As we get into the dreaded dog days of summer, there isn’t a whole of things to do during the day because, quite frankly, it is too dang hot outside. Unless you have a pool, the number of activities you can do until the sun goes down and it cools off a little bit is extremely limited. The summer is great time to get hooked on some new shows (or old) on TV, and in the world of DVR and Netflix, you can spend those dogs days lounging around on the couch catching up on all the drama of your favorite characters.
1. The Olympics
Now, I know this isn’t an actual “TV show”, but the Olympics only come around every four years, and any reason to spend three months chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” is good enough for me. I, being a former gymnast, am always excited about the gymnastics, and Team USA is always a top contender, this year being no different. With two members of the Fierce Five from the 2012 Olympic gold medalist team – Gaby Douglas and Aly Raisman – vying for a chance to return, it will surely produce some good competition. If you want to catch who makes the U.S. National team and represent our country in Rio, the gymnastics Olympic trials will be held on July 8-10 on NBC.
2. "The Bachelorette"
Everyone needs their fill of reality TV, and "The Bachelorette" is always good for some drama. I don’t personally keep up with this show, but Twitter is always a reliable source for information (for the most part). However, JoJo, the bachelorette, seems to be well loved by a lot of people, and they all want to see her find the man of her dreams.
3. "Big Brother"
If you’re like me and don’t keep up with "The Bachelorette," but still love all the drama of reality TV, "Big Brother" is the show for you. Julie Chen and the Houseguests have been entertaining America every summer for 18 seasons. It is full of competition, alliances and betrayal to keep you on you toes. This reality show is different from most because it comes on several times a week, so when you get started, you have to keep up pretty regularly (thank God for DVR).
4. "Orange is the New Black"
"OITNB" is a Netflix original, and it is literally the definition of the fire emoji. Once you get started, there is no stopping. Netflix just came out with the fourth season in June, so if you haven’t started watching, I say block out the next two weeks for catching up.
5. "O.J. Made in America"
Revisiting the trial of O.J. Simpson has been a huge trend of 2016. The FX Series “The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story” had people entranced; however, this new series follows the trial through historical footage, almost as if to let the viewers re-live the whole process.
6. "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
This Netflix original follows awkward Kimmy Schmidt as she tries to adapt to the 21st century after living in an underground bunker for all of the '90s. This goofy sitcom, produced by Tina Fey, is sure to give you a good laugh. It is only in its second season, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get caught up. My friend, Taylor, and I are avid Schmidtters.
Happy watching!