Summer TV on DVD: 10 Great TV Shows to Cure Summer Doldrums
While the remaining shows you watch on network are down for the summer and you’re waiting for the football season to start, you can do what those of us who don’t want cable tv do.. watch the TV shows you want to watch on DVD. Both Blockbuster and Netflix have a lot of shows available that will feed your summer entertainment jones.
HBO puts out the best TV shows… period. So if you’ve missed any of these, they’ll definitely fill your summer mental void.
1. Entourage
Escape to the world of beautiful, hip, young LA with Vincent Chase and his posse. Inspired by the experiences of executive producer Mark Wahlberg, the show chronicles the ups and downs of a mostly fictitious rising Hollywood star.
2. Six Feet Under
I know a lot of people that have HBO and turned this show off after the first five minutes and wrote it off. Every show starts with a death because it’s about a funeral parlor. Give it a chance though. The show features an incredible cast, and every episode is engaging on many, many different levels.
3. Big Love
Pardon the pun, but if you want engaging drama, how about a show about a man married to three different women? For the intelligent and insightful writers of this show, the plot possibilities are endless. If you’re a fan of soap operas (but have a brain) this is the show for you.
4. Rome
Although HBO pulled the plug on “Rome” in its second season, it’s a lavish painstaking recreation of the American Empire in its prime. Oops… did I say American? I meant Roman. Even without closure, it’s worth watching.
5. Extras
Extras is Ricky Gervais (”The Office”) gone wild. The show is based on the lives two stage extras and their misadventures. Each show features a different actor as a guest star, (Kate Winslet, David Bowie and Daniel Radcliffe to name a few) usually appearing in unflattering or unusual situations. It’s every uncomfortable moment from “The Office” mixed together with the political incorrectness of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Then there are some great shows that DON’T bear the HBO brand.
5. The “L” Word
As a heterosexual guy, the hot women and occasional sex scenes in this lesbian drama are enough to hold my attention. For those with less purient intentions, it’s a great drama about the loves and lives of an incredibly diverse group of wonderfully written and cast characters.
6. Freaks and Geeks
This sleeper series met an untimely and inexplicable demise a few seasons ago. It was the launch pad for the budding genius of Seth Rogen. It follows the hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking Junior High and High School experiences of a brother and sister.
7. Undeclared
Undeclared is “Freaks and Geeks” going to college. It features some of the same actors and writers, including a more mature Seth Rogen as both actor and writer. It also features some great cameos by Ben Stiller, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler and others.
8. Pinky and the Brain
Steven Spielberg was the executive producer for this neo-classic Warner Brothers cartoon. Some of the humor is dated, which almost makes it funnier. As a sideshow to The Animaniacs, hapless Pinky and the megalomaniac Brain never got their due on regular TV, so the DVD’s are a far better way to enjoy this dynamic duo.
9. Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Although you don’t have to be in an altered state to appreciate this Comedy Channel cartoon about the adventures of a meat patty, a milk shake and an order of fries, it probably wouldn’t hurt.
10. Beatles Anthology
Finally, if you want to learn something about the Beatles (and any person in the English-speaking world should) the Anthology on DVD is a great way to learn about the career of everyone’s favorite Liverpudlians. It’s got great interviews and tons of never-before-seen concert and studio footage.
COMMENT!
Any suggestions for summer TV?
Technorati Tags: football season, Blockbuster, Netflix, HBO, Entourage, Mark Wahlberg, Six Feet Under, Big Love, Rome, Extras, Ricky Gervais, The Office, Kate Winslet, David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The “L” Word, Seth Rogen, Undeclared, Ben Stiller, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler, Steven Spielberg, Warner Brothers, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Comedy Channel, Beatles
Filed under: General Observations on August 2nd, 2007
There’s loads of good British shows out there too. Probably the most famous is Doctor Who, which has been a cult classic since the 60’s and has just been revamped 3 years ago. The Doctor is an alien who travels around through time and space in a public police call box saving the world. Right now the 3rd season is airing on the Scifi channel on Fri at 9, but you should start from the beginning, with the brilliant Christopher Eccelston starring as the Doctor.
Another good one is called Life on Mars, which is about Detective Inspector Sam Tyler who gets hit by a car and doesn’t know whether he’s “mad, in a coma, or back in time” because he woke up in 1973. It’s basically a cop show with a really great twist. Plus it has David Bowie.
Awesome. I’m on a huge David Bowie Jag this summer. I’m listening to every one of his CD’s, and haven’t head a bad one in the bunch, and I’m only up to 1976. His appearance on Extras is fantastic.