Once upon a time, network television - like so many school kids - took the summer off. "Rerun season," we used to call it, when there were reruns. Sure, now there's your reality TV fill-ins during the hot months. Your "America's Got Talent," your "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," your "Ice Trucker Guy Show with Guys Driving Trucks on Ice." But you can have 'em.

Me? I've got me two summer faves: "The Middleman" on ABC Family and "Burn Notice" on USA.

The first is based on a short series of comics created and written by "Lost" scribe Javier Grillo-Marxuach. Think "Men in Black" meets ... well, it's kinda "Men in Black," but with a chick (Natalie Morales as Wendy Watson) instead of Will Smith. Maybe with the camp of the "Batman" TV show thrown in. Can't take anything too seriously that features a gorilla mob boss or a mud monster or Mexican wrestlers gone wild. The Middleman (Matt Keeslar) is your aforementioned man in black (well, black tie and green security-guard Eisenhower jacket) who single-handedly fights extraterrestrial evil, "so you don't have to," so says the show's tagline. Wendy is his ward in training. It ain't great, but it's fun and goofy enough that you won't care. Monday nights at 10 on ABCFam.

"Burn Notice," though, ups the summer TV game quite a bit. This one's a Rockford meets The A-Team by way of MacGyver mash-up. Jeffrey Donovan plays Michael Westen, a spy who's been outed - that is, served a "burn notice" disavowing his government employment and his very existence. His assets frozen, his identity pulled out from under him, Michael is forced to make a living in his Miami hometown by helping average Joes with their extraordinary problems - a la Hannibal and Mr. T back in the Eighties. Along for the ride is Bruce Campbell as ex-federale, Sam Axe - Michael's only trustworthy friend - and Gabrielle Anwar as Fiona, Michael's ex-girl who gouges eyes out with her stiletto heels and asks questions later. All three are in on the weekly daring-do, with the subplot of who burned Michael out of the spy game percolating on the back burner. It's funny and thrilling all at once. A great summer combo. Season two starts on USA Network in July. The first is just out on DVD, and - you bet your bippy - I gots me it for Father's Day.

"The Middleman" opening credits sequence:

"Everybody Wants You" - Burn Notice season two teaser: