# Great TV series that are only available on DVD **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456 "2025-04-24T20:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/1 "2025-04-24T20:04:57Z")
What TV series are worth owning on disc because they’re not available on any channel, streaming service, and can’t be bought digitally? Examples _China Beach_ _Andy Richter Controls the Universe_ _Rocky & Bullwinkle_ _Wonderfalls_ ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/2 "2025-04-24T20:08:00Z")
_Law and Order - the Lennie Briscoe Years_. Yes, there are some seasons available on Peacock for streaming, but the large majority of the Lennie Briscoe episodes are not. Those seasons are, IMHO, the best ones. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/3 "2025-04-24T20:13:31Z")
The first 20 seasons are all on Hulu now. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/4 "2025-04-24T20:17:06Z")
Good to know 😀. I check Peacock from time to time, but I would have never thought of checking on Hulu. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/5 "2025-04-24T20:22:00Z")
[justwatch.com](http://justwatch.com) or [reelgood.com](http://reelgood.com) can tell you if a show is available streaming or for purchase. I don’t know the equivalent for antenna or cable, other than “where can I watch ‘X’?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/6 "2025-04-24T20:23:21Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > _Law and Order - the Lennie Briscoe Years_. WeTV, BBC America, and several more all carry all L&O mothership. You just have to wait for the episodes you want to come around again on the gitar. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/7 "2025-04-24T20:45:44Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > What TV series are worth owning on disc because they’re not available on any channel, streaming service, and can’t be bought digitally? Another reason to buy a show on disc is cost. The 1966 **Batman** series is $1.99 an episode to stream. That’s $240 for the whole series. You can get a DVD set for under $30. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/8 "2025-04-24T20:49:04Z")
I _wish_ I could find the series _Frank’s Place_ on dvd. I did buy a set of discs from someone who recorded them off the TeeVee. Quality could be a whole lot better. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/9 "2025-04-24T21:32:12Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Another reason to buy a show on disc is cost. The 1966 **Batman** series is $1.99 an episode to stream. That’s $240 for the whole series. You can get a DVD set for under $30. It’s less than $250 if you buy entire seasons. And if you sign up for emails from [fanflix.co](http://fanflix.co) they have daily deals. For example, on the subject of classic superhero TV shows I just got all 6 seasons of The Adventures of Superman (the one with George Reeves) for only $15. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/10 "2025-04-24T22:19:59Z")
I’ve recently posted about the lack of streaming _Wonderfalls_ on another thread, and I appreciate it being a prime example here. My addition: **Police Squad!** , strangely missing from streaming. That’s odd, with the new upcoming Police Squad! movie. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/11 "2025-04-24T22:26:34Z")
[_On The Air_](https://revok.com/products/on-the-air-dvds) (1992). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/12 "2025-04-24T22:50:29Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > It’s less than $250 if you buy entire seasons The whole series is $80 on Vudu right now. That’s too expensive for me still - but I bet it goes on sale around the holidays for $40-50. The portability of it may be worth the cost if you’re looking to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/13 "2025-04-24T23:33:03Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > What TV series are worth owning on disc because… … you were in the middle of streaming it, and suddenly it’s not available? No warning, no “This title will vanish into the ether on Friday at midnight”. That was me with Orphan Black. I’d watched two episodes, but was hooked. So I immediately bought the first season from Amazon, then bought more ON DVD (so I wouldn’t run into that again). ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/14 "2025-04-25T16:53:05Z")
From the wiki: > In October 2008, [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) reported that because of [music licensing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_licensing) issues, a DVD release would be unlikely.[[12]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%27s_Place#cite_note-13) However, on November 11, 2008, [TVShowsOnDVD.com](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVShowsOnDVD.com) reported that plans are underway for an eventual DVD release, although [Tim Reid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Reid) has said that, due to the prohibitive costs of the music rights, a new musical score will be recorded that will “recreate the mood of the music.” He adds, “it has to be the mood of the show or I’d rather not do it.”[[13]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%27s_Place#cite_note-14) No date has been yet given for a release. I’m guessing that never happened? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/15 "2025-04-25T17:02:41Z")
> [@digs](#): > > That was me with Orphan Black. I’d watched two episodes, but was hooked Great show, and Tatiana Maslany is amazing in it. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > I’m guessing that never happened? Yeah, no. 😥 ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/16 "2025-05-02T12:04:43Z")
Surprisingly enough, HBO’s Westworld. No, it’s not on Max, or anywhere else that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/17 "2025-05-02T14:37:34Z")
You can buy it on AppleTV, Amazon, Google, and Fandango. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/18 "2025-05-02T16:31:26Z")
My favorite sitcom: NewsRadio I have that on DVD as well as Police Squad which was mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/19 "2025-05-02T19:56:25Z")
I have NewsRadio on DVD, except maybe not the last season without Phil Hartman. What’s weird about it is that the only closed-captioning option is Portuguese! ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456/20 "2025-05-02T21:26:56Z")
Oh, right, available for purchase. In my mind that’s the same thing as not available, but that’s not the kind of not available this thread is about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-tv-series-that-are-only-available-on-dvd/1017456.md?page=2)