By Jordyn Turney, 21, reporting from San Diego, CA, on the best shows for sitting out the heatwave
If there's one thing summer definitely doesn't lack it’s guilty-pleasure television -- silly, stupid, vapid shows that come in to replace all the good fall series. But I don't believe in guilty pleasures. If a show is good or entertaining,awesome. And I'm not going to feel guilty about watching it. Even if it is built around the idea of laughing at people when they fall.
In fact, one of my favorite summertime shows is just that -- Wipeout, ABC’s reality game show, where contestants run various obstacle courses in the effort to win a bunch of money. The show's whole point is the comedy of watching people wipeout again and again. Not exactly highbrow, but definitely entertaining.
Also entertaining? Bert the Conquerer, on the Travel Channel, about a man on a mission to tackle the craziest rides and most insane local competitions. Every week Bert travels somewhere new to ride, say, the biggest roller coaster in Texas and compete in the Tough Mudder. Which, by the way, has a fire maze. While I'm completely coaster-phobic and would never consider doing these things myself, watching Bert tackle them, with childlike enthusiasm, makes for great, totally not-guilty television.
However, reality shows aren't the only TV delights of summer. There are also some excellent series, like the new ABC Family drama Switched at Birth. Not only is the premise (as laid out by the title) absolutely fascinating, but the addition of deaf characters and portrayal of deaf culture makes itreally interesting. This show has surprised me with how good it is. I was not expecting this level of goodness.
One last show that I'm loving in the air-conditioning is TNT’s Leverage. I have a fellow RED author Rebecca Murray to thank for forcing me to watch it, about a team of modern-day Robin Hoods who steal from the rich and give to the poor. Featuring a semi-sane thief, a criminal mastermind, and a computer hacker whose arrogant nerd personality is hilariously great. The plots are ridiculous, but the characters are incredible—and it's overwhelmingly fun. Isn't that the point of summer television?