CBS Announces Summer Premiere Dates For ‘BrainDead,’ ‘American Gothic’ And More

Summer no longer means weeknights filled with reruns and cheap reality TV (no offense, "Big Brother") in primetime. The broadcast networks are filling the hot summer nights with original drama and comedy to keep audiences watching all-year round.

For its part, CBS will introduce two new series this summer including the comic-thriller, "BrainDead," from "The Good Wife" creators Robert and Michelle King, and "American Gothic," from producer Steven Spielberg. The network will also launch the 18th cycle of "Big Brother" and premiere the second season of last summer's most-watched scripted series, "Zoo."

Set in the world of Washington, D.C. politics, "BrainDead" stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a young, fresh-faced Hill staffer who discovers two things: the government has stopped working, and bugs are eating the brains of Congress members and Hill staffers. The show also stars Danny Pino, Aaron Tveit, Tony Shalhoub, Nikki M. James and Johnny Ray Gill.

"American Gothic" is a suspenseful murder mystery about a prominent Boston family reeling in the wake of the chilling discovery that someone in their midst is linked to an infamous string of murders. As shocking secrets from the past and present are revealed, their mounting suspicions and paranoia that one of them is a killer threatens to tear the family apart. Juliet Rylance and Antony Starr lead the cast.

"Big Brother" will air episodes three weekly episodes as it did last year. "Zoo," based on the James Patterson novel, will return with a two-hour premiere on Tuesday, June 28. The series stars James Wolk, Kristen Connolly and Billy Burke.

See the complete CBS summer schedule below and click here for the network's season finale schedule.

Monday, June 13

- "BrainDead" at 10 p.m. (Series Premiere)

Wednesday, June 22

- "Big Brother" at 8 p.m. (Two-Hour Season Premiere)

- "American Gothic" at 10 p.m. (Series Premiere)

Thursday, June 23

- "Big Brother" at 9 p.m. (Thursday Premiere)

Sunday, June 26

- "Big Brother" at 8 p.m. (Sunday Premiere)

Tuesday, June 28

- "Zoo" at 9 p.m. (Two-Hour Season Premiere)