Essential Viewing
Prepare Yourself for Fall with 20 Essential TV DVD Sets
Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 7, 2008
So it is now August, and depending on your situation that could mean something ominous, like going back to school, or something joyous, like the return of all your favorite television series. Since we here at FSR are too cool for school, we are getting our wallets ready for TV on DVD month. So we put our heads together and assembled the essential DVD sets to prepare you for the fall. As well, this should serve as a precursor to our official Fall TV Preview, which will hit the pages of this very site later this month.
“Mad Men” - Season 1
Available: Now
The Golden Globe-winning series for Best TV Drama and actor recently kicked off its second season to much fan fare. Cut from the same fiber as “The Sopranos,” but set in a different era, “Mad Men” has become a near cult sensation. If you haven’t yet discovered it, now is the time — get caught up on season 1 so that you can get in on all of the season 2 action.
“Weeds” - Season 3
Available: Now
It was unexpected to see Mary-Louise Parker take on the role of a pot-dealing soccer mom whose life of crime brings an upscale California community to its knees, but probably even more unexpected that it would turn out to be such an amazing dark comedy. But once you get your first hit of “Weeds,” you’ll be screaming “More MILF weed please, Ms. Nancy.” And in season 3, the game got turned up a notch, getting sexier, more dangerous and infinitely more fun.
“The Wire” - Season 5
Available: August 12, 2008
For years now, people all over have been telling me that “The Wire” is one of the best damn shows on television. And while I am not yet ready to go back and revisit the previous 4 seasons just yet, I am inclined to believe them. As with all the seasons of the show, the fifth and final season had a very clearly defined theme: the media and media consumption. Needless to say, everyone around here is at least mildly interested in that.
“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” - Season 1
Available: August 19, 2008
Summer Glau and Lena Headey make this a much watch. I never realized how gorgeous Glau was, until I saw her in person. I, like many others, was confused as to where this show sat with the Terminator mythos, but it has turned out to be a decent appetizer for more big screen Terminator action to come. Looks like I will be one of those picking this one up.
“Heroes” - Season 2
Available: August 26, 2008
Though it was hindered a bit by the WGA strike earlier this year, the second season of “Heroes” didn’t disappoint one bit. In fact, it pulled out all the stops and delivered surprise upon surprise all the way to the epic final moment, a moment that perfectly sets up season 3, entitled “Heroes: Villains.” As you can imagine, the highly anticipated third round is going to be loaded with some intense stand-offs and unexpected alliances. And if you were one of those folks who got lost in the strike shuffle last year, this is one box set that is required before moving on to season 3.
“Dexter” - Season 2
Available: August 19, 2008
I would easily call “Dexter” one of the most pleasant surprises on television. Since the series is on Showtime, it doesn’t receive a lot of exposure. It should, or darkly dreaming Dexter will have to pay you a visit. Once I heard the premise that it is basically like CSI except that the expert is a serial killer, I was hooked. With a tag line like “Takes life. Seriously”, it’s no wonder that Michael C. Hall is America’s favorite serial killer.
“House, M.D.” - Season 4
Available: August 19, 2004
The mad doctor is back. House is a series that I have watched since the first season, but I have kind of ignored it as of late. Just seems as if it has lost something. I will still be picking the set up, and I’m sure all of you hardcore House fans will be picking it up too.
“Chuck” - Season 1
Available: September 16, 2008
This was one of the better surprises of network television. While the show is not perfect or amazing by any means, it is really funny. It is especially funny for anyone who has or is working in retail. This is just a fun show that takes a normal guy, and puts him into extraordinary situations.
“Get Smart” - Season 1
Available: Now
Since the film Get Smart enjoyed moderate box office success this summer, is it any wonder that the TV series would make its way into stores soon after? The show is a classic, and not much more can be said. It is a TV show created by Mel Brooks. I mean to put that into today’s perspective, that is like Judd Apatow creating a show or two for TV…wait, never mind.
“John Adams”
Available: Now
I could be cynical for a moment and call this just a history lesson for the illiterate or ignorant, but I won’t. Most period pieces are littered with historical errors, a consequence of dramatic storytelling. John Adams though, is one of the best historical, and most entertaining, programs about the birth of our nation that I have ever seen.
“The Office” - Season 4
Available: September 2, 2008
Personally, when it comes to the earlier episodes, I liked the BBC version of the show better. However, the comic genius of Steve Carell has kept this show afloat. The show is still as funny as ever, and I will be buying it pretty much just because of the ‘Fun Run’ episode.
“Prison Break” - Season 3
Available: August 12, 2008
So I never understood how this show could go past one season, much like “24.” Considering the two shows come from the same network, I’m sure that there was a brainstorming session on how to do exactly that. I stopped watching after season one, but I hear the following seasons are actually pretty good. Maybe I should revisit the series?
“Grey’s Anatomy” - Season 4
Available: September 9, 2008
I won’t lie, I was convinced by a girlfriend to give this show a chance. It was good. Then everyone became bigger than the show. Katherine Heigl has a nice little career going for her, but she turned down an Emmy thinking that she was Marlon Brando or something. The off screen drama like the Isaiah Washington debacle and Kate Walsh’s spin-off where she just becomes a slut doctor, have just become distractions. They will kill Heigl off, and the show will tank.
“Smallville” - Season 7
Available: September 9, 2008
This is one of those shows that have kind of lost steam over the years, but how many shows last more than five seasons nowadays? I will keep watching, simply to know how they tie the show’s ending into a Superman type beginning. As well, there are a few nice young ladies named Kristen Kreuk, Erica Durance and Allison Mack who always seem to have me interested for one reason or another.
“South Park” - Season 11
Available: August 12, 2008
Can you believe that “Southpark” is on season eleven? I would have never thought it could make it that far. I still remember Comedy Central advertising the first episode which contained an F-Bomb. Season eleven is solid as a rock with episodes like the 300 parody, the poke at Guitar Hero, Imaginationland, Cartman Sucks and Le Petit Tourette.
“Entourage” - Season 4
Available: August 26, 2008
This is one of my favorite shows, and it hasn’t lost any steam over the course of 4 years. Considering that I follow film, actors and Hollywood, this show is a pleasant break from reality. I’d like to say that I hang out with celebrities all the time, and share experiences like those in the show…but sadly I don’t. However, sometimes you get to gang out with the right celebrities and you take part in moments that are even unbelievable for television.
“Spaced”
Available: Now
I guess that if you would like to see the origins of the men behind Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), go no further. This is one of the most highly rated shows to come from across the pond in a long time. Unless you are one of those “Doctor Who” fans. This show is truly hilarious, and totally justifies the money we spent adding BBC America to our cable bill.
“Gossip Girl” - Season 1
Available: August 19, 2009
“Gossip Girl” came out of nowhere and took everyone by surprise. Who could have guessed that a formula that included having beautiful, wealthy teenagers get into a lot of sexy dramatics would work? Of course the premise is a no-brainer, but the writing makes the series stand out as more than the average underaged soap. Plus, their new marketing campaign already has us salivating for season 2.
“Kenny Vs. Spenny” - Volume 1 / “Kenny Vs. Spenny” - Season 4 (For Canadians and true fans)
Available: August 12, 2008
I remember when I first caught this show on The Game Show Network at like 3am. I loved it, and tried to convince my friends likewise. It seemed like none of my friends could get into it, much like most of GSN’s viewers, so the show was canceled on American networks and I was forced to buy the DVD sets from Amazon Canada. Then Comedy Central picked the show up, and season four was born, sort of. The reason that they call this “volume one” is because the season aired in America contained some really old episodes. So if you are a true fan such as myself, or a Canadian, go to Amazon.Ca and buy season four.
“Eureka” - Season 2
Available: Now
Last but certainly not least is season 2 of one of the more provocative and ambitious shows on television. In a perfect little burg known as Eureka, where some of the world’s greatest minds live and work at Global Dynamics, the world’s most advanced scientific facility, strange things seem to be happening. In season two, these strange things include people randomly combusting, becoming invisible and simply disappearing. How cool is that? Needless to say, if you haven’t discovered this little Sci-Fi Channel gem, you might want to pick up both season 1 and 2.
Read more articles by Brian C. Gibson
11 Comments
August 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Just to correct you Heigl did not reject an Emmy. She did not submit her name for consideration this year - along with probably thousands of other actors who were not blasted for it. Her withdrawal was pre even the nomination process let alone the awards themselves. For the record she already has an Emmy which she won the previous year.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I got lost with Smallville after the 3rd season. I’d like to make up for it by getting all of the Smallvilles, Heroes season 1. With any luck all these DVDs will help people survive Fall.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Spaced is awesome, and damn McG for making an American one, you don’t have the best track record in Americanising successful British comedies (e.g Red Dwarf). Also Spaced is a Channel 4 program not BBC, unless they do things differently in the States. Another DVD that may keep you ticking over Autumn season is Danger 50,000 Volts with Nick Frost. Its basically a series on how to cope with extreme situations like zombie attacks, nuclear holocausts etc.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Thanks for the suggestion, Nish. I’m not sure how the contract works, but I caught Spaced on BBC America a while back. They replayed the series shortly after Shaun of the Dead came out.
I mean - they have more than one television station in Britain??? Oh, sarcasm.
And Richard, thanks for standing up for Katherine Heigl’s honor. Her turning down that Emmy nomination was pretty prima donna of her, so it’s nice someone still cares. It was more about her reasoning for doing so that pissed people off. Not the fact that she did it.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Dexter rules.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I guess being called losers for using computers took Sunny off the list, but really no reason to tread over it unless your not that horrible an asshole of person to find it funny. Also in spite of the fact that the season is almost over ,Venture Bros. should be mentioned just for its pure awesome at being one of the greatest cartoons I have seen and for its hilarious commentary on the 1st season DVD (don’t know about season 2 because I sadly don’t have that one yet). Truth be told, I actually haven’t seen any new VB episodes due to the fact that I didn’t TiVo the first episodes, but got all the rest and now have to torrent the first episode before I can watch the rest due to abnormal compulsions I poses.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Again Heigl didnt turn down a nomination. This was the submission process that decides who gets nominated out of the thousands who may enter. Not every actor or actress will submit - in fact only a small percentage do out of all the tv shows that are made and of all the cast that are present. She just opted not to put her name forward. Every year actors will do the same - but they wont get dragged over the coals about it.
What people don’t like it seems to me is that she has an opinion and isn’t afraid to tell it how it is. It seems if you are a woman in Hollywood that’s a no-no. Fortunately it seems to me that she does not subscribe to that notion. The fact is she was just saying what the press had been saying all year - her story and Grey’s in general was below par. But only the press are allowed to comment it seems. It is ridiculous and the whole thing was blown way out of proportion.
She got more flak and abuse than some of the idiotic celebrities who are strung out on drugs or driving their cars into walls when drunk out of the brains. As the guy from Entertainment Weekly put it - anyone would think she had beaten up Dakota Fanning.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Oh, Richard. So noble.
She threw her writers under the bus (that’s right, I live in DC so I can use that phrase unironically) saying the reason that she wasn’t submitting was because she wasn’t given the material necessary to warrant it. Not because she felt she wasn’t worthy - because the writers hadn’t given her good enough material to work with.
Dissing your own show - strike one.
Blaming others and not yourself - strike two.
Being…yeah, I don’t have a strike three. Man, this would have been way more impressive with a “strike three.” A complete package. Or at least one that was nicely bookended using the classic baseball analogy more aptly. If it was a parallel, you know?
Anyway, I don’t care that she had an opinion. I care that what her opinion was, was irresponsible and arrogant. Yes - two “was”es in a row. I’m on a writing roll here.
And your Dakota Fanning example is just silly. Our very own Robert Fure beat up Dakota Fanning months ago and no one even noticed.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
@Diel
I feel shame like you wouldn’t believe for having edited this piece and allowing it to slip through without the inclusion of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I can’t speak for Venture Bros., but It’s Always Sunny is effing brilliant.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Are you serious? Where’s 30 Rock Season 2? Blasphemy.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I take it you’ve never watched a single episode of the Greys spin-off Private Practice. If you did, you would know that Addison has not slept with any other character yet, so can hardly be termed a ’slut’ !! Compared to the bed-hopping on Greys, there is none on the spin-off - a show which isn’t brilliant, but is certainly better than the sinking Greys ship, & has a talented cast of actors with no egos, unlike Greys !