Geek's guide to 2012 summer TV

After reading Mekeisha Madden Toby’s summer show guide, which included only one show with geek appeal, “True Blood,” a co-worker said I should write up the geek response.

So for those of us who couldn’t care less about another dance show or incognito millionaires, here are more shows to keep you on the couch and, if you’re lucky, in the air conditioning this summer:

“Warehouse 13″ (July 23 on Syfy): Huzzah! One of my favorite shows will be back, and this time we get 20 episodes instead of the usual 13. Of course, Syfy will probably do its terribly frustrating thing and split it into two half seasons, but I’m still glad to see more of this show, which I like to call a cross between “Friday the 13th: The Series” and “X-Files.” Season 3 ended on quite the dour note with the deaths of some beloved characters — will Pete, Myka, Artie and Claudia be able to bring them back? Or will they just have to soldier on, saving the world from ancient and modern artifacts with mystical powers? (Yes, I realize the photo is from last season. They haven’t released anything new yet.)

“Alphas” (July 23 on Syfy): OK, raise your hand if you forgot “Alphas” ever aired. The only reason I remember is that the last few episodes are still unwatched on my Tivo. But I’ll be sure to watch them since the show is returning. I did like it, if I never loved it. A sort of “X-Men”-lite, it’s the story of a group of people with enhanced abilities that aren’t quite super-power status but are useful to the government. But they just want to live normal lives.

"Deadman Wonderland" will air at 12:30 a.m. in the "Toonami" block. (Funimation)

“Deadman Wonderland” and “Casshern Sins” (May 27 on Cartoon Network): The “Adult Swim” block on Cartoon Network is bringing back its “Toonami” late-night (well, early morning) animation block, adding these new acquisitions to familiar names such as “Bleach” and “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.”

“Teen Wolf” (June 23 on MTV): I probably should start watching this show since I’ve heard little bad about it and lots of good. Forget the Matthew J. Fox/Jason Bateman movies ever existed as this intense drama takes werewolf mythology to the next level with complex, captivating and, I’m told, even unexpectedly moving storylines.

Bruce Boxleitner will voice Tron in "Tron: Uprising." (Disney)

“Tron: Uprising” (June 7 on Disney XD): Probably hoping for a better reception to its “Tron: Legacy” movie, Disney put a new animated series into production. The prequel series follows Beck, a young program who is trained by Tron and leads a rebellion against Clu and General Tesler. I’m not a fan of this kind of computer animation, but I do like “Tron,” so I’ll have to check it out.

“Falling Skies” (June 17 on TNT): This is another show I skipped last year, about a group of survivors fighting back against an alien invasion. And I can’t say I’m terribly interested in it now, either, but I’m betting a lot of you are or it wouldn’t have been renewed. Also, MTV Geek seems pretty pumped about it, so I figure it’s worth mentioning.

“Futurama” (June 20 on Comedy Central): Don’t hate me, but I’ve never understood the appeal of this show. I’ve tried again and again to watch it, but I rarely get more than a few chuckles out of it. But lots of you must think it’s funny, because it’s coming back for another season. And I saw a cool Dr. Zoidberg at Motor City Comic Con, which made me think of it for this list.

“School Spirits” (June 20 on Syfy): I’m a sucker for ghost shows, and Syfy has a new one coming out this summer. (“Haunted Collector” will have its second season premiere June 6.) In this one, first-person accounts of hauntings at schools and universities around the country are accompanied by re-enactments. I’m more into the hunting side of things, but this could be spooky fun.