Summer's the time to discover the quirky niche shows that you would never have the time to watch during the busy fall and spring TV seasons. While we dig current hits like "True Blood" and "So You Think You Can Dance," there's so much more out there that you should check out. Here are our top ten recommendations:
10. "Tosh.0" (Comedy Central)
With "Best Week Ever" on hiatus, turn to Daniel Tosh for a wacky take on news. He's as as obsessed with watching ordinary people do stupid things on the Internet as we -- and you -- are.
9. "Brain Rush" (Cartoon Network)
This twisted new game show takes random contestants from amusement parks and throws them on a roller coaster while forcing them to answer questions. Best of all, the host bravely goes along for the ride, too.
8. "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" (Travel Channel)
We're grossly fascinated Andrew's ability to eat pretty much anything, and we mean anything. We'd rather watch him eat bugs, offal and bull private parts than do it ourselves.
7. "It's On With Alexa Chung" (MTV)
This much-hyped new host has won us over with her cute British accent, the fact that she doesn't let her guests just sit around and hype their projects and the ever-changing format of the show. It's the freshest daytime talk show around.
6. "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" (BBC America)
This British import features young women competing for a starring role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's staging of "The Sound of Music." The singers are fun, but it's the judges we love, especially enthusiastic (and adorable) John Barrowman from "Torchwood."
5. "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" (MTV)
MTV has found some truly disgusting guys and built an entire show around making fun of their ridiculous outfits, incomprehensible slang and incredibly selfish attitudes. Each episode is really just one long joke, but it's a good one.
4. "Ruby" (Style Network)
The most refreshingly genuine person on reality TV, Ruby weighed 500 pounds last season but lost 100 through diet and exercise. But what she didn't lose is her effervescent spirit and sweet temperament.
VIDEO: Ruby talks about being the star of a reality show:
3. "Better Off Ted" (ABC)
Mostly ignored during its spring run, this sitcom takes crazy office comedy to a sharp, satirical extreme, featuring Jay Harrington and Portia de Rossi as execs at a morally dubious company that can invent anything, no matter how questionable.
2. "Jesse James Is a Dead Man" (Spike TV)
The soft-spoken "Monster Garage" host throws himself into potentially life-threatening situations like setting himself on fire on purpose. Though after his exeperience on "Celebrity Apprentice," he might prefer that.
1. "Attack of the Show" (G4)
If you are into video games, comic books, gadgets, movies, technology or just general pop culture, this is must-see daily TV. Hosted by the quick-witted and genuinely knowledgeable Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn, it's like CNN for geeks like us. And you.
Talk About It: Which of these underrated summer TV shows have sparked your interest?
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