Don’t have any idea what to get Mom and Dad for Christmas this year? Maybe a TV series box set is the way to go, especially for those who choose not to snow-bird south for winter.
With the holiday season comes a slew of releases that can keep your parents entertained well into 2015. Whether their tastes are nostalgic, sentimental or edgy, chances are there’s a collection for everyone on this list.
For Dad:
Batman - The Complete TV Series
13 Blu-ray Discs
List price: $269.97 (Limited Edition)
It’s been nearly 50 years since the campy “Batman” television series starring Adam West made its debut but this marks the first time the show has been available on home video. This set is expensive but contains all 120 original episodes plus three hours of extras and a load of collectibles, including a Hot Wheels Batmobile and 32-page episode guide. It will take your dad right back to childhood.
History Presents: The Definitive WWI & WWII Collection
20 DVDs
$99.98
If your dad is the type to spend hours watching old war footage on the History Channel, he will wear out this 20-disc set in no time. Containing more than 44 hours of digitally restored video from World War I and World War II, this set will be a dream for any history buff.
Reno 911!: The Complete Series
14 DVDs
$45.98
Before “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” made docu-comedies popular in America, Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!” turned its cameras on the hilariously inept members of the Reno Sheriff’s Department. If you dad likes comedy with an edge, this box set will have him cracking up through all six season of this “COPS” spoof, especially if he ever worked in law enforcement.
2014 World Series Collector’s Edition
8 DVDs
$59.98
If your dad is a San Francisco Giants fan, this set will be favorite Christmas gift without a doubt. Including every game from the 2014 World Series, this eight-disc set will let him revisit every nail-biting moment, including the intense game seven.
For Mom:
Charmed: The Complete Series
48 DVDs
$99.98
One of the biggest cult hits of the last decade, The WB’s complete series “Charmed” is being re-released on 48 discs this winter. If your mom digs drama and family tension, she will appreciate this series produced by Aaron Spelling — the man behind “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place” and “7th Heaven.”
Family Ties: The Complete Series
28 DVDs
$89.98
The sitcom that made Michael J. Fox a household name is being re-released in its entirety this Christmas at a lower price than previously offered. This family classic will definitely take your mom back to the 1980s.
Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas
1 DVD
$9.98
Containing only one disc, this doesn’t technically count as a box set but could make a great stocking stuffer for your mom. Including two holiday specials from the beloved television series, it will definitely warm your mom’s heart — bonus points if you watch it with her!
True Blood: The Complete Series
33 Blu-ray Discs / 33 DVDs
$299.99 ($249.99 for DVD set)
If your mom likes timeless romance, vampires and is not easily offended, she will devour this collection of HBO’s “True Blood.” Set in the backwoods of Louisiana, this series wrapped earlier in 2014, making this the first full-series collection to be released. Extras include individual features on every episode of the series with comments from cast and crew.
For both parents:
The Jeffersons: The Complete Series
33 DVDs
$229.99
Both of your parents will likely appreciate a look back at this groundbreaking comedy. This 33-disc collection represents the first release of the show’s entire run ever released. It probably aired when your parents were kids but they’ll appreciate the show’s blunt satire of American life more now that they can get the jokes.
Quantum Leap: The Complete Series
27 DVDs
$179.98
Definitely a show ahead of its time and sure to entertain both of your parents. “Quantum Leap” was a mix of science fiction, action and mystery as its star Scott Bakula was a physicist that could travel through time and space, becoming a different person in each episode. The show’s five seasons make for a fun and campy watch today.
Sons of Anarchy: Seasons 1 - 6
19 DVDs
$169.98
This popular FX series about the members of a motorcycle club is currently airing its seventh season but this box set collects its first six seasons for easy binging. If your parents like heavier shows with an edge, they will both love “Sons of Anarchy” — just don’t be surprised if they start wearing a lot of leather after watching it.
Taxi: The Complete Series
17 DVDs
$79.99
It’s been more than 30 years since the final season of “Taxi” aired but the show is still as fresh and funny as ever. The show won 18 Emmys in its run and made stars out of Andy Kaufman, Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd, among others. Your parents can fall back in love with the classic characters together with this first-ever collection of the entire series.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
