TV on DVD: 'Futurama' and other gift sets
DEAN MARTIN CELEBRITY ROASTS: COMPLETE COLLECTION: $250 DVD for 25 discs, StarVista (at TimeLife.com)
They certainly weren't as explicit as today's Comedy Central cable roasts. But they laid the network TV groundwork, 40 years ago, and they endure as a name-dropping time capsule of the 1970s. Rat Pack crooner Martin morphed his 1960s NBC variety hour into a comedy showcase that gathered dozens of showbiz legends in Friars Club-inspired mockery. The 54 roasts in this deluxe box skewer comics (Bob Hope. Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller), TV icons (Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Betty White), movie stars (John Wayne, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas), sports names (Joe Namath, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron), politicians (Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater), publishing celebrities (Hugh Hefner, Truman Capote), pop culture oddities (Mr. T, Evel Knievel), and dozens more. Much like last year's Carol Burnett set, the wide hard-box case opens to reveal three thick cases of 6-8 discs each, plus three additional standard cases holding the Frank Sinatra roast, highlights from Martin's variety show, and bonus features (6 hours) including interviews, featurettes and two additional Martin TV specials. A colorful booklet crammed with photos and zingers tops it off. Early orders from TimeLife.com even score an exclusive Dean Martin figurine. Credit: Handout
And this holiday season's new TV gift sets just keep on comin' out. Here are some more options we can recommend. (Prices are list; many discounts can be found.)
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