I buy a lot of TV shows on DVD. A lot. But there are only a few shows where I buy every season or a complete series set. Sometimes, it’s not my fault. Studios are constantly stopping production on DVD sets in the middle of a show’s run. Look at Simon & Simon! That was a huge hit for Universal with something like ten seasons but they quit after Season One on DVD. (Luckily Shout! Factory has decided to finish the run.)
But what about those other shows, like Profiler, Hawaii Five-O, Mission Impossible and the Flintstones? Each one of these sits without companions on my DVD shelf. Why? All of these are shows I enjoy, but don’t enjoy enough to watch more than a few episodes over and over again. I like having them for the nostalgia factor but they don’t compel me to go out and get more.
On the other hand there’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, A-Team, Starsky & Hutch, and Stargate Atlantis. I bought each of these as they came out and now own every episode available to date. I also own all of the Irwin Allen shows, Lost in Space, Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants. Many of those purchases replaced the expensive Columbia House VHS tapes my husband and I bought back when that was the only uncut option.
And then there are the “Complete Series” sets that I felt the need to fork over big bucks for. Wild Wild West is a real favorite, as is Gilmore Girls in it’s clever dollcase box. Land of the Giants also came as a complete run in a replica of the cages used to capture the little people on the series.
Finally, there are the “almost” shows and the “someday” shows. I almost have all of the seasons of Smallville but I stopped two seasons ago and probably won’t buy any more. Supernatural is still in production. I own all the sets and I expect I’ll own them all as they come out. Same with Numb3rs.
So I raise the question to you. Which TV shows do you own either every box set or a complete series collection? And do you own any shows on DVD where only a single season is enough for you?
16. December 2009 at 2:45 am
Single seasons: Buffy, The Sopranos, Deadwood, Futurama, Carnivale, Life on Mars (UK), The Wire, Battlestar Galactica (although minus The Plan)
Complete series: Six Feet Under (beautiful complete set), West Wing, Firefly (not difficult, sadly enough)
Honestly, I can’t praise the Six Feet Under complete series set enough – it’s so fitting for the series (and it includes the two great music collections with songs from SFU).
16. December 2009 at 9:54 am
Single seasons: 24, Battlestar Galactica, Carnivale (season 1), Sopranos, Lost, Brotherhood (season 1)
Complete series: Deadwood
All of the tv seasons that I’ve bought have been for shows from this past decade. In some cases (such as Sopranos and BSG), I got into the show late in the game and bought the older seasons to catch up. In other cases (especially with Lost), I like to rewatch the old season before the new one begins.
The reason for me buying Deadwood as a complete series was entirely due to cost. HBO’s prices tend to be high for their single seasons ($80 – $90 when they are released). But Amazon.com listed the entire series for $70 one day, and I couldn’t pass it up. I will probably buy Rome as a complete series if I see it for $50 or less.
16. December 2009 at 12:21 pm
@TankCat: I have to agree that price is often a factor. I got a huge deal on the Wild Wild West set from Discount DVD last year. I’m glad I got it but the original price was off putting.
What I hate and should have mentioned in the post was when studios release a full series set late in the game with bonuses after I, as a loyal viewer, bought each season along the way.
16. December 2009 at 12:22 pm
@Matt: re: Firefly – yes, I have a bunch of completes on shows that ran only one or two seasons. Rat Patrol, Planet of the Apes TV show.
West Wing – now that’s a complete series I’d like to own – forgot about that. I should check ebay for a good price on that one.
16. December 2009 at 4:07 pm
Complete series: Buffy, Angel, West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Battlestar Galactica, NewsRadio, Northern Exposure, Firefly
Series that I have all released seasons: Chuck, House, Grey’s Anatomy, Eureka, Night Court
Series that I some seasons, but not all: Gilmore Girls, 24, Barney Miller, The Equalizer, Moonlighting
17. December 2009 at 9:34 pm
I Love “24″ – Amazing!!! One of 24’s best seasons to date. Just be warned; once you start watching this series, you won’t want to stop!!! And, when will Season 8 be released?
18. December 2009 at 4:16 pm
Complete Series: Honestly, none. South Park is probably the closest to a complete collection I have. I’m only missing Seasons 4 & 11, although I do own the Imagination Land DVD, so that’s like more than one-fifth of season 11. If the price comes down, I really want to get The Shield: The Complete Series Box Set that just came out a month ago.
Series that I have some seasons, but not all: Alias (seasons 2 & 5), 24 (no reason to buy the awful Season 6 & mediocre Season 7), La Femme Nikita (only season 2), Nip/Tuck, Family Guy, The Simpsons, & the aforementioned South Park.
21. December 2009 at 7:49 pm
Complete Series: Buffy, Angel, Firefly, The Office-UK version, Friends, Highlander, Arrested Development
Series that I started but didn’t finish: Scrubs, Family Guy, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (they seemed to have stopped production of complete seasons of Foster’s. We have 1 & 2 because that is all that is out).
Series that I have all released seasons and WILL complete as each season becomes available: Supernatural, Psych
I plan on buying all seasons of Monk at some point.
26. December 2009 at 5:49 pm
Cynthia,
The only shows I have on DVD of which I own every season and every episode are Firefly (which only lasted one season, unfortunately), Rome (just two seasons) and The OC (sadly only four seasons). The other shows I own seasons of are: Battlestar Galactica, Friends, Futurama, Scrubs, Smallville, Lost, and The Office. I’ll complete these series on DVD once I get the money to purchase them, along with other shows I’ve yet to start buying (Chuck, Alias, Heroes, 24, The Simpsons). There are also numerous shows I’ve never watched a single episode of, which I’d probably start purchasing seasons of once I get into them, like The Sopranos.
Although once I get into Blu-Ray, the decision is going to be tougher. Do I start buying the missing seasons on Blu-Ray, then go back and replace my Standard-Definition DVDs with Blu-Ray? Or do I just complete the series with Standard-Def and just get Blu-Ray for my favorite films? I probably won’t even start diving into Blu-Ray until the Extended Edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy is released on the format.
25. March 2010 at 8:08 am
I have a couple of complete series, namely “The Waltons” (one that my mother really enjoys), and “Hardcastle and McCormick” (one of my favorites). As for those that I have some of, if not all, I have some of “Star Trek: Voyager” (which is, believe it or not, the only ’90’s series that I ever really liked); I have 1, 3, and 4, but not 2– reason being is “Threshold” (which, it has been said, was one of the worst episodes of all of “Trek”). I also have one of “TNG,” which, at least to me, was the worst “Trek” ever (hence, why I only have the one; I just wanted to try it out). As for those that I’m working on, I have 7 of the 8 releases of “Five-O” (I haven’t gotten around to #8 yet, but I will someday).
24. May 2010 at 5:19 pm
I am obsessed with Tv series on dvd. It is a sick addict, but hey, there is worse things to be addicted to. Here is what I have:
Veronica Mars (complete set) I watch these from start to finish once or twice a year.
Six Feet Under (complete set) I watch these once a year and I watch the finale like 3 times a year because it just rocked!
Battle Star Galactica ( a half set, but working on it)
StarGate Alantis (first season)
Gilmore girls (complete set, but I don’t have the doll house one
)
DollHouse (season one on blu ray)
Army wives (seasons 1-3) Just finished watching it start to finish.
Dead Like Me (love this show)
I think that is it…. Oh wait… I have Married with Children season 1 (Love, love, love it)