No, this is not a patriotic post.  Although, I guess I am pretty patriotic.  Actually, I’m talking about the cable network called USA.  They advertise that they’re the channel for characters, and they’ve got that right! 

But, the real reason I’m thankful for the USA channel is because they brighten up summer TV.  I don’t watch a lot of television, but I do enjoy some relatively mindless entertainment after a hard day at the computer.  And on the phone. 

Summer used to be useless as far as television was concerned.  If you had a good memory, you’d go nuts with reruns.  But, on Monday, two of my favorite shows came back for their short runs.

If you haven’t seen The Closer, you might want to take a look.  The lead is a woman, but it’s not a chick show.  It’s got good story lines and great acting.  There’s only one thing I would change. 

In the show, the lead character moved from somewhere in the South to somewhere on the West Coast, I think.  If the actress playing the lead, whose name I naturally don’t know, could do a good Southern accent, that would be fine.  However, she can’t.  If you haven’t heard a real Southern accent lately, rest assured what you hear on The Closer isn’t getting you any closer to hearing one. 

If I ruled the world, I would have written the story with the lead moving from somewhere like Ohio to the West Coast.  Then, the actress could just use her real voice.

The second show on USA Monday is another favorite, Saving Grace.  Some people I know won’t watch that show because they say that Holly Hunter (I think I got that one right) is just too raw.  My reply?  Well, that’s the whole idea.  If Grace didn’t have a bunch of problems, what would be the point in saving her? 

I also like to watch it because Hunter is not a spring chicken, and I’m fascinated by her physique.  How she has developed all those muscles in that little tiny body is a wonder.

And, then, there’s Earl.  Great guy.  Wish I had someone like him hanging around me, although I’m glad I don’t need one.  That probably sounds very strange, but you have to catch up with the show to understand.

If nothing else, just watch the first few minutes through the part where they play the theme song.  It’ll make you wanna get up and move – or maybe slither . . .