Dallas courtesy Warner Home Video
Here at TV Guide, we’re all about our shows returning from that g-d strike. The nightmare is over and things may finally get back to normal for the next few months. Plus, with the goodies like House and Gossip Girl coming back, we’re spared the flood of midseason nightmares that usually crop up every year about now. Sure, there’s Lipstick Jungle, but so far, we’ve seen nothing as hateful as Quintuplets. Or god forbid that craptastic Kingdom Hospital.
That said, not all TV late-comers are created equal. Hell, some of the best ones available on DVD right now don’t even have equals! So let’s give it up for….
Dallas — Like it’s Denver doppelganger Dynasty, which bowed in January 1981, the original trash classic kicked off at midseason, too. The Ewings started Southforking one another in April of ’78, and they were so far from glam, it’s amazing anyone stuck around. But season 8 just came out and lemme tell ya, 1985 was a HOT year down south! Donna Reed stepped in as Miss Ellie, Jenilee Harrison brought big hair to a new high as Jamie Ewing and half the city was apparently out to kill Bobby. Soooo good.
Buy Dallas Season 8 on Amazon.com
Dawson’s Creek — It was January of ’98 when James Van Der Beek first mooned over Steven Spielberg while Paula Cole sang about not wanting to wait. God, were we ever that young...or hyper-literate? I still pop in episodes from the six seasons available on DVD just to giggle at how pretentious the kids sound now. Yet, for some reason, I will always love them. Even the weird one.
Buy Dawson's Creek on Amazon.com
Happy Days — Not only is this 1974 gem another January baby, so is its equally smashing ’76 spin-off, Laverne & Shirley. And both stand the test of time, which is kind of weird because they’re retro to begin with, so if you think about it…well, don’t. It gets all math-y. Just grab the third season sets that came out last November and see how each of them had by that point developed into spot-on ensemble comedies for a much kinder generation.
Buy Happy Days Season 3 on Amazon.com
The New Adventures of Old Christine — And for a crueler generation, there’s this! You may not be able to figure out when Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ post-Seinfeld divorcee treat actually debuted, since CBS refuses to pay it any sort of consistent attention. But trust me, she arrived in March 2006 and she’s a keeper. Season 1 dropped late last year and I gorged on it in one weekend. Wanda Sykes as her sidekick...it does not get much better.
Buy The New Adventures of Old Christine on Amazon.com
Married...with Children — I totally remember when this one launched, because a) it was FOX’s first-ever sitcom, and b) it was the April right before my high-school graduation back in 1987. And I still recall being stunned that people were offended by the Bundys. The were just a low-rent Family Ties. And they lasted a lot longer than the Keatons. Season 8 just hit the shelves, so if you want to give your mind a few nights off, pick it up and enjoy the hunt for pre-fame guest stars. So far, I’ve found Buffy’s Nicholas Brendon, CSI: NY’s Hill Harper and Black-Eyed (pants) Pea’r Fergie.
Buy Married With Children on Amazon.com
OK, so that’s that for this week. I’m off to the Dominican next week for a little sunburning and dysentery, but Joy will be back after that with some new reasons to spend your income–tax returns on DVDs. Peace out! —Damian Holbrook
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