What To Watch In July: A Nice Girls Guide

The year-round television season has arrived! The broadcast and cable networks are introducing a slew of new shows in July, in addition to returning shows. Here’s a Nice Girls cheat sheet on what’s coming up this month.

Warehouse 13

Warehouse 13 returns on Syfy

Returning for its second season on Tuesday, July 6th, Warehouse 13 throws viewers right back into the zany world of Agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly). We will find out the fate of their mentor Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek) and new Warehouse recruit Claudia Donovan (Allison Scagliotti).

When first tasked with protecting the mysterious warehouse filled with oddities and curios that each had quasi-magical abilities that if unleashed on the world at large could wreak untold levels of destruction, Pete and Myka were reluctant to join this shadow organization. But as their first season adventures unfolded, they grew to embrace the world of weird and accept that this was their destined fates. For only the most inventive, stalwart and trustworthy of agents could handle this seemingly impossible assignment.

At the end of the first season, a mastermind villain arose, James MacPherson (Roger Rees), a former Warehouse agent gone rogue for his own nefarious purposes. As MacPherson’s diabolical plan was revealed, Artie was caught in a trap and appeared to have been blown to bits as he tried to escape. However, in the magical world of Warehouse artifacts, it is highly unlikely that Artie was not prepared for every contingency. Additionally, our heroes Pete and Myka were trapped in the Warehouse which MacPherson had rigged to explode and Claudia had runaway after being falsely accused of conspiring with MacPherson.

So as we re-enter the bizarre and fascinating world of the Warehouse and the artifacts that it contains, this season is sure to further reveal adventures of our intrepid heroes as they simultaneously protect the Warehouse and track down wayward artifacts still causing havoc in the world — and we shall finally learn the fates of our beloved heroes Artie, Myka, Pete and Claudia.

Warehouse 13 airs Tuesday nights at 9/8c on Syfy starting July 6, 2010.

Eureka

Returning for its fourth season, Eureka will re-introduce fans to the town of Eureka and its incredibly gifted inhabitants. Sheriff Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) will undoubtedly be called upon to rescue them all when yet another scientific experiment goes awry and catapults them into either a doomsday scenario or another alternate time reality. But with a little luck, perhaps it will be just another normal day in Eureka with a killer robot drone or gravity holes.

When we last saw Jack, he was facing the dual loss of his daughter Zoe (Jordan Hinson) who had been just accepted to Harvard and his girlfriend Tess (Jaime Ray Newman) who had been offered her dream job in Australia. At the same time, for Eureka’s other notorious inhabitants their lives too were in the midst of personal transition: Dr. Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) had just had a baby girl, Jo (Erica Cerra) and Zane (Niall Matter) were on the edge of domestic bliss, Fargo (Neil Grayston) got a girlfriend, and Henry (Joe Morton) had finally accepted that his soul-mate Kim was gone.

But, if any of them believe that their lives are going to settle down any time soon, they are in for a big shock. Eureka may look like your average idyllic small town, but underneath, the town always has something new, mysterious and incredible just waiting to happen.

As this season unfolds, a new character will be introduced, one familiar to Battlestar Galatica fans – James Callis will play Dr. Trevor Grant who aids our heroes in the first episode with over-coming a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: conquering time itself.

Be sure to tune in to watch Eureka on Friday nights at 9/8c on Syfy starting July 9, 2010.

Haven

Emily Rose stars in the new Syfy series Haven

This new one-hour drama from Syfy is based on the novella “The Colorado Kid” by well-known author Stephen King and stars Emily Rose (Jericho and Brothers & Sisters) as shrewd and confident FBI agent Audrey Parker. She arrives in Haven, Maine to solve the murder of a local ex-con, but her natural curiosity lands her an unexpected place: the epicenter of a strange enclave, which turns out to be a refuge for people who have supernatural afflictions. These special people have migrated to this small town over the generations because it mutes their abilities, allowing them to lead normal live. That is until recently. As their abilities begin to manifest, Audrey attempts to help keep them at bay while discovering the many secrets of the town, including one that may include her since she has a mysterious lost past.

The series co-stars Eric Balfour (24) as Duke and Lucas Bryant (Queer As Folk) as Nathan Wuornos. Haven premieres on Syfy on July 9 at 10/9c.

The Glades

The new A&E drama The Glades follows former Chicago homicide detective Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore), who gets shot by his captain after being wrongfully accused of sleeping with his wife. He is then exiled from the department, relocating to the sleepy, middle of nowhere town of Palm Glade, Florida. The town is outside the Florida Everglades and isn’t quite as idyllic as he thought, as he finds people keep turning up murdered.

Longworth’s transition to his new surroundings is more difficult than expected, but he tries to enjoy his time on the golf course and getting a date with medical student Callie (Kiele Sanchez), who has a husband in prison.

The cast includes Carlos Sanchez, who plays Jim’s friend who is a forensic medical examiner who works the crime lab, Michelle Hurd, who plays the Regional Director for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida’s state police, Uriah Shelton, who is Callie’s 12-year-old son and Jordan Wall, who plays the lab tech intern in the medical examiner’s office.

The Glades premieres on A&E on July 11 at 10/9c.

The Closer

The acclaimed series returns for a fifth season on TNT and this year will explore the issue of change. Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) is adjusting to married life with Fritz (Jon Tenney) only to lose someone very dear to her. The ongoing intra-office conflict between Sgt. Gabriel and Det. Daniels is resolved and a squad member falls in love, going through a complete attitude change. One of Brenda’s detectives will take on a second job because of the economy and the fatal shooting of a suspect leads to trouble for another detective.

Some of the cases the Major Crimes unit will tackle this season include the possible kidnapping of a corrupt financier, a multiple homicide involving a family, the killing of a security guard at a gang rehabilitation center and the shooting death of a white supremacist.

The Closer returns to TNT on July 12 at 9 PM.

Rizzoli & Isles

Angie Harmon & Sasha Alexander star in Rizzoli & Isles on TNT

This new crime drama follows Boston detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander), who are complete opposites yet good friends who solve crimes and take down some of the city’s most notorious criminals. Jane is the only female detective in the homicide division, dodges her overprotective mother and is better at basketball than her brother. Maura is more comfortable among the dead than the living, is always impeccably dressed with a sometimes icy temperament; and she tends to diagnose the people she meets.

The series also stars Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) as Jane’s demanding and intrusive mother; Lee Thompson Young (FlashForward) as Jane’s somewhat green partner; Bruce McGill (Law Abiding Citizen) as Jane’s seasoned former partner; and Jordan Bridges (Dawson’s Creek) as Jane’s brother, Frankie, a patrol cop who hopes one day to become a detective.

Rizzoli & Isles debuts at 10 PM on TNT on July 12.

White Collar

Returning for its second season on Tuesday, July 13th, White Collar will address the cliff-hanger from last season where reformed con man Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) watched the plane, containing the love of his life, Kate Moreau (Alexandra Daddario), explode. Granted a free pass by Special Agent Peter Burke in repayment for Neal’s invaluable aid to the FBI, Neal had been given the chance to escape to a new life with Kate. But upon her death, Neal is surely going to want revenge on whoever killed Kate and he will need the innumerable resources of the FBI to accomplish that goal.

Despite Peter’s trust in Neal, it remains to be seen if Peter will unleash Neal from the home monitoring anklet that encumbered him last season. But Neal has proven himself invaluable and remarkably resourceful in ferreting out con men and other elusive criminals and now that Neal will not be taking Peter up on the “new life” card, he will want something else in return.

The quid pro quo relationship between Neal and Peter is tentative at best, but the more they trust and rely on each other, the more effective they are as a team.

Adding to their unique brand of investigative prowess are Neal’s long-time associate Mozzie (Willie Garson) and Special Agents Diana Lancing (Marsha Thomason) and Clinton Jones (Sharif Atkins). Mozzie tries to keep off the FBI radar and out of their insidious range, but tends to get swept up into the joint con-FBI stings. So long as he is free to do as he pleases, it does not hinder him, but he remains wary of playing both sides. Just as uncertain about this unusual working arrangement are Agents Lancing and Jones, but they trust Peter implicitly and enjoy the unconventional methods utilized to capture criminals.

Finally, always right behind Peter is his supportive and loving wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Theissen) who backs her husband no matter how entangled the case become with their personal lives. Her insight into both her husband and the ability to see past Neal’s carefully constructed mask of detachment prove invaluable as well.

Join Neal, Peter, Mozzie, Diana, Clinton and Elizabeth as they embark on yet another season of intricate capers.

White Collar airs Tuesday nights at 9/8c on USA Network starting July 13, 2010.

Covert Affairs

Christopher Gorham & Piper Perabo star in Covert Affairs on USA

Debuting on Tuesday, July 13th, USA Network’s new spy series Covert Affairs introduces Annie Walker (Piper Perabo), a CIA trainee recruited for a unique assignment. Aided by her mentor Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a vision-challenged field operative, Annie is thrown suddenly into the world of counter-espionage with many lives hanging in the balance. Without the typical years of experience to fall back on, Annie must use some unconventional techniques to elude discovery and yet still be an effective agent.

Overseeing this unusual assignment and team is Arthur Campbell (Peter Gallagher), Director of Clandestine Services. He, along with his wife Joan Campbell (Kari Matchett), another CIA operative, supervise Annie’s training and assimilation. Joining the operation in the second episode will be CIA agent Jai Wilcox (Sendil Ramamurthy) whose job will be to get close to Annie, both to keep her safe and to find out the secret she may be hiding. Aiding with Annie’s cover is her sister Danielle (Anne Dudek) who does not know about Annie’s covert life and who frequently provides unknowing assistance just in time.

A rookie trying to masquerade as an experienced spy is always risky and highly dangerous, but in Annie’s case, it is more so because of the secret she keeps.

Tune in to catch the premiere of Covert Affairs on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10/9c on USA Network.

Psych

Psych is back for a fifth season on USA Network. In the fourth season finale, Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill) once again battled wits with Mr. Yin and Mr. Yang (who was captured at the end of the third season).

It was nearly a losing battle with both Juliet’s (Maggie Lawson) and Abigail’s (Rachael Leigh Cook) lives hanging in the balance. Though both were ultimately saved, Abigail decided she had enough of the high stakes games that Shawn played in and said good-bye. In addition to Abigail folding her hand, they also lost Mary Lightly (Jimmi Simpson), the criminal profiler who had been assisting them in tracking Mr. Yin.

As the fifth season returns, the hunt for Mr. Yin will continue along with various other shenanigans to distract them and crimes to solve along the way.

Aided with the assistance of Detectives Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundsen) and Juliet O’Hara, as well as Chief Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson), and occasionally Shawn’s dad Henry (Corbin Bernsen), our comedic duo will undoubtedly continue to pose as psychic detectives while trying to root out criminals using their unusual investigative skills. But the true secret to Shawn and Gus’ success is their widely exuberant enthusiasm for life. It allows them pull it all off and still expose the bad guy in the end.

Be sure to tune in on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 10/9c when Psych returns on USA Network for more adventures of Shawn and Gus, the psychic detectives!

Being Human

The BBC America series Being Human returns for its second season, chronicling the lives of three twenty-somethings who have secret double lives. George (Russell Tovey) is a werewolf, Mitchell (Aidan Turner) is a vampire and Annie (Lenora Crichlow) is a ghost. They struggle to lead normal lives while dealing with their strange and dark secrets.

The trio shares a house in Bristol, England where last season they dealt with Annie turning down death’s door, which will have implications for her this season while she decides to take on a service industry job; a growing league of vampires that resulted in a showdown between the trio and the vampire leader Herrick, who was killed by George during his change into a werewolf; the truth of George’s secret being revealed to his girlfriend Nina (Sinead Keenan) who, it was revealed in the finale, was scratched by him during his change; and Mitchell having to appease the vampire world because of Herrick’s death.

Being Human will be back on BBC America on July 24 after the season finale of Doctor Who (check local listings for airtime).