The Errant Æsthete

While most aesthetes would never admit to owning a tv, let alone watching one, those of us “in the know” are up to date on the wonders that await us, particularly this summer cuddled up in our own cozy little cineplex.

No longer a graveyard haunted by the ghosts of episodes past, that plasma screen attached to your wall is finally and fully showcasing a 12-month programming schedule by all the major networks, along with a squad of bot-crawling cable usurpers with enough original programming to put anticipation back into your lackluster life. It’s enough to make the most jaded aesthete feel positively giddy. So with umbrella drink in hand, get ready to sample the most enticing television fare in a real-time minute.

“Swingtown”
CBS, Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: A 1970s period drama that explores the changing attitudes towards sex, marriage and intimacy by examining the relationships in a suburban neighborhood where it’s the lack of boundaries—not the good fences—that makes good neighbors.

The pros: A gorgeous cast, well-curated ’70s AM hits and plenty of naughtiness. “Swingtown” started a little wobbly. Its premise is difficult to carry off on CBS, making it initially as sleazy and coy as a coin-operated peep show. But once its characters started to reveal themselves, the show found its footing, particularly in Susan Miller (Molly Parker), a new arrival who is as excited by the new possibilities as she is terrified.

The primer: For those who missed the first few installments, free full episodes are available at CBS.com.

“Mad Men”
AMC, New episodes begin July 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: In the world of advertising, not all is as it appears. This was particularly true in the 1960s, when laws governing advertising were more lenient toward pleasure peddlers like the ones at Sterling Cooper, the show’s eventful ad agency.

The pros: If you never got into “The Wire” and are desperate to reclaim your pop culture literacy, “Mad Men” has all the buzz of “The Wire” in its prime and is twice as easy to digest. The first season is a technical marvel. It has already nabbed the prestigious Peabody Award and won Golden Globes for Best Drama and Best Actor for Jon Hamm, who plays his character, Don Draper, with stunning restraint.

The primer: The season one DVD boxed set is out now. AMC is also showing a season one marathon on July 20.

“Project Runway”
Bravo, New episodes begin July 16th at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: Unless you’re still using rabbit ears, you know it already: Twelve catty fashion designers compete against each other, but in the end, only one will successfully thread the needle.

The pros: The fifth season is promising some special surprises. Lifetime was able to snatch “Runway” out from under Bravo for all seasons after this one, and the show’s production team, which has an exclusive deal, won’t be able to leave with it. You can bet they’ll be trying to go out with a bang.

The primer: No need to catch up with “Runway,” but if you’ve never seen it, Googling “Christian Siriano” will give you a taste of what you’re in for.

“Burn Notice”
USA, New episodes begin July 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: When is a sun-soaked Miami Beach vacation no fun at all? When you’re a CIA spy who has been “burned”—stripped of your name, Social Security number and bank accounts—and you have no idea why.

The pros: Duct-tape bombs! Main character Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) has a MacGyver-esque knack for turning a trip to Home Depot into a baddie-vanquishing assault. But like USA’s other hits (”Monk” and “Psych,” for example), “Notice,” doesn’t take itself too seriously. “Notice” has a satisfyingly wry tone and features the shamefully underemployed Sharon Gless as Michael’s needy mother.

The primer: DVDs are out now, and full episodes are available at USANetwork.com.

“Mandrake”
HBO Latino, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: He’s a lawyer! No, he’s a fixer! No, he’s a sleazebag! Mandrake (Marcos Palmiera) is three characters in one, a handsome Brazilian criminal attorney who involves himself far too deeply in the shady dealings of his clientele.

The pros: The obscenity and the obscurity. “Mandrake” is one of the most consistently raunchy shows I’ve seen in some time, and each episode further tests the boundaries of the TV-MA rating. Naturally, this is because the show was produced in Brazil, where people are less uptight about such things. Also, because it’s tucked away on HBO Latino like “Epitafios” before it, watching it makes you feel like you’ve stumbled on a secret. (Fair warning: As it was originally written in Portuguese and is now being shown for a Spanish-speaking audience, “Mandrake” is both overdubbed in Spanish and subtitled in English.)

The primer: All episodes are available on HBO on Demand.

“Jingles”
CBS, premieres July 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch: From Mark Burnett, the man who revolutionized television product placement, comes his latest stroke of genius, which further blurs the line between art and commerce. “Jingles” is part “The Apprentice” and part “American Idol”—teams will be given a product for which they’ll write a jingle and perform it before a live audience. Then voters at home will choose their favorites, and the team behind the most insipid jingle—or maybe the least?—will be eliminated.

The pros: Burnett is still the biggest name in reality television, and even “Survivor,” his most senior franchise, showed with its last season that it still has plenty of life left. And this premise is just irresistible. Plus, with “Mad Men” scheduled to premiere right after it, you can watch a Sunday advertising double-feature—watch “Jingles” to see advertising done wrong, then “Mad Men” to see it done right.

The primer: No catch-up required.

“In Plain Sight”
USA, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The pitch:Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) is a U.S. Marshall tasked with protecting people who know too much. As an agent attached to the Witness Protection program, it’s her job to help recent enrollees acclimate to their new lives in Albuquerque, and to keep them alive as long as possible. This while juggling the stress of living with her free-spirited mother and sister.

The pros: McCormack, who played Kate Harper on “The West Wing,” is always a welcome presence. It’s arguable that the world doesn’t really need another tough-but-tender female cop on the beat, with “The Closer” and “Saving Grace” also premiering new seasons this summer, but McCormack’s appealing performance is certainly worth a look.

The primer: Full episodes are available at USANetwork.com. [Link]