No, we're not partying like it's 1999, back when DVD was king of the videophile hill. We still love Blu-ray, but as we head into the holiday season we've noticed an impressive assortment of DVD-only boxed sets being released for our continued enjoyment. These big, lovely collections are devoted to many of our all-time favorite TV shows and characters, some with nifty tchotchkes inside, each a safe bet to make some lucky recipient (possibly you) rip 'em open with a sincere "Wow!"
(Around my house, "Thanks!" is optional, apparently.)
Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant Years (BBC)
This is the only title in this group which does not represent a complete series, rather these 26 discs comprise every appearance of David Tennant as Doctor Who, from his 2005 debut in "The Christmas Invasion" through the Second, Third and Fourth Series, eight specials and two animated spin-offs. In addition to three lovely and quite different companions (Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate), his tenure also saw the birth of Torchwood with the creation of Captain Jack Harkness in the two-part "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances."
But during this glorious period of rebirth for the venerable Who franchise, too much credit cannot be given to the dashing, funny and immensely talented Tennant, arguably the most popular Doctor ever--a long span for a Time Lord--with his high energy and rockstar vibe. Housed in a gorgeous coffee table book, these 26 DVDs also pack several years' worth of extras, perhaps most notably the live concert events that bring together generations of enthusiastic admirers of all ages. ($199.98)
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A&E/New Video has assembled all 85 episodes of the remastered, extended edition of this enduring anime series in this compact and enticingly-priced box. The three "seasons" cover all of the Robotech Wars: The Macross Saga, The Masters Saga and The New Generation. Robotech first found its loyal and enthusiastic American audience via syndication in 1985, and in truth these were three different TV series which were re-edited and dubbed into English, but the move to a single unifying theme was inspired and wildly successful. It begins with the discovery of advanced technology that enabled mecha, robotic weapons to defend the Earth against hostile aliens. And hostilities certainly followed, multiple extra-terrestrial invasions that pushed mankind to the brink.
Four of the discs in this 17-platter box are dedicated to bonus content, more than ten hours' worth, much of it never before available on DVD, headlined by the new "making of" documentary Carl Macek's Robotech Universe. That's in addition to the vast trove of vintage Robotreasures. ($99.95)
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Barney Miller The Complete Series
Some sitcoms age better than others, and few as well as Barney Miller which, despite its rare departure from the single 12th Precinct detective squad set and regular book-'em-and-cut'em-loose routine, scored big laughs with surprising heart. Give thanks to the diverse, relatable characters, none more so than Hal Linden's Capt. Miller. And with the departure of a supporting player like Gregory Sierra or the passing of Jack Soo, the writers seized the opportunity to introduce deadpan genius Dietrich (Steve Landesberg) and breathe new life into the proceedings. The show also earned much cred for taking place in New York City when it was a crime-ridden hellhole, and offers a glimpse of history back to when Thursday nights belonged to ABC.
These 25 discs carry not only the 168 classic episodes but also the original The Life and Times of Barney Miller pilot, brand-new on-camera interviews with stars Linden, Abe Vigoda (Fish) and Max Gail (Wojo), additional writer/producer interviews as well as audio commentaries. And in one of the most generous TV-on-DVD extras ever, the eight seasons of Barney Miller are joined by the complete first season of Vigoda's spin-off series, Fish, which is only available here. ($159.99)
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It Takes a Thief The Complete Series (Entertainment One)
The unspoken preface to the Hitchcock title To Catch a Thief, It Takes a Thief covers much the same ground, as master purloiner Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner, in his first TV series) uses his once-felonious skills to help fight crime instead of perpetrate it. Now stealing for Uncle Sam, Alex embarked upon a caper-of-the-week career for two-and-a-half memorable seasons. He was joined by a host of familiar guests from the small screen, as well as some genuine Hollywood royalty: Fred Astaire, Peter Sellers, Bette Davis.
The show is old enough to evoke great nostalgia, but this digitally remastered set arrives in time for Wagner (recently Charlie in the ill-fated Charlie's Angels reboot) to participate in a new retrospective interview. He's joined by writer/producer Glen Larson, a feature-length presentation of the series pilot, a set of coasters (Mad Men wasn't kidding, I guess drinking was a big deal in the '60s!), and even a 35mm film senitype, possibly worth stealing. ($199.98)
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Of course, what are the holidays with the family without a little controversy? I can't even mention Big Love to my parents without a holier-than-moi argument ensuing over the nature of patriarch Bill Henrickson's (Bill Paxton) religious beliefs. He embraces the covenant of plural marriage, commonly known as polygamy, but with its compelling yet witty scripts and some inspired performances, this show opened my mind to the notion of sister wives and huge families as part of a much deeper conviction. He, Barb, Nicolette and Margene live a pretty big lie, one that is eventually exposed for all to see, but it's the truths about their family that are far more resonant.
Big Love also educated viewers on such topics as false prophets (an unsettling Harry Dean Stanton, among others), the evils of the compounds, and the despicable practice of the joy book. Like all families, the fictional Henricksons experienced their ups and downs over five seasons, but it all came together as a cohesive saga by the series' end. ($199.95)
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Smallville The Complete Series (Warner)
There's nothing small about the biggest and priciest package in this group, dedicated to Clark Kent's journey from teens to early Man-of-Steel-hood. Never before has there been such an epic dramatization of one of the most revered characters in popular culture, and while some elements are faithful to the established canon, more or less (the advent of cousin Supergirl in Season Seven), the show's buzz and solid ratings gave license to create new characters and explore alternative directions. This led to the introduction of Lois Lane (Erica Durance) ahead of schedule, Clark's early employment at The Daily Planet, and a fledgling attempt at a "Justice League."
Samllville quickly evolved past the Kryptonite power-of-the-week to some major, season-long story arcs, and over a decade's worth of vieiwng we can appreciate the technical improvements in special effects, too. (And damn, I want to know what brand of moisturizer star Tom Welling uses!) Warner has always done a good job with the extras for Smallville, and it's great to have them all in one place, along with five new hours of content. The 62 discs in attendance require not one but a pair of handsome, hefty hardcover tomes, further enhanced by a 32-page guide to all 216 episodes and special commemorative issue of The Planet.
Farewell Clark, but we'll be seeing you again. ($339.88)
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