Scripted shows offer respite from new crop of reality

So you're not into the networks' new crop of summer reality shows.

That means no watching former UNLV basketball player Cheryl Kosewicz pretend to be a scurvy buccaneer ("Pirate Master," 8 p.m. Thursdays, KLAS-TV, Channel 8).

No watching Strip regulars do their thing ("America's Got Talent," 9 p.m. today, KVBC-TV, Channel 3 and "The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator," 8 p.m. Wednesdays, KTNV-TV, Channel 13).

And no watching to see who'll become the head chef of a new restaurant at Green Valley Ranch ("Hell's Kitchen," 9 p.m. Mondays, KVVU-TV, Channel 5).

Thankfully, there are plenty of people working to provide scripted entertainment this month. But few are working any harder than Lance Gross.

The Bonanza High School graduate moved to Atlanta in February to co-star in "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (back-to-back episodes premiere at 9 p.m. Wednesday, TBS). He's on pace to complete his 40th episode of the family comedy sometime this week as part of an unprecedented 100-episode commitment that has him churning out three episodes a week.

"It's good to know that we have a steady job like that," Gross says, able to joke about the rigors of his schedule (a typical sitcom produces three episodes a month). "It's a lot of work, but it's fun."

Gross, 25, majored in film production with a minor in acting while attending Howard University on a track and field scholarship. He's appeared on the comedies "The Bernie Mac Show" and "Eve," as well as in music videos for Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna. But "Payne," about a family with three generations living under the same roof, is his first job as a series regular.

A year ago, Gross was performing in an L.A. acting class when he was spotted by Perry, the critic-proof actor-writer-director behind "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" who's become an institution in the black community.

"He promised me that he would have something for me," Gross says, adding that Perry told him he was waiting for the perfect role. With "Payne," the model-turned-actor says, "he definitely kept his promise."

Gross says he misses the weather and nightlife of Las Vegas, although his demanding schedule likely won't allow him time to visit until shooting wraps in December. But he's taking the hard work in stride.

"It's school to me. I'm learning a lot," he says. "I feel like I'll come out of this prepared for anything. Doing any other show that does one show a week will be a breeze."

Here's a look at some of the other original scripted series airing this month:

On the broadcast side, there's the teen mystery "Hidden Palms" (8 p.m. Wednesdays, KVCW-TV, Channel 33) and the grad-students-framed-for-a-terror-attack drama "Traveler" (10 p.m. Wednesdays, Channel 13).

The networks also are burning off episodes of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (10 p.m. Thursdays, Channel 3), "Standoff" (9 p.m. Fridays, Channel 5) and "The Loop" (8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Channel 5).

But, like most summers, the majority of the scripted action is on cable.

HBO welcomes back "Big Love" (9 p.m. June 11) and "Entourage" (10 p.m. June 17), while adding "Deadwood" creator David Milch's "John From Cincinnati" (10 p.m. Sunday) and the musical comedy "Flight of the Conchords" (10:30 p.m. June 17).

USA's sci-fi duo "The 4400" (9 p.m. June 17) and "The Dead Zone" (10 p.m. June 17) return ahead of the new spy drama "Burn Notice" (10 p.m. June 28).

TNT tries to build on the success of "The Closer" (9 p.m. June 18) with the new organ-transplant drama "Heartland" (10 p.m. June 18).

BBC America has the final seasons of its supernatural series "Hex" (7 p.m. Saturdays) and the racy soap "Footballers Wives" (8 p.m. Wednesdays).

FX's "Rescue Me" (10 p.m. June 13) and ABC Family's "Kyle XY" (8 p.m. June 11) will be making high-profile returns.

And among the most anticipated newcomers are Lifetime's "Army Wives" (10 p.m. Sundays), with Dana Delaney and Catherine Bell; Showtime's "Meadowlands" (10 p.m. June 17), about a family in the witness protection program; and Comedy Central's "Lil Bush" (10:30 p.m. June 13), an animated comedy that imagines the president and his advisers as precocious, Little Rascals-style troublemakers.

Reality roundup: Criss Angel's made-in-Vegas "Mindfreak" returns for its third season (10 p.m. Tuesday, A&E).

Former Las Vegas contestants Stephen Asprinio, Tiffani Faison, Elia Aboumrad and Marcel Vigneron will compete in "Top Chef: 4-Star All-Stars" (10 p.m. Wednesday, Bravo).

And "So You Think You Can Dance" enters its Las Vegas round (9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Thursday, Channel 5).

Christopher Lawrence's Life on the Couch column appears on Mondays. E-mail him at clawrence@reviewjournal.com.