How’s this for a notable television fact? When NBC premieres the family-friendly fantasy Merlin tomorrow night, June 21, the event will mark the first time in 30-plus years that an American broadcast network has aired a British drama. The usual home for such fare is either PBS or a cable network, of course, so kudos to The Peacock for attempting to give viewers something a little different, especially considering what happened the last time it tried not too long ago.

If you’re one of the few people not familiar with the legendary myth of Camelot, all you need to know before checking out Sunday’s two-hour premiere is (1) there are real live dragons and other totally awesome beasts, and (2) Merlin (Colin Morgan, Doctor Who, pictured above at right) is a fictional wizard who arrives in King Uther Pendragon’s (Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Anthony Head, pictured below) kingdom at the worst time possible.

Not only has the tyrant banned magic, but the young visiting sorcerer soon learns that his fate is closely connected to that of Uther’s son Arthur (Bradley James, Lewis, pictured above at left). Merlin befriends the prince after an initial round of mutual hostility, but he keeps his abilities a secret while using them to help guide him on the proper path.

The 13-episode series, already good to go for a second season in the United Kingdom, is billed as a contemporary twist on the conventional Merlin myth, a description that’s fair warning for die-hard purists. Shades of Smallville — the CW show about the early years of Superman before he became the Superman of lore — also influenced its origins. Since I’ve been a loyal fan of the American superhero series from the beginning, it looks like I’m duty-bound to give Merlin a look-see, too.

Also starring in Merlin are Richard Wilson (Doctor Who, pictured first at left above) as Uther’s doctor and Merlin’s mentor Gaius; Katie McGrath (The Tudors, pictured second on the right) as Morgana, the daughter of Uther’s deceased friend; and Angel Coulby (Life Is Wild, pictured first at right) as Gwen, Morgana’s friend first and servant second.

Catch the premiere episodes “The Dragon’s Call” and “Valiant” at 8pm to 9pm ET tomorrow, and sneak a few peeks at the fantasy in the following preview clips. Based on the videos below alone, I can see myself enjoying Merlin.

Eureka fans are in luck. The second half of the current third season kicks off on the new day of Friday on July 10 at 9pm ET. But before the midseason premiere “Welcome Back, Carter” airs, the Sci Fi Channel (which will be rebranded Syfy by then) will give viewers two chances to see the eight episodes in the first half of the season all at one time.

Two Eureka 3.0 marathons are scheduled before the summer run begins: the first this Sunday, June 21, and the second on the July 10 premiere day. Tune in this weekend on the half-hour every hour from 9:30am to 4:30pm ET to catch the episodes in the original broadcast order:

• 9:30am: Bad to the Drone
  Anti-missile drones threaten Eureka during a test run and Corporate “fixer” Eva Thorne (Frances Fisher) arrives in town.
• 10:30am: What About Bob?
  Can The Fixer fix the situation when residents of Eureka’s sealed biosphere start devolving?
• 11:30am: Best in Faux
  Biomimetics is all the rage during Eureka’s Earth-shaking annual dog show.
• 12:30pm: I Do Over
  Carter has a Groundhog Day experience on Allison and Nathan’s wedding day, and the arrival of his sister Lexi (Ever Carradine) just adds to the fun.
• 1:30pm: Show Me the Mummy
  Global Dynamics hosts an annoying fame-obsessed archaeologist and his cursed Egyptian tomb, thanks to The Fixer.
• 2:30pm: Phased and Confused
  Carter takes on Captain Eureka, the town’s one and only superhero, whose deeds eventually lead to disaster, of course.
• 3:30pm: Here Come the Suns
  Zoe’s science partner Kylie accidentally creates a second sun, which can’t be good no matter how you look at the predicament.
• 4:30pm: From Fear to Eternity
  The Fixer knows the reason why when Zoe ends up in the hospital, but will she help save Carter’s daughter?

Note that the July 10 marathon will air in the same episode order, but from 8am to 4pm. A quickie sneak peek at Season 3.5 called Worst Death Ever follows, featuring bad-luck magnet Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston, who also provides the voice for S.A.R.A.H.).

Canceled Pushing Daisies finished burning off its remaining three episodes last Saturday, June 13, and now it’s time for the ABC show’s fellow axed sophomore dramedy Eli Stone to do the same starting tomorrow.

At 10pm ET, ABC will begin airing the last four episodes of the series, starting with “Sonoma.” When we last saw Eli way back on December 30 of last year during “Two Ministers,” his vision of Beth and Nate not getting married had come true.

The surprising part, at least to me, was that his brother seemed angrier that Eli hadn’t shared the premonition than he was about the last-minute change in wedding plans. The episode closed with the siblings engaged in a heated argument, just before Eli’s nose started bleeding and the lawyer began to collapse.

Up next on “Sonoma,” Taylor, Matt, Eli, and Maggie take a road trip to the title city to assist a client. Unfortunately, the judge overseeing the case has an unpleasant past with Matt, which complicates matters.

Of course, working together ignites Eli and Maggie’s feelings for one another (again), but I’m betting Eli won’t reveal to her that he now has two brain aneurysms instead of the former one, thanks to that Dark Truth treatment Chen warned him about over and over again.

Need an Eli Stone refresher? Catch up on full previous episodes of the show at the official ABC website.

What’s next for Dr. Hank and the rest of his Hamptons-based HankMed team on Royal Pains? How about an “executive physical” — whatever that means — for a filthy rich senator’s college-bound son during tonight’s “Strategic Planning.”

Check out the June 18th episode on USA Network at 10pm ET. A sneak peek and promo follow below for your convenience.

So far, the new dramedy is doing quite well in the ratings and among critics and viewers. I think a second-season announcement is only a matter of time.

All of the characters on USA Network’s Burn Notice are cool, of course, but it’s been awhile since we’ve seen one of them. That’s about to change, though, because on tonight’s new episode “End Run,” Michael’s brother Nate (Seth Peterson, Providence) finally returns for more action, which means the typical dangerous situations he gets into whenever the Westen siblings are in town at the same time.

The bad luck isn’t Nate’s fault this time, however. He’s kidnapped by weapons trader Brennen (The Shield‘s Jay Karnes, pictured above), whom we first met at the end of last season during the episode “Sins of Omission.” So, in order to save Nate — again — Michael must help Brennan steal some stuff while he’s also dealing with Moon Bloodgood‘s persistent Detective Paxson.

Poor, Michael. Dude never gets a break.

Catch Burn Notice tonight (June 18) at 9pm ET, and check out a sneak peek and promo for “End Run” below. The preview clip features nasty Brennen and the rest of Team Michael save Fiona.

Darn it! Yes, I still haven’t gotten over the cancellation of the highly entertaining and funny Amber Tamblyn cop show The Unusuals, especially now that the series finale is upon us. After “E.I.D.” airs tonight at 10:01pm ET on ABC, there’ll be no more interestingly weird NYPD detectives to watch each week, which, to put it bluntly, sucks.

During the last episode of the show, our favorite cops from New York City’s seemingly cursed 2nd Precinct take on the case of a couple who learn their apartment is the location featured in a porn film they rented (Geesh!) after someone breaks in but fails to actually steal anything. The odd crime eventually prompts partners Allison Beaumont (Monique Gabriela Curnen) and Henry Cole (Josh Close) to head undercover in order to figure out what the deal is with the building’s tenants.

Elsewhere, Tamblyn’s rich-girl detective Casey Shraeger gets perhaps too involved with a New York resident who was brutally attacked years ago and now devotes much effort to repeatedly filing complaints with the police.

If only show runners had enough time to include resolutions for the ongoing storylines concerning understandably paranoid Leo Banks (Harold Perrineau) and his brain tumor-stricken partner Eric Delahoy (Adam Goldberg). Never would I have imagined before The Unusuals that I’d actually come to enjoy Goldberg on a TV show.

Too bad the thrill is about to be gone after only one 10-episode season. I could have used at least two or three more.

Now it’s official. Basic-cable network A&E announced on Monday, June 15, that the end of Patrick Swayze‘s gritty FBI crime drama The Beast has arrived.

According to the basic-cable network’s president Bob DeBitetto, although the show was “a labor of love for everyone,” A&E “reluctantly” opted to cancel it “after careful deliberation.” The decision-making process surely took into account lead actor Swayze’s current struggle with pancreatic cancer, which he was diagnosed with in March 2008 and battled while filming the series.

The Beast was shot in Chicago, and it includes 13 episodes that aired from January 15 to April 23 this year. The Hollywood Reporter also notes DeBitetto’s description of Swayze’s performance as “an inspiration to us all,” an observation I gladly second.

Monday | June 15

Greek: The 22-episode sophomore season closes with an End of the World frat party and Casey once again having to choose between two dudes, this time Cappie (as usual) and Max. Since Michael Rady, the actor who plays Max, has his own high-profile CW series called Melrose Place coming up in the fall, it’s safe to assume he won’t be around campus much longer, even if Casey decides Max is the guy she really wants.
[At World's End, ABC Family, 8pm]

The Closer: The Los Angeles police department welcomes a new player, Paola Turbay‘s Detective Mikki Mendoza, during a case about more money and more problems.
[Blood Money, TNT, 9pm]

Weeds: Bastard Out of Carolina and Fast Times at Ridgemont High‘s Jennifer Jason Leigh guest stars as Nancy Botwin’s estranged older sister Jill. Good times!
[Machetes Up Top, Showtime, 10pm]

Tuesday | June 16

Wedding Day: Basic cable’s newest reality series is from Survivor and The Apprentice mastermind Mark Burnett and it aims to make brides’ dreams come true.
[Holli and Steve, TNT, 8pm]

HawthoRNe: This Must-See Pick of the Week stars executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith as compassionate, strong, and charismatic Chief Nursing Officer and single mother of one Christina Hawthorne. Alias alum Michael Vartan co-stars as her colleague and boss Tom Wakefield, who cared for her recently deceased husband.
[Pilot, TNT, 9pm]

Saving Grace: Oscar winner Holly Hunter is back as hard-living, butt-kicking Oklahoma City police detective Grace Hanadarko. It took me an entire season to warm up to this dark show, but now I’m hooked.
[We're Already Here, TNT, 10pm]

Wednesday | June 17

The Unusuals: So sad. It’s time to say goodbye to this charming, funny, and quirky cop dramedy starring Joan of Arcadia‘s Amber Tamblyn. The show got the boot before it had the chance to warm up properly, which is one of the biggest shames in my recent memory.
[E.I.D., ABC, 10:01pm]

Thursday | June 18

Burn Notice: Michael experiences a blast from the past that leads to his brother Nate’s abduction and a complicated heist, and he also must continue dealing with Moon Bloodgood‘s persistent Detective Paxson.
[End Run, USA Network, 9pm]

Royal Pains: Dr. Hank and Divya take on the case of a rich senator and his aggressive wife’s teenage son, who’s heading off to a prestigious college soon to be a starting quarterback.
[Strategic Planning, USA Network, 10pm]

Friday | June 19

Chopping Block: I think this is the reality cooking competition hosted by the English (?) guy with the weird-looking hairdo. It’s back from wherever it went, for those who care. Since this is the fourth episode and there are only eight episodes total, maybe they’ll all eventually see the light of day.
[Episode 104, NBC, 8pm]

Saturday | June 20

Harper’s Island: Television’s one and only current murder mystery just keeps getting better and better and more and more fun. During the last episode, “Seep,” viewers learned that I’m most likely correct: mass murderer John Wakefield is probably Abby’s biological daddy, and now it seems her legal daddy, Sheriff Mills, is up to no good. I don’t think he’s the homicidal maniac offing the wedding party members, though, but I could be wrong, of course. My money’s still on almost-bride Trish as Psycho Killer Babe.
[Snap, CBS, 9pm]

Eli Stone: I know it’s cool to think Pushing Daisies is cool, but Eli is my favorite prematurely canceled sophomore ABC dramedy from the 2009–2010 season. The show returns to air the final four episodes of its entertaining and moving run, and fans should be grateful for the chance to see them on the tube.
[Sonoma, ABC, 10pm]

Sunday | June 21

Merlin: NBC premieres another ambitious hourlong drama with epic elements (like Kings), this one based on the well-known titular sorcerer and future king Prince Arthur, both from mythological Camelot. A second episode, “Valiant,” follows at 9pm.
[The Dragon's Call, NBC, 8pm]

I know, I know. I can’t believe I’m going to watch A&E’s new MC Hammer reality series Hammertime when it premieres tonight, either. But, I’ve seen a few promos and the viral YouTube video Hammer Pants Dance, and I simply can’t resist the good vibes those super shiny parachute pants always manage to inspire.

In support of the series, A&E has rolled out all kinds of interactive tech goodies and extras to help fans get into the action. The online and mobile features for the latest gig of so-called “digital media evangelist” MC Hammer include Hammertime‘s official network website, as well as:

• Twittertime, MC Hammer’s Twitter updates
• Hammer It Home Game, a board-game style online game featuring Hammer’s experiences
• Short-form Hammertime Videos, including sneak peaks at upcoming episodes and interviews with family members
• Hammertime Widget and other opportunities for fans, such as online contests and discussion forums

Hammertime follows 1990s star rapper Stanley “MC Hammer” Burrell, his wife of 23 years named Stephanie, and their six children: A’Keiba (21), Jamaris (18), Sarah (15), Stanley Jr. (13), Jeremiah (11), and Samuel (4). The family is based in sunny Oakland, California.

In case anyone needs a reason why a network might have given Hammer his own TV show, I can offer two: he not only has sold more than 50 million albums around the world — definitely not a number to snicker at — but he also has three Grammy awards to his name. Heck, I’d be happy with just one nomination.

Catch the new half-hour A&E series on Sundays at 10pm ET, starting tonight, June 14, with the first two of ten Season One episodes, “Shaping Up!” and “Moving Forward.” The Hammer Pants Dance video follows to get you in the proper mood.

Watch what happens when dozens of shiny pants-wearing strangers of all ages storm a “trendy” clothing store and proceed to get down. Cute, and I think the stunned customer reactions are really unscripted. Wish I could have been there for that.

Ever since NBC announced last month — at the very last minute possible — that it wasn’t going to renew the sitcom My Name Is Earl for another season, fans and the show’s production studio, Twentieth Century Fox TV, had hoped another network would step in to rescue the comedy. Well, on June 11, those hopes evaporated because My Name Is Earl reached the end of the line and became officially over after four seasons.

According to Variety and other entertainment news outlets, My Name Is Earl‘s last potential savior, Turner-owned basic-cable network TBS, has passed this week on the chance to continue airing fresh episodes of the comedy, just like Fox and ABC before it. The reason is reportedly because the two sides, TBS and Twentieth Century, couldn’t reach a financial agreement that would avoid significant cuts from the sitcom’s cast, production budget, and writing staff.

If there’s any good news in all of this — and I’m sure no news is consolation to the show’s team right now — it’s that enough episodes of My Name Is Earl were produced to continue airing in syndication for some time to come — 96, to be exact, just four short of the hallmark 100. TBS is the place to catch those syndicated episodes as of last year.