Good, bad, ugly of new summer shows

Summer has brought warmer temperatures, school vacations, and an onslaught of new reality shows. Around 30 reality shows will start (and end) their runs throughout the summer months, and most of these series are brand-new. Of the shows that have debuted so far, the big surprise is that most of them suck, and basically have us begging for a hurricane to knock out the electricity. There are a few stars among the flame-outs, though, and new shows will continue to debut throughout June and July, and even into August.

To guide you through the summer of reality, here’s a look at a few stand-out shows: the good, the bad, the so-so and those we’re looking forward to.

Fun even on a sunny day
“Hell’s Kitchen” (FOX, Mondays at 9 ET): There’s very little cooking on this kitchen-set series; instead, it’s mostly about the stress of auditioning for a perfectionist chef, Gordon Ramsay. He teaches his protégés by, among other things, pushing plates of rejected food onto their aprons and screaming insults at them. It’s oddly compelling and addictive, in part because the cast members are so desperate to be chefs that they’ll tolerate this abuse. More fun, though, is watching Ramsay berate diners who, annoyed after waiting two hours for an appetizer, approach the kitchen, only to be told to “f--- off,” or worse.

“Beauty and the Geek” (The WB, Wednesdays at 8): This is a contest that forces dumb, attractive women and ugly, intelligent men to work together, teaching each other social skills and general knowledge. Because it’s not a dating show, and because the contestants are tested in every episode, the result is entertaining and even heartwarming.

“Blow Out 2” (Bravo, Tuesdays at 10): The second season of this salon-set series continues to show its mastery of the workspace reality series subgenre. Jonathan Antin commands attention and attracts drama wherever he goes, and his cast of supporting stylists and assistants give him plenty to deal with. As an added stressor, this season he’s working to launch a product line of his own.

Upcoming series to plan your vacation around
“Big Brother 6” (CBS, July 7 at 8): This is the summer show everyone is waiting for. A summer staple for the past five years, the series is so completely awful it’s fantastic. Watch as host Julie Chen tries to act natural, the producers make up rules as they go along, and the cast acts like a bunch of backstabbing, intoxicated nitwits. This year, the prisoners — er, houseguests — will live in a brand-new house, giving them more space in which to act like morons. We can’t wait.

Monty Brinton / CBS The surviving members of the band INXS (from left, Tim Farriss, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers) will search for their new lead singer on CBS's "Rock Star."

“Being Bobby Brown” (Bravo, June 30 at 10): Although far too many celebrities now have (or have had) their own self-indulgent and dull series, the right celebrity can make a show work. That’s why Bravo appears to have a winner with “Being Bobby Brown,” as it will star both Bobby and Whitney Houston. That alone makes this the summer’s most anticipated train-wreck reality series.

“Rock Star: INXS” (CBS, July 11 at 9): Mark Burnett helps INXS search for a new lead singer in this three-episode-per-week contest that will combine “American Idol” with “Survivor.” Viewers will watch performances and vote, but will also watch an hour’s worth of drama each week. The big question: Will it be another “Apprentice,” or another “Casino”?

“Tommy Lee Goes to College” (NBC, August 16 at 9): The title says it all.

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