Now that Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, has passed, the networks are offering a slew of new shows for better or worse. Many of these are returning shows, some are new shows getting a short try out and some we will never see again. One of TV’s most popular shows, Dancing with the Stars, began as a six week trial during the summer of 2005, so you never know what you’re going to get. Still, some of these sound a bit “out there.”

Some of the new summer shows have already started, but most offer “encore” performances or episodes can be found online or through your cable service. Due to the size of show offerings, this story has been broken up into three segments and broken up into “Optimistic Choices” and “Pessimistic Choices.”

Optimistic Choices:

American Ninja Warrior
Status: Returning Show
Network: NBC
Debuted: Monday, May 26, 8:00 p.m.
Premise: Originally airing on another network and then partnering with NBC for the last two summers, the sixth season of American Ninja Warrior will be shown on NBC only until September. The obstacle course competition, which looks like a lot more fun to watch than to actually try yourself, will travel to five different cities where people from all walks of life try out. Their hopes of success can be dashed in seconds. In order for competitors to move on the finals, they much complete the finals course in their own city. Hosted by Matt Iseman, NFL player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Jenn Brown.

Extreme Weight Loss
Status: Returning Show
Network: ABC
Debuted: Tuesday, May 27, 8:00 p.m.
This show is unique in that trainer and “transformation specialist” Chris Powell documents the year-long training sessions he has with his clients in each two hour episode. The end results are truly amazing and the show itself is very encouraging to those of us (sigh) who could use a little motivation to eat better and move our body more.

Motive
Status: Returning Show
Network: ABC
Debuts: May 28, 10:00 p.m.
Premise: A personal favorite, the mystery crime show is different than others in that they show you who the victim will be and who the murderer is right from the get go. The rest of the show is how Detectives Angie Flynn and Oscar Vega figure out now only who did it but why. The two have a very conversational style about their acting that really makes them likeable and realistic. The show stars Kristin Lehman, Louis Ferreira, Brendan Penny, Lauren Holly and Warren Christie.

So You Think You Can Dance
Status: Returning Show
Network: Fox
Debuts: May 28, 8:00 p.m.
Premise: Now, in its’ 11^th season, SYTYCD has received 37 Emmy Award nominations and won 11 of them. Basically American Idol for dancers, contestants first compete for the main judges until they are able to whittle that bunch down to 20 and then America gets to decide who wins. The show is hosted by Cat Deeley and featuring resident judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy.

Pessimistic Choices:

Last Comic Standing
Status: Returning Show
Network: NBC
Debuted: May 22, 10:00 p.m. (Encore May 28, 8:00 p.m.)
Premise: Like American Idol only with standup comedians. Since its inception, the show has changed its format every season with this one being no exception. The season began with auditions by invitation only. This year the top 100 comics will compete for the top 20 spots. The winner receives a package that includes an NBC talent deal and a half-hour scripted project. The show features a new host (JB Smoove) and three new “comedy icons” Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Russell Peters. This should be a great show, but every year it ends up being a disappointment of crude and rude jokesters passing themselves off as comedians.