Instead of going to the beach, reading a good book, or traveling on that family vacation, the A&E staff spent a good part of its summer sitting on the couch and watching television. But we’re not ashamed. Instead, in preparation for the fall, we have decided to remember the offseason as it comes to an end.

Project Runway (Bravo)

It’s all about the fight. Each week on Heidi Klum’s reality show, aspiring fashion designers fight to win challenges such as making couture out of recycled materials or updating a fashion icon’s look. They also fight for models, fight over sewing machines, and fight with each other. The contestants’ strong personalities mean fights occur often and are usually continuations of the previous week’s disagreements, only with more built-up resentment. But they are not just fighting to avoid elimination from the show; they lash out because they care about their designs and want them to be the best. They put a lot of thought into each creation and it shows – the runway show at the end of each challenge boasts at least a few stunning creations.

Watching the show is a lot more fun than flipping through a haughty fashion magazine, and all the technical jargon probably makes it more educational, too. Seeing an outfit grow from a sketch adds new appreciation for the struggle that each fall fashion undergoes to be on the rack.

Entourage (HBO)

Summer signifies a much-needed break from the complex melodrama of doctors and housewives. Summer TV is fun TV, and nothing says that more than “Entourage.”

The show follows newly minted megastar Vince Chase and his three closest friends as they each try to trade in on Vince’s status to find their own happiness in Tinseltown: a girl for childhood chum Turtle, an acting gig for brother Drama, and respect for manager/best friend Eric.

The third season perfectly complements the summer as it chronicles Vince’s rise from pretty boy to A-lister with the success of fictional summer blockbuster “Aquaman.” The second episode of the season is a great example: In the middle of a Los Angeles heat wave (ring any bells?), the boys crash a high school house party in the San Fernando Valley where Vince climbs to the roof for his “Almost Famous” moment. What could be more fun?

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)

While most people were bumping and grinding the summer away at the beach or in the club, 20 hopeful dancers were samba-ing and chassé-ing their hearts out on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” This “American Idol”-esque competition, during which viewers call to save their favorite dancers from elimination, featured everything from Broadway numbers to full-on krumping battles.

The show’s popularity made it a hotspot for big musical performances from artists such as Ne-Yo, Fergie and Ciara, but the real stars of the show – the dancers – always took center stage. The Russian-born ballroom dancer Dmitry Chaplin was the show’s designated lady-killer, driving the female viewers wild with his trademark chest-bearing shirts. The fresh-faced 18-year-olds, boyish hip-hop master Ivan Koumaev and bubbly lyrical performer Allison Holker, became instant American sweethearts. But fans finally whittled down the competition to two dancers: the pretty-boy jazz specialist Travis Wall and the lovably goofy swing dancer Benji Schwimmer. Ultimately, the goofy won over the pretty, crowning Schwimmer as America’s favorite dancer and closing Fox’s big summer hit.

Flavor Of Love 2 (VH1)

Do you know what time it is? Time for Flava Flav, that’s what. The clock necklace-wearing Public Enemy MC spent the summer in a mansion, surrounded by beautiful women competing for his heart, in one of the most surreal reality TV shows yet. This season’s highlight – and yes, this is the second season; is Flav unlucky in love or just lucky? – was when one very inebriated contestant accidentally relieved herself on the staircase (another No. 2 for the show) as she waddled toward the bathroom. Ever generous, Flav didn’t kick her off. Now that’s keeping it real.

Summer Sports (Various)

Watching sports on television eliminates the guilt of staying indoors during the summer while still fulfilling the desire to sit around on the sofa. And this summer’s sports listing boasted passionate characters and dramatic conclusions that turned sports on television into good TV as well as a good excuse.

The men’s final of the Wimbledon tennis tournament showcased an exciting emerging rivalry between Roger Federer, the handsome, dominant star who has been ranked No. 1 in the world for over two years running, and Rafael Nadal, the long-haired, facially expressive 20-year-old who defeated Federer only weeks prior in the finals of the French Open.

Then, of course, there was the World Cup: a whole month of red cards, penalties, villainous referees, in-depth player biographies, dirty jerseys and one unforgettable headbutt.

TV on DVD (Various)

If you can’t wait to see the second season of “Lost” on DVD (and how could you? The first season gave us nightmares), the end of the summer also brings back all of those shows from last season, including the Sept. 5 release of the J.J. Abrams drama and the Aug. 29 release of the third and final season of the quirky comedy “Arrested Development.”

No need to lose sleep – just press play.

But along with the newest hits, older television DVDs provided us with a welcome break from summer television.

For example, “Freaks and Geeks,” the best show no one ever saw, is an awkward reminder of those high school days. It’s a slightly updated version of “The Wonder Years.” Across the pond, BBC’s “The Office,” on which the American version is based, is full of hearty entertainment. The full DVD set includes both seasons and the reunion special (which includes character David Brent’s music video).

Compiled by Amy Crocker, Devon Dickau, David Greenwald, Karen Leano, Kate Stanhope and Ana Heller.