Get ready for a scorching summer of thrilling entertainment as we present our ultimate Summer TV Show Watchlist! With an impressive lineup of 30 must-see premieres and highly anticipated returns, television enthusiasts are in for a treat. From gripping dramas to hilarious comedies, this season promises to captivate audiences with a diverse range of stories and talented casts.
READ: Summer Line Up: 25 Must-See Movies Releasing Summer 2023
Whether you’re craving intense mysteries, heartwarming tales, or side-splitting laughter, our carefully curated watchlist has got you covered. So, grab your popcorn, settle into your favorite spot on the couch, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable summer TV journey. Let the binge-watching begin!
Never Have I Ever | Jun 8 | Netflix
In the fourth and final season, Devi is shown pursuing her college dream of Princeton while she and best friend Eleanor (Ramona Young) deal with the temptation of bad boy Ethan (Michael Cimino). During her senior year, Devi also faces the anxiety of leaving for college, staring at an empty suitcase and sharing she’s “not ready to say goodbye yet.
The Crowded Room | Jun 9 | Apple TV+
The Crowded Room follows Danny Sullivan (Tom Holland), a man who is arrested following his involvement in a shooting in New York City in 1979. A captivating thriller told through a series of interviews with curious interrogator Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried), Danny’s life story unfolds, revealing elements of the mysterious past that shaped him, and the twists and turns that will lead him to a life-altering revelation.
The Wonder Years (S2) | Jun 14 | ABC
“Inspired by the beloved award-winning series of the same name, The Wonder Years is an original coming-of-age comedy that tells the story of the Williams family during the late 1960s, spotlighting the ups and downs of growing up in a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, and the friendship, laughter and lessons along the way.”
Foundation (S2) | Jun 14 | Apple TV+
Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, Foundation chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Jun 15 | Paramount+
Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijn), Spock (Ethan Peck) and the rest of the Enterprise crew are back exploring strange new worlds and boldly going where no one has gone before.
Righteous Gemstones (S3) | Jun 18 | HBO
When the spoiled Gemstone children finally get their wish to take control of the Church, they discover leadership is harder than they imagined and that their extravagant lifestyle comes with a heavy price.
Black Mirror (S6) | Jun 15 | Netflix
You’ve been wondering. You’ve been waiting. You’ve been warned. The sixth season of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror is BACK. The most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected season yet
Secret Invasion | Jun 21 | Disney+
Nick Fury uncovers a conspiracy for a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to infiltrate Earth in positions of power around the world, recruiting Everett K. Ross, Maria Hill, and Talos to stop it and save humanity.
The Bear (S2) | Jun 22 | Hulu
The Chicago-based restaurant dramedy, starring Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, follows a young chef who takes over his family’s Italian beef shop in Chicago after his brother’s suicide. The series also features In season two, the restaurant is set to reopen as The Bear, and the storyline will be centered on its reopening.
And Just Like That (S2) | Jun 22 | Max
Carrie is having harmless, casual sex again following the death of her husband, Mr. Big (Chris Noth), in season one. All seems to be going well until (you guessed it) her ex-fiancé Aidan arrives back on her doorstep. There’s no way this could go wrong.
Grownish (S6A) | Jun 28 | Freeform
Premiering in 2018, “Grown-ish” emerged as a spinoff of ABC’s popular sitcom “Black-ish,” initially focusing on the character Zoey, portrayed by Yara Shahidi, as she embarked on her college journey. Season five witnessed a shift in focus to Junior, played by Marcus Scribner, as he began his freshman year at college.
Swagger S2 | Jun 23 | Apple TV+
In season two, we meet the man-children Jace, Phil, Nick, Musa, Drew and Royale as they are entering their senior year of high school. All but Phil will be attending Cedar Cove Prep; a predominantly White institution where wealthy board members control the entire operation from the hiring of faculty to the enrollment of students. It is a school of power and influence. For all of their academic success, their basketball program has not been competitive until Emory Lawson, the athletic director, managed to acquire the Swagger players. Almost overnight, Cedar Cove’s basketball program becomes elite, attracting the attention of Alonzo Powers from Gladiator Sneakers. Games are attended by top college scouts from the nation and are live-streamed for thousands of fans. With winning comes scrutiny and the players find themselves under a microscope as they vie for a national high school championship. Everything is going right in the life of Jace Carson and his family. Jenna is renting a house in a residential neighborhood and her cosmetic sales business is booming. Then, a video surfaces that threatens to destroy it all. It is surveillance footage of Coach Warwick, Crystal’s former coach, being beat down in an alley. The attackers are masked but Coach Warwick believes he has found evidence proving the Swagger players were involved. As this speculation reaches the public eye and social media, the bond of brotherhood the players have built is tested. Their once promising futures are in jeopardy.
I’m a Virgo | Jun 23 | Prime Video
“I’m a Virgo” follows a 13-foot-tall man named Cootie (Jerome), a native of Oakland, CA who spends his time binging TV shows and comic series. When he encounters his real life superhero, dubbed The Hero (Goggins), Cootie finds himself on course for a mythical quest.
Average Joe | Jun 26 | BET Plus
The series follows blue-collar plumber Joe Washington, played by Deon Cole, as he uncovers a secret life his father led and the millions of dollars he stole before his death. The dangerous people whose money was stolen believe Joe knows where the money is, leading to a bloody confrontation and a race against time for Joe and his circle of friends to uncover the truth and the stolen millions.
The Witcher (S3) | Jun 29 | Netflix
As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geraly takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it.
Jack Ryan (Final Season) | Jun 30 | Prime Video
The story focuses on new CIA Acting Deputy Director Jack Ryan being tasked with unearthing internal corruption, and in doing so, uncovers a series of suspicious black ops that could expose the vulnerability of the U.S. As Ryan and his team investigate how deep the corruption runs, he discovers a far-worse reality — the convergence of a drug cartel with a terrorist organization.
Johnson (S3) | Aug 5 | Bounce TV
Johnson focuses on four lifelong best friends, all of whom share the same last name in Atlanta. The show has gained a lot of attention for its unapologetic portrayal of Black masculinity, as well as its exploration of issues such as fatherhood, classism, and relationships between Black men and women. The series is a journey of love, self-discovery, and brotherhood told from the Black male perspective but is inclusive of all men.
Survival of the Thickest | July 13 | Netflix
Survival of the Thickest follows the journey of Mavis Beaumont, portrayed by the talented Michelle Buteau. Mavis, a black, plus-size woman unexpectedly thrust into the single life, must rebuild her world as a struggling stylist. With the support of her chosen family, a body-positive attitude, and her trusty v-neck and lip gloss, she’s determined not only to survive but thrive. This scripted comedy series is based on Buteau’s acclaimed book of essays.
Justified: City Primeval | Jul 18 | FX/Hulu
Set seven years after the original Justified series, Raylan Givens finds himself in Miami, juggling his duties as a marshal and being a part-time father to his 14-year-old daughter, Willa (played by Vivian Olyphant). However, a chance encounter on a Florida highway leads him to Detroit, where he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, also known as The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent sociopath portrayed by Boyd Holbrook. Mansell has evaded capture by Detroit’s law enforcement before and is determined to do so again.
Aunjanue Ellis joins the cast as Carolyn, Clement’s lawyer and a native of Motor City. Caught in a precarious situation of representing a criminal while being pursued by a determined lawman, Carolyn navigates her own plans behind the scenes.
Minx | July 21 | Starz
In Season 2, Doug and Joyce grapple with Minx’s explosive success, which brings more money, fame and temptation than either of them knows how to handle.
Twisted Metal (S1) | Jul 26 | Peacock
Twisted Metal, a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, is a high-octane action comedy about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.
Reservation Dogs | Aug 2 | FX
The series, with its hilarious and touching spirit world moments and tales of petty theft, shows the beautiful inner workings of close-knit Native American communities. From jokes about spirituality to the recipes they will not share, the show celebrates parts of Indigenous culture that many non-Native people have never experienced before, or may even be afraid to explore.
Only Murders in the Building | Aug 8 | Hulu
The comedy-drama series follows Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), neighbors at an Upper West Side building called the Arconia, who bond over a love of true crime podcasts and end up starting their own as mysterious murders happen around them. In Season 1, they uncovered the killing of their fellow resident Tim Kono (Julian Cihi). In Season 2, they did the same for the building’s board president Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell) — while trying to clear their names.
Painkiller | Aug 10 | Netflix
The scripted show is a fictionalized retelling of events that explores the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America. The series focuses on the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives have been forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.
Power Book IV: Force (S2) | Sep 1 | Starz
After cutting ties in New York, Tommy Egan’s newfound family and ruthless drug game enticed him to stay in Chicago. The explosive second season begins with Tommy on a mission to avenge the death of Lilliana, his former nemesis turned business partner. With Diamond (Isaac Keys) and Jenard (Kris D. Lofton) at odds, the Flynn organization weakened, and a new connect on the scene, Tommy is more determined than ever to take over the Chicago drug world.
PLAY CATCH UP WITH THESE RECENTLY RELEASED SHOWS
Judge Me Not
Judge Me Not is the story of Zelma Jay Johnson, an unusually bright, young black woman who struggles with mental health issues, a ludicrous family, and volatile love life. We join her as she takes on her new role as a judge in a court full of outrageous characters both in front of and behind the bench.
As her passionate relationship with her live-in lover takes them both on a ride, she finds herself caught in the crosshairs a psychological thriller that puts her life at risk.
Premiere Date: May 25
Who’s starring in it: Chyna Lane, Javon Terrell, Terrence Green, Jonathan Chase, Gena Shaw and Bonita Brisker.
Where to Watch: ALL Blk
With Love | Jun 2 | Prime Video
Season 2 picks up from the first season’s cliffhanger, where one of the three primary couples becomes engaged. Viewers will finally learn who popped the question, and the season will focus on wedding preparations leading up to the big day. The upcoming episodes will take place on specific days and events, including Christmas Eve, an engagement party, Lily’s 30th birthday, a bachelor party, Thanksgiving, and the wedding day itself.
Searching for Soul Food | Jun 2 | Hulu
“Searching for Soul Food follows rock star celebrity chef, Alisa Reynolds, as she discovers what soul food looks like around the world. As she seeks out the food, she’ll also explore the stories, the people and the traditions of each place she visits, bringing her own flavor right along with her. The international journey finds Chef Reynolds exploring the culinary worlds of Mississippi, Oklahoma, Appalachia, South Africa, Italy, Jamaica, Peru and Los Angeles.”
The Lazarus Project | Jun 4 | TNT
The Lazarus Project follows George, the latest recruit to The Lazarus Project – a secret organization that has harnessed the ability to turn back time whenever the world is at the threat of extinction. George and his colleagues are the few people on Earth with the ability to remember the events that are undone when time goes back. But when a freak accident harms someone close to George, Lazarus won’t let him turn back time to undo it unless there is the threat of global extinction. Now George must choose to stay loyal or go rogue as he faces the question of: if you had the power to re-write your past, what would you sacrifice to do it?
Cruel Summer (S2)
Freeform’s “Cruel Summer” returns as an anthology with a fresh mystery and cast when its highly anticipated second season premieres. Set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, the next chapter of “Cruel Summer” follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.
Premiere Date: Jun 5
Who’s starring in it: Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada, Sean Blakemore, Paul Adelstein
Where to Watch: Freeform
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