Summer TV Reviews

It's June now, and the summer TV season is heating up. Here's a look at some of the new shows that have debuted.

The Fosters, Mondays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family Channel
About: Clearly the people that created this show watched "The O.C." and thought, hey we could do that. It's not exactly the same, but there are similar strains. The show centers on two women — a cop and a high school administrator — that open their home to foster kids. They have three teens already (including two adopted twins), when a hard luck case falls on their doorstep. They take her in and, by the end of the pilot, have her little brother, too. They also live in an idyllic community near San Diego, which gives the new additions a fish-out-of-water experience at school. The premise seems rife with the possibility for cheese — not the least of which because it's on the ABC Family Channel — but this show was a pleasant surprise. That's not to say it won't devolve, but the story, characters, and performances in the pilot were pretty good. Considering it's summer and the options are limited, this might be a welcome addition to the TV landscape.
Pilot Grade: B

Mistresses, Mondays at 10 p.m. on ABC
About: Ugh. This show — which features Yun Jun Kim (L.O.S.T.) and Alyssa Milano — definitely belongs during the summer. It might be well paired following "The Bachelorette," but there's not much to it. Doubtless this is one of those shows that seemed like a good idea during Up Fronts and, as the year went on, seemed more like a summer dump type show. The plot of the show is weird and, to some degree, repugnant. The performances are OK, but there's not much compelling about the characters. Pilots can be tricky, and this show could get better, but for now it looks like it might not even be worth watching during a season when nothing is on. It's summer — read a book, go outside, or watch paint dry. All might be preferable to this.
Pilot Grade: D-