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4½ shows to watch this summer

Burn Notice cast (l. to r.) Mom, Sam, Michael, and Fi

School's (almost) out, the grill's back on the deck, and there's nothing on TV.

Must be summer.

But wait! Have no fear, trusted reader. There's still no reason you can't waste a perfectly good summer evening by sitting on your couch in front of the flat-panel.

There are plenty of new shows hitting the airwaves in the coming weeks, guaranteed to entertain...someone.

1.) Burn Notice (Thursdays at 9pm, USA, 3rd season premieres June 4th)
The hilarious and sharply-written story of a covert intelligence operative who was unceremoniously given his (see title) for reasons unbeknownst to anyone. He enlists the help of his best friend, his ex, and his chain-smoking mother to get some answers. In the meantime, to make ends meet, he puts his covert op skills to good use, helping a different 'little guy' each week. Interested? USA is running a Season 2 marathon all day Thursday, starting at 6am. It won't take you long to catch up.

2.) Top Chef Masters (Wednesdays at 10pm, Bravo, 1st season premieres June 10th)
Just when Top Chef started getting stale, the geniuses (genii?) at Bravo throw a very interesting wrench in the works. No longer will aspiring chefs battle with each other to see who can make the best ceviche or amuse-bouche. No, ma'am. It's time for the big dogs. 24 world-renowned chefs will battle each other for the right to toss a cool 100-grand at the charity of his/her choice. No Padma. No Colicchio. But Art Smith and Wylie Dufresne are among the contestants. I can smell the maple-glazed mahi mahi with blueberries and chanterelle mushrooms already.

3.) Leverage (Wednesdays at 9pm, TNT, 2nd season premieres July 14th)
Think Ocean's Eleven, and you're halfway there. Add a little Mission:Impossible, and you're getting warmer. Timothy Hutton heads up a band of Robin Hoods who spend their days and nights conning the world's big-time, big-money schmucks out of their ill-gotten gains, returning said assets to their rightful owners. There's the tech geek, the muscle, the cat burglar, and the ex-girlfriend master-of-the-con, all supporting Hutton. Like Burn Notice, it's got the funny. And it's also got the great storylines, excellent dialogue, and great chemistry between the team. Last season's eps available online.

4.) Psych (Fridays at 10pm, USA, 4th season premiere TBD)
Obscure 80s pop culture references, pineapples, and cameos from the likes of Cybill Shepherd, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Phylicia Rashad make this easily one of the most unique and entertaining shows of the summer. Shawn Spencer (James Roday) is an extreeeemely perceptive 'detective', who pretends he's a psychic for the benefit of the Santa Barbara PD. Partner (and pharmaceutical sales rep) Gus, played by Dulé Hill, is in on it and warily goes along for the ride. Funny, clever, and worth it-- just for the interaction between Shawn and Lassiter (a real detective unamused by Shawn's antics....yes, antics.) Full eps available online.

4½.) America's Got Talent (Tuesdays/Wednesdays at 9pm,  NBC, 4th season premieres June 23rd)
Consider this a very very very guilty pleasure. Always worth a couple of good laughs, a fair number of cringes, and at least a handful of kicks in the head as you ponder the 60 minutes of your life that you'll never get back. Far from appointment viewing, it is, nevertheless, guaranteed to provide several watercooler moments that you'll wish you'd seen.