5 New Shows to Watch This Summer

After what seemed like the longest winter ever, summer is finally here with its sunny days and warm weather. But how long will it be before you forget all about that Polar Vortex and start staying inside with the A/C on? You're going to need some television to watch.

Luckily, we have a list of five new shows premiering this summer that you might like.

1. "Penny Dreadful"

If you're a horror fan, then the dark, gothic "Penny Dreadful" will be right up your alley. But you don't necessarily have to be a horror fan to be interested in the show. With literary figures like Dorian Grey and Victor Frankenstein in the cast of characters, fans of literature might also get a kick out of the show. Plus, with Josh Hartnett and Eva Green among the cast, there's eye candy for all types of viewers, and some good acting to boot.

"Penny Dreadful" premieres Sunday, May 11 at 10pm on Showtime.

2. "The Leftovers"

Based on the novel by Tom Perotta, "The Leftovers" raises an interesting question: If the Rapture (or something like it) actually happened and a huge percentage of the world's population suddenly disappeared without a trace, what would life be like for the ones who were left behind? The novel was a big hit, and the show is being overseen by Damon Lindelof of "Lost" fame, so you can expect plenty of mystery to keep you tuning in every week. Plus, it's on HBO, so there's a good bet there will be some steamy sex scenes thrown in for good measure.

"The Leftovers" premieres Sunday, June 29 at 10pm on HBO.

3. "The Strain"

It seems that there are a lot of dark, genre, specifically horror-leaning series premiering this summer, and "The Strain" is definitely one of them. Starring Corey Stoll of "House of Cards" fame (this time with hair!), the show imagines a world in which a virus is turning people into vampires. It'll be a gory show, so it's not for the faint of heart, but those who enjoy stories of the supernatural set in the modern world, this one ought to be good. The other half of the "Lost" team, Carlton Cuse, is producing this one.

"The Strain" premieres in July (date TBA) on FX.

4. "Extant"

With Stephen Spielberg producing and Halle Berry starring, it's no surprise that CBS wanted "Extant" on the air. Billed as a big summer event, the 13-episode sci-fi series stars Berry as an astronaut who returns from a 13-month mission with a surprise: She's pregnant. Given the timeline and the lack of human contact on her mission, that's a little...well, odd. The mystery of what exactly happened will be revealed (or at least partially revealed) during this limited series.

"Extant" premieres Wednesday, July 9 at 9pm on CBS.

5. "Breathless"

Not looking for a genre show? How about a period one? "Breathless" is a medical drama centering on a surgeon in 1961 London, played by "Smash" star Jack Davenport, whose career in gynecology becomes complicated with new advancements and shifting attitudes toward birth control and abortion. Think of it as "Mad Men" mixed with a little bit of "Grey's Anatomy" and set in England. Sounds pretty good, right?

"Breathless" premieres Sunday, August 24 at 9pm on PBS

6. BONUS: "24: Live Another Day"

Okay, so "24: Live Another Day" isn't really a new show. But it isn't really a returning show, either. It's more of a reboot of the original "24," featuring the return of Keifer Sutherland as the ass-kicking, light-profanity-growling Jack Bauer. The action takes place in London in this season, and you'll see many familiar faces from the old cast plus plenty of new ones as well, including "Chuck" and "Dexter" star Yvonne Strahovski.

"24:Live Another Day" premieres Monday, May 5 at 8pm on FOX.