The summer TV doldrums.

Well, perhaps it's not just reruns, anymore. Thanks to cable networks, there is actually new programming showing up in the summer.

I guess that most of it is new seasons of returning shows: the new season of Six Feet Under started on Sunday, and even the "previously" recap was better than most stuff on the big networks. It's such fun to watch the dysfunctional Fisher family, even on a relatively slow episode as this first one. And Joe Schmo is back, as Joe Schmo 2, premiering tonight on Spike TV. Not just a remake of last year's show, this season they take on "relationship reality shows" like The Bachelor. And they've got two suckers, instead of one, both pursuing dream partners - as though a reality show was a good way to find one. Looks like fun.

Celebrity Poker Showdown is back for a new season, too. I'm enjoying it for the opportunity to see some of the players outside of their characters, and because some of them are such terrible poker players. You'd have thought that they'd learn the rules of the game before showing up for the taping, if not actually played some, but that seems not to be the case. (Adam Rodriguez, we mean you.)

And I watched Welcome to Mooseport recently. Fun little movie. Gene Hackman does a wonderful job, as always, and Maura Tierney is always good in a comedic role. Ray Romano doesn't do much other than play his TV character, so he's not especially good in this movie, either. I'd recommend it for an evening's diversion.