Farewell Summer Series

Once upon a time, we watched our series during the school year, then had summer to devote to outdoor activities with the family. Well, screw the outdoors. The family, however, can still spend some quality time together, provided that time is spent mostly surrounded by the "television's warming glow" (quoted from The Simpsons--a series I used to enjoy with my family as a youngster). As an adult, I've come to love the Summer Series, as I no longer have a summer vacation and time to devote to playing outside or watching the occasional movie on a rainy afternoon. Nope, I want my TV all year long, thank you very much. I would prefer that my favorite programs continue through the summer, so that I could just keep watching them all year long. I don't get a summer break, so why should TV?

On the other hand, the break in programming does make me feel a bit like a kid again, and summer programming is usually a bit easier and a little more carefree, so I can have a break from my serious programs and remind myself that despite the lack in change in my day to day activities, we are in the throws of a new season. And who wants to watch Gossip Girl on a hot day? No, thank you. I'll take some lighter fare to match my new summer diet of fruit salad and no bake desserts. I wouldn't enjoy a hot bowl of chili in July, so why would I want to watch episodes of 30 Rock during the hot months?

OK, so, there actually seems to be no reason to air special series in the summer. Maybe most people go on vacation during the summer and ratings are down? Maybe if the series continued through the summer people just wouldn't be able to schedule their vacations and thus the tourism and hotel industry would suffer. So how can we appease Americans who want to watch new programming during the summer without ruining everyone's vacation? Behold the summer series.

In the past, such summer series as The O. C. successfully became series aired during the fall, winter, and spring months. Beverly Hills 90210 aired episodes during the summer as well as during the school year. Fancy cable channels like HBO can air their shows whenever and their viewers will watch. Unlike films, which save their blockbusters for the summer, television saves its leftovers and the series that just might be good enough for back to school premiers, but probably not, for the summer. However, once in awhile, a summer show comes along that is totally worth watching, and this summer, Make it or Break it was that show.



Make it or Break it has already ended its first season, and I was sad to see it go. This week's episode was the season finale, but don't worry--a new season is coming soon. ABC Family is vague about what "soon" actually means, but rest assured that there will be a second season and it will be coming...soon. Things really heated up during the last couple episodes. The season ended in unexpected tears, as Payson, my favorite character, ended up in the hospital with a back injury, told that she'll never do gymnastics again. Sure, her friends all made the Olympic team, but she deserved it the most! Gymnastics was her entire life. What is she going to do now? I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and watching them struggle to make it to the top of their sport. Realistic might be too strong a word to use, but the characters do seem real, and there is something honest and natural about their interactions with each other. Will this series go the way of an O. C., or will it meet the fate of a Hidden Palms? Only time will tell.

This was perhaps my favorite series of the summer (not counting True Blood or Hung, which I personally place in different categories of entertainment). Like a true summer series, it can never really compete with my programs that begin in September, and once it's over, I probably wont think about it again. However, should this become something more than a summer series and continue into the fall, I will most definitely tune in. Overall, I'll give it my second highest rating: Cast of FrasierP.S. I'm watching Toddlers and Tiaras right now (I know, I know...I'm sick) and one pageant dad actually said that he was against his daughter doing pageants. His reason? Some of the mothers seemed like they were doing it more for themselves than for their daughters, and many of the mothers are overweight and unhealthy. If that's not a good reason to be against having your 4-year-old daughter compete in beauty pageants, I don't know what is!

This entry was posted by Brigitte, on Thursday, August 27, 2009. You can leave your response.