Entertainment Weekly 50 Best TV Shows on DVD (1 Viewer)

[AnthonyC]

Entertainment Weekly's cover story this week is the 50 Best TV Shows on DVD. I'm assuming this is just the free magazine that comes with Seinfeld with less Seinfeld included--just a review here.

It's a cool feature, though I can't say I agree with all of their opinions, as usual. But hopefully this will open people's minds to buying more shows on DVD.

They must frequent HTF because the entry on Ren and Stimpy Uncut mentions that a few episodes aren't uncut--then says that you'd have to be an eediot not to buy it still--their words, not mine.

And as a bonus, my copy had a free DVD preview of The Real Gilligan's Island.

Also, there was an article on their website which is for subscribers only not in the magazine so I thought I'd share it so that everyone can read it.

 

[Eddy-C]

Are buffy, angel, firefly or Alias on the top 50 list?

 

[Alex Wagner]

buffy is.
no for the rest.

 

[Ed_City]

Their list sucks pretty bad, imho.

EW is just a try-hard New York lib-rag, so its all Sex & The City and Queer As Folk-type choices.

*YAWN*

 

[AnthonyC]

One thing that surprised me was the Freaks and Geeks Collector's Edition. That's only available on the Internet, IIRC.

I was glad to see both Survivor and Apprentice included.

 

[Jim Saunders]

I'll probobly be buying Freaks & Geeks pretty soon.

 

[WillG]

I'm impressed that EW pointed this out. They usually tend to gloss over those kinds of details. As well as anything about OAR or any other important details.

 

[Tony J Case]

So wheres the list? This thread is USELESS without the list.

 

[WillG]

It wasn't really a list. They highlighted shows on DVD and gave a paragraph or two on them. On some they highlighted the best season and the worst season. Then later on they did something like "The best set for..(some occaision or to set some kind of mood)........." and then named the show. As for what was on it, it's not too hard to guess at which ones made their list. "Sex and the City" "Simpsons" "Sopranos" "Friends" and other usual suspects across different generes of TV. Some were a bit more subtle though such as "Ren and Stimpy" and
"The Office" to name a couple.

 

[Jonathan_Clarke]

Anything classic like Dick van Dyke, Honeymooners or even Star Trek?

 

[Alex Wagner]

Dick Van Dyke all 5 seasons were mentioned.
Honeymooners the 39 episode set was mentioned
and Star Trek Season 1 was mentioned

 

[Jason Adams]

Was Family Guy mentioned?

 

[george kaplan]

Then calling it "50 best TV shows on DVD" is a pretty stupid name. That certainly implies a list of 50 shows, and given most of the examples stated, not one that I'd be very impressed with.

 

[Brian_L_Kleis]

Ok, I'm at work and should be *ahem* working, but I just picked it up this morning and read the issue over lunch... For the perusal of all, here's a quick&dirty version of their list, usually minus the comments... Keep in mind, they were in no particular order specified - I'm typing them as the magazine listed them, ok?

BEST OF TV ON DVD:

Sex and the City:
Best: Season 3
Worst: Season 5

Buffy
Best: Season 3 ('Hush' and 'The Body' standouts)
Worst: Season 7

X Files:
Best: Season 3 (called it 'greatest tv season Gen X had ever seen')
Worst: Season 7

Sopranos
Best: Season 1
Worst: Season 4

Simpsons:
Best: Season 4 (Monorail, Mr. Plow mentioned)
Worst: Season 1 (crude animation, still finding its way)


Chapelle's Show: Season 1
Freaks and Geeks: Dlx Collector's Edition
Strangers with Candy: Seasons 1-3
My So-Called Life: Complete Series
SportsNight: Complete Series (personal HOORAY here!!!)
Pee Wee's Playhouse Series
Popular: Season 1
24: Seasons 1 & 2 (called Best Marathon DVDs)


MUSIC ON TV:
Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music
Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics
Ed Sullivan/Four Complete Beatles Shows DVD
Old Grey Whistle Test
Elvis: 68 Comeback Special
Hullabaloo: 1960s Music Flashback Vol. 1-4


REALITY SERIES:
Apprentice: Season 1
Survivor: Borneo: Season 1
Joe Schmo Show: Season 1
MTV Real World: New York: Season 1


VINTAGE SERIES:
Honeymooners: Classic 39 Episodes
Good Times: Seasons 1-3
Taxi: Season 1
Jeffersons: Seasons 1-2
Cheers: Seasons 1-3
Twilight Zone: Collections 1-5
Dallas: Season 1-2
Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 1-5
Star Trek: The Original Series: First Season


FOREIGN TV ON DVD:
Absolutely Fabulous: Series 1-5
DeGrassi: The Next Generation Ultimate Boxed Set
The Office: Collection
Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus
Fawlty Towers: Complete Set (YES! Big personal fav...)
Avengers: Complete Emma Peel Mega Set
The Prisoner: Complete Prisoner Mega Set


IN CONCERT SPECIALS:
Bring the Pain - Chris Rock
Tour of Duty - Kids in the Hall


ANIMATED SERIES ON DVD:
Family Guy: Seasons 1 & 2
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Vol 1 & 2
A Charlie Brown Christmas
South Park: Complete Seasons 1-4
South Park: Passion of the Jew
Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends: Seasons 1 & 2
Ren and Stimpy Show: Uncut (minor cuts WERE acknowledged)


TALK/VARIETY ON DVD:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien 10th Anniversary
In Living Color: Season 1 & 2


MINISERIES ON DVD:
Angels in America
Band of Brothers


REQUESTS FOR FUTURE RELEASES ON DVD:
Scrubs
More Larry Sanders Show
Square Pegs
Charmed (they DO acknowlede it is coming soon)
Parker Lewis Can't Lose


OK, my fingers are sore now from typing the word "S-E-A-S-O-N" repeatedly... Enjoy the list and on with the debating...

Brian K.

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

I was surprised that they didnt mention Angel but was glad they mentioned Freaks and Geeks and Scrubs.

Now if they would just get Wonder Years and China Beach and News Radio out, I would be a happy Man.

 

[David Galindo]

No futurama? Phooey. And its odd to mention Conan w/o mentioning Triumph.

Thanks Brian!

 

[Steve_Knutzen]

While I would agree that Season 3 is the best, EW should do their homework because those two episodes are in completely different seasonS. They are in seasons four and five respectively.

 

[JohnCZ]

I'm glad to see Sports Night on the list.
Pity it didn't do beter in the ratings. My wife and I would actually watch it together. Similar in formula to West Wing and such. Fast talking wise cracks. That said, all the main characters have done well.

I can't really disagree with most of the show selections but I do wish the list was larger for each catagory. So either the lists are too short or I've watched too much TV. Hummmm?

J

 

[Malcolm R]

Are you sure? They seem to go out of their way to specify "wide" and "full" on their weekly DVD sales chart.

 

[WillG]

That's because the sales chart they print is from Video Business.