My gauge for the official start to the holiday shopping season is this: If popular shopping complexes such as The Grove in Los Angeles, The Americana at Brand in Glendale or even Union Square in San Francisco, have already put up their Christmas trees, it’s safe to assume the holidays are geared up and ready to go.
Even though there’s more than a month left until Christmas, before you know it, it’ll be Dec. 24 and no shopping has been done. Think of this as a handy, dandy guide on what to purchase.
Here are some perfect gift ideas to get your lucky person hooked on some quality television shows:
“Arrested Development”
Season one to three box set $47.99 on Amazon.
With a feature-length movie in the works, the prematurely cancelled show, which followed the highly dysfunctional and formerly wealthy Bluth family, is a brilliant comedic gem. Jason Bateman acts as the sane one in a family made up of a faux magician, incestuous young Bluth offspring and a forever famous banana stand, which has been in the family for years.
In many ways, “Arrested Development” opened the door for future mockumentary-style shows to enter into the fray. If anything, highlights of the Bluths include Gob’s (pronounced like Jobe) ridiculous and failed magic trick, then-unknown Michael Cera’s awkward and geeky George-Michael portrayal and anything that pertains to the banana stand. Its theme song might as well be the epic “The Final Countdown.”
Final Verdict: “Arrested” might not have lasted more than three seasons, but it fares much better when watched in succession.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Season one and two box set $29.99.
Let me preface this by saying that “It’s Always Sunny” has the most outrageous cast of characters, yet it still has a loyal fan base that thrives on its stupidity. When a gang of friends who do nothing but concoct insane plans to better their own personal agendas — such as asking for a bank loan so they can purchase barrels of gas and sell them at a higher price later on — whatever ensues is bound to be entertaining and pretty damn funny for all the wrong reasons.
“It’s Always Sunny” is certainly less mainstream than a traditional sitcom and lacks a family-friendly atmosphere; whatever you think might be too ridiculous (or violent) to do or see as a viewer and a human being, the Philadelphia natives do without hesitancy or shame of any sort.
Final Verdict: If you’re disgusted by what you see after one episode, give it one or two more chances to curb your apathy. The show requires an acquired taste, and once you get the hang of its distinct humor, then you’re as good as gold.
“Fastlane”
Complete season $46.99 on Amazon.
This action-packed crime drama will make the most daring and adventurous person weak in the knees. The Fox show, about two cops (Peter Facinelli and Bill Bellamy) partnered together by a foxy police lieutenant (Tiffani Thiessen) in an undercover division of the LAPD, might lack in the depth department with the too-good-to-be-true motto its characters swear by (“Everything we seize, we keep. Everything we keep, we use.”) and larger-than-life premise. But its explosive (also expensive and excessive) action sequences and star-studded guest list (Mischa Barton pre-“The O.C.,” among many others, doles out some lines) justify its label as one of the best guilty pleasures ever aired on TV.
Final Verdict: Each episode is flashy and borrows from past cop procedurals but infuses its own style to capture the attention of our ADD generation.
Philiana Ng is a senior majoring in communication. Her column, “Inside the Tube,” runs Tuesdays.
TV series on DVD a joyous, affordable gift
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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