot of guest roles from "The West Wing" to "Murder One," finally gets to shine as the harried Mary Shannon, a wisecracking federal agent who helps relocate people in the witness protection program.

More viewers may be familiar with one of McCormack's co-stars, Cristián de la Fuente, who became a favorite on "Dancing With the Stars" this season. He plays Mary's Latino lover.

Like the other middle-aged heroines of cable dramas, Mary Shannon is a complex woman juggling a dangerous job with a troubled personal life.

"In Plain Sight" debuts at 10, and it's one of more than 45 new and returning series coming our way this summer.

Sedgwick's quirky cop on "The Closer" and Hunter's gritty cop on "Saving Grace" will be back in action on TNT on July 14. While Mary-Louise Parker's pot-peddling homemaker returns to Showtime for a fourth season of "Weeds" on June 16.

It's going to be a full summer with more series than we can list here. So I've made a few picks. For some extra picks, go to TBO.com, keyword: Walt TV.

New Dramas

"The Middleman" is a cute and clever sci-fi comedy about a 22-year-old art school grad (Natale Morales) recruited to be a mutant hunter by a mysterious, square-jawed and somewhat obtuse dude who calls himself "The Middleman" (Matt Keeslar). It's like a junior version of "Men in Black." It debuts June 18 on ABC Family.

"Swingtown" is a summer soap set in the '70s, when the sexual revolution was in full swing. Jack Davenport and Molly Parker play a couple who move to the Chicago suburbs, where bed-hopping is the favorite sport of the pot-smoking, disco-dancing, sex-crazed hipsters in their miniskirts, bell-bottoms and polyester leisure suits. It debuts Thursday on CBS.

"Fear Itself" is a collection of 13 different horror stories. It recalls such series as "Tales From the Crypt" and "Night Gallery." Different actors and directors are featured on each chilling episode. It debuts Thursday on NBC.

"Charlie Jade" is a Canadian import starring Jeffrey Pierce as a rogue detective who travels across three different parallel universes — from a pristine world to one that looks like it belongs in "Blade Runner." It debuts Friday on the Sci Fi Network.

"Secret Diary of a Call Girl" is a British import starring Billie Piper ("Doctor Who") as a secretary who moonlights as an escort. It debuts June 16 on Showtime.

"The Secret Life of the American Teenager" stars Shailene Woodley and Molly Ringwald in a family drama about a girl whose life changes when she becomes pregnant. It's from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton and debuts July 1 on ABC Family.

Coming Back

One of the most-anticipated returning series, "Mad Men," is coming back July 27 on AMC.

Many critics considered this brilliant character study of Madison Avenue advertising executives one of the best dramas of 2007. It's a dark look back at the 1960s.

The following scripted series have return dates:

"Ice Road Truckers," Sunday on History

"Law & Oder: Criminal Intent, June 8 on USA

"Army Wives," June 8 on Lifetime

"My Boys" and "The Bill Engvall Show," June 12 on TBS

"Burn Notice," July 10 on USA

"Stargate: Atlantis," July 11 on Sci-Fi Channel

"Monk" and "Psych," July 18 on USA

"Eureka," July 29 on Sci-Fi Channel

Reality Reins

"Million Dollar Password" is an update of a classic game show with Regis Philbin as host and celebrities such as Rosie O'Donnell, Rachael Ray, Betty White and Neil Patrick Harris. It debuts at 8 tonight on CBS.

"The Mole" returns after a long absence. A dozen contestants are competing in a series of challenges, but one of them is a saboteur. It debuts Monday on ABC.

"Nashville Star" moves over from USA to NBC. This country version of "American Idol" adds Billy Ray Cyrus as a host. It debuts June 9.

"Celebrity Circus" is an update of "Circus of the Stars," but this time there are judges and viewers vote on the acts. It debuts June 11 on NBC.

"Wipeout" has contestants trying to complete elaborate obstacle courses for a $50,000 prize. It debuts June 24 on ABC.

"I Survived a Japanese Game Show" throws 10 Americans into those wild and wacky Japanese endurance competitions. It debuts June 24 on ABC.

"America's Got Talent" returns with Jerry Springer as host and judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne. It debuts June 24 on NBC.

"The Baby Borrowers" is based on a British show where teenagers are taught a lesson the hard way. They get to play at being parents, caring for real infants, toddlers, preteens and even elderly folks. It debuts June 25 on NBC.

"Greatest American Dog" is a talent hunt for the best dog in the country. It debuts July 10 on CBS.

"High School Musical: Get in the Picture" follows a group of aspiring actors, singers and dancers at a summer camp modeled after the hit Disney Channel movie. It debuts July 20 on ABC.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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