10 New TV Shows That Will Be Total Guilty Pleasures This Summer

    Summer TV is a haven for absurdity, melodrama, and crap that would never fly in the fall. These shows might be legitimately good — and I'm holding out hope! — but ironic enjoyment is equally enticing.

    Louis Peitzman
    by Louis Peitzman

    BuzzFeed News Reporter

    1. The American Baking Competition

    CBS

    Premieres: May 29th, 8 p.m. on CBS

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: It's a reality cooking competition that's not on Bravo — never a great sign — and it's hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. At least Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has written cookbooks.

    Why it might be legitimately good: The judges are experts, even if the host isn't. Plus it's hard to go wrong when it comes to watching people bake.

    2. Dancing Fools

    ABC Family

    Premieres: May 29th, 9 p.m. on ABC Family

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: Think America's Funniest Home Videos but just with people dancing horribly. Now think how wonderful and awful that sounds.

    Why it might be legitimately good: Maybe it's tongue-in-cheek? That's probably not going to help much. Let's say it might be legitimately cute.

    3. Princesses: Long Island

    Bravo

    Premieres: June 2nd, 9 p.m. on Bravo

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: Uh, the title. Bravo reality series are the ultimate guilty pleasures, especially when they focus on overprivileged women drinking and being awful to each other.

    Why it might be legitimately good: Nope.

    4. Mistresses

    ABC

    Premieres: June 3rd, 10 p.m. on ABC

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: Cut the crap — this show is about people cheating on their significant others. And look at those clothes!

    Why it might be legitimately good: The cast could elevate the material. I'm especially excited to see Yunjin Kim (Lost's Sun) back on ABC.

    5. Sinbad

    SyFy

    Premieres: June 8th, 9 p.m. on SyFy

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: It's an import of a flop British TV show that got canceled after one season. But hey, look how shirtless Sinbad is!

    Why it might be legitimately good: The series was designed to have "the ambition of Lost and the pace of 24." (I think we would have heard if it had accomplished that, though.)

    6. Primeval: New World

    SyFy

    Premieres: June 8th, 10 p.m. on SyFy

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: And here's another international import that was canceled after one season. Hey, if SyFy wants to air these as "limited series," more power to them. But those effects!

    Why it might be legitimately good: The premise is kind of fun (time-traveling animals from the past and future!) and it has Sara Canning, who was charming on The Vampire Diaries.

    7. Twisted

    ABC Family

    Premieres: June 11th, 9 p.m. on ABC Family

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: Denise MF-ing Richards. This is classic ABC Family fare, though it sounds a little darker than what we're used to. Excellent.

    Why it might be legitimately good: ABC Family has a habit of surprising viewers with series that go above and beyond what you'd expect. With good writing and direction, you never know!

    8. Devious Maids

    Lifetime

    Premieres: June 23rd, 10 p.m. on Lifetime

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: Again with these amazing titles — my summer TV cup runneth over! Did I mention it's a fake spin-off of Desperate Housewives? (One of the characters appeared in the DH series finale.)

    Why it might be legitimately good: Marc Cherry knows how to write smart shows with trashy subject matter. Desperate Housewives may have fallen out of favor, but it started strong.

    9. The Vineyard

    ABC Family

    Premieres: July 23rd, 10 p.m. on ABC Family

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: It's a reality series about rich young people airing on ABC Family. Explain how this could go any other way.

    Why it might be legitimately good: Again, ABC Family has a habit of turning the ridiculous into something truly great. But, no, this will not be that show.

    10. The Hunt

    The CW

    Premieres: July 31st, 9 p.m. on The CW

    Why it might be a guilty pleasure: A reality competition from the people who brought you Ready for Love! Also, it's clearly inspired by The Hunger Games, minus the fatalities, which is just silly.

    Why it might be legitimately good: Wilderness-survival series make for captivating TV. With the right cast of competitors (and high enough stakes), this could be solid.