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In recent years, I’ve spent countless hours watching serial TV shows on DVD, devouring episode after episode. My first time watching a TV series on DVD was when I watched the first three seasons of Six Feet Under. When I ran out of discs and had to wait for — gasp! — new episodes to air on TV, I felt a peculiar sense of loss. I don’t have a name for this, but it’s a very specific feeling — like the TV Faucet has been forcibly turned off, and you know you’ll be forced to wait, like everybody else, for the next episode.
After Six Feet Under, I watched The Sopranos, Arrested Development, The Ben Stiller Show. After I ran through those I rented several seasons of The Simpsons in desperation, though I had already seen the episodes in syndication a zillion times. I started buying DVDs of shows I was already watching (notably Lost and Battlestar Galactica) and pushing those on friends. “Here, just take Season 1,” I’d say. “Just have a look. If you like it, I have 49 hours more.” Predictably, the addiction would take hold and I’d find a friend at my door, dying for Season 2 and beyond.
My most recent TV addiction was The Wire. Here was a series that everybody told me I would love — and by everybody, I mean there were days when I’d see articles online about the series, I’d hear about it on the radio, then I’d get an email from a friend asking if I’d seen the latest episode. I finally gave in, and borrowed the first season from a friend. After the first episode, I wasn’t convinced. But everybody seemed to love it…so I kept watching. By the fourth episode I had turned off my phone and closed the blinds, settled in for a marathon.
PopMatters has a nice Best of TV on DVD article broken up into sections — from early “classic” TV, through “outsider influences” (read: 70’s) TV, “the new networks” (read: mostly great stuff from the 90’s), and finally Feasts from the Fringe (in my humble opinion, required viewing). The article gives you a great starting point for a brand new TV on DVD addiction!
So I’ve thrown out a bunch of suggestions above. In the comments, share your TV on DVD recommendations and commiserate about how it feels to finish a season, or an entire series! (And bonus points if you can coin a term to describe the latter…I feel like this is a recent phenomenon that flossers should have first crack at adding to the lexicon.)
24!!!!
posted by Witty Nickname on 10-11-2007 at 8:35 pm
Green Acres. The first season is downright brilliant when watched in a stretch.
I have a love/hate relationship with TV shows on DVD in that there’s several shows I’d love to have every season of, but only one or two seasons are released. Season 1 of Barney Miller reminded me of the shows brilliance, but no more seasons came out. I’m also clinging to my old video tapes of The Adventures of Pete and Pete (despite not having a working VCR) since the they only released two of the three seasons on DVD.
posted by Camille on 10-11-2007 at 8:36 pm
I love, absolutely love TV on DVD. I wanted to say the first time I got addicted to TV on DVD is was with Six Feet Under, but it was actually with Friends. Then I bought Sports Night which I watch whenever I’m feeling blue. And on and on and on. Right, now I am watching Heroes and it is about as addictive as shows come when watched in marathon form.
But my favorite TV on DVD would have to be either The Office(US or UK) or Veronica Mars.
posted by scott on 10-11-2007 at 9:05 pm
I got hooked on The 4400 by watching a friend’s DVD of season 1. So I went out and bought the others. The problem is that for season 4 I had to watch them 1 at a time. Not the same.
Series interruptus??
posted by Deanna on 10-11-2007 at 11:38 pm
My first venture into TV on DVD marathons was with the Sopranos. There was just such a time lapse in between seasons that I’d one episode after another to get caught up for the new season.
But I understand the feeling of loss, having to wait for a new episode. My brother Kerry kept talking to me about BSG. Kept trying to get me to watch it. He let me borrow the, miniseries, the first and second season. I instantly wanted more and couldn’t wait for the 3rd season. At the time I described the phenomenon as the “epi-shakes”.
Right now I’m burning through Heroes season 1, because of whatever one said.
Some suggestions would be NewsRadio, Serenity (can burn through in a night), 30Rock, and It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia
posted by Mac on 10-11-2007 at 11:54 pm
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia…I bought the first two seasons on DVD after only seeing a few episodes and I’m now obsessed! I don’t know what it is. I’ve never been this crazy about a tv show before. I’ve just been watching it over and over.
posted by Jason on 10-12-2007 at 1:22 am
I have all three seasons of the 70’s cult hit “Kung Fu” and they never lose their charm. True as well for “Northern Exposure”, which I am now achingly rationing so I won’t go into withdrawal.
I hope they come out with “Newhart” sometime - the second series he did where he ran the inn. (Remember Larry Darryl and Darryl?)
posted by Karen on 10-12-2007 at 3:50 am
I’m going to second Newsradio and add Red Dwarf and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
posted by Logan on 10-12-2007 at 4:53 am
Serenity.
I never saw this show in it’s brief run on tv but was refered to it by a friend. This series is well written, funny, and interesting. I wish it was still on the air. I watched all the videos and the movie based on the series and want to see more.
posted by trebbie on 10-12-2007 at 5:00 am
If TV from the 70s is classic, what do they call I Love Lucy (from the 50s) and Green Acres (from the 60s)?
posted by Miss Cellania on 10-12-2007 at 5:03 am
i definitely got hooked watching the 1st season of carnivale (hbo) on dvd, then had to watch the second season as it aired - and then the cliffhanger ending left me seriously peeved since the show was canceled after that 2nd season.
i also own every season of futurama on dvd. that show was so underrated. love it.
posted by samantha on 10-12-2007 at 6:15 am
I own every season of “Smallville” on DVD and have watched the series through one and a half times. Now that the new season has started up, I just watch random reruns occasionally through the week until the next new episode comes on, to give me a quick fix.
The only other show I have on DVD is “Freaks and Geeks” and since the show was cancelled after only one season, it’s nice to have so much TV goodness in one concise little box.
posted by ScottA on 10-12-2007 at 7:19 am
all 3 seasons of Arrested Development I recommend. Watching them in a straight marathon is a bit exhausting and you feel like you’re wasting your life after a while, but it’s super funny and it just never gets old.
posted by Susan on 10-12-2007 at 7:25 am
oops, also I totally agree with ScottA and his recommendation of ‘Freaks & Geeks’.
posted by Susan on 10-12-2007 at 7:26 am
Am in complete agreement with Karen over Northern Exposure
Also, Dead Like Me is fantastic on DVD. It’s the only tv on dvd that I actually own instead of borrow. One of the best shows ever cancelled.
posted by Sophie on 10-12-2007 at 7:54 am
Miss C — oops, good point. I edited the text a bit to clarify — they do have an All-Time Classics section which covers Lucy, The Honeymooners, etc. The mostly-70’s stuff is actually in a section they call “outsider influences.”
posted by Higgins on 10-12-2007 at 8:26 am
Great post. I caught up on the first three seasons of The Sopranos in about two weeks, right before Season Four (which, as everyone else has stated, was tough to watch on a weekly basis.) Other shows I watched like this were Arrested Development and The Office (UK). I haven’t gotten into Extras yet, but I’ve got the first season just waiting for a rainy weekend. In fact, it’s 58 and pouring right now…
posted by Jason on 10-12-2007 at 8:27 am
First and foremost, Venture Brothers season 1 & 2. Genius.
Followed oh so closely by Samurai Jack, especially season 3 (which contains emmy-winning episodes).
Also Weeds seasons 1 & 2. I haven’t really gotten into season 3 on tv. It’s a little too over-the-top.
Oh yes! Upright Citizens Brigade 1 & 2. Hilarious. And any Kids in the Hall, obviously. 24 season 1 is ridiculous, too, almost as silly. It’s like Steven Seagal meets terrorists.
And… Stella, but it seems you are looking more for a season- or series-long tangible plot; I don’t know how satisfied you’ll be with just laughing.
Promise me you’ll watch Venture Bros. and help make the world a better place.
posted by TMo on 10-12-2007 at 8:29 am
In reference to trebbie, ‘Serenity’='Firefly’
posted by TMo on 10-12-2007 at 8:31 am
I’ve been doing this same thing for about 2 years now. And so far i’ve gone through the following series from the begining:
24, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, Desperate Housewives, Farscape, Firefly, Rescue Me, Rome, Scrubs, The Shield, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Stargate: Sg1, Stargate: Atlantis, Alias, Carnivale, Dead Like Me, Entourage, Extras, Grey’s Anatomy, House M.D., Lost, Monk, The Office (US + UK), Oz, Bullsh*t, Weeds, My Name is Earl, The Unit.
Gotta love Netflix and nothing to do on weeknights.
I highly recommend Rescue Me, probably one of the best shows on TV. Farscape’s really good if you like sci-fi, but the ending sucks.
posted by David on 10-12-2007 at 8:46 am
“Wings” and “Cheers”
posted by mrs.djs on 10-12-2007 at 8:49 am
Firefly was my first TV on DVD experience, and I was hooked from the first bars of the theme song. When I found out those 4 discs WERE the whole series, I nearly cried.
I then moved on to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and watched all seven seasons over a few months while my boyfriend played World of Warcraft. Then he got me hooked on WoW…
I also really got into anime through DVDs. Tenchi Muyo, Ah! My Goddess, Cowboy Bebop, and Bubblegum Crisis sit complete on my DVD shelves, with partial collections of several other series.
And someday I’ll have all the Simpsons and Muppets and Animaniacs seasons. :)
posted by Mel on 10-12-2007 at 9:00 am
First hooked by Six Feet Under, then Twin Peaks. Of course, since I don’t have cable or television reception Lost, Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park, and Battlestar Gallactica are all DVD favorites.
I have to second the call for Venture Bros. That show is absolute genius. I’m chomping at the bits for more.
In addition: Stranger’s with Candy, French and Saunders, and Ab Fab.
posted by adam on 10-12-2007 at 9:08 am
After looking at PopMatters I can’t believe I forgot to list MST3K and Mr. Show. Love ‘em.
posted by adam on 10-12-2007 at 9:11 am
My husband and I seem to watch a lot of British and Canadian TV on DVD. MI-5 (Spooks in the UK) is awesome. And he recently got me hooked on ReGenesis.
As far as American fare, I own all six seasons of Smallville (Had to watch all of season six in the week before season 7 started) Firefly was an awesome show to watch on DVD, even though it ultimately leaves you angry and disappointed that there isn’t more of it. But I think the show that left me with the worst feeling of loss once I watched the entire series was Enterprise. The hubby and I weren’t even expecting to like it. We watched all four season in under a month, and then spent another month sulking that we had no more episodes. I have no idea what to call that sense of loss, but I know the feeling (and accompanying withdrawal symptoms)quite well.
posted by Stacey on 10-12-2007 at 9:19 am
Land of the Lost rocks.
posted by DW on 10-12-2007 at 9:39 am
My three favorite TV shows on DVD are as follows:
Penn and Teller: BS! - Informative and hilarious. Tackles subjects no other show on TV dares to (outside maybe south park).
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - A must-have for anybody who likes b-movies and making fun of them.
Moonlighting - My desire to be David Addison is one of my more shameful secrets.
posted by Christian on 10-12-2007 at 9:46 am
I too am addicted to TV on DVD. I literally watched Weeds season 1 on Monday night after work. The ENTIRE season (roughly 6pm-midnight). I don’t think that’s healthy. But I also recommend any of the HBO, Showtime, FX shows, in addition to what has been mentioned: Brotherhood, Deadwood, Rome, The miniseries The Corner (from the creators of the Wire), Extras. So I too will spend entire weekends watching a series, and sadly finishing them does leave some sort of empty lost feeling. I always tell myself to watch a season more slowly so as not to get to that point sooner, but I can never hep myself. Good to know I’m not alone.
posted by AD on 10-12-2007 at 9:49 am
Firefly . . . that marathon doesn’t last too long, seeing as it’s only 24 eps long. :-(
I’ll watch anything my boyfriend has, which is just about everything, so lately I’ve been catching up on West Wing and the 4400. I also love going through the first two seasons of How I Met Your Mother over and over again.
posted by Meagan on 10-12-2007 at 10:06 am
Ummm, I meant 14 eps for Firefly.
posted by Meagan on 10-12-2007 at 10:07 am
HOUSE MD definitely.
i think my obsession comes from the fact that I usually have to attend band rehearsal on the nights the show airs. but the few shows i managed to catch in the beginning got me so taken with it that i had to get the DVDs. now that season 3 is out, i get the feeling i’ll be holed up for several days getting caught up. (now i just need to get “The Simpson’s Movie”) :D
posted by The Creature on 10-12-2007 at 10:27 am
I used to watch the Adventures of Pete and Pete, so I’ve got that. Plus The Shield .. a really good cop drama.
posted by Reggie on 10-12-2007 at 10:52 am
Watched:
`Kids in the Hall
`Sex & the City
`Dead Like Me
`Battlestar Galactica
`X-Files
`Firefly
`Buffy
`MI-5
`Saturday Night Live
Anyone have a track on VIVA VARIETY coming out any time soon??
posted by Lizard Breath on 10-12-2007 at 11:17 am
Miss C, I agree that the term “classic” TV is bandied about somewhat randomly. Rather than categorize by year or decade, I prefer to classify shows via their staying power. Some shows achieve this via great writing, some via kitsch factor. As a former mod on the TVLand boards, I can say I was surprised to see that “Designing Women” and “Murphy Brown” (both shows that I love) were relegated to the graveyard hours due to viewer disinterest, while “Fresh Prince,” “I Love Lucy,” “Roseanne” and “Leave It to Beaver” are audience favorites.
posted by Kara on 10-12-2007 at 1:07 pm
Right now my fiance and I are working on Scrubs, but it all started with Sopranos. Venture Brothers 1&2 are gold, we have the Simpsons and Family Guy, and the best, of course, is Firefly.
The feeling we get when we finish depends on the series. With Firefly, it’s “I fucking hate FOX. Why did they cancel it? Best. Show. Ever. Wanna watch again?” With the ones that are still on TV it’s “Dammit, now I have to wait for the next season to start.”
I just can’t wait until the entire series of The State is released on DVD.
Does anyone know if “Get Smart” is available yet?
posted by Leah on 10-12-2007 at 1:32 pm
Nevermind, found it on tvshowsondvd.com
posted by Leah on 10-12-2007 at 1:36 pm
If you get mad when you finish because it was a canceled series, the feeling you get should be called “foxed.” It applies to Futurama, Firefly, Arrested Developement, etc.
posted by LS on 10-12-2007 at 1:39 pm
I think the favorite seasons/series that I have seen on DVD are Alias Season 1 and Freaks and Geeks. This last summer I watched the Muppet Show Season 1 and, although I expect Season 2 to be at least as much fun (yes, I’m aware that it’s supposed to have come out by now) the hardest part of waiting is that I won’t have time to watch it until next summer.
And although I don’t have a specific term for how you feel when you get to the end of a series (especially one that ended too soon like Freaks and Geeks, the whole series on six discs) I can tell you exactly what it feels like, it feels almost exactly like what it feels when you are reading all the books of a favorite author who has died and you realize you have gotten to the last one (in my case, no more Agatha Christie, no more Hercule Poirot) and you realize your only option is to go back and reread *sigh*.
posted by Kaberi on 10-12-2007 at 1:55 pm
I second Venture Bros. and The Wire as well.
posted by Jacbak on 10-12-2007 at 2:15 pm
What about the British “Office” and “Extras?” Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais are just brilliant! I also like the American version (one of the best shows on U.S. TV), but the English one is just so great!
posted by Scott on 10-12-2007 at 3:05 pm