Welcome to the month of May, which songs and poems tells us is primarily responsible for bringing forth darling buds and spring flowers.

Not a single epigram or aphorism mentions May Sweeps, when May pulls the curtain on the TV season that was, bringing many good things -- and plenty of crap things -- to an end.

Over the next 30 days or so, over 60 shows will say goodbye and leave the airwaves for an extended summer vacation, while others are saying a permanent goodbye. Once they go, TV will leave us with nothing but a smattering of viewing options. Faced with such a dearth -- especially once the hockey post-season is over -- my upstairs neighbors usually cancel their satellite subscription for the summer. Ay yai yai! This is crazy talk! I happen to share that satellite subscription with them and I now have to convince them that it's worth continuing to split the bill for the delight of a few summer series.

But look at what I have to work with:

ABC has released the schedule for its sugary summer fare -- 'The Bachelorette,' 'True Beauty' and 'Wipeout' -- while NBC announced premiere dates for its own summer stand-bys: 'America's Got Talent' and 'Last Comic Standing.'

Ali Fedotowsky, the one-time frontrunner on the last 'Bachelor,' will now have the upper hand on finding love on 'The Bachelorette,' which premieres at 9PM ET on Mon., May 24 after the final performance show of 'Dancing with the Stars.' (More on the 'Bachelorette' announcement here.) On May 31, the program will move to 8PM and again serve as lead-in to 'True Beauty,' which kicks off at 10PM ET.

'The Closer'
(9PM, TNT) 4th season finale
Will they or won't they? Brenda and Fritz have been headed towards that walk down the aisle for awhile, and with their family – Fritz's sister (guest Amy Sedaris) and Brenda's 'rents (guests Barry Corbin and Frances Sternhagen) – in town and the big day just 24 hours away, the wedding seems like a sure thing.

Of course, work always intervenes in Brenda's life, as Fritz is poised to finally bring down a major drug king, and Brenda and her team try to solve a murder at a high-price escort service.

But will the titular top interrogator let her job stop her from marrying Mr. Right? Or is she truly convinced that Fritz is her Mr. Right?