Thanksgiving is behind us
Christmas is less than a month away
you need to buy some presents and you need to be bought some presents too.
So, as sort of a wish list for us and you and everyone we collectively know, we decided that over the next 2 weeks we we will do a nice little gift guide for you.
In installments. And categories.
(making lists is our favorite thing in the world, in case you didn’t know).
Fourth up, TV ON DVD YOU NEED. Mainly because it got cancelled before its time and now you have to just re-watch it ad infinitum. (side note: purposefully not including “Arrested Development”, since you all already own that. Right?)
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What: Only the best, most original TV ever made. With season two for the first time EVER available on DVD in the US. Why: Do I really have to answer this? Because David Lynch is a genius. Because “Who Killed Laura Palmer?” is the only murder mystery that NEVER GETS BORING, no matter how many times you see it. Because Agent Cooper is the only truly good non-boring character ever made. Because I spent the summer between 6th and 7th grade being both MORTIFIED of Bob (the ultimate TV villain) and attempting to learn how to tie a cherry stem into a knot in my mouth, just like Audrey Horne. Because of the log lady. Because of the dwarf in the red room. Because OF EVERYTHING. How Much: 100 bucks or so. Worth it? So much so, I’m probably just going to buy myself this without even waiting for anyone else to think of buying it for me. |
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What: 13 Episodes of pure whimsical Niagara Falls TV Mindfuck from the people that brought you “Pushing Daisies” Why: Ok, so this show was on Fox for something like a nano-second but it should have lasted forever. Jaye, a slacker Brown philosophy major, who lives in the (”High and Dry”) trailer park and works at the Niagara Falls Souvenir shop starts hearing voices. From inanimate object. Inanimate objects of animals. And they make her do things. Things she doesn’t want to do, like save Russian Male Order Brides, and help disillusioned nuns and deal with her overachieving family. It sounds random BUT IS AMAZING. And HILARIOUS. How Much: Maybe 25 dollares? Worth it? OOOOOOOOH 100%. If not only for the things listed above but also because it co-stars Lee Pace (who plays the Pie Maker in “Pushing Daisies”) as Jaye’s brother. And Lee Pace and I are meant to be. He just doesn’t know it yet. But he will. |
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What: Only the best, most original TEEN TV ever made. Why: I already wrote about this one a while back when it was first released but seriously, I just am watching it from Netflix now and it is SO WELL WRITTEN IT HURTS. Every scene in this thing is quotable. In fact, Jason and I almost missed a birthday party this weekend because when Delia touched Brian Krakow’s hand and his inner monologue said “FINALLY, AN ERECTION FROM ACTUAL HUMAN CONTACT” we could not stop laughing. And that just secondary characters we’re talking about here. How Much: 50 bucks. Worth it? Jordan Catalano IS as hot as you remember. Does that answer your question? |
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What: Only the best, most original COLLEGE TV ever made. Why: Now that the Judd Apatow love train is in full motion with “Knocked up” and “Superbad” it is time to look at some choice TV he kept trying to make. Now, everyone has caught wind of “Freaks and Geeks” already (also and excellent gift choice, btw, not to mention a truly, truly kick-ass soundrack) BUT WHAT ABOUT “Undeclared”? College, freshman year at its most grueling. Not to mention Loudon Wainwright (dad of Rufus and Martha and a singing legend in his own right) kicking some ass as the father of the main character who just needs to let off some steam. How Much: 30 bucks. Worth it? Watch this: Ok, glad we got that settled. |
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What: Only SOME OF THE BEST SCI-FI WESTERN FUN EVER MADE FOR TV. Starring Bruce Campbell. Why: Like in my note above, “Firefly” may be the obvious sci-fi underestimated jewel BUT DOES IT STAR BRUCE CAMPBELL? Didn’t think so.. How Much: 60ish bucks. Worth it? Just let Bruce, the original lantern jawed underestimated superstar tell you how it is: “Try as we did to let the entire world know about Brisco, the inevitable happened – the ratings started to slip. When a show is a hit, everyone is a genius. When a show drops in the ratings, the analysis begins…to explain why a TV show is canceled is almost impossible. Ironically Brisco, with its off-kilter humor, wouldn’t have been developed on any other network, yet the appeal of “Westerns” was still rural – not the side Fox’s urban bread was buttered on.” |
Other Honorable Mentions Include: Tick, Sports Night, Veronica Mars, Carnivale and more more more
(”Two and a Half Man” on the other hand-LIVES ON)
And check out the previous gift guide installments:
BYT Gift Guide: Music to your ears
This is the first time everything is in one place for Twin Peaks which had been maddeningly all over the place with releases (having to buy a separate tape/disc just to see the first episode etc…) I only wish the packaging was better. I am still startled everytime I watch it by the audio alone. No TV show before or since has used sound in such a manner. Hearing the wall of wind through the trees and then the slight swirl of a fan in another room followed by a real god damn honest scream that hits the redline makes me jump every time.
December 4, 2007 at 3:59 pmMTV’s not gonna be releasing the State DVD this year. ARGGGGGGGGGGG
December 4, 2007 at 4:14 pmin case you didn’t know, that dude playing the guitar from Undeclared is Loudon Wainwright III, who incidentally has about 15 albums in his discography, including one called Attempted Mustache. Check out Album III for my favorite song that my dad used to sing to me: Dead Skunk.
Also, he sired Rufus Wainwright.
December 4, 2007 at 4:45 pmWonderfalls has a great theme song.
December 4, 2007 at 4:47 pmOMG. Don’t forget Freaks and Geeks.
December 4, 2007 at 4:59 pmJust in my own geek defense:
I 100% Mentioned Loudon Wainwright in the Undeclared write up and his Martha/Rufus siring..
In fact, he’s my favorite part about it.
Freaks and Geeks got also mentioned in the Underclared write up as a delightful gift choice.
If there is 1 thing I know- that that is my Judd Apatow TV.
and yes-WONDERFALLS-BEST THEME SONG IN EVER.
December 4, 2007 at 5:17 pm“Because I spent the summer between 6th and 7th grade being both MORTIFIED of Bob”
mor·ti·fy [mawr-tuh-fahy] Pronunciation
verb, -fied, -fy·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one’s pride or self-respect.
2. to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by abstinence, ascetic discipline, or self-inflicted suffering.
3. Pathology. to affect with gangrene or necrosis.
–verb (used without object)
4. to practice mortification or disciplinary austerities.
Ooh oooh! cause i know you will own Twin Peaks, Svetlana. Can I come over when you’ve purchased it. We can scream at the thin guy’s creepy face together.
December 4, 2007 at 6:04 pmMain Entry: mortified
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: ill at ease
Synonyms: ashamed, bewildered, bugged*, chagrined, confounded, confused, crushed, discombobulated*, discomfited, disconcerted, disgraced, embarrassed, fazed*, fuddled, humbled, humiliated, rattled, red-faced, shamed, shy, taken aback
ALL OF WHICH APPLY TO MY FEELINGS ABOUT BOB.
I may be foreign but I did go to linguistics camp and Thesaurus is my middle name.
Also, whoever wants to come and scream at Bob with me is very welcome to. I may squeeze your hand so hard your circulation breaks off, but then…its a small price to pay for this kind of fun.
December 4, 2007 at 6:13 pmSeason 2 of Twin Peaks is available by itself as well. It was released around April, I think. I made it to disc 5 and had to stop for awhile.
December 4, 2007 at 6:23 pmCase in point - nobody ever reads calendar entry details:
http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/events/leon-redbone-loudon-wainwright-iii-birchmere/
December 4, 2007 at 7:53 pmGlad to hear you’re a Sports Night fan Svet - one of my all time favs
December 4, 2007 at 7:54 pmAlien Nation could be on this list also.
III is one of my favorite albums evah.
Some JUNKIE stole my blond guitar,
God works in wondrous ways…
Brisco County! I just watched this on Netflix and it’s worth it for Bruce Cambell’s awesomeness. Seriously this is maybe his best role ever. But FYI there are some serious cheesy mid-90’s production values in this box. Be aware of that going in and adjust your expectations accordingly.
December 4, 2007 at 3:57 pm