TV’s summer will offer 18 new dramas, comedies

Watch out, “Big Brother.” This looks like TV’s summer of the scripted show.

Between the broadcast networks and cable, at least 18 new dramas and comedies will debut before back-to-school time. And that doesn’t count the 20-odd scripted series that will make return appearances.

Of course, “Big Brother” will be back, too, along with summer staples “America’s Got Talent” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Even “Last Comic Standing” has booked a return engagement.

Here’s a look at the summer season’s new scripted shows:

•“Are We There Yet?,” premiered Wednesday on TBS: Terry Crews (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is the dad in a comedy about a blended family, inspired by the 2005 movie starring Ice Cube.

•“The Hard Times of RJ Burger,” Sunday, MTV: A bullied teen (Paul Iacono) finds a key to popularity when his “anatomical gift” is exposed in a live-action comedy billed as a “loud, funny, raunchy, sexy look at the life of a lovable loser.”

•“Neighbors from Hell,” Monday, TBS: In this animated series, demons move to suburbia.

•“Persons Unknown,” Monday, NBC: Strangers are forced to come together to solve “the puzzle of their lives” in a mystery drama from Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”).

•“Pretty Little Liars,” Tuesday, ABC Family: Teens in a perfect little town have an ugly secret – they know what happened when one of their own disappeared.

•“Scoundrels,” June 20, ABC: In a comedy-drama based on an Australian series, a family of crooks tries to go straight after the father is sent to prison. Virginia Madsen, David James Elliott, Leven Ramben and Carlos Bernard (“24”) star.

•“The Gates,” June 20, ABC: The new police chief and his family find that their move to a wealthy mountain community isn’t what they expected, what with dark truths and supernatural elements lurking around every corner.

•“Memphis Beat,” June 22, TNT: Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl”) returns to TV as a quirky Memphis cop who reveres the city, its music and his mother.

•“Rookie Blue,” June 24, ABC: Five newly minted cops hit the street in this Canadian series getting a U.S. run. Stars include Missy Peregrym (“Heroes”) and Gregory Smith (“Everwood”).

•“Huge,” June 28, ABC Family: A comedy-drama from Winnie Holzman (“My So-Called Life”) follows teens and staff at a weight-loss camp. Nikki Blonsky (“Hairspray”) stars.

•“Louie,” June 29, FX: Louis CK plays a stand-up comic and newly single father.

•“Haven,” July 9, Syfy: In this supernatural mystery based on a Stephen King novella, an FBI agent (Emily Rose) follows a case to a small town in Maine that turns out to be a refuge for people with supernatural abilities.

•“The Bridge,” July 10, CBS: A Canadian cop drama about a wealthy neighborhood and a poor one.

•“Rizzoli & Isles,” July 12, TNT: A police drama based on characters from the novels of Tess Gerritsen stars Angie Harmon as Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, who works closely with Medical Examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander).

•“Covert Affairs,” July 12, USA: Piper Perabo plays a trainee spy suddenly promoted to field agent for reasons she doesn’t understand in an “Alias”-ish thriller co-starring Peter Gallagher.

•“The Glades,” July 13, A&E: A Chicago homicide detective (Matt Passmore) becomes a state trooper in a sleepy town in Florida where people seem to keep getting murdered.

•“Rubicon,” Aug. 1, AMC: The movie network’s third original drama series (after “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad”) is a political thriller with James Badge Dale (“The Pacific”) as a think-tank analyst upended by a conspiracy.

•“The Big C,” Aug. 16, Showtime: Laura Linney stars as a woman newly diagnosed with cancer and determined to make every minute count in a dark comedy with Oliver Platt as her husband and Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious”) in a recurring role.