‘Extant,’ ‘The Whispers’ & 12 More Scripted Summer Shows You Forgot
For the most part, people talk about the fall and midseason for TV, but the summer season has had some hidden gems over the years.
With production on hold in Hollywood and return dates uncertain for most of our favorites, we’re taking a look back at some shows that you may have forgotten about. If you love procedurals, there’s Rookie Blue. If a medical drama is more your thing, there’s The Night Shift.
If you’d rather some sci-fi, there are plenty to choose from, including Extant and BrainDead. So scroll down and see which dramas and dramedies you may have forgotten about over the years and which are streaming.
American Gothic (2016)
The CBS drama follows a wealthy family after the discovery that the dead patriarch might have been a serial killer. It starred Juliet Rylance, Antony Starr, Justin Chatwin, Megan Ketch, Elliot Knight, Stephanie Leonidas, Gabriel Bateman, and Virginia Madsen.
Is it streaming? No
Aquarius (2015-2016)
Inspired by real people and events, NBC’s fictional take and characters followed an LAPD detective who crossed paths with Charles Manson. It starred David Duchovny, Grey Damon, Gethin Anthony, Emma Dumont, Claire Holt, Michaela McManus, Brian F. O’Byrne, Chance Kelly, Ambyr Childers, Madisen Beaty, and Cameron Deane Stewart.
Is it streaming? Yes, on Netflix
BrainDead (2016)
CBS’s political sci-fi dramedy (not something you hear every day) from Robert and Michelle King followed a documentary filmmaker who discovered that alien bugs were taking control of people in D.C. It starred Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Danny Pino, Tony Shalhoub, Aaron Tveit, Nikki M. James, Jan Maxwell, Johnny Ray Gill, and Charlie Semine.
Is it streaming? Yes, on CBS All Access
Combat Hospital (2011)
This Canadian medical drama aired on ABC for one season, following the lives of doctors and nurses at a military hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It starred Michelle Borth, Elias Koteas, Terry Chen, Arnold Pinnock, Deborah Kara Unger, Luke Mably, and Ali Kazmi.
Is it streaming? No.
Extant (2014-2015)
In CBS’ sci-fi drama, an astronaut returned home after a 13-month solo mission in space pregnant. It starred Halle Berry, Goran Visnjic, Pierce Gagnon, Grace Gummer, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael O’Neill, Camryn Manheim, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Is it streaming? Yes, on CBS All Access
The L.A. Complex (2012)
It goes without saying that there was plenty of drama in this Canadian series that aired two season on The CW. As the title implies, it followed the lives and relationships of those living in the same apartment complex hoping to make it as actors, dancers, producers, and comedians. It starred Cassie Steele, Jonathan Patrick Moore, Joe Dinicol, Andra Fuller, Jewel Staite, Chelan Simmons, Benjamin Charles Watson, Georgina Reilly, Dayle McLeod, and Michael Levinson.
Is it streaming? Yes, on The CW Seed
Mistresses (2013-2016)
This ABC series had it all: mystery, drama, and juicy relationships in the lives of four friends. It starred Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim, Rochelle Aytes, Jes Macallan, Brett Tucker, Erik Stocklin, and Jason George.
Is it streaming? Yes, on Hulu
The Night Shift (2014-2017)
Amidst all the medical dramas on television was this gem on NBC. For four seasons, it followed the staff, some of which were army medics, of the late shift in the ER at San Antonio Memorial Hospital. Its cast included Eoin Macken, Jill Flint, Ken Leung, Brendan Fehr, Robert Bailey Jr., Jeananne Goossen, JR Lemon, and Freddy Rodriguez.
Is it streaming? Yes, on Netflix
Reverie (2018)
A hostage negotiator was recruited to save people who were lost in a virtual-reality simulation and worked through her own personal tragedy. The NBC drama starred Sarah Shahi, Dennis Haysbert, Jessica Lu, Sendhil Ramamurthy, and Kathryn Morris.
Is it streaming? No
Rookie Blue (2010-2015)
The Canadian procedural drama aired on ABC for six seasons (the fifth was split in two) and followed five cops on the job, starting with, as the title implied, their rookie days. Its cast included Missy Peregrym, Travis Milne, Charlotte Sullivan, Enuka Okuma, Gregory Smith, Ben Bass, Matt Gordon, Peter Mooney, and Priscilla Faia.
Is it streaming? No.
Under the Dome (2013-2015)
Based on Stephen King’s novel, the CBS sci-fi mystery drama followed the lives of those in Chester’s Mill after an unexplained dome came down on their town. Its cast included Mike Vogel, Rachelle Lefevre, Natalie Martinez, Britt Robertson, Alexander Koch, Colin Ford, Aisha Hinds, Jeff Fahey, Dean Norris, Mackenzie Lintz, Eddie Cahill, and Kylie Bunbury.
Is it streaming? Yes, on CBS All Access
Wayward Pines (2015-2016)
A Secret Service agent’s investigation into his fellow agents’ disappearances in a small town led to so much more and quite the twist in this Fox drama. Its cast included Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon, Reed Diamond, Charlie Tahan, Juliette Lewis, Tim Griffin, Melissa Leo, and Terrence Howard.
Is it streaming? Yes, on Hulu
The Whispers (2015)
It’s the ABC drama that ran one season with the kids who spoke to the same imaginary friend, “Drill.” It starred Lily Rabe, Milo Ventimiglia, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf, Barry Sloane, Kristen Connolly, Derek Webster, Catalina Denis, and Kylie Rogers.
Is it streaming? No
Zoo (2015-2017)
Based on James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge’s book, this CBS drama investigated coordinated violent animal attacks on humans around the world. It starred James Wolk, Kristen Connolly, Nonso Anozie, Nora Arnezeder, Billy Burke, Alyssa Diaz, Josh Salatin, and Gracie Dzienny.
Is it streaming? Yes, on Netflix
From TV Guide Magazine
How Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern' Is a 'Golden Girls' for Our Times
Settle in for some older and bolder laughs with the BFFs of a certain age in the new comedy starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham. Read the story now on TV Insider.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services