It's almost back, you guys.

Come summer time, the only thing worth watching on the Big Four Networks is…when does football start again? Unless you’re a fan of reality shows and sitcoms that weren’t even good enough to make it on the midseason schedule, Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS are all entertainment wastelands from June to August (the CW, too, but that’s year-round). Cable, on the other hand, is absolutely stacked, with both returning favorites (“Breaking Bad”!) and intriguing-sounding new shows (don’t make me regret calling you “intriguing,” “NTSF:SD:SUV”).

This is Warming Glow’s official summer TV preview, highlighting 25 shows, some great and some awful, but mostly somewhere in-between, that will keep you in the confines of your home instead of enjoying the warm weather and getting some much-needed exercise. (Also, before it’s brought up, “Beavis and Butthead” isn’t included because it doesn’t have an official premiere date yet.)

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Yesterday, New York Magazine published an article that described how network upfronts have changed over the years: as cable television stole viewers (and ad dollars), the lavish and debaucherous parties of yesteryear have been replaced with restrained, almost desperate presentations. Later that evening, Adult Swim capped its upfront by providing an open bar and endless hors d’oevres to a packed Roseland Ballroom that watched Jay-Z perform for an hour. After a week where the networks produced very little flash, it was another example of what Adult Swim does best: counter-programming.

Of course, Adult Swim might have gotten Jay-Z at a discount: this week Hova announced a development deal with Cartoon Network’s late-night programming branch, with talk of an original animated series. The cable channel is also developing projects with Odd Future and “Community” creator Dan Harmon, but what I’m most excited for is “China, IL” based on The Professor Brothers web series from the brilliant Brad Neely. The description:

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In case you haven’t seen it, Black Dynamite is an incredible spoof of ’70s blaxploitation films that has the added bonus of Michael Jai White kicking ass and sexing up foxy ladies. And now it’s coming to Adult Swim as a cartoon, with much of the cast intact. Producer Jillian Apfelbaum writes:

The Black Dynamite Animated Series further chronicles the exploits of Black Dynamite and his crew. Executive produced by Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Freaknik: The Musical), the series features the voice talents of Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley, Byron Minns, Clifton Powell and JB Smoove.

I still haven’t seen a date for the series’ debut, but I’m definitely excited for it based on the art alone. I’ve always been a fan of cartoon women with huge breasts. I guess I’m just old-fashioned that way.

In addition to being underwhelming from a humor standpoint, “Saturday Night Live’s” season premiere also featured two sketches that were strikingly similar to skits previously aired on other shows.

In SNL’s “Ladies Who Lunch,” Amy Poehler removed a small cowboy hat to reveal an even smaller hat, a joke that was done in a sketch called “Tiny Hats” that appeared on Adult Swim’s “Tim And Eric Awesome Show: Great Job!” Furthermore, SNL’s “Hair Restoration” used the exact same gag as “Pubic Hair Club for Men” that was on HBO’s “Hardcore TV” in the ’90s (video of all four sketches below).

Anyway, this has opened up a big can of worms about whether SNL stole the jokes, drew “inspiration” from the earlier incarnations, or even created them organically without being aware of the predecessors. If that’s the sort of discussion that sounds like fun to you, then you can read more at the A.V. Club and at Vulture. If anyone needs me, I’ll be over here watching chimpanzee farts.

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Adult Swim’s “Delocated” has slowly generated more and more buzz in comedy realms, and this is the photo that officially seals my admiration for the show: it’s series star Jon Glaser in a puppy suit for the episode “Dog Mayor.” Yes, that’s correct: I just wrote “puppy suit.” Call off the hunt, I’ve found my Halloween costume.

The 5 steps of puppy suit.  First put on the suit.
Second, add puppies.
Third, get to know puppies, so you can establish a loving, trust-filled bond before doing an intense scene together.
Fourth, shoot the scene with the puppies.
Fifth, take that hot f*cking thing off. [Delocated Blog]

Finally, a stylish suit that I can pair with my cat hat.

Full size pictures: