From The Rock to ‘True Detective’ to that ‘Walking Dead’ spinoff: Your guide to summer TV

Many of you don’t need an excuse to stay indoors this summer.

It’s summer. That’s why God and Willis Carrier created air conditioning.

You’d be perfectly fine watching reruns of any of the “NCISes” or waiting for whichever group of screaming women is on deck at Bravo.

But for everyone else, the TV industry knows it isn’t just competing with blockbuster movies for your attention. There’s also the great outdoors.

That’s why the networks and cable channels are going all out this summer with series featuring big names from Charles Manson to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the new season of HBO’s “True Detective” and a spinoff of a little show you may have heard of called “The Walking Dead.”

Here’s a look at some of what’s in store on TV — or your tablet, phone or wherever else you choose to watch it — over the next four months. And, as always, times and dates are subject to change.

DRAMAS

The 1960s are alive and well in a trio of series:

In “Aquarius” (9 p.m. May 28, KSNV-TV, Channel 3), the investigation into a teenage girl’s disappearance leads an L.A.P.D. sergeant (David Duchovny) to Charles Manson.

New York cops (Edward Burns, Michael Rapaport) investigate vice crimes in Hell’s Kitchen in “Public Morals” (10 p.m. Aug. 25, TNT).

And “The Astronaut Wives Club” (8 p.m. June 18, KTNV-TV, Channel 13) follows the better halves of the Mercury Seven.

In other period pieces:

An inexperienced East German spy infiltrates the West German army in 1983 in “Deutschland 83” (11 p.m. June 17, Sundance TV).

And Ben Kingsley stars in “Tut” (9 p.m. July 19, Spike), which follows the young Tutankhamun’s rise to power.

Strange things are afoot in several series:

A Secret Service agent (Matt Dillon) ends up injured in a mysterious town in “Wayward Pines” (9 p.m. May 14, KVVU-TV, Channel 5), from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan.

A biologist (James Wolk) investigates a pandemic that’s causing a rash of animal attacks in “Zoo” (9 p.m. June 30, KLAS-TV, Channel 8), based on the James Patterson novel.

Something malevolent is preying on children in Washington, D.C., in “The Whispers” (10 p.m. June 1, Channel 13).

And a town is quarantined when an illness kills everyone younger than 21 in “Between” (May 21, Netflix).

For fans of British imports:

A soldier (Aidan Turner) returns to England after the Revolutionary War to find his father has died, his lands are ruined, and his fiancee is about to marry his cousin in “Poldark” (9 p.m. June 21, KLVX-TV, Channel 10).

A World War I hospital is the setting for “The Crimson Field” (10 p.m. June 21, Channel 10).

A magician offers the government his help in defeating Napoleon in “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” (10 p.m. June 13, BBC America).

And singles looking for love meet for the first time on “Dates” (9 p.m. July 9, KVCW-TV, Channel 33).

Zombies, aliens, cyberbots:

Be on the lookout for some buff, tan zombies as AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” (late summer) chronicles the rise of walkers in L.A.

AMC also has “Humans” (to be announced), a look at a world where lifelike robotic servants are all the rage.

Other genre shows include “Dark Matter” (10 p.m. June 12, Syfy), which follows the amnesia-stricken crew of a spaceship, “Killjoys” (9 p.m. June 19, Syfy), about three interplanetary bounty hunters, and the series version of the horror tale “Scream” (10 p.m. June 30, MTV).

Elsewhere, a suburban doctor (Jason O’Mara) intervenes in a gang shooting in the thriller “Complications” (9 p.m. June 18, USA).

A cyber-security engineer (Rami Malek) is recruited by a hacker (Christian Slater) to destroy the firm he’s been hired to protect in “Mr. Robot” (10 p.m. June 24, USA).

A dying billionaire (Matthew Modine) hires a surgeon (Jennifer Beals) to investigate the afterlife in “Proof” (10 p.m. June 16, TNT).

And the behind-the-scenes drama at a dating show is chronicled in “UnREAL” (10 p.m. June 1, Lifetime).

Returning series:

“True Detective” (9 p.m. June 21, HBO), which follows up its stellar first season with a new case starring Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch.

Elsewhere on premium cable, Ghost (Omari Hardwick) expands his drug business on “Power” (9 p.m. June 6, Starz).

Showtime has new seasons of “Ray Donovan” (9 p.m. July 12) and “Masters of Sex” (10 p.m. July 12).

And Cinemax has the fourth and final season of the bloody, sexy “Strike Back” (10 p.m. July 31).

TNT says goodbye to the 2nd Mass with the final season of “Falling Skies” (10 p.m. June 28).

The cable channel also has new seasons of “Major Crimes” (9 p.m. June 8), “Murder in the First” (10 p.m. June 8), “Rizzoli & Isles” (9 p.m. June 16) and “The Last Ship” (9 p.m. June 21).

USA offers more “Royal Pains” (10 p.m. June 2), “Suits” (9 p.m. June 24) and “Graceland” (10 p.m. June 25).

FX returns to the turbulence in the Middle East in “Tyrant” (10 p.m. June 16) and checks in on the vampire epidemic that’s spreading across New York in “The Strain” (TBA).

AMC has more of the 1980s computer drama “Halt and Catch Fire” (10 p.m. May 31) and the final season of “Hell on Wheels” (TBA).

Halle Berry returns for more of the sci-fi drama “Extant” (10 p.m. July 1, Channel 8), and the town of Chester’s Mill and its residents are still under the dome in “Under the Dome” (9 p.m. June 25, Channel 8).

Syfy has new seasons of the post-apocalyptic dramas “Defiance” (8 p.m. June 12) and “Dominion” (10 p.m. July 9).

The soapy “Mistresses” (9 p.m. June 18, Channel 13) and “Devious Maids” (9 p.m. June 1, Lifetime) return.

Jeff Fahey, Esai Morales and the great Danny Trejo join the second season of “From Dusk Till Dawn” (TBA, El Rey Network).

Cat (Kristin Kreuk) and Vincent (Jay Ryan) find their love tested in the new season of “Beauty and the Beast” (8 p.m. June 11, Channel 33).

The “Silence of the Lambs” prequel “Hannibal” (10 p.m. June 4, Channel 3), the Canadian cop drama “Rookie Blue” (10 p.m. June 25, Channel 13) and the critically adored “Rectify” (TBA, Sundance TV) return.

And elderly love is still in the air on “Last Tango in Halifax” (8 p.m. June 28, Channel 10).

COMEDIES

Big names dominate this summer’s comedy slate.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as a retired football superstar who mentors other players in “Ballers” (10 p.m. June 21, HBO).

Jack Black and Tim Robbins find the humor in a geopolitical crisis in Pakistan in “The Brink” (10:30 p.m. June 21, HBO).

Patrick Stewart stars as the host of a nightly cable news show in “Blunt Talk” (TBA, Starz), from writer Jonathan Ames (“Bored to Death”) and executive producer Seth MacFarlane.

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin portray women who bond when their husbands fall in love with each other in “Grace and Frankie” (May 8, Netflix).

Denis Leary returns to FX as the singer of a ’90s rock band in “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll” (10 p.m. July 16).

And Jim Gaffigan stars as Jim Gaffigan in “The Jim Gaffigan Show” (TBA, TV Land).

Elsewhere, Camp Firewood reopens its doors in “Wet Hot American Summer” (July 31, Netflix), a prequel featuring the original cast.

The lead singer (Craig Robinson) of a funk band takes a job as a high school music teacher in “Mr. Robinson” (9 p.m. Aug. 5, Channel 3).

A warlord (voiced by Rob Riggle) from another dimension moves to Minnesota and befriends a weird 9-year-old girl (Aubrey Plaza) in the animated “Golan the Insatiable” (9:30 p.m. May 31, Channel 5).

Jerrod Carmichael, David Alan Grier and Loretta Devine star in the family comedy “The Carmichael Show” (9:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Channel 3).

Former high school classmates work in a barbershop in “Clipped” (10 p.m. June 16, TBS), from the creators of “Will & Grace.”

A Portland, Ore., restaurateur learns his mother is dating his best friend in “Significant Mother” (9:30 p.m. Aug. 3, Channel 33).

A New Yorker (Jill Kargman) tries to navigate the world of Upper East Side motherhood in “Odd Mom Out” (10 p.m. June 8, Bravo).

And “Orange Is the New Black” (June 12, Netflix), “Married” (10:30 p.m. July 16, FX), “Welcome to Sweden” (8 p.m. July 19, Channel 3) and “Playing House” (10 p.m. Aug. 4, USA) return.

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @life_onthecouch.