TV Box-sets Oct 2006

Granted a fifth series after the phenomenal sales of previous DVD box-sets, its legions of fans can now enjoy the fruits of their campaigning with Family Guy Series 5 SSS (out now). Watching, though, it feels as though the franchise should have been left in its former glory, because it seems Seth MacFarlane et al. are starting to run out of ideas. Instead of coherent, clever storylines and well worked jokes, they resort to their characteristically random cutaways with such regularity that the misses far outweigh the hits. There are still some great episodes on here - PTV, Brian Goes Back to College, Griffin Family History - but when compared to the increasingly brilliant American Dad, it's clear where the inspiration is going.

In a different vein, the moment die-hard 24 fans have been waiting for is finally here: 34 whole discs of action in 24 Series 1-5 SSSS (Nov 6). An extravagant Christmas present at well over £100, this will condemn many men to their couches for unhealthy stretches of time. But if you're going to devote a weekend to any show, it might as well be Jack Bauer's hourly counter-terrorist adventures.

All those loving women who buy the 24 box-set for their men can get ready to wrestle the remote back, as the complete second season of Desperate Housewives SS (Nov 13) arrives. Ably filling the lucrative market position that Sex in the City left open, this has all the wit, twists and high production values of its predecessor. To sweeten the deal for the men concerned there's always Eva Longoria to feast your eyes on.

Back for a triumphant third series is one of the best British comedies of recent times: Peep Show SSSS (out November 16). As the current series of That Mitchell and Webb Look continues to disappoint, this will come as welcome relief to fans of the comedy duo, here given the chance to shine with the excellent scripts and situations written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. The internal angst of our protagonists is only exacerbated by brilliant supporting characters like Johnson and Super Hans, while the pleasant return of Big Suze drives a love wedge between Jeremy and Mark. This well observed, brilliantly written and superbly acted comedy deserves the kind of acclaim usually reserved for lesser British comedies.

November has saved the best until last though, including the programme that has confirmed a long suspected fact: no one does nature documentaries better than the BBC and David Attenborough. Planet Earth SSSSS (Nov 27) is the latest from the makers of Blue Planet, this time using 40 cameramen, across 200 locations and over 3 years, to put together an epic account of the world's flora, fauna, and grandeur. New technology and techniques used by the camera crew have scored numerous world firsts, and create a continuous journey of genuinely awe inspiring shots throughout the first five episodes, charting life in Deserts, Mountains, Fresh Water, Caves, and from Pole to Pole.