1. Preacher, premieres May 22nd on AMC, stars Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Lucy Griffiths, Derek Wilson, Ian Colletti, W. Earl Brown, Anatol Yusef, and Tom Brooke. Based on the DC Comics series of the same name, Preacher follows a West Texas preacher named Jesse Custer, who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that causes him to develop a highly unusual power. While I am sad that we will not longer see Dominic Cooper as the hilarious Howard Stark on Agent Carter, I am excited to see him in this new role. This show just looks like it will be a lot of fun.
2. Roots, premieres May 30 on A&E, History and Lifetime, stars Malachi Kirby, Anika Noni Rose, Forest Whitaker, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Rege-Jean Page, Anna Paquin, Tip “TI” Harris, Laurence Fishburne, Chad L. Coleman, Erica Tazel, Lane Garrison, Mekhi Phifer, Matthew Goode, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Sedale Threatt Jr., James Purefoy, Derek Luke, and G. Hannelius. This remake of the 1977 ABC mini-series is based on Alex Haley’s novel, “Roots: The Saga of an American Family.” It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18th-century African who was captured and sold into slavery in the United States, and follows his life and the life of his descendants. I have never watched the original mini-series, but this reboot looks fantastic.
3. Feed the Beast, premieres June 5th on AMC, stars David Schwimmer, Jim Sturgess, Michael Gladis, Christine Adams, Lorenza Izzo, Elijah Jacob, and John Doman. Two best friends follow their dream of opening an upscale restaurant in the Bronx, while dealing with the New York restaurant world, which includes petty criminals, corrupt officials, and violent mobsters. I have not read very much about this show, and AMC seems to be promoting Preacher a little more, but it looks interesting and I like the cast, so I will check it out.
4. Animal Kingdom, premieres June 14th on TNT, stars Scott Speedman, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole, and Ellen Barkin. Based on the movie of the same name, this series is about a Southern California crime family, and the detective investigating them. I am, and will forever be, Team Ben, so watching a new Scott Speedman show is a no-brainer for me. Then you add Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson *and* Ellen Barkin, and I am all in.
5. Queen of the South, premieres June 21st on USA, stars Alice Braga, Veronica Falcón, Justina Machado, Peter Gadiot, Hemky Madera, and Gerardo Taracena. After her drug-dealer boyfriend is murdered in Mexico, Teresa seeks refuge in the United States. In order to protect herself from the trafficking ring that has her on the run, she makes an unlikely ally. This series is based on the novel “La Reina Del Sur” by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, and a Telenovela of the same name. From what I have read, and what makes me interested in the show is, this drama will be less like the Telenovela version and more like the novel, in terms of a darker tone.
6. Roadies, premieres June 26th on Showtime, stars Carla Gugino, Luke Wilson, Imogen Poots, Rafe Spall, Peter Cambor, Machine Gun Kelly, and Keisha Castle-Hughes. Created by Cameron Crowe, this comedy looks at the lives of a rock band’s road crew while on a major multi-city tour. I love the movie Almost Famous, and am hoping this is a fun, modernized version of that same world.
7. Six, premieres July 18 on History, stars Walton Goggins, Barry Sloane, Kyle Schmid, Juan Pablo Raba, Dominic Adams, Edwin Hodge, Brianne Davis, and Nadine Velazquez. This series is inspired by the real missions of Navy SEAL Team Six. Each season will be about a different mission, with the first season focusing on a 2014 mission to eliminate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan that goes awry when they uncover a U.S. citizen working with the terrorists. I am really excited about the cast and hope it will be a fantastic series.
8. The Get Down, released August 12th on Netflix, stars Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Herizen Guardiola, Tremaine Brown Jr, Mamoudou Athie, and Jimmy Smits. From Shawn Ryan and Baz Luhrmann, this series focuses on the lives and music of a group of teenagers in the Bronx during the late ’70s, and tracks the birth of hip-hop. Aside from Smits, I do not know any of these actors but, with a rapping narrator, this just looks like a fun and different series.
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