Summer TV preview 2009

Do-gooder shows

The Philanthropist
Premiers June 24 on NBC
We could come up with our own synopsis for this new series starring James Purefoy ("Rome"), but why mess with perfection? Quoth NBC: "'The Philanthropist' chronicles the heroic adventures of a billionaire playboy turned vigilante philanthropist." Kinda like Batman, except instead of capturing supervillains he signs a check at a fund-raising gala at the climax of each episode...

The Goode Family
Premieres May 27 on ABC
From Mike Judge, the mind (and voice) behind "Beavis and Butthead" and "King of the Hill," comes this take on the modern, eco-minded American family. Judge has an impressive track record with primetime animated sitcoms, but only time will tell if this show will be Goode... or Badde. Yes, we went there.

Blonde Charity Mafia
Premieres July 7 on The CW
Originally picked up by Lifetime as a lead-in to their newly acquired golden goose, "Project Runway," "Blonde Charity Mafia" is a mostly unscripted "docu-series" that follows three 20-something socialites through the philanthropic jungle we call Washington, D.C. But viewer beware: only two of the three socilaites are actually blonde. (Dun, dun, dun!)