Big June For Premieres, Award Shows . . . DVRs At The Ready!

OK, so I admit that summertime is about as close to Hell as it gets for TV. Most really great shows have long since wrapped their seasons until fall, there's no great sports on the tube unless one has the patience to sit at home and watch an entire baseball game, and it seems every network thinks this is THE time to trot out their millionth reality-TV retread.

Oh, but if you have cable, either basic or premium? This is three to four months that barely fazes.

But take heart, Big Four viewers. There are a few scattered big awards shows coming up this month while the rest of us enjoy new seasons of some great cable originals, and the start of one hit series' final bow.

The start of June's best stuff happens June 5, when you can catch the MTV Movie Awards - hosted by funnyman Jason Sudeikis - and the premiere of MTV's lycan-centric drama "Teen Wolf," which appears to have just about exactly nothing to do with one of my favorite Michael J. Fox comedies. Incidentally, that's also the same night "The Next Food Network Star" premieres.

I really shouldn't need to tell you what channel that's on.

June 7, a couple hit USA original series return for their sophomore stands with new episodes of "Covert Affairs" and "White Collar." And if you miss either and forget to set your DVR, fret not. June 8 will debut Yidio's continuing coverage of USA's original line-up.

June 8, Kid Rock is back to host the CMT Music Awards, celebrating the best in country music videos. And if Kid hasn't jacked up your testosterone enough, check out the Spike Guys' Choice Awards on June 10, where Jim Carrey will receive the vaunted Funny M.F. Award celebrating his career achievements and Jennifer Aniston will finally receive the equally prestigious Decade of Hotness Honor. Her parents must be so proud.

Take it down a notch June 12, when Neil Patrick Harris once more hosts the Tony Awards on CBS. Take a week-long breather, then . . . well, take it down a notch again June 19 for The Daytime Emmy Awards, also on CBS.

June 23, check out the seventh-season premiere of "Futurama" on Comedy Central, not to mention the fifth season of "Burn Notice" on USA.

June 26 is another big night for two series, as "Leverage" returns to TNT and "True Blood" makes its long-awaited return to HBO. But things will get bittersweet the next night, as Showtime's hit "Weeds" begins its sixth and last season amidst the exploits of the pot-dealing Botwin clan. Finally, round out the month on June 29 with the season premiere of "Royal Pains" on USA.