Dear newsletter subscribers,

Good evening! Last week had more than 30 summer reality TV show premieres, and there aren't quite that many this week. But some big shows are returning, and there are some new shows that seem intriguing, like an attempt to create a new nine-member R&B supergroup in just 30 days and a road trip show with The Circle host Michelle Buteau.

Let's start with competition reality TV. The Cube, a British game show that was revived this year, comes to the U.S. (TBS, Thursdays at 9), and features contestants playing mental and physical games inside a small space—a cube that has a personality and talks. Dwyane Wade hosts, and sometimes attempts a game if contestants cannot complete it. I’ll have a full review Thursday.

Full Bloom returns for a second season (HBO Max, Thursday), and has "botanical artists" competing in individual and team challenges. While I haven't yet reviewed it, I rather enjoyed season one, which we watched over the holidays, though I found the judging to be quite infuriating at times.