Summer TV: TNT Gives Seven Original Series on Three Nights

Wednesdays round out the final night of original programming TNT will offer this summer, and in my opinion it is by far the best night of them all.  Beginning on July 15 at 9/8c, Leverage returns with new episodes.  Leverage stars Academy Award Winner  Timothy Hutton, and was a successful show for the network this past winter.  This summer, Hutton's gang of outlaws brings us even more fantastic scams designed to enact revenge on those who use power and wealth to victimize people. Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator determined to bring down the kind of corrupt bigwigs whose neglect led to the death of his son.  This was definitely the best new series I saw last winter, and has only gotten better since it premiered, due in no small part to its stellar cast led by Hutton and comprised of Aldis Hodge, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, and Gina Bellman.  You can catch up on some past episodes online here.

After Leverage, TNT has a brand new series that stars Dylan McDermott,  Dark Blue.  This is a fast-paced, undercover police drama from the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer, which focuses on McDermott's character, Carter Shaw, who is the head of a crack undercover team of police officers who are so covert, many of their own colleagues don’t even know they are involved. Shaw is a deeply wounded character, having lost his wife and much of his former life as he struggles to bring down bad guys through complex undercover assignments. His team includes a recently married cop (Omari Hardwick) who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; a shoot-from-the-hip officer (Logan Marshall-Green) whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the bad side; and a green patrol cop brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and a shady past (Supernatural's Nicki Aycox).  Don't miss this one, which premieres on Wednesday nights starting July 15 at 10/9c.

On our next Summer TV article, we'll be taking a look at the USA Network, and what they have to offer this summer, and when we can start getting excited to watch it all!