Spend the summer on TV with therapists, vampires, Louie and sandcastle builders

Falling Skies
It may sound like a tired retread of other alien-saucers-squat-above-major-cities doomsday scenarios, but I've been quickly taken by the first few episodes of this new series and its "Red Dawn"-like narrative of a citizen army on the move. Former "ER" doc Noah Wylie is surprisingly good as a professor and worried father who must also become a ruthless freedom fighter. June 19, TNT

True Blood
A coven of witches + Sukie's a fairy + a pro-fang political PR offensive = delish. June 26, HBO

Weeds
Some have tired of Nancy Botwin's epic journey, but I'm still mesmerized -- and impressed by the show's resilience and humor. If you've always hoped to see this drug-dealing suburban mom in prison, you may be in luck. June 27, Showtime

r Breaking Bad
The glowing reviews. The Emmys. Bryan Cranston. The universe has done everything it can to try to get you to watch one of TV's finest shows, save driving you to Albuquerque and scoring you some meth of your very own. July 17, AMC

Entourage
Guess this season is it for Vince and the guys. I'm still hoping it ends with Vince's tragic death, a giant media storm of grief and then a new, post-Vince life for Turtle, Drama, E and Ari. July 24, HBO

Also returning: "The Big C," June 27, Showtime; "Curb Your Enthusiasm," July 10, HBO; and "Rescue Me" (final season!), July 13, FX. (Sorry -- no "Mad Men" until 2012.)

r = Denotes one of critic's five best picks.