Laurel’s TV Picks

There’s very little on this weekend that isn’t a rerun and I’m feeling uninspired, so I’m not gonna do the usual grid and picks thing. I trust you guys can find out this data if you really want it (there are all sorts of other websites and publications out there, after all).

But I won’t leave you pick-less. Amazon.com is having a big Spring TV DVD Sale right now (click that link to see the full list of stuff) and I thought I’d share some of my recommendations for TV DVD sets. I don’t know about you, but I love watching TV on DVD, especially when there’s not a lot of new stuff on the schedule. Whether I’m checking out things I missed the first time around or revisiting old favorites, it’s a lot of fun. I own a lot of sets, buy a lot of sets, I also rent plenty of things from Netflix (who has a good selection of TV on DVD).

Can’t afford to buy sets or just don’t want to? Some are available at libraries and at video rental stores; I know that Netflix carries a lot of sets (I’ve been a satisfied Netflix customer for years, feel free to email to ask about my experience if it’d be helpful).

Thanks in advance to anyone who makes purchases at Amazon.com via my links on this site as I get a percentage of any money you spend there (if you head over via any links; this includes other things on the site that I don’t link to, provided you get there in the first place from this site).

Some Good TV DVD Sets

(Which happen to be on sale right now).

The best deal in the Spring Sale, in my not-so-humble opinion, is that you can now get the Homicide: Life on the Street Complete Series Megasetfor less than $100. That includes all seven seasons of the show, the Law & Order episodes that were parts of crossovers with the show, the reunion movie, a documentary about the making of the show, commentary tracks, and it all comes in a really cool box. My only complaint is that there aren’t deleted scenes and aren’t more commentary tracks, but I’m not sure there could ever be enough content for me on a set about my favorite TV series of all time. Anyway you slice it, all seven seasons of a Peabody Award winning show for less than $100 is a truly excellent deal. (Check out my review of the set for more about it). This isn’t a procedural, it’s not all dark– it’s at times hilarious and heartbreaking and moving and thought-provoking. It’s got a bit of everything, really. Great cast, great guest stars, interesting writers and directors. Groundbreaking.

Many seem to think that Seinfeld was the best sitcom of the ’90s, but I insist that the best sitcom of that era was NewsRadio. Great ensemble cast, great writing, it was always funny (yes, even in the last season when Phil Hartman wasn’t around any more). It holds up really well and the DVD sets have a ton of great commentary tracks.

When I told my husband that The Adventures of Superman was my favorite series when I was a kid, he said “How old are you again?” Heh. I’m only thirty-five, but somehow got hooked on this classic series with George Reeves as Superman. Each season is on sale for less than $20 and I’m sorely tempted to pick ‘em up for myself. I bet it holds up better than some of the other shows I liked as a kid.

Now Moonlighting was a favorite when I was older. I remember talking to my friend about the show a lot when I was in high school. I started watching season one again not long ago and while some of it seems data and slower than I remember, other parts are still hilarious and fresh and fun. Each season is on sale for less than $20– the page I link to for some reason omits the final season, but you can find it easily enough for the same price.

Almost all of the seasons of Gilmore Girls are on sale right now, most sets for $19.99. Good deals and good sets, though at this point you have to wonder if there’ll be a fancy “complete series” set coming along in the next year or two. If you’ve read this site for any length of time, you know I’m a fan of the show. The early seasons were stellar: rapid-fire dialogue (you thought they talked fast on The West Wing? The Girls are faster), a quirky town full of quirky people, and some of the most interesting family dynamics ever on TV. Plus pop culture reference galore and a teenager who loves to study and read books (and eat junk food and hang out with her Mom).

Most seasons of The O.C. are on sale for around $20. It’s another show that I think was perceived as being for teens, but which really works for audiences of all ages. Sure, the older you are the less patience you may have for certain characters (*cough* Marissa *cough*), but the core families of this show are fun to watch. Seth Cohen is a geeky hero, the Cohens are a family you can really love. It’s fluffy at times, heartwarming at times, silly at times. With interesting adult characters interacting with the teen characters as full-fledged parts of the show. Man, I’m gonna miss this show (and Chrismukkah).

I could go on and on there are so many sets included in the Spring Sale, you really should go check it out for yourself.

I think it’s time for me to remind my husband that I have a birthday coming up soon . . .

Other DVD Sales to Check Out

There’s always a discount on stuff you pre-order: Latest TV on DVD Pre-orders

Amazon.com usually has good discounts on Multiseason Packs which collect a bunch of season sets of shows.

The Second Season Sale is what it sounds like: a sale on season two sets. I like this, they’ve always had sales on season one sets, it’s about time other seasons got marked down too!

There’s a Sale on Dead Zone sets.

This sale is (mostly) not for TV DVD sets, but it’s so cool I have to mention it anyway: the Criterion Collection Sale.

And, once again, don’t miss the Spring TV DVD Sale.