All-Time Top 100 TV Themes
This two-disc set from TVT Records is a treasure trove of original TV tunes. You’ll find everything from “The Lone Ranger” to “Welcome Back, Kotter” to “Six Feet Under.” Who needs “Jingle Bells” or “The Dreidel Song” when you can have “Good Times” and “Friends” playing softly in the background as you celebrate the holidays with family and friends?
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows
Authors Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh have compiled the television watchers bible. I received this tome as a gift from my friend (and fellow BellaOnline editor) Michelle, and it is by far the best gift I’ve received in as long as I can remember. Arranged alphabetically, this encyclopedia of television shows from 1946 to the present includes cast lists, show synopses, and broadcast history. This book will satisfy even the most finicky television trivia buff, with 61 years worth of program schedules, Emmy Award winners, and a fantastic 200-question trivia quiz.
Television’s Strangest Moments
This book by Quentin Falk and Ben Falk is a fun peek into some of the most unusual stories in television history. The Falks weave decades of television together with historical and biographical anecdotes. It’s the perfect nightstand book, as each short story is just right for bedtime reading.
Emmy – Magazine of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
How about a subscription to Emmy magazine to make the TV lover in your life feel like a real VIP? It’s a more unique alternative to some of the more popular magazine subscriptions!
TV Guide Crosswords Modern Classics
This collection of crossword puzzles from TV Guide is the perfect stocking stuffer for the person who loves shows from the 90s to the present day.
Arthur’s TV Trouble and The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV
For the tv-watching kid in your life, check out these books by Marc Brown and Stan and Jan Berenstain. I’m the last person to say there’s such a thing as “too much television,” but these books from two classic children’s series are sure to entertain!
Tek Pal Universal Large Button Remote
This remote with large, lit buttons can assist those with limited vision operate the television. A simple layout of only the essentials - on/off, mute, channel, and volume buttons – is easy to remember and even easier to use.
Scene It TV Edition DVD Game
Clips from some of television’s best-loved shows punctuate trivia questions in this tradition-meets-technology board game.
All of these items can be found and ordered on amazon.com If you’re looking for other gifts, try these ideas:
- A DVD of a favorite television series
- A t-shirt of a favorite show
- A framed poster of a favorite television show – my favorite site is Moviegoods.com
- Visit the official websites of major networks. Most of the networks have a store where you can find everything from a “Support the Rabid” bracelet from The Office to a Survivor shot glass set. Currently, NBC is holding online auctions of props, wardrobe and other memorabilia from some of their most popular current shows. Some of the proceeds from these auctions will benefit the United Way and other charitable organizations.
I hope these gift-giving suggestions make your holiday shopping a little easier and a lot more fun this season!
