Who'd have thought a big problem in summer would be too much TV to watch? But that's the case for fans of cable originals, who get even more options this week. Here's a look at the highlights of the next seven days.
"The Big C"
9:30 p.m. Monday on Showtime
As Season 2 opens, Cathy (Laura Linney) looks for a second opinion on her prognosis. Despite its downer of a subject -- cancer! -- and sometimes forced wackiness, "The Big C" still manages to be unusually watchable, mainly thanks to Linney's fearless performance. The Season 7 premiere of "Weeds," which has outstayed its welcome with me, airs at 9 p.m.
"Cupcake Wars"
9 p.m. Tuesday on Food
Jilly's of University City, home of St. Louis' most over-the-top cupcakes, sends a team to tonight's competition, which challenges the bakers to create confections honoring the 50th anniversary of the first American in space.
"The Voice"
7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC
The first-season winner is announced, and while all four finalists -- Dia Frampton, Javier Colon, Vicci Martinez and Beverly McClellan -- are worthy, my money is on Colon. But the real winner here is NBC, which finally found a hit in this surprisingly entertaining competition series. The network likes the show so much that an episode of "The Voice" will air in February after the Super Bowl.
"State of Georgia"
7:30 p.m. Wednesday on ABC Family
Novelist Jennifer Weiner created this comedy series starring Raven-Symone ("The Cosby Show") as aspiring actress Georgia and Majandra Delfino as her nerdy best friend, Jo. I'd hoped to like this show more, but with its outsized performances and loud laugh track, it feels too much like a throwback to the '80s. At 7 p.m., "Melissa and Joey" returns for Season 2.
"Love in the Wild"
8 p.m. Wednesday on NBC
What if "The Bachelorette" mated with "Survivor"? The result might be this awkward adventure-dating series, shot in Costa Rica, in which people seeking mates compete in pairs in outdoorsy challenges.
"Necessary Roughness"
9 p.m. Wednesday on USA
In another cable original you might need to add to your DVR, Callie Thorne ("Rescue Me") stars as a therapist whose life takes a left turn when, after a personal crisis, she winds up working her magic on members of a professional football team.
"Treme"
9 p.m. Sunday on HBO
Season 2 wraps up, and I still miss John Goodman.
