Time to shop for your favorite tubehead(s)? We’ve got some holiday gift suggestions of new and recent TV-related products you might want to consider. Most are widely available in stores or from online sellers. (List prices below are often discounted.)
[ NEWSDAY, ALBANY TIMES UNION, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN ]DVD BOX SETS
“Horatio Hornblower Collector’s Edition”
A&E, $80
Ioan Gruffudd stars as C.S. Forester’s high-seas hero in all eight luscious TV movies (the final one, “Loyalty,” in widescreen). Bonus features include a new interview with the star, commentaries, making-of featurette and a backgrounder on royal warships.
“Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume Three”
Warner Bros., $64.92
Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and the rest of the greatest group of cartoon characters ever drawn are present for this collection of 60 Warner Bros. animated shorts. An entire disc is devoted to Hollywood and TV parodies. With ample documentaries and commentary tracks.
“Wild Palms”
MGM, $15
Mind-bending 1993 ABC mini-series is a futuristic look at techno takeover through virtual reality and “mood poisoning.” Jim Belushi plays it straight in Bruce Wagner’s adaptation of his comic strip.
BOOKS
“The Sopranos Family Cookbook” (Warner, $20)
This 2002 release isn’t new, but it has recipes for tasty meals. More than a tie-in quickie, it’s a solid Italian food source from recipe queen Michele Scicolone, with the bonus of cleverly incorporated “Sopranos” stories and trivia.
More Top Picks Best Transfer Slings For Stroke Patients
“TV a-Go-Go” (Chicago Review Press, $19)
Amazingly detailed look at rock music on the tube also is packed with pictures. Author Jake Austen’s 370 pages range from early dance shows (“American Bandstand”) to MTV and “Making the Band.” A rock TV listings appendix goes close-up on specific programs.
GADGETS
Logitech Harmony 880 Remote $250
This baby is magnificent. It has a color LCD display screen that’s almost as much fun as watching TV. Fifteen devices can be controlled through this upscale remote. Harmony makes “cheaper” models for about $100 that aren’t as flashy or multifaceted.
TV Volume Regulator $49.95
The small box installs easily and keeps audio at a consistent level. The regulator bumps up the volume when characters are whispering and quiets it when car salesmen are screaming. What a relief. Available at radioshack.com, smarthome.com and firststreetonline.com.
GAMES
Scene It? DVD games (Screenlife, list price $25-$40 each)
Interactive clips on DVD provide clues to tube trivia questions in various board-game packages. The original TV Edition is now joined by others.
Desperate Housewives (Cardinal, $25 each)
Players compete to keep or uncover neighborhood secrets in two board games, Dirty Laundry Game and Mysteries of Wisteria Lane.
CSI–The Board Game (Specialty, $35 each)
Collect clues as a forensic specialist trying to piece together a murder mystery before other players. Also available: “CSI: Miami.”