Did you hear us having a chat about boxsets and such on the show this week? If you did, you’ll have heard us natter about how you can now make your own TV schedule and indulge in your favourite show for episodes on end. If you haven’t heard it then YOU CRAZY FOOL go over to our podcast and relieve your ears.
Anyway, with that in mind me and Rob decided to share some boxsets we enjoyed and/or recommend. Obviously we have different tastes but I think both of us can show you how you can create a new favourite with just a few discs of TV pleasure. Here are five boxsets I’ve enjoyed and am now passing on to you to improve your life a great deal.
The Comeback
A hidden gem
This underrated gem is a perfect show to catch up with on DVD. A HBO comedy that comes over like The Office meets Curb Your Enthusiasm with a dose of Kath and Kim, it’s a bizare but enthralling watch. Lisa Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, a faded sitcom star who lands a part on a new sitcom but also has to film a reality TV show about the experience. The show takes the form of the reality show raw footage and shows us the show within a show of the sitcom she’s working on. It’s at times an uncomfortable watch but a fascinating one. The whole thing is brilliantly realised mixing awkward, painful moments with stellar performances along the way. Kudrow is particularly good, you’ll forget all notions of Friends within five minutes of the first episode as her layered and subtle performance reels you in. This might be light on traditional laughs but it’s an engaging and offbeat slice of comedy and one that deserves a wider audience. There was only one season but in this case it works quite well. This feels like a self contained story that wraps perfectly with it’s last episode. A fine piece of satire meets mockumentary, this is well worth a look.
Arrested Development
Classic comedy
An obvious choice but with good reason. This show only really makes sense when watched in large chunks via DVD. A ensemble mockumentary comedy about a dysfunctional family who fall out of their vast fortune it is ripe full of memorable moments and the kind of sly recurring jokes that only become appreciated when you watch episodes back to back. This is still one of the most snappily written sitcoms of the last ten years. The characters are brilliantly drawn and the surreal and slapstick nature of the comedy is a winning mix. Arrested Development still feels like a unique show that has yet to be bettered elsewhere. Get boned up on this before that inevitable movie rolls into cinemas.
Alias
Addictive drama
A show that is frequently forgotten amongst action fans and fantasy nuts, Alias works brilliantly when viewed in marathon sized chunks. This complex, ridiculous twisty spy drama from J.J. Abrams is vastly underrated. Abrams used this show to catch the eye of Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible 3 (he was reported to have gone through an entire season of the show on DVD in a few days and realised he wanted Abrams to direct the film) and it’s easy to see why. There is breath taking action sequences, numerous ridiculous disguises and some fantastic dramatic moments. Jennifer Garner leads a stellar cast that make somewhat silly material feel tense and realistic. There were five seasons with some varying greatly in quality but the first two are masterclasses in how to do big over-reaching story arcs and pulse pounding action within the confines of a TV budget. The building plotlines and cliffhangers will have you swapping discs quicker than you can say “next episode” and you will find yourself hooked. Without question.
Gossip Girl
Teen drama at it's finest
This one might prompt some eye rolls but this glossy, tongue in cheek hit show is a joy to behold in boxset form. The first season takes a few episodes to get going but once it does it’ll stick it’s well manicured designer clobber laden nails right into you and won’t let go ’til you watch the final episode. The pace is relentless with one liners and backstabbing a regular feature of every episode. Following the lives of a bunch of elite rich kids and the not so rich kids that come into their orbit it’s one of the few teen dramas to have any semblance of attitude. And in the guise of Chuck Bass has one of the few teen show characters that trascend the usual cliches to create something genuinely interesting and more importantly genuinely cool. Gossip Girl is fluff without a doubt but it’s also self aware, sharp and an example of how to do trashy, sharpy TV with aplomb. Give this one a go, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Sex and the City
Perfect chill out fodder.
Judge ALL YOU WANT but this is my favourite boxset to kick back with to chill out after a hard day or to throw on with a couple of like minded mates. It’s perfect for vegging out in front of but is also fantastic for throwing on with a few mates and picking out the plot holes/ridiculous moments. Sample quotes from such sessions include:
“Why is she wearing that?”
“Why is Carrie so irritating?”
“Is Samantha not tired from all this constant shagging?”
Sex and the City has an instant, familiar feeling that makes it the perfect show to keep on standby when you’re not quite sure to put in the DVD player. Plus the half hour running time means you can watch a few in a short space of time. Won’t carry the kudos of a Sopranos marathon but will provide you with plenty of repeat viewing and even more fun.
What about your favourites? Do let us know, I’m quite curious to see what Rob comes up with. And also if I can convince him to watch Gossip Girl. Watch this space!
