The Sopranos
Buy 'Sopranos' The Complete Series DVD
"The Sopranos" may have debuted more than a decade ago, but its impact is still being felt today. Perhaps more so than any other show in recent history, "The Sopranos" transformed television, proving that small-screen audiences would embrace the sort of complex storytelling and gritty subject matter usually reserved for the big screen. (More importantly for HBO, it also proved that people would subscribe to a premium cable channel not just for movies, but to watch a TV show.) Much of the series' magic came from taking something audiences were already familiar with -- the mafia film genre -- and turning it on its head: The gangsters staked their claim in blue-collar New Jersey, not New York; crime boss Tony Soprano's worst enemy wasn't a rival mobster, it was his own domineering mother; and yeah, when the stress of things got to be too much for him, he talked -- but to a therapist, not to the feds. Because the show was as much about these therapy sessions and Tony's family life as it was about his "business" dealings, viewers could find things to like about this sometimes cold-hearted, misogynistic psychopath. They even rooted for him. Whether you missed the show when it was on, or you just can't wait to revisit the Bada Bing!, Satriale's, and Vesuvio, HBO has an offer you can't refuse: a box set featuring all 86 episodes plus loads of bonus material, including deleted scenes, audition footage and soundtrack CDs.
If you missed out on "The Sopranos" because you didn't have HBO (or because you spent most of the last decade under a rock), be sure and check out these other original series from the cable channel:
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Melrose Place
Buy 'Melrose Place' Season 5 DVD
Whether you hate to love it or love to hate it, TV's guiltiest pleasure, "Melrose Place" is heading back to the small screen this fall ... and we couldn't be more excited! The reboot, which will air every Monday at 9pm on The CW, stars a fresh batch of young Hollywood hotties, including Katie Cassidy ("When a Stranger Calls") and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (yes, Jessica's younger sister ... the one with acid reflux disease). But, don't you diehard fans fret. Thomas Calabro is reprising his role as reckless Doctor Michael Mancini, Laura Leighton's psychotic call girl, Sydney Andrews, is coming back from the dead, and Josie Bissett is also set to return as Jane Andrews Mancini! However, if watching only three of the original cast members seduce and destroy the overly dramatic residents of L.A.'s most scandalous apartment complex doesn't satisfy your deepest desires, pick up the recently released fifth season on DVD. Why? Because spending a summer curled up on the couch without the sudsy soap's craziest characters, outrageous plotlines, and cheestastic theme music (cue the keytar!) would be a bigger mistake than trusting Allison Parker not to drink her weight in vodka if left alone with an unlocked liquor cabinet.
If "Melrose Place" is your dirty little secret, be sure to check out these other guilty pleasures, courtesy of über producer Aaron Spelling:
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Dexter
Buy 'Dexter' Season 1 DVD
Imagine if Robin Hood were a killer instead of a thief, and you've got the basic idea behind Showtime's killer serial about serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall). Sure, he murders people to satisfy his dark urges, but he also lives by a code, targeting only those who are themselves killers -- and who have usually slipped through the cracks of the justice system. Oh, and did we mention this do-good evil-doer is also a cop? Dexter's job as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department gives him the advantage of knowing how to leave no trace of his crimes -- or at least that's how it's supposed to work. Complicating things are Dexter's few interpersonal relationships -- most notably with his sister, who is also a cop, and his girlfriend and her young kids. Dexter must keep his night job a secret from them, while at the same time protecting them from the side effects of his extracurricular activities. Still not intrigued? Well here's another good reason to catch up on Showtime's first program to be nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy: Season 4, which begins on September 27, will feature the addition of John Lithgow playing a notorious serial killer who moves to Miami after evading capture for almost 30 years. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on DVD now, and Season 3 is due on August 18. Watch 'em all, and make it a summer to dismember.
If you get sucked in by "Dexter's" deadly drama, be sure and check out these other critically acclaimed premium-cable originals:
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Mad Men
Buy 'Mad Men' Season 1 DVD
Admit it. You're sick of hearing your friends drone on about how fantastic "Mad Men" is. Well, the truth is it IS THAT GREAT. How else do you explain the AMC show's six Emmy awards last year, including the win for outstanding drama? So if you're finally ready to see what all the fuss is about, pick up the Season 1 DVD of this sexy series and take a trip to a time when men wore fedoras, smoking was allowed in the office, and sexual harassment was considered harmless flirting. The show centers around the dapper Dan Draper (Jon Hamm), an ad exec and married father of two with a mysterious past and a penchant for alcohol and affairs. He's trying to stay at the top of his game at a cut-throat advertising agency in 1960s Manhattan, but it's not easy as a new generation of ad men are looking to make their mark in a rapidly changing society that's about to say goodbye to the June Cleaver world of the 1950s and hello to the sex, drugs, and rock n' roll universe of the 1960s. In addition to the stellar ensemble cast and jaw-dropping plot twists, it's the glorious details in "Mad Men" -- from pregnant women happily gulping down gimlets to the wild wonder of a new invention called the copy machine -- that truly give viewers a peek at a bygone era.
While you're at it this summer, brush up on these other Emmy darlings before they return for another season:
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The Shield
Buy 'The Shield' Season 7 – The Final Act DVD
Fans of "The Shield" were surely sad to say goodbye to the gritty crime drama inspired by the Los Angeles Police Department's real-life Rampart Division scandal. The series focused on Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), the leader of an anti-gang unit that uses not only unethical and immoral methods to keep the streets safe, but also engages in illegal activities for profit. If you made it all the way through Season 6 but somehow missed the last season, or if you just want to relive the drama of the series' swan-song season, grab the Season 7 DVD of this acclaimed FX show ... and hope you never have to deal with neighborhood cops like these.
If you're a sucker for the sentimental, spend a little more time with these other TV dramas that recently said their final farewells:
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Summer Heights High
Buy 'Summer Heights High' Season 1 DVD
Are you the misunderstood guy in your group of friends? You know, the one who laughs at inappropriate times, the one who appreciates vulgarity, and/or the one who revels in the misfortune of others? Perhaps that's a tad extreme. Are you the only one you know who watches "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "Strangers with Candy," or another deranged dark comedy? If so, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to Season 1 of "Summer Heights High," a wonderfully wacky Aussie import which follows the events and daily lives of students and staff at a public high school. This mockumentary, written by and starring the immensely talented Chris Lilley, will have you guffawing and gasping for breath in a matter of minutes once you meet the trio of characters Chris portrays. There's effeminate egomaniac Mr. G, the school's drama teacher; the bossy exchange student and manipulative racist Ja'mie King; and crass 13-year-old Tongan Jonah Takalua, a learning-disabled bully. If that lineup hasn't sold you on this twisted treat, we don't know what will!
If "Summer Heights High" cracks you up, check out these other wacky comedies:
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V
Buy 'V: The Original Miniseries' DVD
In the early '80s, writer/producer Kenneth Johnson was pitching a political thriller about a fascist movement taking root in America, and NBC was looking for a science fiction program to capitalize on the success of the "Star Wars" films. The two eventually met in the middle with the allegorical alien-invasion miniseries "V." The two-part special begins with giant alien saucers arriving and ominously floating over the planet's major cities (a scenario repeated the 1996 Will Smith blockbuster "Independence Day"). Eventually contact is established, and the humanlike visitors convince the earthlings they have nothing but good intentions; they want to trade their advanced technologies in exchange for some of our natural minerals, which they need to save their dying planet. Pretty soon, though, the aliens are rounding up scientists, spreading propaganda, and taking control of the media. Eventually their actual reptilian selves are revealed, along with their true intentions -- which will be familiar to fans of the classic "Twilight Zone" episode "To Serve Man." The original 1983 miniseries' success led to a three-part sequel, "V: The Final Battle," a year later, and then a weekly TV series. Be sure to check out this classic sci-fi drama before ABC's remake airs sometime in the 2009-2010 season.
If "V" has you glued to your seat, check out these other acclaimed miniseries on DVD:
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Pushing Daisies
Buy 'Pushing Daisies' Season 1 DVD
Colorful, magical, visually stunning, and with a pie maker for a lead character, "Pushing Daisies" burst onto the scene as a much needed breath of fresh air. "Pushing Daisies" is the continuing tale of a man named Ned who discovered as a young boy that he could magically bring things back to life by touching them. The only catch? If he touches them again, they're dead forever. And if he lets them remain alive, someone else will die in their place. Ned faces the ultimate test when he encounters his childhood love, Chuck (aka Charlotte), in a casket and has to decide whether to bring her back to life for good and whether it is worth the deadly consequences for someone else. Ultimately he decides the world is better with Chuck in it, and so he brings her back, knowing that if he ever so much as touches her hand, she'll be gone forever. In the meantime, Ned uses his unusual powers to bring justice to murder victims. What better way to find out who killed a guy than simply to ask him in person? The series is whimsical, quirky, and creative, and we simply have never witnessed anything else like it on television. Oh, and any show that brings the joyous Kristen Chenowith and Swoosie Kurtz back to our TVs will always score top points with us. The critically-acclaimed drama just couldn’t catch a break as ratings never matched its acclaim and even though fans tried to save it, ABC pulled it off the air after two seasons. If you're looking for a surreal escape this summer, jump into the magical world of Cour D' Cours with the first season DVD set and then pick up the Season 2 DVD available July 21.
After you grieve the cancellation of “Pushing Daisies,” check out these other gone-too-soon shows that won’t be returning next fall:
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Jon & Kate Plus 8
Buy 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' Seasons 1 & 2 DVD
Remember the simpler times for Jon and Kate Gosselin? When all they had to worry about were their twins, sextuplets, and a reality TV crew roaming around their cramped house? Oh, how times have changed. The couple may have moved on up to a mansion, but they've also hit a tremendously rough, rough patch in their marriage, and get to see their faces on the cover of gossip magazines week after week, often accompanied by headlines about infidelities. Go back to the good old days of milder bickering and complaining with Seasons 1 & 2 of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" when the adorable tups were just 2 years old and the series chronicled a real-life family, not a tabloid train wreck.
Think your family life is crazy? You'll feel like things are pretty darn calm over at your house when you check out these real-life reality shows, where there's literally never a dull moment:
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True Blood
Buy 'True Blood' Season 1 DVD
There wasn't any other show in 2008 that delivered shock and awe quite like the freshman season of "True Blood." Sure, one should expect a show about vampires living out and about in Louisiana to be provocative, but "True Blood" (based on Charlaine Harris' book series) required a constant gut check. There was violence, gore, drug use, and sex scenes that would make a porn star squirm; let's just say "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball brought "offensive" to a whole new level. The moment when telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse returned home to find her dear, sweet grandmother (the show's touchstone) lying dead in a pool of her own blood, we knew there was no line this show was unwilling to cross.
Are you loving "True Blood"? Here are more vampire shows to sink your fangs into:
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The L Word
Buy 'The L Word' Season 1 DVD
Who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned lesbian love scene ... or a ferocious catfight for that matter? If either scenario appeals to you (and how couldn't they?!), it's time to invest in this thoroughly engaging and groundbreaking Showtime series. The sixth and final season came to a conclusion in March, but fans of gay-themed dramas should start at the very beginning to get all of the gossip. Follow Bette and Tina's breakup, makeup, and make-out sessions. Watch as Jenny ruins her fiance's life and shacks up with Marina, a buxom bar owner. Or, tune in just 'cause you need a Pam Grier fix (we totally understand). We don't, however, make any guarantees, but we're pretty certain that if you give "The L Word" a shot this summer, you'll come to love it ... or lesbian it ... or whatever that damn "L" stands for it.
If you love "The L Word" as much as we do, have a gay ol' time with these fabulous dramas:
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Felicity
Buy 'Felicity' Season 1 DVD
This DVD recommendation is for those of you who missed out on the delectable treat "Felicity" (1998-2002) the first time around. Maybe you chalked it up to cutesy teenage fluff (assumptions that were likely amplified by the enormous media storm following Felicity-chopped-off-all-her-beautiful-hair-gate). Well, we say it is time to embrace the fluff! Keri Russell plays Felicity Porter, a fresh-faced, straight-A, high school grad who impulsively drops her detailed Stanford plans to follow her crush, Ben (a boy she's barely exchanged two words with), across the country to NYU. (Don't judge -- you'd follow him, too.) This blind leap into the unknown causes noticeable cracks in the polished surface of who she thought she was, and the people she meets and the choices she makes over the next four years help her discover who she really is. If you find yourself nostalgic for your college days or are simply in the mood for some first-love-style romance, go out and get all four seasons of "Felicity." In the realm of young adult dramas, "Felicity" scores an A+.
If you're a "Felicity" fan, check out these other WB classics:
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Shameless
Buy 'Shameless' Season 1 DVD
There is nothing on American TV that even comes close to this British series. It's like if you took "Friday Night Lights" and sucked all of the squeaky-clean morality out of it. Or took "The Sopranos" and injected it with loads of awkwardly sweet and hilarious moments. The best thing about "Shameless" is that it stars James McAvoy before he was cast in movies like "Atonement," "The Last King of Scotland," and "Wanted." If you thought he was vulnerable in "Atonement," you ain't seen nothin' yet. McAvoy plays Steve, a middle-class doctor's son who also happens to be a car thief. Steve is in love with Fiona, Frank's eldest who's raising the rest of the Gallagher clan. And much to Fiona's surprise (and confusion), Steve also loves her family. There are at least three moments in the first season (only seven episodes comprise the entire season) when Steve's heart is so exposed that you'll physically ache. Trust us: Grab this DVD.
If you like "Shameless," check out these other "undiscovered" British gems:
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Lost
Buy 'Lost' Season 1 DVD
You probably have plenty of friends who insist you should be watching "Lost." Well, there's nothing better on the tube right now, so why not take their advice? Anything is possible on "Lost." With flashbacks, flash forwards, multiple mysteries, time jumps and characters that could be killed off at anytime, you never know what to expect next. Where are the survivors of Oceanic flight 815? Jump in with the Season 1 DVD and come up with your own theories. And if you become hooked, Seasons 1-4 are available now on DVD but you'll have to wait until December for Season 5.
If you're hooked on "Lost," check out these action-adventure, out-of-this-world shows:
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