Muggy, rainy weather in Pittsburgh offers perfect time to catch up on some quality TV DVDs

May 24, 3:23 PMPittsburgh TV ExaminerSean Farren

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Michael C Hall as "Dexter"

If the downpours don't get you drenched, chances are the humid weather will have you feeling as if you've donned a warm, sopping wet sweatshirt. So why not take those days to relax in the air conditioning and get prepared for some fall shows you might have missed thanks to TV on DVD?

Though I don't currently have Showtime, one show I've been fortunate to have seen on DVD is what might arguably be television's best drama.

Dexter tells the saga of Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a member of the Miami Police Department's forensic unit who harbors a dark secret--he's also a serial killer! Trying to keep his "eccentric" nightlife a secret from his girlfriend Rita (Pittsburgh native Julie Benz), his sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) and the rest of his fellow Miami PD co-workers is no easy task, but Dexter muddles through using his skills and wits to avoid being caught.

Starting out as a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, Dexter became a hit on Showtime in 2006. Having read the first three in the series (the fourth, Dexter By Design, arrives in bookstores this fall), I can honestly say that this is one time when an adaptation has proven to be far superior to the source material. The first two seasons are loosely based on the first and second novels and succeed in...ahem..."fleshing" out the supporting characters a great deal more as well as creating a more sympathetic protagonist. The third season arrives on August 18th in stores and through online outlets.

For those of you who claim that they can't possibly catch up on all the twists and turns that Lost has taken, I seriously recommend that you buy, borrow or steal (ok, well maybe the latter choice is a bit extreme) the first four seasons on DVD. This grand epic begins its final season in January and shouldn't be missed under any circumstances. The first four seasons are currently on DVD with the fifth due to be released on December 8th.

If you're geared more toward chills and thrills, give Supernatural a shot. What I thought was going to be a lame attempt at an X-Files meets Night Stalker retread has actually turned out to be an interesting show. I've caught several episodes here and there but have the first three seasons awaiting my viewing sometime during these summer months so I can catch up as well before what might be the final season. The fourth season's release on DVD is yet to be determined but you can reserve your copy here.

For some laughs, I highly recommend Better Off Ted. This ABC show was a lot funnier than I would have hoped and although you don't need to watch the first season to understand the second ( as most of the storylines are self contained within the half hour), there are continuing threads that will enhance your enjoyment when it arrives as a midseason replacement.

Finally, with the reboot of V coming early next year, why not catch the original NBC miniseries' V and V: The Final Battle? Though it's not a requirement to view them as it's not a continuation of the 80s sci-fi classic, do it just for fun and the sake of nostalgia. Avoid the original weekly series at all costs as it's a complete mess.

Happy Viewing!