Television doesn’t sleep. The sheer amount of content—over 450 scripted programs aired in the year 2017!—can prove overwhelming for even the most dedicated TV buffs. Television Academy voters make Emmy selections in August, and SAG-AFTRA members vote on SAG Awards in January, but their job requires tuning in all year long. Backstage is breaking down, month by month, the buzzy shows and performances that merit awards attention in the ever-growing landscape of the small screen. Mark your calendar and become a couch potato along with us!
As the summer months heat up, so do the summer TV offerings. July, previously known for reruns and summer replacements, now offers some of the year’s best programming. Streaming services are offering up new seasons of their most beloved shows: Netflix kicks off the month with blockbuster “Stranger Things” and the final season of its groundbreaking “Orange Is the New Black,” while Hulu launches a “Veronica Mars” revival with original cast members reprising their roles and an adaptation of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” from Mindy Kaling and Matt Warburton. It’s not just streaming services heating up the small screen, though; Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church return for the third season of HBO’s “Divorce,” Starz launches the second season of “Sweetbitter,” and the long-awaited return of MTV’s “Scream” goes to VH1. Keep the below offerings on your radar!
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon launches its newest drama, “The Boys,” an adaptation of Garth Ennis’ comic book of the same name from producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen July 26. This is the second time Goldberg and Rogen have teamed up to bring an Ennis comic book to the screen; the last was “Preacher,” which airs on AMC. “The Boys” stars Karl Urban, Elisabeth Shue, Chace Crawford, Jennifer Esposito, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, and Jessie T. Usher.
Comedy Central
Comedy Central premieres its latest on the 24th: “South Side,” a scripted comedy from Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, who also stars in the series. It takes place in Chicago’s South Side and will include guest stars like Lil Rel Howery, Jeff Tweedy, and Kel Mitchell.
The CW
The CW launches two new summer series this month: science-fiction drama “Pandora” on the 16th, starring Priscilla Quintana, and “Bulletproof,” a British action-comedy import starring Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters, which makes its U.S. debut on the 28th. The CW also premieres the second season of fantasy series “The Outpost” on the 11th.
Epix
July 28, Epix premieres “Pennyworth,” a prequel to Fox’s “Gotham.” It follows the origin story of Batman’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and stars Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Paloma Faith, Jason Flemyng, and Polly Walker.
FX
The third series of John Singleton-created crime drama “Snowfall” premieres on the award-winning cable network on the 10th.
HBO
The American comedy-drama “Divorce,” which stars Parker and Church and comes from creator Sharon Horgan, will debut its third and, sadly, final season on the first day of the month.
Hulu
The third iteration of period drama “Harlots” returns July 10, and on the 26th the streaming service launches the second season of horror-drama “Light as a Feather,” based on the books by Zoe Aarsen. Also joining Hulu on the 26th is a new installment of the much beloved “Veronica Mars” series, which originally ran on The CW and UPN 2004–2007. The teen mystery series then got a Kickstarter-funded sequel movie in 2014, and it’s now on Hulu set in the present day as Kristen Bell’s Veronica returns to her roots, sleuthing around the southern California town of Neptune. Most of the old cast—Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs, Max Greenfield, and Ken Marino—are joined by new faces including Patton Oswalt, J.K. Simmons, Dawnn Lewis, Mary McDonnell, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Rounding out the month, Kaling and Warburton write and produce an updated miniseries adaptation of the classic rom-com “Four Weddings and a Funeral” on the 31st.
Netflix
Netflix kicks off the month with the much anticipated third season of the Emmy Award-winning sci-fi-horror favorite “Stranger Things” on Independence Day. The newest comedy from the streaming service, “Family Reunion” starring Tia Mowry, Loretta Devine, and Anthony Alabi, premieres on the 10th and is gaining buzz for tapping an all-black writing room to tell the story of a family of six traveling to their reunion.
On the 25th, “Another Life” premieres; this new sci-fi series features Katee Sackhoff, Selma Blair, Justin Chatwin, Jessica Camacho, and Tyler Hoechlin. Season 3 of Canadian comedy “Workin’ Moms” makes its American debut on the 26th. Also on the 26th comes one of Netflix’s most successful shows among fans and critics alike, “Orange Is the New Black,” returning for its seventh and final season. The Jenji Kohan-created dramedy has garnered over 150 award nominations in its first six seasons.
PBS
British period crime drama “Grantchester” returns for its fourth season on the 14th, the last to feature the show’s compelling star, James Norton.
Starz
The second season of “Sweetbitter” premieres on the 14th. The drama, based on the novel of the same name by Stephanie Danler, follows Tess, played by Ella Purnell, as she starts living a fast-paced life working at a popular Manhattan restaurant.
USA
On the 17th, USA’s newest series “Pearson” premieres, a spinoff of the long-running and much beloved “Suits,” starring Gina Torres reprising her role of Jessica Pearson. The spinoff will air the same night as the season premiere of its originator, which will begin its seventh and final season.
VH1
MTV’s television adaptation of the “Scream” movie franchise makes the jump to its sister channel VH1 for the delayed third season on the 8th. RJ Cyler, Keke Palmer, and the one and only Mary J. Blige will star.
Check out Backstage’s TV audition listings!