There´s A TV In My Dvd Player! 

The advent of DVD may have been the best thing to happen to film geeks in a long time, but it hasn't worked out too shabbily for couch potatoes, either. Much has been written about DVD being a boon for the movie industry, grinding the once omniscient videocassette market into the ground by offering films with improved picture and sound, not to mention all those nifty extra features. But the real out-of-left-field surprise has been the booming business of TV shows on DVD.

Recent numbers are staggering. A Merrill Lynch report issued at the end of 2004 revealed that DVD enthusiasts spent $2.3 billion last year buying television programs on disc. Approximately 500 boobtube features — everything from TV series to cable movies to educational programs — were released in 2004 alone, and Video Store Magazine reported that because of the wide range of product, TV shows accounted for 10 percent of all DVD sales. Even a glance at Amazon.com reveals that 18 of the site's 50 current bestsellers (at press time) are TV boxed sets. Considering that many of these sets are comprised of TV shows that people have always been able to watch for free, that's a pretty impressive chunk of change.

The reasons for this sudden burst of popularity are varied. For one thing, it gives baby boomers an opportunity to relive — at their leisure — the beloved shows that steered them through childhood. For another, it allows younger viewers to catch narratively weighty series in as few sittings as they like, rather than having to wait week to week for the latest cliffhanger installment (shows such as Alias and 24 have flourished on DVD for this very reason). Not to mention that it gives consumers a chance to go back and catch short-lived series they heard about but never found time to watch. (One example is the cartoon series Family Guy, whose DVD sales were so strong, the show was actually brought back to the air after being cancelled.)

But the best reason? Read my lips: No commercials.

With so many titles flooding the market, we at CL, out of the goodness of our hearts, decided the time was right to tell you what you should watch. So here are CL editorial staff members and contributors' selections of our favorite shows currently available on disc. You'll find a wide range of works, from cherished classics to contemporary hits to quirky cult items, but you won't find bestsellers you probably already have (CSI, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, so forth). We've also provided a list of Should-A Beens, shows we're disappointed aren't on DVD (at least not yet). Have fun.

- Matt Brunson

DRAMAS

ALIAS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan. Originally broadcast on ABC 2001-present.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-3.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In the world of espionage, where duplicity is the name of the game and allegiances can shift at a second's notice, CIA agent Sydney Bristow (Garner) must use her wits (and arsenal of disguises) to remain a half-step ahead of the enemy. Garner and Garber (as her no-nonsense agent dad) head the talented cast of a brainy, fast-paced show whose character dynamics are even more compelling than the cloak-and-dagger material.

BEST SEASON: Season 2, which, in one shocking episode ("Phase One"), uprooted the direction of the entire show and killed off a major character in the process.

EXTRAS: Audio commentary on select episodes; deleted scenes; making-of features; bloopers.

FUN FACT: Series creator J.J. Abrams was also responsible for Felicity and the current hit program Lost.

- Matt Brunson

COLUMBO

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Peter Falk. Originally broadcast on NBC 1971-1978.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-2.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Columbo was actually only one of three programs showcased on The NBC Mystery Movie (the other original rotating shows were McCloud and MacMillan and Wife), but it quickly proved to be the most popular. That's primarily because of Falk, who is wonderful as the trenchcoat-wearing detective whose disheveled appearance and fumbling manner were in contrast to the brilliant mind that always made sure the killer was nabbed before the end credits.

BEST SEASON: The quality is consistent over these first two seasons, but the Season 1 box set gets the edge because it includes the two Columbo TV movies that preceded the series — 1968's Prescription: Murder and 1971's Ransom for a Dead Man — as well as the episode ("Murder By the Book") directed by a rising filmmaker named Steven Spielberg.

EXTRAS: None.

FUN FACT: Falk again donned the trenchcoat for 24 more Columbo flicks made between 1989 and 2003.

- Matt Brunson

FOYLE'S WAR

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Michael Kitchen, Anthony Howell, Honeysuckle Weeks. Originally broadcast on BBC and PBS 2002-2004.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Series 1 and 2, each with four episodes.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: As the British suffer through the war in 1940, Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle has been prevented from enlisting by his superiors. Instead, he's stuck solving domestic homicides in Hastings, on the southern coast of England, an area also vulnerable to invasion. This well-written and beautifully filmed series gives us a good look at what day-to-day life was like and insight into the British frame of mind at the time.

BEST SEASON: There are 12 episodes with more on the way. The episodes have been broadcast in sets of four on PBS (Mystery! and Masterpiece Theatre). In the second set, the main characters are more developed and the story lines more complex: "Fifty Ships" and "War Games" are particularly good.

EXTRAS: The DVD episodes are uncut and slightly longer than the ones broadcast on PBS. The first set has commentary and an interview with writer/director Anthony Horowitz, and the second set has additional material with Horowitz plus an interview with Honeysuckle Weeks.

FUN FACT: Kitchen and Weeks first worked together on the British series Lorna Doone.

- Ann Wicker

MIAMI VICE

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Edward James Olmos. Originally broadcast on NBC 1984-1989.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Season 1.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: If you're currently in your late 20s to late 30s, odds are that at some point during the 1980s, you wore white pants, a pastel shirt, and/or a pastel blazer. Odds are even greater that you were trying to imitate the inimitable Crockett and Tubbs, the two best-dressed cops in TV history. Even when taking on potentially touchy subjects — drug-running, immigration, homelessness and addiction — the show was as flashy and stylized as the city it was based around. The pairing of music and visual image had reached a fever pitch in the midst of the MTV-spawned "video age," and few shows ever did a better job of combining the two.

BEST SEASON: The second and third season are generally agreed to be the best, but have yet to be released.

EXTRAS: The two-hour pilot, several short documentaries on the music and clothing, and a series introduction by creator Michael Mann.

CAVEAT EMPTOR: At $60, the price is rather steep, but you do get 22 shows. However, the reproduction quality isn't what you'd like — the sound sometimes lags a bit behind the visuals, which is anathema to a show that relies so heavily upon both.

- Timothy c. Davis

PRIME SUSPECT

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Helen Mirren and a large supporting cast. Movie-length, individual episodes originally broadcast in chapters by BBC and PBS 1993-1997, revived for one last episode in 2004.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Entire series, in six sets.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Mirren revived her career with her deep, nuanced portrayal of London Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in a series of first-rate, complex mysteries. Often battling the sexism inherent in her chosen profession, Tennison is a dedicated professional woman who sacrifices much of her personal life for her career.

BEST SEASON: In Prime Suspect 2, Tennison's private life is entwined with her investigation of the murder of Caribbean girl, while also facing up to the racism in her own department that stalls the case.

EXTRAS: None.

LOOK FOR: The murderer from PS1 shows up again, while still in prison, in PS4.

- John Grooms

SIX FEET UNDER

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez, Rachel Griffiths. Originally broadcast on HBO 2001-2004.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-3.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: An HBO dark comedy series with larger than life characters that worm their way into your heart despite their multitude of personal flaws. The show follows the daily lives of the Fishers, a quirky, dysfunctional Los Angeles family that runs a funeral home. Each episode is loosely based around the death of a family client and the daily struggles of the family and those who come in contact with them.

BEST SEASON: Season 2. The show really hits its stride as screenwriter Alan Ball, the creator of American Beauty, really develops the characters and sets up the pitfalls they'll be struggling to dig their way out of for the rest of the series.

EXTRAS: Select episodes with commentary by series creator, writer/director Alan Ball; behind-the-scenes featurette; short piece on the making of the title sequence; deleted scene from the pilot episode; season recaps.

- Tara Servatius

TWIN PEAKS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Sherilyn Fenn, Piper Laurie. Originally broadcast on ABC 1990-1991.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Season 1.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Not since "Who shot J.R.?" had primetime television asked a question as compelling as "Who killed Laura Palmer?" David Lynch's startling series brought big screen innovation (and the director's patented eccentricities) to the boob tube with a murder mystery that found FBI Agent Dale Cooper (MacLachlan) sleuthing in the title town, a place as notable for its oddball citizenry as its killer cherry pie.

BEST SEASON: The first season was far more focused than the second (still unavailable on DVD), which meandered after Laura's killer was IDed and was abruptly cancelled with countless plotlines still unresolved. One important note: this box set does not include the two-hour pilot episode that sets up the series — it's in limbo because of legal wrangling between various companies associated with the program.

EXTRAS: Select episode analysis by the filmmakers; new interviews with cast and crew; optional Log Lady introductions to each episode.

FUN FACT: Remember the cross-dressing DEA agent Dennis (Denise) Bryson, who guest-starred in a handful of episodes? He was played by David Duchovny, who would go on to star in another "out there" series, The X-Files.

- Matt Brunson

THE SINGING DETECTIVE (mini-series)

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Michael Gambon, Patrick Malahyde, Alison Steadman, Joanne Whalley. Originally broadcast on BBC 1986.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: OK, not what you think of as a traditional drama, but this uncategorizable show had to land somewhere. The BBC miniseries was hailed by the Chicago Sun Times as "The greatest production in the history of television," and there's a strong case to be made for such luminous accolades during the course of its six-segment tenure. Written by the talented and twisted imagination of Dennis Potter, and with Michael Gambon chewing the scenery as Philip K. Marlow — mystery writer, imaginary bandleader and private detective, and psoriasis sufferer — Potter's script is a marvel of inter-related storytelling, flashbacks and future visions unfurling — often in song — to reveal a truly shocking truth.

- John Schacht

DEADWOOD

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Ian McShane, Powers Booth, Brad Dourif, Timothy Olyphant, Robin Weigert and Molly Parker. Broadcast on HBO, 2004-present.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Season 1.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Finally, a real Western! And if you're partial to swearin', this c***sucker's for you! Featuring a goddam amazing cast led by the best fuckin' TV villain since fuckin' Snidely Whiplash, as played by Ian McShane (who even has the Whiplash moustache). Written by head NYPD Blue writer David Milch, this story of a South Dakota frontier town from the 1870s pulsates with life — and death — like few other series.

- John Schacht

COMEDIES

ALL IN THE FAMILY

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers. Originally broadcast on CBS 1971-1979.

SEASONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-3 (Season 4 will be released April 12).

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: One of the undisputed classics in TV history, Norman Lear's groundbreaking series courted controversy by tackling nearly every taboo subject previously unaired during primetime. A smash from the start, it was the top-rated series its first five seasons, and introduced audiences to four enduring characters: working-class bigot Archie Bunker (O'Connor), his good-hearted wife Edith (Stapleton), their loving daughter Gloria (Struthers) and her liberal husband Mike (Reiner). With titles like M*A*S*H and The Mary Tyler Moore Show also on the air, television comedy arguably peaked during the 1970s, and this series — still timely, still hilarious — was one of the primary reasons.

BEST SEASON: Season 2. Picking a favorite AITF season is as daunting as picking a favorite Beatles tune. Still, the second year includes several classic episodes: "Flashback: Mike Meets Archie," "Cousin Maude's Visit" and "Sammy's Visit" (with Sammy Davis Jr. visiting the Bunker household).

EXTRAS: None.

FUN FACT: It's hard to imagine anybody but O'Connor as Archie Bunker, yet one of Lear's first choices for the role was Mickey Rooney, who thankfully turned it down. For his part, O'Connor had earlier auditioned for the role of the Skipper on Gilligan's Island.

- Matt Brunson

SCTV

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin. Originally broadcast on NBC and Cinemax 1981-1983.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Three 5-disc sets comprising Seasons 1, 2, and part of Season 3, released by Shout Factory.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: The first series built around parodying television itself, SCTV's three years on NBC produced groundbreaking sketch comedy that was intelligent, brilliantly written and acted, and gasp-for-breath funny. The list of highlights is endless: a mind-bending Fantasy Island parody, regular "shows" like "The Great White North" and "Days of the Week," reoccurring characters like Flaherty as talk-show host Sammy Maudlin, Levy's Bobby Bittman, Catherine O'Hara's hilariously disturbing drug-addled Vegas performer Lola Heatherton, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas doing Woody Allen and Bob Hope arguing about comedy in impressions so dead-on they're eerie, and tons more. This is sketch comedy that makes SNL look like Three's Company.

BEST SEASON: If you only get one boxset, we recommend Vol. 2, which contains the brilliant "CCCP1" show parodying, of all things, Soviet television; O'Hara's Dusty Towne character, a send-up of an earlier era's "naughty" comedians; and an inspired Godfather parody.

EXTRAS: Commentaries by some cast members and nice booklets all around, plus cast discussions of the show on Vols. 1 and 3.

LOOK FOR: Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd in send-ups of old Friday night horror movie shows.

- John Grooms

DREAM ON

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Brian Benben, Chris Demetral, Wendie Malick, Denny Dillon, Jeff Joseph, Dorien Wilson. Originally broadcast July 1990 - March 1996: 120 uncensored episodes on HBO; edited versions aired on Fox from 1995-1996.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1 and 2 packaged together in a five-disc set with 29 episodes.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Martin Tupper is a child of the 50s and 60s when television was starting to be a surrogate babysitter. As an adult, his life experiences often evoke memories of those old black & white shows embedded in his memory. Rocket launches often come to mind in sexual situations, and being served divorce papers prompts a scene of a boxer being pummeled. This device was very effective, but the characters and story lines were innovative and entertaining on their own. This HBO show also broke profanity and nudity barriers, but it seems less risqué today.

BEST SEASON: The first couple of seasons, when the show's premise was the freshest.

EXTRAS: Pretty paltry — only an appearance by executive producer and sometimes director John Landis introducing the show and discussing the inspiration for it.

FAST FACT: Series regular Wendie Malick went on to Just Shoot Me and Frasier, and frequently pops up in guest-starring roles.

- Linda Vespa

GREEN ACRES

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, Pat Buttram, Tom Lester, Frank Cady, Alvy Moore, and Arnold the Pig. Originally broadcast on CBS 1965-1971.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1 and 2.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Years before those imbecilic spoiled little rich girls explored The Simple Life, Oliver Wendell Douglas left his thriving law practice in New York City and dragged his socialite wife, Lisa, along with him as he fulfilled his lifelong dream to own a farm. The least treacly of the so-called "rural" comedies (like The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction), Green Acres was populated with a perfectly cast group of oddballs whose local yokel facades belied their savvy.

BEST SEASON: The characters were really rolling by the second season when the show began to develop some of its more surreal moments, e.g., Lisa commenting on the credits as they roll by over a closing scene. Green Acres earned its highest ratings (as the #6 show) in its second season.

EXTRAS: None.

- Linda Vespa

SANFORD AND SON

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, Whitman Mayo. Originally broadcast on NBC 1972-1977.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Season 1-5. Season six — whatever's left of it, as Foxx and Wilson both boycotted most of the season in contract disputes — should be out soon. Unless you're a diehard (like me), don't bother.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: One of the first shows to almost exclusively feature black actors and storylines, Sanford and Son was a surprise hit upon its release. Based around the dynamic between junkman Fred Sanford and his live-at-home son and co-worker Lamont, the series laid the groundwork for the sort of working-class TV that's so popular today. Redd Foxx's turn as Fred became one of the most memorable characters in television history, and while his putdowns of Aunt "Watch it, sucka!" Esther have become classics, he also managed to comment (humorously) on topics like poverty, Watergate, and crime, often within the same show.

BEST SEASON: The fourth! The characters are now well-established, the storylines are plausible, and Foxx is at the top of his game. By next season, his "Fred G. Sanford" had become something of a grumpy old caricature, losing the delicate balance that made the old junkman so memorable.

EXTRAS: None.

- Timothy c. Davis

THE KIDS IN THE HALL

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Dave Foley, Bruce McCullough, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson. Originally broadcast on Canada's CBC and on HBO from 1989-1995. Currently syndicated by Comedy Central in "edited" episodes.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1 and 2.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Irreverent, profane, and often hilarious, this sketch comedy group created some memorable characters, like Mr. Tyzik, the bitter "I am crushing your head" man; Cabbage Head, the horny guy who tried to use his leaf head to score with chicks; Buddy Cole, the gay monologist; and teenyboppers Cathy and Kathie. The Kids have a propensity for dressing in drag, and some of their sketches ("Thirty Helens Agree") reflect Python-esque lunacy.

BEST SEASON: Season 1 is a bit fresher and wilder than the only other available one, Season 2.

EXTRAS: Season 1 includes commentary by The Kids, An Oral History: 45 minutes of interviews, two best-of compilations, 30 minutes of footage from Rivoli Theater performances by The Kids and cast bios. Season 2's extras are more of the same, plus a short still gallery of KITH posters.

FUN FACT: The name of the troupe supposedly comes from Jack Benny, who would often end a joke by saying, "I got this from the kids in the hall," referring to the amateur comedians who would hang around outside his office.

- Linda Vespa

THE MONKEES

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith. Originally broadcast on NBC 1966-1968.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1 and 2.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In the mid-1960s, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider had the idea of creating a television show starring a band — before A Hard Day's Night. Once The Beatles' movie was a hit, the networks went for it. A strange thing happened after the chosen actor/musicians — one director observed each one's personality was a quarter of the "perfect man" — got together: their chemistry and talent clicked and they became a real band. And they personified the silly, lovable side of the 60s.

BEST SEASON: The first season due to the early enthusiasm and comedy chemistry, not to mention some great pop songs. Fun episodes: "I've Got a Little Song Here" (The boys turn the tables when Mike is fleeced by a song publisher) and "Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers" (They're kidnapped by a rival band's manager).

EXTRAS: The two DVD sets are packed with extras, including commentary by Mike, Davy and Peter plus Rafelson and songwriter Bobby Hart. You can also play just the songs.

FUN FACT: Stephen Stills, who went on to form Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash, auditioned to be a Monkee.

- Ann Wicker

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, created by Carl Reiner. Originally broadcast on CBS 1961-1966.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-5.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: This show, which won 15 Emmys, created a new benchmark for quality writing in TV comedies, and served as a breakthrough for Mary Tyler Moore. The show revolves around New York comedy writer Rob Petrie, who lives in suburban New Rochelle with his wife Laura and son Ritchie, and has two goofy neighbors, Jerry and Millie Helper. He shares an office with co-writers Buddy Sorrell and Sally Rogers, under the loose supervision of producer Mel Cooley, the unending target of Buddy's jokes. Highlights are too numerous to name here, but suffice it to say that many critics still consider The Dick Van Dyke Show one of the best sitcoms in American TV history.

BEST SEASON: Seasons 2 through 4 featured the writers and cast at a near fever pitch.

EXTRAS: Numerous interviews, Emmy Award presentations, and in the Season 1 set, the original pilot starring Carl Reiner.

LOOK FOR: The famous Twilight Zone send-up, "It May Look Like A Walnut!," with Danny Thomas, in Season 2 set.

- John Grooms

STRANGERS WITH CANDY

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Amy Sedaris, Steven Colbert, Paul Dinello. Originally broadcast on Comedy Central January 1999 - October 2000.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Entire series, divided into three "seasons," released by Comedy Central Home Video.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Maybe the ultimate "love it or hate it" comedy series, Strangers With Candy featured Amy Sedaris as Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old former hooker/thief who gets out of jail and goes back to high school to get her degree. SWC was an outlandish parody of network after-school specials — an undeniably weird, raunchy show with a talented cast whose greatest appeal was the thorough thrashing they gave any known concept of "correctness." Jerri's teachers, principal, and family are all self-absorbed and dysfunctional, while she has about a million times more "street" experience than her classmates (her version of "Is the Pope Catholic?" is "Does a pimp carry a razor?"). About half the time, SWC has enough depth that a current of sweetness often runs under the sharp, bizarre humor.

BEST SEASON: For full-tilt Strangers With Candy weirdness, we recommend either the second or third season.

EXTRAS: Season 1 disc contains the original pilot, Season 2 has a talking heads PBS cast appearance, and Season 3 has extensive bloopers and a compilation of dance sequences. Which brings us to. . .

LOOK FOR: Most episodes' credits roll during a big dance number.

- John Grooms

ANIMATED SERIES

THE SIMPSONS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Homer Simpson, wife Marge, son Bart, and daughters Lisa and Maggie. Broadcast on Fox 1989-present.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-5.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: For the past 15 years — 15 years! — The Simpsons has been one of the smartest and funniest shows on TV. What other program can boast such a bevy of full, rich characters and insightful story lines that address everything from religion, politics, homosexuality, divorce, corporate greed, and a man's fondness for sugared pastries? It's also one of the few shows to portray a "real" family with all its foibles, yet consistently maintains heart and compassion.

BEST SEASON: This is like trying to select which one of your children you love the best — except harder. In the first season, the artwork is more rudimentary and the characters less defined. By season two the show started hitting its stride, especially in episodes like "Dead Putting Society," where-in one of my favorite exchanges — Marge is troubled by Homer's overzealous attempt to coach Bart in the competitive sport of miniature golf.

Marge: "Homer, I couldn't help overhearing you warp Bart's mind." Homer: (While fishing for a beer in the fridge) "And?!" Most Simpsons aficionados agree that season five is the strongest. It marked the show's 100th episode, featured a number of celebrity guests, and contains such classic episodes as "Deep Space Homer," where the Simpson patriarch becomes an astronaut.

EXTRAS: Each DVD has commentary by creator Matt Groening and various writers, directors, and producers, chock full of obscure tidbits, including the inspiration for different scenes and characters. Other extras include deleted scenes, original sketches and audio outtakes.

LOOK FOR: www.thesimpsons.com, which has all you could ever hope to know about the show.

- Sam Boykin

SOUTH PARK

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny and Butters. Broadcast on Comedy Central 1997-Present.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-5.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Yes, the show's about a group of foul-mouthed 4th graders. And yes, other characters include a talking piece of excrement, a stoned towel, and a teacher named Ms. Choksondik. It's crude and offensive, skewering celebrities and anything remotely politically correct with unmerciful glee. And it's also one of the funniest shows on TV, offering smart, social commentary delivered in the most irreverent ways imaginable-which is what makes it so hilarious.

BEST SEASON: Each season contains a number of classic episodes. Right out of the gate, South Park hit a homerun with "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," in which aliens implant a giant satellite dish in Cartman's rear. There's also "Mecha Streisand," where the boys help save the world from the horrors of Barbra Streisand. While subsequent seasons have equally memorable shows, my vote goes to season five for the show's best. There's the instant classic "Cripple Fight," during which "handi-capable" Jimmy and Timmy throw down in an all-out slugfest. Then there's the unforgettable "Scott Tenorman Must Die." In this episode, Cartman has Tenorman's parents killed, cooks them up in a big bowl of chili, feeds them to the now orphaned tyke, then laps up his tears, relishing in his "unfathomable sadness." Dark? Disturbed? You betcha. And also funny as hell.

EXTRAS: Season 1 extras include "A South Park Thanksgiving," and music videos for Cartman's "O Holy Night" and Ned's "O Little Town of Bethleham." Season 2: the "Goin' Down to South Park" documentary and Chef's "Chocolate Salty Balls" music video. Seasons 3 through 5 feature brief commentary by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, which is just as irreverent as the show itself, only with more cussing.

LOOK FOR: Think you know all there is to know about South Park? To find out, check out: www.southparkstudios.com.

- Sam Boykin

KING OF THE HILL

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Hank Hill, wife Peggy, son Bobby, Peggy's niece Luanne Platter, and Hank's alley-dwelling, beer-swigging buddies Dale Gribble, Bill Dauterive, and Boomhauer. Broadcast 1997-Present.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Season 1-3.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: The show satirizes suburbia's tastes and sensibilities with relatively gentle, clever and more often than not, funny insight. Hank, the honest and dignified patriarch of the Hill clan, is a salesman of propane and propane accessories in Arlen, Texas. His is a world of lawn mower focus groups, backyard barbecues, football, and trying to cope with his wacky family and friends.

BEST SEASON: King of the Hill grew smarter, funnier and more assured with each subsequent season. Season 3, though, kicking off with the finale of the cliffhanger "Death of a Propane Salesman," in which Luanne loses her monosyllabic boyfriend and her hair. Another great episode is "Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men," where the guys attend a lawn mower focus group and Bill utters the great line: "What I'm going to say next will rock your world: I like the cup holder."

EXTRAS: Season 1's extras include in-character commentary on various episodes, deleted scenes, becoming "King of the Hill" featurette, alternate music themes and a Barenaked Ladies music video. Season 2 features director introductions and in-character commentaries, as well as an "animation evolution" featurette, deleted/extended scenes, "Music Inspired By The Hills" and two animated music videos and eight static pages with music. Surprisingly, the Emmy Award-winning third season has no extras.

LOOK FOR: Check out the official King of the Hill website at: www.fox.com/kingofthehill.

- Sam Boykin

ROCKY & BULLWINKLE & FRIENDS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Rocky the flying squirrel, Bullwinkle the moose, villainous spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, along with Mr. Peabody, his boy Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, and various fairytale characters. Originally broadcast by ABC and NBC 1959-1964.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1 and 2.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Before there was South Park, before there was The Simpsons, heck, before there was The Flintstones, there was Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends, perhaps the first animated TV series to incorporate smart, witty, subversive humor that appealed to both kids and adults. Implementing a variety show format with a backdrop of the US-Soviet "space race" and the Cold War, the show follows the adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle as they thwart the evil plans of Boris and Natasha. There are also droll and witty shorts like "Fractured Fairy Tales" and "Peabody's Improbable History."

BEST SEASON: Seasons 1 and 2 are equally strong, featuring oddball characters, great voices and strong, multilayered writing.

EXTRAS: Short segments featuring the rarely seen Bullwinkle puppet called "Dear Bullwinkle," classic commercial and promos, and the many faces of Boris Badenov.

- Sam Boykin

THE CRITIC

WHO AND WHEN: Starring film reviewer Jay Sherman, his parents Frankin and Eleanor, and his boss Duke Phillips. Originally broadcast on ABC and Fox 1994-1995.

SEASONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Both seasons in one box set.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: This animated series about a movie critic was produced by a couple of the guiding lights on The Simpsons, and similarly offered big laughs while taking shots at staples of pop culture. A flop when it first aired, it's maintained a small but loyal following, and the DVD set rewards the faithful by including all 23 episodes from the show's two seasons. Jon Lovitz provides the voice for short, pudgy critic Jay Sherman; his catchphrase is "It stinks!" but the series itself decidedly does not.

BEST SEASON: A close call, but Season 2 gets the edge, largely because it includes the now poignant episode "Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice" (with Gene and Roger providing their own voices).

EXTRAS: Audio commentaries by the show's creators; "Webisodes" (short online episodes created in 2000, years after the original series went off the air); a compilation of parody trailers such as Smokey and the Spartacus and Dennis the Menace II Society.

- Matt Brunson

TOP CAT

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Top Cat, Benny the Ball, Choo-Choo, Spook, Fancy-Fancy, The Brain, and Officer Dibble. Originally debuted on ABC in 1961 and lasted only one season (30 episodes).

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: A 4-disc set contains all episodes.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Like other Hanna-Barbera animated shows, this one was loosely based on a sitcom. While The Flintstones borrowed heavily from The Honeymooners, Top Cat resembled The Phil Silvers Show, with a "gang" cast instead of a "couples" cast. Top Cat's get-rich-quick schemes involved duping Officer Dibble (TC called him Officer Dribble) and enlisting the aid of his crew: affable Benny the Ball, inquisitive Choo-Choo, hipster Spook, ladies' cat Fancy-Fancy, and dimwitted Brain. None of the "humans" in the show ever seemed to notice that TC and company were upright-walking, clothes-wearing cats.

EXTRAS: Interviews with surviving cast members (or voices) Arnold Stang, Marvin Kaplan, and Leo de Lyon (think that's a stage name?); commentary tracks for three episodes; some Top Cat commercials for Kellogg's cereals; artwork from the show; and a sing-along to the Top Cat theme with the music and lyrics running below the opening sequence.

- Linda Vespa

BRITCOMS

RED DWARF

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. Originally broadcast on BBC 1988-1999.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Seasons 1-6, out of eight (36 episodes).

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Surreal and silly comedy onboard the intergalactic mining ship Red Dwarf. After a radiation leak kills the crew, Dave Lister is the only human left, transported three million years into the future. His only companions are a hologram of his biggest annoyance, Arnold Rimmer, and Cat, who evolved from Lister's cat. "Note the difference in capitalization, as it denotes sentience." Later, they pick up an android, Kryten, as they roam around the universe, looking for Earth in all the wrong places. Along the way are various aliens, robots, and alternate dimensions, more often harmful than not.

BEST SEASON: Season 4 includes alter egos, android romances, and a killer curry. Who could ask for more?

EXTRAS: Deleted scenes, outtakes, and photo galleries, and in the Season 1 set, the pilot entirely in Japanese.

LOOK FOR: The International Emmy Award winning Wild Western parody, "Gunmen of the Apocalypse," in the Season 6 set.

- Maggi Grooms

MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin. Originally broadcast on BBC 1969-1974.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Everything, in small doses or, if you want, the "Monty Python Megaset" includes all 45 episodes in chronological order on 14 discs.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: This troupe introduced the world to British sketch comedy at its finest and funniest. The Pythons' skits owe as much to Shakespeare as they do the British music hall tradition — and their own comic (and often surreal) interpretation of events. Palin stood out as the befuddled "Everyman," with Cleese falling over everything as the master of the pratfall. Chapman, who died in 1989, was often more of a straight man, while Idle excelled at the naughty boy persona. Gilliam's animation fueled many a fevered dream and no one could do a screaming shrew as well as Jones in drag.

CLASSIC SKETCHES: "The Dead Parrot" ("He's stone dead."), "The Ministry of Silly Walks," "Spam" and "The Lumberjack Song."

EXTRAS: A "Pythonisms Glossary" and "Useless Tidbits." Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

SAY NO MORE: Hormel Foods does have a sense of humor: To honor the production of Monty Python's Spamalot (a stage musical based on their Holy Grail film), the company issued a limited edition gold collector's can.

- Ann Wicker

DA ALI G SHOW

WHO AND WHEN: Starring, who else, Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen). This series is ongoing.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: The first and only season.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Booyakasha! What's not to love? Cohen goes undercover as a hip-hop listening, slang-spitting "journalist" to interview all manner of folks — Buzz Aldrin, Newt Gingrich — with the unspoken goal of what Brits like to call "taking the piss" out of them. Deliberately mispronouncing words and asking bone-headed questions while simultaneously skewering his interviewees by the sword of their own self-righteousness, Ali G is one of the few true originals in recent TV comedy. Cohen also plays Borat, a Kazakhstan TV reporter, on the faux-show Borat's Guide to America. Cohen's other main guise is Bruno, a sexually ambiguous fashion reporter with his own "show," Funkyzeit Mit Bruno.

BEST SEASON: The first one, and, as of yet, the only one. (Fear not, G-heads: the new season starts in July on HBO.)

EXTRAS: All six episodes from the 2003 season, one featuring commentary by Sacha Baron Cohen & writer/producer Dan Mazer; unedited and unreleased Spyz Movie pitch; unseen footage; a glossary of G-speak.

- Timothy c. Davis

FAWLTY TOWERS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs. Originally broadcast on BBC 1975-1979.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: The whole shebang.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In this classic and hilarious BritCom, Cleese plays innkeeper Basil Fawlty, who just can't quite manage his hotel — never mind being nice to the guests. His stuffy wife Sybil (Prunella Scales), constantly picks on him. No one does manic irritation better than Cleese. Watch out when the little tufts of hair stick out over his ears. Cleese is also a master of physical comedy and the supreme sarcastic mutter.

BEST SEASON: Only 12 episodes were made, all good. Two favorites: "A Touch of Class," in which Basil tries to encourage a classier clientele, and "Gourmet Night," in which there's trouble when the chef gets drunk and Basil goes in search of a replacement duck for dinner.

EXTRAS: Director's commentary, new and archival interviews with cast members and a "guest ledger" of cameo appearances.

FUN FACT: Fawlty was based on a real innkeeper, Donald Sinclair, whom Cleese encountered when he and the Monty Python gang stayed at an inn in Torquay. Sinclair, among other things, threw Eric Idle's briefcase out the window and complained about Terry Gilliam's table manners.

- Ann Wicker

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks. Originally broadcast 1992-2004.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Entire series, in individual seasons or in a mega-set.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In this over-the-top romp, Edina Monsoon (Eddy) and her best friend, Patsy Stone (Pats) careen through life sampling everything in the way of fads and trends, not to mention drugs, sex and rock & roll. In contrast, Eddy's daughter, the long-suffering Saffron (Saffy) is conservative, brilliant and stuffy. Often rude and sometimes screamingly funny, Eddy runs her own PR/fashion business while former model turned fashion mag editor Pats (statuesque Joanna Lumley in a brilliant turn) smokes constantly, drinks vodka and champagne, and sleeps around. The show broke all the PC taboos of the 1990s.

BEST SEASON: Season 5, because of the episode "Schmoozin'" which involves Eddy and her childhood sweetheart and some "lost" Beatle tapes.

EXTRAS: The "Complete Absolutely Fabulous" has 18 episodes on three discs and a disc of extras including commentary by Saunders, interviews, hilarious outtakes, and the original sketch the series is based on.

FUN FACT: Roseanne acquired the American adaptation rights but never got a network interested. Patsy and Eddy appeared on her show for a Halloween special in 1996.

- Ann Wicker

THE OFFICE

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Ricky Gervais, Mackenzie Crook, Martin Freeman. Originally broadcast on BBC 2001-2003.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Both seasons, individually or together, and one with both seasons plus a special.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: A faux-documentary "comedy" set in a paper factory (no, wait! It gets better!) The Office contains no real punch lines and no laugh tracks, but it takes raw awkwardness to as-yet-unimagined heights. Ricky Gervais' David Brent is an office manager who's desperate to be loved, mugging for the cameras knowingly throughout the series, convinced that it's his ticket out of his dreary little English burg. Meanwhile, his turf at the paper company is soon invaded by Neil, a rival manager with the looks and business acumen Brent only thinks he has. The sub-story of unrequited love between office drone Tim and receptionist Dawn finally comes to a head in the Christmas special, which closes a few plot doors but leaves room for speculation. David Letterman once called it the greatest television show ever. That's debatable, but for two short years, no one could touch it.

BEST SEASON: Both — there are only 13 episodes total.

EXTRAS: Director commentary, "How I Made The Office" documentary, deleted scenes and outtakes, a Golden Globes featurette, David Brent music videos.

- Timothy c. Davis

BLACK ADDER

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry. Originally broadcast on BBC 1983-1989.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: A 5-disc, complete series collection.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Follow the razor-tongued Lord Edmund Blackadder as he verbally slices and dices across the ages — through Medieval, Renaissance and Elizabethan England, and up to WWI — anyone foolish enough to cross his path in this classic BBC comedy. And for Blackadder, there's no shortage of foolish people, from his insipid manservant Baldrick to the quite mad Queen of England, they're all targets for his rapier-like wit. If you only know Atkinson as the rubber-faced idiot Mr. Bean, you're in for a surprise; the British comedian is dashing, witty. . .and incredibly unlucky to be surrounded by so many so inferior to him.

BEST SEASON: Blackadder II: Atkinson hit his stride in the second season, finding the inner bastard in Blackadder — and with Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett and Miranda Richardson as Queenie, these episodes are the cream of a very good crop.

- John Schacht

SCI-FI

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brenden, Charisma Carpenter, Seth Green, David Boreanaz. Originally broadcast on ABC 1997-2003.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: All seven seasons.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Buffy's a girl who can beat the crap out of vampires, demons and the occasional swim team member who tries to get fresh. Combine that with good dialogue and solid storylines while presenting memorable characters and you've got a show that confounded its critics and drew legions of fans. Creator Joss Whedon's vision of an empowered young woman and the ordinary people who rise to challenges to become extraordinary is also hip, wise and funny.

BEST SEASON: Season Three contains some prime episodes including my favorite, "The Prom," plus "Beauty & The Beasts" and "Band Candy." The story arcs of Angel's return from Hell, the mayor's ascension and Faith's appearance add layers of complexity.

EXTRAS: First few seasons don't have much more than interviews with creator Whedon. Later releases have tons of interviews and stuff about each episode. A fan can just wallow in Buffiness.

FUN FACT: Snappy dialogue: "We saved the world. I say we party" — Buffy to the others in "Prophecy Girl" (first season).

- Ann Wicker

STAR TREK

WHO AND WHEN: Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and James Doohan. Originally broadcast on NBC 1966-69 (79 episodes).

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: All three seasons.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: ST was groundbreaking in its multi-racial, multi-gender, multi-alien casting, despite working with a low budget and the limitations of 60s technology. Producer Gene Roddenberry created a believable world, imbued with humor, bravado, and the central character's disdain for authority, which is cool even in the 23rd century.

BEST SEASON: The final season, because the characters were now fully developed and the stories/episodes were rootin' tootin' escapades.

EXTRAS: DVD sets contain the usual interviews and such, but the outtakes, some unintentionally hilarious, are worth a visit.

FUN FACT: A 1973 animated series featured most of the original cast providing voices. The entire original cast set off on filmdom adventures beginning in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Since then, there have been four other Trek series (with a slew of new characters) and nine feature-length films (five with the original crew).

- Samir Shukla

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (mini-series)

WHO AND WHEN: Starring Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Bernie Casey, Roddy McDowell and others. Broadcast in 1980.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: There's not a lot of great special effects and the whole thing can seem a bit dated, but it was Ray Bradbury's excellent story and solid work by the actors that make it a sci-fi curiosity worth viewing, not just for fans of the genre but for the casual observer as well.

BEST SEASON: This was a 3-part mini-series lasting about five hours.

EXTRAS: None.

FUN FACT: Based upon the book that rightly made a star of sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury.

- Samir Shukla

THE X-FILES

WHO AND WHEN: Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Originally broadcast on Fox 1993-2002.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Every season is available in its own boxset.

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: The truth is out there: X-Files was a perfect blend for conspiracy theorists, sci-fi freaks and even horror fans. This was the post Reagan/Bush Sr. era and the tube needed something dark, which the X-Files triumphantly delivered. Even though the show dealt with the paranormal, can any other show be as relevant today considering that the most secretive administration in American history is in power for another four years? The truth is still out there.

BEST SEASON: The first season was best as each show was self-contained and the deep, ongoing conspiracies didn't take hold until after the show was a hit.

EXTRAS: A wide variety of behind the scenes looks, documentaries, DVD-ROM games and interviews.

- Samir Shukla

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

WHO AND WHEN: Rod Serling was the main writer and producer for television's archetypal sci-fi show. The stars, including actors both famous at the time and soon to be famous, changed from show to show. Originally broadcast on CBS 1959-1964.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Five "collections" that mix and match episodes from various seasons, as well as individual DVDs containing four episodes each, are available. Now, a series of "complete seasons" boxsets is being released (currently up to Season 2).

WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Ah, the twisted endings, everyday lives embroiled in surreal surroundings and there was always something unknown lurking behind the pretty, fluttering curtains. Every Friday night, TZ blew the veil away from the face of postwar American "reality."

BEST SEASON: By many accounts the midpoint season, 1961, was the best, as the stories were fluid and the revolving doors of talent never stopped revolving. In the available boxsets, try Collections 1, 2 and 5.

EXTRAS: Trivia, interviews with Rod Serling.

LOOK FOR: Future stars made their national debut on TZ, including Robert Redford, William Shatner, Inger Stevens, and Burt Reynolds. There were other series and a feature film that followed.

- Samir Shukla