While there are some shows on right now that are helping me get through the pain ('Friday Night Lights' being chief among them), the summer for me is a long, hot period without some of my favorite shows. There's no 'Glee,' no 'Modern Family', in short, there's very little to get me through the night.

While I do miss the series themselves, it's the characters for whom I am truly pining. The 2009-2010 television season had a ton of breakout characters who are quickly rivaling their more established counterparts for a place in my heart. Here are my favorite new characters that are making me wish that it was fall already.

Crosby (Dax Shepard) from 'Parenthood'

I love admitting I'm wrong about someone, which is exactly the reason I included Dax Shepard on this list. When I got the original 'Parenthood' pilot in the mail last summer, I was dismayed to see Dax Shepard, whose greatest role up to that point was "actor guy" on 'Punk'd', was in a show with such a stellar cast. Not only did I figure he'd totally be the weak link, but I was seriously beginning to doubt Kristen Bell's sanity after she got engaged to him.

However, Crosby soon became the breakout character on 'Parenthood,' thanks in no small part to Dax Shepard's funny and heartbreaking performance as the family screwup who just found out he's a father to a five-year-old son. Basically, the guy's totally not a douchebag, so I stand corrected-- and I'm really looking forward to 'Parenthood's' return.





Burt (Mike O'Malley) from 'Glee'

It took me a long time to register the fact that Kurt's dad on 'Glee' is named Burt, but once it did, I just loved him more. Sound-alike names aside, the true reason I adore him is that some of the most powerful and touching scenes of the first season have come straight from him. Who can forget when a terrified Kurt came out to his mechanic father, only to find out that his dad had known all along, and loved and accepted him?

My personal favorite though, came from one of the final episodes of the season, in which Burt jeopardized his new relationship with Finn's mom by letting Finn know under no uncertain terms, that there are certain words that just don't fly in the Hummel household.




Mozzie (Willie Garson) from 'White Collar'

'White Collar' certainly lives up to USA's "Characters Welcome" banner. I love everyone on this show, even the oft-maligned Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen), but Mozzie is certainly my favorite best friend character that Willie Garson has played (don't even get me started on 'Sex and the City 2'). He's always there when Neal needs him; whether it's with a stolen car, or just to be the Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder, when Neal's getting ready to do something stupid. He's paranoid and he lives in a storage shed. What's not to love?




Laurie (Busy Phillips) from 'Cougar Town'

I loved Busy Phillips on both 'Freaks and Geeks' and 'Undeclared', so it's nice to see her find success on a more "mainstream" comedy (i.e. one that lasts longer than 12 episodes). It's a little weird watching her play more bimbo than bully, but the same sharp wit that made Busy Phillips great is still on display, especially with her interactions with Ellie (Christa Miller).

But above all, it's the advice she regularly dispenses to Travis that really warms the heart.




Abed (Danny Pudi) from 'Community'

Danny Pudi is a comic genius. Sure, it doesn't hurt that Abed's been written incredibly well, but I love every single second he's on the screen when I'm watching 'Community.' For someone who had all the potential in the world of becoming a one-note, offensive character, Abed has instead turned out to be the real heart of the show. Even though the series is about Jeff finding his moral compass and bringing everyone together, it's really Abed who is the driving force of the show.

While he may have Asperger's syndrome, that's not even a consideration anymore when it comes to Abed. As he has said, he has self-confidence coming out of his butt, which is just one of the things that have made it absolutely clear that Abed is neither a victim or the butt of any joke.




Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) from 'Modern Family'

With his fancy-cuffed shirts and his love of elaborate murals, Cameron first seemed to be little more than an awkward gay stereotype. However, as 'Modern Family's' first season progressed, Eric Stonestreet and 'Modern Family's' writers proved Cam to be both lovable and multifaceted.

Sure, he may be the primary caregiver in the family and spend any extra money he has on greeting cards, but Cam isn't afraid to take charge when he needs to. Whether it's encouraging Mitchell to stand up for himself or protecting Lily from a would-be intruder, Cameron shows that preconceived notions certainly do not apply to him.




Which characters are you missing most this summer?