Summer TV Preview 2018: Inside the 18 Must-Watch Shows of the Season

Credit: TV Land; Fox

Summer TV Preview 2018: Inside the 18 Must-Watch Shows of the Season

With outside temps scorching, Us Weekly presents 17 reasons to chill indoors. Here are the season’s top dramas and comedies, with a bit of exclusive tidbits on each!

Credit: TV Land; Fox

Summer TV Preview 2018: Inside the 18 Must-Watch Shows of the Season

With outside temps scorching, Us Weekly presents 17 reasons to chill indoors. Here are the season’s top dramas and comedies, with a bit of exclusive tidbits on each!

Credit: Patrick Harbron/AMC

Dietland (AMC)

The dark comedy, based on the 2015 bestselling book, revived star Joy Nash. Like her self-conscious writer Plum, “I thought once I had a relationship or once somebody asked me to be an actress, my life would start,” she tells Us. "I postponed Joy."

Her new series showcases that struggle to find acceptance. “Everything Plum goes through, the catcalling and shi—y advice, that’s happened to me,” adds Nash, whose character is fed up with how society treats her. “Life is hard. This show is how tons of people feel.” (Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Pari Dukovic/FX

Pose (FX)

American Horror Story alum Evan Peters jumped at the chance to play just a regular guy. “I was actually scared,” says the actor, whose character is sucked into the glamour of NYC in the 1980s. “It was challenging to get back into the groove of being human on camera,” he added, as he’s used to playing someone horrible in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story.

Peters’ hope is that the dance musical — which features the largest cast of transgender actors as series regulars — also brings acceptance for his costars. “We need to make everyone equal,” he tells Us. 

Creator Murphy adds: “When I was coming up in the industry it was all white guys over 40 who had power. I’m interested in using my juice to promote other people.” (Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET)

Credit: TV Land

Younger (TVLand)

The truth will set you free! While season 5 will focus less on the secret Sutton Foster’s Liza is hiding about her age, “someone very important finds out,” costar Hilary Duff tells Us. “Everyone’s talking about the truth and what it means.” 

The show will also tackle the #MeToo movement. “We hit it head-on, showing how it affects our world at Empirical Press,” Foster says. And fans of the dramedy can expect plenty of surprises. Notes Foster, “Every script that I’ve read, I’ve gasped.” (Tuesday, June 5, at 10 p.m. ET)

Credit: Paramount Network

American Woman (Paramount)

Bonnie has one job: be a trophy wife. “She has to look amazing for her husband,” says Alicia Silverstone, who plays the 1970s housewife in the new dramedy, “make him a beautiful drink and seduce him all the time.” 

That is, until she bails on him and discovers her own independence. “It’s like she’s standing at the top and then somebody hits her with a baseball bat and she has to slowly climb back up,” says the actress. “Having that bravery to stand up and say, ‘I’m not going to do this anymore’ is really amazing.”

At times, the show — based on executive producer Real Housewife Kyle Richards’ life — left her shocked. Adds Silverstone, “Bonnie is outrageous. Sometimes I would think, ‘This can’t be real!’ and those are the parts that are real!” (Thursday, June 7, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith / FOX

The Four (Fox)

Meghan Trainor is thankful she didn’t have to rely on the singing competition to hit it big. “I would be too nervous!” says the show’s judge. “I respect the courage these artists show when they leave themselves open to constructive criticism from America.” While she’s proclaimed herself as the most emotional judge, it helps that they the panel has become “a loving dysfunctional family,” Trainor notes. “Fergie is the Cool Mama and the Queen. DJ Khaled is the inspiring lovable goofball. Diddy is The Godfather.” 

The singer also has a pop album coming this summer that focuses on “self-love, love and happiness.” (Thursday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET.)

Credit: CMT

Nashville (CMT)

If Chris Carmack had it his way, the music hit wouldn’t end this summer after six seasons. “We’d start up again in September,” the actor tells Us. “I’ve had so much fun on this show. I’d be happy for it to keep going.” He’ll settle for a happy ending, though, which includes resurrecting Connie Britton’s iconic Rayna. “She’ll be a phoenix,” he jokes. “I have to make some phone calls!”

Alas, as the final goodbye nears — “It’s going to be tough,” he predicts — Carmack is sizing up what exactly he should snag from set. Adds the musician, “I’ve got my eye on Will Lexington’s guitar!” (Thursday, June 7, at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Freeform/Frank Ockenfels

Cloak & Dagger (Freeform)

It’s not easy to take on a Marvel character, but Olivia Holt is ready. As Tandy Bowen (a.k.a Dagger) in the new drama about two teens who acquire superpowers, she can manifest light daggers out of her hands, a “feminine, bold power that resembles her life,” Holt tells Us. “She’s a very cynical human being, very independent, and she is resilient and bold,” Holt says of Tandy.

While she loves Tandy’s powers, she’d choose something more aquatic if she could have any power. “I would love to breathe underwater; I don’t like not knowing what’s under me,” she notes. “I also want to be a mermaid.” (Thursday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Freeform/Phillippe Bosse

The Bold Type (Freeform)

The girls are back in the magazine drama! Katie Stevens’ Jane takes on a new job in season 2, quickly learning “not all bosses are as great as Jacqueline,” the actress tells Us. There will also be romance once again — including trysts with her ex-fling Pinstripe and a new man who could cause a “love triangle,” she notes.

The relationship drama will continue for Meghann Fahy’s Sutton and Sam Page’s Richard as well. “It’s that sense that the person we want is so close but so far,” Page notes. “It also comes down to how many times you’re willing to try.” (Tuesday, June 12, at 8 p.m. ET.)

Credit: TNT

Claws (TNT)

Returning for its sophomore season, the women of Nail Artisan of Manatee County salon are getting their perfectly manicured hands dirty. Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston and Karrueche Tran all reprise their roles as the powerful women taking over the crime world by storm. (Sunday, June 10, at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: MTV

Floribama Shore (MTV)

MTV’s breakout hit is back for its second season, bringing the original eight cast members back to Panama City Beach for Spring Break to see what life’s next chapter holds for them. While the first season wasn’t without controversy, the hit will dive into hookups, partying and simply trying to get along! (Monday, July 9, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Take Two (ABC)

From the creators of Castle, Take Two puts a fun spin on a detective partnership. Rachel Bilson takes on the role of actress Sam Swift who, after a stint in rehab, talks her way into working as an actual detective – something she thinks she can do since she played one on TV. She’s paired up with serious lone-wolf investigator Eddie Valetik, played by Eddie Cibrian. Their chemistry is not at all what you’d expect – and it will keep audiences guessing. (Thursday, June 21, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Miller Mobley/USA Network

Shooter (USA)

Ryan Phillippe is back in action! After the actor broke his leg in an off-set injury — “it’s a horrific thing to go though, especially when you’re faced with the prospect of potentially losing part of your leg,” he tells Us — and season 2 was cut short, he jumped right back into doing his own stunts as former Marine Bob Lee Swagger for season 3. While he admits he was “nervous,” he says veracity is key to the show’s success. “Our audience seems to really respond to the fact that they’re seeing me doing these dangerous things,” Phillippe notes.

The third season will, in a way, wrap up the story so far, as well. “The intention was that these three seasons would be a trilogy and could stand alone as such,” he says, adding that it season 3 will dive into Bob Lee’s background. “It’s about him trying to get to the root of what started all of this to begin with. That takes him into some pretty dark and devastating places.” (Thursday, June 21, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: David Lee/Netflix

Luke Cage (Netflix)

The indestructible defender of NYC’s Harlem has, unfortunately, found his equal. In the action series’ second season, Mike Colter’s titular superhero faces off against nemesis Bushmaster, who matches — and potentially exceeds — his own superior strength. “People’s first reaction is that he’s a superhero and shouldn’t get hurt or be taken down,” Colter tells Us. “But that’s not necessarily the case. There has to be a threat, no matter how powerful you are. It’s going to be an epic battle.” 

On-screen, the actor is more than willing to take a beating. “The fight sequences where I actually have someone take me down are enjoyable,” he admits. “I don’t really get a chance to get my butt kicked, so it’s fun getting tossed around!” (Friday, June 22)

Credit: Erica Parise/Netflix

Glow (Netflix)

Welcome the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling back to the ring! With GLOW — the show within the show — picked up as a cable series for season 2 of the Netflix hit, the stakes “are higher, the moves are bigger,” says Alison Brie, who stars as 1980s wrestler Ruth. “They want everything to be flashier.”

But that fame brings serious restrictions. Now at the mercy of the network, “everyone is quickly confronted with rules they didn’t know existed,” she explains. “They thought they were making this show so they could do things their own way. You’ll see them fight back.” With some impressive techniques. Just two days into the cast’s four-week boot camp, their trainer, pro Chavo Guerrero Jr., and stunt coordinator Shauna Duggins “were like, ‘Let’s up the ante,’” recalls Brie. “It was so exciting — and nerve-racking!” (Friday, June 29)

Credit: USA

Suits (USA)

Following the departure of Meghan Markle — now Duchess Markle — and Patrick J. Adams, Katherine Heigl joins season eight as fierce lawyer Samantha Wheeler, who comes barreling into Pearson Specter Litt and won’t take “no” as an answer.

“Samantha comes into the picture in a unique way, and the Specter Litt family is really unsure what to think of her. She’ll leave everyone wondering if she’ll become the firm’s greatest ally, or most powerful enemy," Heigl tells Us.

Dulé Hill’s Alex Williams and Amanda Schull’s Katrina Bennett have been upped to a series regular for the upcoming season 8. (Wednesday, July 18, at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Hulu

Castle Rock (Hulu)

It’s hard to scare Melanie Lynskey. “I don’t really feel adrenaline,” she confesses to Us. “So I’m not into horror movies that have a bunch of moments designed to make you jump.” However, her chilling new psychological thriller weaves together Stephen King’s darkest stories and plays them out in a small, Maine woodland. Calling it creepy would be an understatement. “Bad energy lingers in a place where awful things occurred. Castle Rock is an entire town with a very dark history. It’s seeped into the soil,” Lynskey says.

The Two and a Half Men vet plays Molly, a woman in the town with a mystery condition. When asked more about her heath, she can’t say much: “I don’t want to get in trouble with [creator] J.J. Abrams!” (Wednesday, July 25)

Credit: Adam Nemser/startraksphoto.com

The Sinner (USA)

With Jessica Biel’s moving to executive producer, Carrie Coon joined the sophomore season as Vera, a mysterious woman who struggles between helping the community and fulfilling her own desires. Natalie Paul and Hannah Gross also join the cast as Heather, a detective in training and Marin, Heather’s childhood best friend. (Wednesday, August 1, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Tyler Golden/Syfy

Sharknado 6 (SYFY)

The final installment of Syfy’s campy comedy franchise is bittersweet for Ian Ziering. “We’ve come full circle,” the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum tells Us. While he would have loved to see action stars such as Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone appear, he was thankful to headline a wacky new genre (his character Fin faces not just sharks, but time travel this go round). “It’s the kind of movie where everyone’s in on the joke except the people who are in the movie,” he notes. (Sunday, August 19, at 8 p.m. ET.)