Now that the holiday shopping season has officially begun, get your wallet out and get spending. Here is our selection of new and about-to-be-released TV-related DVDs and apps that will bring joy even to cranks like me who hate shopping.
For kids
“Fresh Beat Band”: The Wizard of Song
A Fresh Beats take on “The Wizard of Oz,” in which Marina gets swept up by a tornado in her convertible and lands in Oz. Includes two bonus episodes that will enthrall your preschoolers.
Price: $15 (Nickelodeon)
App:
Dora ABCs Vol 3: Ready to Read!
Kids sound out words to help Dora and Boots cross Water Lily to get to the Fantastic Frog Fiesta on the other side.
For mom
“Casanova’s Love Letters”: The Complete Series
This 2005 Brit series sizzles. The life and loves of Casanova, history’s erotic hero/playboy/adventurer and swindler of nobles who caused trouble wherever he touched down — and with whomever he touched.
Price: $33
For dad
“Doctor Who” — Limited Edition Gift Set (Seasons 1-6)
If you’ve got a dad/husband who is a “Doctor” fanatic, you’ll lose him to his man cave for days at a time watching seasons one through six, including the ninth through 11th Doctors (Christopher Eccleston, pictured, David Tennant and Matt Smith). Getting rid of him for days isn’t cheap, though. Limited edition gift set runs about $250.
For men who haven’t grown up
“Entourage” — The Complete Series
HBO’s iconic guy show about a young Hollywood hot-shot who takes his three Queens buddies to live the good life with him in the land of living large.
Price: DVD $250/Blu-ray: $299.
For daughters who have passed the age of consent (or who don’t listen to you anyway)
“Girls” — The Complete 1st Season
Lena “I Can’t Keep My Clothes On” Dunham’s anti-“Sex and the City” series about a group of twenty-somethings who try to make it in NYC — without fabulous clothes, great men or exciting jobs.
Price: $50, Release date: 12/11/12
For grandpa
“Mission: Impossible” —
The Complete Series (1990)
If you really love your grandpa, you’ll go for the big bucks with this classic series starring Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Greg Morris and Leonard Nimoy. The Cold War was fought week after week with secret missions and electronic gadgets that are hilarious today but were beyond state-of-the-art way back when.
Price: $270. Release date: 12/11/12
For grandma
“Hot in Cleveland” — Season 3
The ladies go on a gay cruise, model hideous tracksuits and fix each other up disastrously in their new home, Cleveland. With Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and, of course, Screen Actor’s Guild award-winner Betty White.
Price: $30, Release date: 11/27/2012.
For the person who
really does have
everything
“Downton Abbey” — Season 3: Original UK Edition
Though the DVD won’t be released until the end of January, you can pre-order the still-unseen-in-the-US Season 3 of the insanely popular show which already aired in the UK and has been renewed for a fourth season.
Price: $50 for the DVD, $55 for the Blu-ray. Release date: 1/29/13
For me!
What? I don’t deserve a nice present for doing all this work for you?
“Ancient Aliens” — Collector’s Edition
Everybody’s favorite mad scientists in all their bizarre-coiffed glory. Price: Only (just kidding) $100. Release Date: 12/04/2012.