Last night's season premiere of Missing did indeed prove to be zippier than last season. It's more of a typical TV show now (Vivica Fox's character is more of a maverick agent who does things her own way, in contrast to Gloria Ruben's more professional character; they've got an asshole boss), but it still feels like a continuation of the original series.

Tonight, two more series come to their season finales: American Family: Journey of Dreams and Coupling. Plus there's a new Tony Hillerman movie on PBS, Thief of Time, and a new series premiering on USA, The 4400.

I don't want to suggest that the networks really need to figure out what to do during the summer, but the shows I'm finding myself watching regularly now...

Broadcast networks: Summerland, Amazing Race (starting last night; I been sucked in)

Cable networks: Joe Schmo 2, Nip/Tuck, Newlyweds, Stargate SG-1, Missing, The Dead Zone, and probably Stargate Atlantis, The 4400, and Rescue Me.

And they wonder why they have trouble competing...