Gift Guide: Pop Culture Presents for $20 or Less
We are all feeling the effects of the economy right now, and the holidays will be particularly challenging for some with regard to gift giving. So I have compiled a list of cool and affordable gifts for your favorite fanboy or girl, TV addict or film buff. Obviously there are thousands of choices out there, but here are just a few suggestions.
[Unless otherwise noted with a link, you can find all of these items on Amazon. Keep your eyes peeled for great online coupons from Borders and Barnes & Noble as well.]
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES
Dr. Leo Spaceman T-Shirt (30 Rock)
$17.95
He’s a fine doctor, and a pretty good dentist!
Edward Cullen’s Replica Wristcuff (Twilight)
$19.99
Seriously. You can purchase this man bracelet for your swooning daughter or girlfriend.
Top Chef logo cap
$14.99, Bravo Shop
For the top chef in your own kitchen or life.
BOOKS
The Bro Code
Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
$12.98, CBS.com
I believe that the cover photo says it all.
Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1)
Charlaine Harris
$7.99
Get to know Sookie Stackhouse and the other cast of characters from Harris’ series, on which the new HBO show True Blood is based.
Heroes, Volume 1
Illustrated by Tim Sale
$13.59
Regardless of how you feel about the television series now, this compilation of online comics that accompanied the first season is very cool.
Lost Ate My Life: The Inside Story of a Fandom Like No Other
Jon Lachonis & Amy J. Johnston
$13.57
If you or someone you know has ever posted on a Lost message board/forum or spends hours analyzing and discussing every episode, this is the perfect gift for them; a fantastic behind-the-scenes perspective about how one show has inspired an entire online community.
Roasting in Hell’s Kitchen: Temper Tantrums, F Words and the Pursuit of Perfection
Gordon Ramsay
$11.16
Even if you haven’t seen any of Chef Ramsay’s shows, this is quite a fascinating autobiography.
Watchmen
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
$11.99
One of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time; you do not need to be a comic book aficionado to appreciate it. The film debuts next year – read this first.
DVDs
Can’t Hardly Wait (10th Anniversary Edition)
$17.99
One of the best ‘guilty pleasure’ teen movies around, featuring an ensemble cast of future television stars and character actors: Lauren Ambrose, Eric Balfour & Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under), Selma Blair (Hellboy), Clea DuVall (Heroes), Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg), Ethan Embry (Sweet Home Alabama), Peter Facinelli (Dr. Cullen in Twilight), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Seth Green (Family Guy), Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Breckin Meyer* (Robot Chicken), Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan), Chris Owen (American Pie trilogy), Erik Palladino (ER), Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl), Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) and Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance).
* Pop culture sidenote: Breckin Meyer is married to Can’t Hardly Wait writer/director Deborah Kaplan.
Friday Night Lights
$10.49
The excellent film that preceded the stellar television series, both of which are based on H.G. Bissinger’s book of the same name.
The Office, Season 1
$19.98, NBC.com
Watch Jim watch Pam, from the beginning.
Pushing Daisies: The Complete First Season
$18.99
This gem of a show was recently canceled, but it is destined to become a cult classic.
MUSIC
Matt Nathanson: Some Mad Hope
$10.99
I never pass on the opportunity to promote Matt’s music. Even if he wasn’t a very good friend of mine, I would own this CD. His songs have been featured on Eli Stone, Men in Trees, Private Practice and Scrubs.
OMFGG No. 1: Gossip Girl Soundtrack
$14.99
An upbeat compilation with tracks from The Killers, Phantom Planet, The Ting Tings, Junkie XL and more.
TOYS & GAMES for Grownups
The Dude Abides: a Big Lebowski talking keychain
$11.99
Clip this bad boy on when you go bowling or to the bar when you order a White Russian.
LOST Dharma Be@rbrick
$15, Meltdown Comics
What LOST fan wouldn’t want this cute little Dharma bear figure on their desk?
Sex and the City Trivia Game
$16.99
We all know someone who knows entirely too many details about Miranda, Charlotte, Carrie and Samantha. This should be right up their Manolo alley.
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And of course, here are a few items on my personal wish list of pop culture gifts:
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone – safe travels!
