Sure, there are plenty of summer TV previews around, but here's the difference with this one: I've seen almost every show on this list (what I won't go through for you people, eh?).

So here’s my take on what may make for enjoyable viewing during some of the hottest months of the year. A word about August: I know “Weeds” returns then. Don’t start with the e-mails. This summer preview is a list of highlights for June and July.

If you want to mention a new or returning summer show that you don’t see listed here, share your thoughts in the comment area below.

The summer’s best

• “Entourage,” returns 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO: Ruthless agent Ari Gold (hometown boy Jeremy Piven) has a bigger role this season, which is all good. The only fault I can see in the mighty enjoyable first three episodes, in which Vince Chase deals with burgeoning fame, is that there’s not enough of Ari’s long-suffering assistant, Lloyd (Rex Lee). Love Lloyd!

  Online bonus: Have a one-on-one dialogue with Gold at interviewwithari.com.

• “Deadwood,” returns 8 p.m. Sunday, HBO: This sensational, poetic western series returns Sunday, and here’s the upshot: Al Swearengen vs. George Hearst — it’s on. You think Al and Sheriff Bullock are going to sit by quietly as Hearst tries to take over the camp? Not [expletive] likely. This show has, hands down, the best cast on TV, and it’s every bit as good as you remember — possibly better.
• “The Closer,” returns 8 p.m. Monday, TNT: I didn’t have much time for this series last season; I found Kyra Sedgwick’s thick Southern accent tough to get past. But this show is simply too good to ignore; the second-season opener’s twisty plot and “The Closer’s” smart cast (led by a terrific J.K. Simmons as fellow top cop Will Pope) make this police drama compelling. An added bonus: Next week, ace interrogator Brenda Johnson (Sedgwick) has to deal with a visit from her mama (Frances Sternhagen).
• “The Thick of It,” 10 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 p.m. Friday, BBC America: There are only a few episodes left in the summer run of this reality-style political comedy, but it re-airs in full beginning Aug. 17. It’s ruthlessly realistic about how much intelligence is required to be a Cabinet minister, or at least advise one. Not too much, it turns out. Somehow “The Thick of It” is able to spin comedy gold from that fairly terrifying fact. Peter Capaldi’s performance as a ferocious political enforcer is absolutely not to be missed.
• “Project Runway,” third-season premiere July 12, Bravo: Am I still mad that Chloe Dao won on the second season of this fashionista must-see? Yes. Will that stop me from watching this season? Please. That’s about as likely as Tim Gunn wearing plaid Capri pants. My only request as “Runway” goes forward: Please allow temperamental divas such as Santino a real chance at winning in future, if they have definite talent; don’t just keep the wild types around as kooky accessories.

  Online bonus: Read Gunn’s blog on the third-season audition process at bravotv.com. A sample: When some potential designers tired out before their audition presentations, he writes, “I wanted to rally them with that salient line from `Valley of the Dolls,’ `Sparkle, Neely, sparkle!!’"

• “Rescue Me,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays, FX: New York City firefighters, led by Denis Leary, do naughty things, struggle with women, razz each other and one of them even messes around with Susan Sarandon. What’s not to like?

Click below for plenty more summer goodness.