Gloom and doom take over summer airwaves at USA

The blue skies are getting darker on USA.

“Graceland” (10 p.m. Wednesday) is still set in a Southern California beach house populated by FBI, DEA and ICE agents. But the second season is anything but sunny.

The drama was darker than most USA offerings from the start, but it at least felt summery.

This year, though? The campfires and surfing are gone. And the bikini football games, at least through the first two episodes, will be resting in peace.

“Suits” (9 p.m. Wednesday) usually can be counted on for some fun banter and out-of-nowhere movie references. But the legal drama is unusually somber this year after splitting up its central couple. No, not Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel (Meghan Markle). Mike and Harvey (Gabriel Macht).

Plus, the only suits guys should wear during the summer come with a drawstring at the waist.

Heck, even “Royal Pains” (9 p.m. Tuesday), which once had been the ultimate summer show considering it only took place during the heat in the Hamptons, spends a big chunk of its season premiere in the frigid snow of a Long Island Valentine’s Day.

And neither the channel’s upcoming medical drama “Rush” nor its infidelity drama “Satisfaction,” both due in July, look to be lightening the load.

Now, I like a dark, gritty drama as much as the next guy.

Assuming that next guy isn’t a member of the Parents Television Council.

But there are plenty of places, from FX and AMC to HBO and Showtime, to go for darker fare.

Thankfully, it’ll be 115 degrees soon, because without USA’s traditional sunny disposition, it might not otherwise feel like summer.

See it live: The finals of “American Ninja Warrior” will be taped Friday, Saturday and June 15 across Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay. For tickets, see on-camera-audiences.com/shows/American_Ninja_Warrior.

More to love: Las Vegas’ Brown family — Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn — are back with new episodes of “Sister Wives” (9 p.m. Sunday, TLC).

Vegas vacation: Esquire Network’s “Lucky Bastards,” which follows six friends the channel describes as “privileged ne’er-do-wells,” hits the Strip for an episode (7 p.m. Wednesday).

Double the fun: Several theaters are getting fans in the mood for “22 Jump Street” with a double feature starting at 5 p.m. Thursday. For $15, you can see both movies and enjoy food and drink specials at Santa Fe, South Point and Suncoast as well as Aliante and Red Rock, the latter two of which also will give out limited edition sunglasses.

Special screening: Put on your your your your your boogie shoes for a night (or an afternoon) with “Saturday Night Fever.” A digitally restored version of the disco classic is playing at 2 p.m. Sunday and 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at Orleans, Sam’s Town, Santa Fe, South Point and Suncoast.

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567.