Reel Advice: TV on DVD

Netflix be damned! For the people on your holiday list who don't just want to watch their favorite TV shows, but also want physical copies for their library, there are plenty of options from which to choose.

Behind The Candelabra (HBO Films), the Liberace biopic directed by Steven Soderbergh, won 10 Emmy Awards, including Michael Douglas' Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. The stellar cast included Matt Damon (as Liberace's alternately scantily clad and overdressed paramour Scott Thorson), Debbie Reynolds (as Liberace's mother), Rob Lowe and Scott Thorson.

Finally "liberated from the vaults," Here's Edie (MVD/Ediead), singer/actress Edie Adams' groundbreaking early 1960s variety show (later known as The Edie Adams Show) is available for the first time in a four-DVD set, with a wealth of bonus footage. During the run of the show, Adams' guests included Johnny Mathis, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Duke Ellington, Allan Sherman, Nancy Wilson and Bobby Darin, among others. The accompanying booklet features words of praise for Ms. Adams from Sandra Bernhard, Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens), Shirley MacLaine , and others.

Michael C. Hall, who played gay mortician David Fisher in the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under, went on to star as the titular character, Miami forensics expert/vigilante Dexter Morgan, in the Showtime series Dexter (Showtime/CBS DVD). The 12 episodes of the eighth and final season of Dexter, in which Dexter's dualities begin to unravel (his police officer sister is on to him), promises and delivers a "bloody amazing send-off."

Speaking of "bloody amazing," the HBO Select edition of True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season (HBO) gives viewers choices in how they can watch the sexy/scary vampire series (six Blu-rays, two double-sided DVDs or via digital copy) set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. The fifth season of True Blood not only featured an abundance of scenes featuring Jason (Ryan Kwanten), Alcide (Joe Manganello) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) in various states of undress, but also queer relationships, including the one between Russell (Denis O'Hare) and Steve (Michael McMillan).

Complex gay characters continue to be featured in prime time network TV series, such as Scandal (ABC Studios), as well. The ABC series (presented in five DVDs), about political crisis manager Olivia (Kerry Washington), includes openly gay White House Chief of Staff Cyrus (Jeff Perry, who also played a gay character on My So-Called Life) and his journalist husband James (out actor Dan Bucatinsky). Gay actor Guillermo Diaz is also among the main cast as former CIA op turned techie.

Actor/filmmaker Christopher Guest has often included queer characters in his work (see Best In Show). Guest's HBO mockumentary series Family Tree (HBO), starring Chris Dowd as lead character Tom (a man researching his lineage), is no exception. Fred Willard, who has appeared in a number of Guest's films, plays Mike, the gay neighbor of Tom's uncle Al (Ed Begley, Jr.).

The seven-part series North America (Discovery/Gaiam), hosted by Tom Selleck (In & Out, Magnum PI) has made its way onto a double disc Blu-ray set. "Where civilization collides with untamed wilderness, just feet beyond our own backyards," the beautifully filmed program takes us from the upper reaches of the continent, through the mountains and forests, through extreme storms and blizzards, to the water's edge and the depth of the desert, to reveal the wildlife and wonders of North America. Bonus material includes a colorful booklet and filmmakers' commentary.

It may have only been on TV for four seasons, but the Vietnam War-set series China Beach (Warner Home Video/StarVista/Time Life) made an impression on viewers. In addition to being the series that made actress Dana Delaney a star, it also co-starred Michael Boatman, who would later play a gay character in the Michael J. Fox series Spin City. The 21 DVD/62 episode complete series box set includes 10 hours of bonus features, an exclusive 32-page collector's booklet and China Beach dog tags.

Created to compete with NBC's NYC-based Saturday Night Live, ABC's late-night comedy sketch and music show Fridays premiered in 1980 and ended in 1982. The five-DVD The Best of Fridays (Shout Factory) features 16 episodes of the cult comedy series. In addition to including performances by an amazing assortment of musical guests including The Clash, Devo, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Cars and Dire Straits, the show was a launching pad for cast members Larry David, Michael Richards and Melanie Chartoff. The compilation also includes the legendary "Andy Kaufman incident" and special features such as a cast and writers reunion, a discussion of the Kaufman incident and more.