Rundown of the good, bad and the reality of summer

AUSTIN, Texas — The dog days of summer came early this year, in part due to the high temperatures that started in May, but also because of the smothering wave of reality TV.

It's spreading like wildfire, especially on the broadcast networks, but also on some of the cable channels that we've come to depend on for fabulous summer drama. Bad news. The writers strike delayed the eagerly anticipated "Burn Notice," "The Closer" and "Mad Men," all of which arrive later this month.

In the meantime, we face a wave of overweight people treated badly, lost souls parading their lack of talent for public humiliation, judges hurling nasty critiques at wannabe warblers and hoofers and so on.

The state of this so-called reality can be summed up in two groaners: "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" and "Wipeout." Both ooze hysteria and bad taste Tuesday nights on ABC. The decibel level reaches excruciating proportions, and the level of potential bodily harm can be frightening. How many times did that poor woman have to fall off those huge pink balls on "Wipeout"? Too many.

But unless we decide to hunker down and read the classics or venture out into the scalding nights, we need some lifeguarding to survive this wave. We'll divide the pool into sections: Watchable (possibly/definitely) and Awful (possibly/definitely).

Watchable

--"The Greatest American Dog," 7 p.m. Thursday on CBS: If we're going to the dogs with summer TV, we might as well really go to the dogs, don't you think? The contest won't be on a par with the "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," which showcases sleek Vizslas and elegant French hounds, but cute canines are hard to beat. A dozen smart dogs and their masters will live together and learn new tricks. Each week the dog and owner that perform the sloppiest trick get bumped.

--"High School Musical: Get in the Picture," 7 p.m. July 20 on ABC: Surely this one won't disappoint. The popular Disney TV movie searches for one lucky kid to sing and dance in the next sequel. Finalists from all over the country compete for the career-making title.

--"Project Runway," 8 p.m. July 16 on Bravo: It's the last season for the fashionista parade on Bravo before the show shifts to Lifetime in November. Who knows what "Runway" will look like at that point? Will the contestants and their designs be toned down for the middle-class, middle-age female audience on Lifetime? We don't know, but this summer's Bravo run should be as edgy as ever. Bring on the purple hair.

--"Hopkins," 9 p.m. Thursdays on ABC: A six-part documentary series (not actually a reality show, but that's OK) goes inside Baltimore's renowned Johns Hopkins hospital, where real doctors face real challenges. The docs and their cases are uniformly fascinating, and the suspense is painfully real.

--"Jingles," 8 p.m. July 27 on CBS: Contestants dream up ditties to sell products on TV. I have no idea why, but this concept just sounds fun.

--"The Mole," 9 p.m. Mondays on ABC: Not my cup of tea, but so many people I respect love the show that I'm willing to concede. Apparently, its appeal is similar to "Amazing Race." "The Mole" follows a dozen contestants striving to win big bucks through various challenges while a secret saboteur in their midst works against them.

--"Nashville Star," 8 p.m. Mondays on NBC: Just your basic well-done talent show with a country twist.

Awful

--"American Gladiators," 7 p.m. Mondays on NBC: Didn't like the original; don't like the revival. Loud, sweaty and filled with noise, this competition feels as cheesy as pro wrestling.

--"So You Think You Can Dance," 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 p.m. Thursdays on Fox: Among the many dance shows on TV right now, this one might be the most cruel. And that's saying something.

--"America's Got Talent," 8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC: Surveying the talent (both strange and traditional) and the not-so-talented has become a tiresome task. The show boasts the weirdest trio of judges on TV: David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. Add host Jerry Springer, and you've got a mad, cacophonous mix.

--"Celebrity Circus," 8 p.m. Wednesdays on NBC: Those of us who remember "Circus of the Stars" know a better version can be made.

--"Big Brother," 7 p.m. July 13 on CBS: Scheduled to run three nights a week (Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays), the 10th season of voyeuristic reality promises all the tedium and boredom of previous seasons. Peeking at bad-behaving housemates must be CBS' idea of summer fun, but it's not exactly a hit. Could the constant returns be due to hostess Julie Chen, who happens to be married to CBS President Les Moonves?

--"Baby Borrowers," 7 p.m. Wednesdays on NBC: In a show billing itself as "birth control," teenage couples take charge of other people's kids. Screaming and vomiting ensue. NBC pulled this project after it was initially received with horror and charges of child abuse last year. Now, it's trying to be public service with comedy. Nah.