Time for family TV night

By Barbara Wexler -- Video Business, 4/21/2008

APRIL 21 | As today’s parents get together with their families to watch TV crime shows such as Monk and Psyche, they may remember when they were kids themselves and being allowed to stay up late to watch shows such as Perry Mason with their own parents. All available now on DVD, here are some classic crime series that can be merchandised together and recommended to customers who want to bring back family TV nights for their old favorites.

Perry Mason 50th Anniversary Edition In this granddaddy of courtroom dramas, which hit the airwaves in 1957, Raymond Burr played the part of the brilliant lawyer to perfection. Barbara Hale as Della Street showed

Arrest & Trial: Best of Season 1 Considered ahead of its time, this short-lived drama followed the police investigation through the crime’s trial of the guilty. The precursor to the Law & Order franchise only lasted through the 1963 TV season, but its influence is still felt today. Ben Gazzara starred as a detective, and Chuck Connors (The Rifleman) was one of the defense attorneys. Edi Video, $29.98

Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season This long-running cop show (1968-1980) was filmed entirely in the state of Hawaii and followed the exploits of an elite squad of the state police. Jack Lord starred as the unit’s head, Steve McGarrett, whose picture-perfect hair rarely fell out of place. Topical for its time, the series uncovered assassins, drug smugglers and hippies who wanted nothing more than to turn on and check out. This was one of the original destination series. Paramount, $49.99

Magnum P.I.: The Complete Eighth Season When Hawaii Five-O closed down production, a new breed of detectives took over with Tom Selleck (Las Vegas) starring as Thomas Magnum. Also filmed in Hawaii, this series featured a group of men who had fought together in the Vietnam War and whose friendship continued as they worked together to solve crimes. This final season nicely wrapped up the series, with Magnum reconnecting with his until-then-unknown daughter. The mystery of Robin Masters also is solved. This particular box set includes a bonus episode of The Rockford Files (another favorite series) that guest starred Selleck. Universal, $49.98

NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service: The Complete Third Season From Magnum’s creator, Donald P. Bellisario, this series mixes pathos and humor. Starring perennial TV favorite Mark Harmon (The West End, Chicago Hope) as the lead agent of a naval crime unit, the series features detectives solving crimes relevant to today’s terrorist headlines. It also stars David McCallum (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) as medical examiner Dr. Ducky Mallard, Cote de Pablo as a former Massad agent, Michael Weatherly (Dark Angel) as an ex-homicide detective and Lauren Holly (Picket Fences) as the unit’s director. Always creative in its execution and timeliness, this series is still going strong. Paramount, $64.99