Ordinarily, as part of our holiday/gift-guide coverage, we'd provide a list of recommended DVDs -- but we're going in a different direction, primarily because the issue of DVD residuals is a central one in the WGA strike, and we'd prefer not to encourage the purchase of DVDs before that's settled. Also, everyone and their mama does a DVD guide. So instead, we'll be proposing some alternatives for the TV fan on your shopping list, some serious, some not. Get those Amexes out, folks; it's on.

Instead Of: 7th Heaven Season 5
Why Not Buy: Elaine Pagels's The Origin of Satan; a chastity belt

Instead Of: 24 Season 6
Why Not Buy: Thomas Kean's Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission; a GPS system; a Ford Explorer "Ironman" edition; Martha Stewart Egyptian-Cotton Solid towels

Instead Of: Band Of Brothers
Why Not Buy: Stephen Ambrose's D-Day; Hasbro GI Joe 25th Anniversary Joe 5-Pack; camo fatigues

Instead Of: Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 3
Why Not Buy: Berlitz Self-Teacher (French); The Best Of Sophie B. Hawkins; Dep Ultimate Hold Texturizing Gel; a Hypercolor shirt

Instead Of: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Why Not Buy: Anne Rice's The Complete Vampire Chronicles; an L.L. Bean neck gaiter; an Oxo steel garlic press

Instead Of: Frasier: The Complete Series
Why Not Buy: The White Wine Cheese Collection from Artisanal; a vintage opera recording on LP; the Sigmund Freud bobblehead

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Ordinarily, as part of our holiday/gift-guide coverage, we'd provide a list of recommended DVDs -- but we're going in a different direction, primarily because the issue of DVD residuals is a central one in the WGA strike, and we'd prefer not to encourage the purchase of DVDs before that's settled. Also, everyone and their mama does a DVD guide. So instead, we'll be proposing some alternatives for the TV fan on your shopping list, some serious, some not. Get those Amexes out, folks; it's on.

Instead Of: 7th Heaven Season 5
Why Not Buy: Elaine Pagels's The Origin of Satan; a chastity belt

Instead Of: 24 Season 6
Why Not Buy: Thomas Kean's Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission; a GPS system; a Ford Explorer "Ironman" edition; Martha Stewart Egyptian-Cotton Solid towels

Instead Of: Band Of Brothers
Why Not Buy: Stephen Ambrose's D-Day; Hasbro GI Joe 25th Anniversary Joe 5-Pack; camo fatigues

Instead Of: Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 3
Why Not Buy: Berlitz Self-Teacher (French); The Best Of Sophie B. Hawkins; Dep Ultimate Hold Texturizing Gel; a Hypercolor shirt

Instead Of: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Why Not Buy: Anne Rice's The Complete Vampire Chronicles; an L.L. Bean neck gaiter; an Oxo steel garlic press

Instead Of: Frasier: The Complete Series
Why Not Buy: The White Wine Cheese Collection from Artisanal; a vintage opera recording on LP; the Sigmund Freud bobblehead

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