Summer is time to view missed shows

Reruns are hard to find this summer. After years of watching their viewers drift away to cable in the summer, the broadcast networks are fighting back with new reality shows, new games and even new dramas -- all of which push reruns off the schedule. But while catching up can be challenging, it isn't impossible. Here are some shows to seek out this summer and how to find them. All have been renewed for the fall.

"The Good Wife" What it's about: Alicia Florek (Julianna Margulies) goes back to work as a lawyer after her politician husband (Chris Noth) is sent to jail.

Why you'll like it: "The Good Wife" skillfully blends legal procedurals with the juicy personal stories of Alicia and her family and colleagues, including Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Archie Panjabi and Matt Czuchry. Excellent performances and good writing lift the drama far above the ordinary.

Where to watch: Look for repeats at 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Episodes also can be streamed or downloaded on iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and other sites.

Also in reruns on CBS: Freshman hit "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8 p.m. Tuesdays).

"The Vampire Diaries" What it's about: Teenage Elena (Nina Dobrev) falls in love with classmate Stefan (Paul Wesley), who's actually a vampire -- problem enough even before Stefan's bad-vampire brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) arrives.

Why you'll like it: In the hands of Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek"), "Diaries" combines the aching romance of the "Twilight" series with a multilayered, soapy story of small town secrets.

Also in reruns on the CW: "Life Unexpected" (9 p.m. Tuesdays), a sweet drama about a foster child reunited with her birth parents.

"Glee" What it's about: A high-school glee club uses music to cope with bullies, boy- and girlfriend problems and even serious stuff.

Why you'll like it: Maybe you've heard a little something about "Glee," which ended its season this week with deafening buzz and soaring ratings.

Where to watch: Wisely, Fox will air repeats at 8 p.m. Thursdays beginning next week, because even people who couldn't be bothered with "Glee" during the regular season, or just never got into the "Glee" groove, might find that its mixture of silliness and poignancy is just perfect for summer.

"V" What it's about: Aliens land on Earth promising great things but hiding an evil agenda.

Where to watch: Season 1 is available for purchased download or streaming at Amazon, iTunes and Netflix, as well as for preorder on DVD (no release date yet). Or catch up free online with the five most recent episodes at abc.go.com/v and Hulu.com.

Also in reruns on ABC: Comedies "Modern Family" and "The Middle" (both highly recommended) along with "Cougar Town" air from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

"Parenthood" What it's about: A multigenerational family calls on humor to cope with challenges.

Why you'll like it: "Parenthood" tells many stories at once and tells them well, with the tone switching from lighthearted to downbeat without missing a note. The casting (especially Peter Krause and Lauren Graham as siblings and Craig T. Nelson as the crusty patriarch) is also superb.

Where to watch: NBC isn't airing "Parenthood" reruns at the moment but could schedule them before the summer is over. Meanwhile, episodes are available free until September at NBC.com and other online sites.