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Summer terror: Freeform's summer camp series brings nightmares to life

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Author: 
Andrew Warren / TV Media
Elizabeth Lail as seen in "Dead of Summer"

Elizabeth Lail as seen in "Dead of Summer"

Summer terror: July and August aren't called the "dead of summer" for nothing. Freeform's latest offering tackles one of the most cherished of youth activities, and one of the horror genre's most beloved tropes: summer camp. "Dead of Summer" premieres Tuesday, June 28.

In the tradition of countless slasher flicks, the counselors working at this woodsy getaway have plenty more than blood-thirsty mosquitoes and unruly campers to be worried about. 

From the minds of "Once Upon a Time" creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, "Dead of Summer" has been shaped into a bit of a reunion for people who have worked on the hit ABC fairy-tale series. Along with its co-creators, Freeform's new show stars Elizabeth Lail and Elizabeth Mitchell, both "Once Upon a Time" alumni.

Set at beautiful Camp Clearwater in the late 1980s, "Dead of Summer's" counselors start off full of expectations: friendship, fun, first kisses and maybe even a little more. Of course, when the generations-old myths surrounding the lake turns out to be not so mythical at all, things start to get a lot more interesting -- and terrifying.

Zelda Williams ("The Legend of Korra") and Eli Goree ("The 100") also star as camp counselors caught up in the terrifying events, while Alberto Frezza ("Angel Falls in Love," 2012) stars as a local cop who begins to suspects that something fishy is going on at the camp.

With a name like "Dead of Summer," it's obvious that this isn't going to be a happy camping trip for anyone involved. For audiences watching from their couches, though, it could be pretty entertaining. "Dead of Summer" premieres Tuesday, June 28, on Freeform.

 

Rock on: Who says that life doesn't give second chances? "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll," the Denis Leary ("Rescue Me") comedy on FX, has been granted a second season, which really shouldn't come as a surprise. Its first season was a huge hit, raking in some big audience numbers, and the second one is set to premiere Thursday, June 30, on the cable channel.

In "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll," Leary stars as Johnny Rock, a washed-up rocker whose band, The Heathens, found success in the late '80s and early '90s but broke up not long after their first album became a hit.

Johnny's womanizing and drug-abusing lifestyle was the primary reason for the breakup, and he certainly hasn't changed much in the decades since. The first season saw him finally meeting his adult daughter (Elizabeth Gillies, "Vacation," 2015) who is following in his rock 'n' roll footsteps. With Johnny's career in shambles, she offered him an opportunity that he couldn't pass up: to reunite his old band, but with her as its lead singer and him as the band's songwriter.

The result was a dark but hilarious peek into the music industry, and a wry examination of the generation gap between the aging rock stars and the hot young starlet. John Corbett ("Northern Exposure"), Robert Kelly ("Good Luck Chuck," 2007), John Ales ("The Nutty Professor," 1996) and Elaine Hendrix ("The Parent Trap," 1998) also star.

The family drama, the rock star hijinks and the biting humor all return to FX when "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll" returns Thursday, June 30.

 

Game show goodness: ABC is injecting a lot of fun into a generally dull season of television. This time of year is no stranger to game shows -- they make for a perfect summertime treat -- so ABC is turning Sunday summer nights into a game show destination with three classic game shows all airing back-to-back-to-back, and all premiering Sunday, June 26.

Returning from last summer is "Celebrity Family Feud," hosted by Steve Harvey ("Family Feud"). That show ended up being a big hit, and this year's two new additions -- "The $100,000 Pyramid" and "Match Game" -- are hoping to piggyback onto some of that success.

"Celebrity Family Feud" airs first, followed by the venerable classic "The $100,000 Pyramid." The game show has been a favorite since 1973, and its new incarnation is hosted by "Good Morning America's" Michael Strahan. The new show works just like the original, with teams of celebrities paired up with average Joes playing word-association games.

Wrapping up the night of fun is another vintage game show. Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock") hosts "Match Game," the laugh-out-loud competition in which the contestants try to guess how a panel of celebrities will answer a series of fill-in-the-blank questions. 

With all three game shows featuring celebrities who know how to work an audience, ABC's Sunday night game show block could be the perfect summertime treat.