How The Strain dominated the summer, John Oliver wins big, and the biggest letdown ...

With the premier of Boardwalk Empire and Sons of Anarchy right around the corner it is time to make it a wrap for a very solid stable of summer shows. The summer used to be a desolate wasteland for repeats and shows that were just filling time, but in this Golden Age of Television, the summer has some of the best offerings out there. Unfortunately, they are so early in the Emmy cycle, they often get forgotten by the voters.This summer had the return of some greats (including the long awaited return of Jack Bauer) and saw the debut of many hopefuls in the TV landscape, but only a few have shown to be the cream of the crop. Here is the Summer rundown ...

The Strain, FX – 9.5 – No show has grabbed the summer by the tongue quite like The Strain. It is a simple formula really ... never doubt Guillermo del Toro. FX got this show pushed through quickly as it obviously needed a player other than American Horror Story in the growing horror genre on TV and they ended up with gold mainly because of the strong influence of del Toro and the strong acting of Corey Stoll. The contributions of David Bradley — who has surged to prominence with roles in the Harry Potter films and as being the architect of The Red Wedding – and Richard Sammel cannot be downplayed either. Like any horror show, there are a few inconsistencies that keep the story running, but outside of that, the writing is superb. It pushes the story along at a rapid pace and keeps the viewer hooked. I don't know if it is an Emmy contender — because summer shows and shows with high gore factors often have a tough time — but it is the winner of the summer.

Masters of Sex, Showtime – 8.8 – Into its second season, the true story of Bill Masters' and Virginia Johnson's venture into the world of human sexuality started off the same way the first season did — slow and methodical. But, by the end of episode two, it is nearly impossible to look away. A fantastic show is often nothing more than great chemistry between two actors surrounded by strong writing and supporting characters (i.e. Breaking Bad, Homeland, True Detective, Justified) and MoS has the best duo on television. Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan dominate every scene they are in, yet don't compete with each other when sharing the screen. The show moves at a fast pace and has many more years to cover in these two scientific pioneer's lives ... and it should be fantastic every step of the way.

The Honorable Woman – 8.4 – A little preachy and a little optimistic ... this show has really proved to have the most serious intrigue of any show on television this summer. Add in superb acting and relevance to current events and Sundance has a show much better than its critically acclaimed, but highly overrated Rectify. Maggie Gyllenhaal is absolutely perfect in this show and the exceptional writing keeps the twists believable and agonizing. The show does a pretty decent job of being on "both sides of the fence" and making the viewer think about both sides of every argument that comes up. Many shows start solid and whimper down the stretch. What makes THW work so well is that it keeps getting stronger and more complicated.

24: Live Another Day, Fox – 8.2 – The more and more I think about it, the more and more I loved 24's triumphant return. When the series ended after Season 8, it needed a break. Hell, it needed one after its glorious Emmy-winning Season 5. But this 12 episode run-off was damn near perfect. Sure, I could have went without suffering through Kim Raver's return as the insufferable Audrey Raines ... but at least she got killed off! Simply put, the world is a better place with Kiefer Sutherland running around killing the bad guys as Jack Bauer ... and when the Emmy's roll around next year, expect to see his name in the miniseries category as well as plenty of other Emmy nominations.

Ray Donovan, Showtime – 7.9 – One of the tougher shows to judge on a week-in and week-out basis, there is plenty to dislike about Ray Donovan. But the good far outweighs the bad. The demons with which the title character battles are serious and thought-provoking, making him a very solid antihero. And the supporting cast is superb. Jon Voigt is perfect every single episode and deserves the credit (and the Golden Globe) he has gotten for his performance as Micky Donovan. Hank Azaria has been an odd addition that seems to be working. One thing the show has to work away from is the "villian of the season" complex that in the long-run doomed its predecessor, Dexter.

Hell on Wheels, AMC – 7.6 – Speaking of shows that have hit their stride. Hell on Wheels has really found a niche on Saturday nights and has developed from a watchable period drama in its early seasons to excellent weekly television and must-see for any serious drama lover. Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon might be one of the best 5 characters on television. He is easy to root for in the battles against all the savagery that comes with the expansion to the West. But the real character that makes this show work is Colm Meaney as Thomas C. Durant. As head of the Union Pacific Railroad his ambition is clear and he will do anything to see it through. But like a gangster, he does not believe in harming the innocent, only competing with those "in the game." All this, and the acting of Christopher Heyerdahl make Hell on Wheels the best show on television right now that gets no awards love.

The Bridge, FX – 7.6 – The Bridge flipped the script from last year. Last season it started with three great episodes and then sputtered down the stretch leaving me with the feeling of, "Why do I care?" This year it started slow and I was about to give up ... and it found its footing. Its footing is simply in the acting. Get as much of Diane Kruger, Ted Levine and Demian Bechir on screen as much as possible. All three carry any scene they are in and Bechir is likely the most underrated actor on the tube. The border provides endless story possibilities, so as long as they keep the characters interesting, this show should be solid for a few more seasons.

The Leftovers, HBO – 7.3 – This by far has been the toughest show for me to judge this summer. It clearly takes itself far too seriously, but its overall premise is original and very thought provoking. Every week I find myself disliking something enough to wonder why I can't turn away, but the simple truth is that I can't turn away. The acting is top notch and the story is really something can make you think for days. If it really figures itself out, it could be a cable heavyweight by the third or fourth season.

Halt and Catch Fire, AMC – 7.1 – I really hope that Halt and Catch Fire did not kill itself off with its pathetically slow start. By midseason this was an unbelievably good show and by the end, it was clearly the best chance that AMC has for a new hit. The music on this show is so fantastic it is worth watching for it alone, but what really carries this 80's drama is the fantastic performance given in every episode by Lee Pace. One of the most underrated actors in the world, he owns this show, and hopefully will get at least another season to hook more viewers.

Tyrant, FX – 6.3 – Wow, what a swing and a miss, but I like the swing. FX might not bring this back next year and it would not be a huge loss. BUT ... there is so much that is on the cusp of being good here I would like to see it get a chance. The acting is average, but not cringe worthy and the idea is relevant, but the storyline is a little convoluted and has their ever been a more detestable character on television than the Los Angeles wife typecast on this show? AMC is known for giving subpar shows with promise a chance to figure themselves out but FX has been quick to cancel some very good shows (Terriers, Lights Out). I don't know if Tyrant will get a chance to right the ship.

Biggest Disappointment
Extant, CBS – Wow. Seriously, how can a show with Halle Berry and the production provided by Steven Spielberg be such a complete disaster?Virtually guaranteed to not be coming back, it is a mercy killing at this point. Far too much ambition, far too many things going on and way too weak of a script. Network television execs are starting to whine about the love cable and Internet television is getting, but as long as they keep churning out trash like this that costs a fortune, they will not be able to get into the mix with the cable heavyweights.

Best Non-Drama Series
Last Week Tonight – 10.0 – John Oliver wins the summer. Last Week Tonight has been perfect every single week. I focus mostly on scripted dramas, but this show has tackled so many issues with the perfect tone it has to be mentioned. When Oliver filled in for Jon Stewart on The Daily Show it was clear he had the chops, but I don't think anybody could have predicted this level of perfection. His humor and genuine passion for every subject shines through and leads to one simple fact. Comedy, Reality, Scripted, Drama — Last Week Tonight is the BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION right now.

Best Reality TV moment 
The Real Housewives of New York – Just needs to be mentioned ... some lady threw her fake leg on a table to make a point. Yeah ... her fake leg.