Mad men, even madder women

There are two ways to prepare for the summer season: 1) Pray every morning for incredible weather. 2) Get cable.

Because the first strategy is fairly futile, your best bet is to finally break down and fork over the bucks. TNT, Showtime and Lifetime might not seem like necessities the rest of the year, but as the networks turn over their schedules to ridiculous reality shows and reruns, you'll be glad you have some additional choices, ranging from supersmart police thrillers to female-friendly comedies.

Here are 10 entrees that promise to be as tasty as a backyard barbecue:

"Army Wives": Lifetime's biggest hit returns after 10 long months with a bombshell: Did anyone go up in smoke after a jealous husband threatened to go ka-boom? The second season's other huge question: Will star Catherine Bell stop looking and acting so frumpy? (9 p.m. Sundays, Lifetime)

"In Plain Sight": More than 5 million savvy viewers know that the latest female-driven cop series hits the bull's-eye, thanks largely to "West Wing" veteran Mary McCormack, an actress adept at handling a gun and a quip. If you love "The Closer," then this is must-see TV. (9 p.m. Sundays, USA)

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent": This umpteenth spinoff of "Law & Order" proves that there is life after network TV. The series, now in its seventh season, has found new life on USA. It certainly doesn't hurt that one of its stars is Chris Noth, the Mr. Big of the really big "Sex and the City" movie. (8 p.m. Sundays, USA)

"My Boys": P.J. Franklin loves watching baseball, playing poker and hanging out with the guys. The twist is that Franklin is a woman, one of TV's sexiest. Despite her tomboy inclinations, my favorite heroine starts the third season looking for love, first in Italy and then at an ill-fated dinner party that would make Mary Richards cringe. "My Boys" is my kind of sitcom. To read an interview with star Jordana Spiro, see Tuesday's Source section. (8:30 p.m. Thursdays, TBS)

"Weeds": Showtime's best series is on fire -- literally. When we last left drug-dealing widow Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker), she had burned down her suburban abode and was hoping to find greener pastures. Unlikely, since the third season starts with her moving in with her last husband's father, played by ... Albert Brooks! Simply brilliant. (9 p.m. June 16, SHO)

"Camp Rock": Because Disney can't possibly churn out a "High School Musical" sequel every six months, it has come up with the next best thing: a clear yet compelling "High School Musical" ripoff. In "Camp Rock," a likable teenage girl finds friends and fun through -- what else? -- singing and dancing. The red-hot Jonas Brothers also appear, ensuring that this will be the tween set's answer to "Indiana Jones." (7 p.m. June 20, Disney)

"The Secret Life of the American Teenager": "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton returns with a new series about what it's like to be a pregnant teenager. Blasts from the past Molly Ringwald and John Schneider play parents. We repeat: parents. Man, do I feel old. (7 p.m. July 1, ABC Family)

"Burn Notice": James Bond is on hiatus this summer, and that's just fine with us. We have the second season of this sun-soaked dramedy, in which actors Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell play variations of good ol' 007 in Miami. Those looking to be shaken and stirred won't be disappointed. (9 p.m. July 10, USA)

"The Closer": The only engaging mystery in this three-year-old series is: How come it took so long for Kyra Sedgwick to be anointed a star? It's her performance as homicide detective Brenda Johnson -- not the oh-so-predictable cases -- that keeps us coming back for more. (8 p.m. July 14, TNT)

"Mad Men": TV's most stylish series picks up in the early 1960s, a short time after Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) gets an unexpected promotion and an unexpected baby on the same day. It's that kind of twist that has us hooked and thinking about investing in some skinny ties. (9 p.m. July 27, AMC)

njustin@startribune.com • 612-673-7431