Of Medical And Marijuana

Summer television is in full swing and thank the boob-tube gods up above that we have something interesting to watch other than the meltdown of the Gosselin family and people who do not matter putting their two cents on the issue.

No, I'm talking about summer television that is fun, a bit edgy, and looks to fully capture the essence of summer -- meaningful escapism. Most audiences agree that while they do not like to dumb down their entertainment for the sake of escapism, they prefer it over actually being challenged and having more stress added to their lives. And who wants that during a season where trips to the beach and barbecues are the only thing you have to worry about?

Luckily, not all summer television programming has reached a level of mind numbing mediocrity and at the same time, it does not take itself too seriously either. Much like the friends you made at camp, one is new, one is old, and they are both magical doorways to other worlds for the hot nights between June and September.

Weeds

I am fully convinced Weeds can and should go on forever. There is hardly ever a rainy day in Weeds, cool drinks with large straws are always on tap, and Mary-Louise Parker is the perfect summer girlfriend who runs her own business and likes to get into trouble. What I particularly like about the show is how creator Jenji Kohan has not taken the Botwin clan back to the suburbs of Agrestic. It was a little shaky last season when Nancy and her crew showed up in San Diego, but what it proved was that there is more to this woman than just being a soccer mom who sells pot. Nancy Botwin is the new millennium American dream: a drug dealer, a mom, and someone who cannot seem to catch a break even when she is doing the best that she can. As with every season of Weeds, I'm not sure where it is going and I like that. Will Nancy's Mexican drug impresario really kill her once she has the baby? Can Andy prove himself to be just the thing that Nancy needs, even though he's slept with her sister now on several occasions? Are Silas and Shane forever damaged by their mother's actions or does a wild streak run in the family? The only thing I do not seem to care for any more -- and it pains me because she has been such a fixture on the show for so long -- is Celia's storyline. She was kidnapped and no one would pay her ransom. Great! Funny! And a perfect ending? No, as next week's promo hinted at Celia's return from being south of the border. If the writers can make her an active part of the show and not just a punchline, I'm all for her staying. If not, it's time for Celia to pack her bags and a bowl and get smoked out.

Nurse Jackie

The last new show I tried on ShowTime did not end so well. This time, I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I'm really enjoying a new program from the ground up. Edie Falco, without a doubt, makes Nurse Jackie work and without her, I doubt it would be as strong of a series. Where Weeds is the bestest camp buddy, Nurse Jackie is the headstrong, but wise and ultimately caring counselor. Sure, it's another medical show, but it takes the humor of Scrubs and turns it dark, the episodic feeling of House and gives it structure, and puts doctors on the back burner in order to allow nurses to take center stage. Is it a summer show? Not one hundred percent, but it gives the emotional kick to summer programming that usually gets lost between the cracks of reality and re-runs. The first episode was so-so, the next one got a little better, and Monday night's was fantastic because we really got to see all of Jackie's worlds come together. Nurse Jackie might not know exactly how to handle its tone and style (the ads make it come off like a whimsical trip to the emergency room), but once it does hone those elements, I'm certain it will take off beautifully. My suggestion: go darker, meaner, and even further with the humor. All these characters have more pathos to them and the audience needs to see that. So far my favorite character is Zoe Brakow, the student nurse that Jackie both loves and hates, played to perfection by Merritt Wever. I like how she is a perfect counter of light to Jackie's black hole and I look forward to seeing the young sprite either get taken down to a realistic level in the nursing field or fight to remain a caregiver with optimism in her tool kit.

The sun is shining, the weather is great, and you feel like you have all the time in the world. Well, you don't. Sorry. When you get a chance, though, bring your hot dogs and potato salad inside, crank up the A/C, and turn on your television like the rest of the year. Nancy and Jackie are happy to be your summer flings.