The 9 best Christmas gifts for TV fans this holiday season

Our 2021 guide to the books, box sets, and, yes, dolls that will make small-screen aficionados swoon

By Marah Eakin, Katie Rife | November 23, 2021 | 4:00pm

TV Features James Andrew Miller

The 9 best Christmas gifts for TV fans this holiday season

Images, clockwise: HBO, Henry Holt, Abrams Books, Andy Cohen Books, Warm & Wonderful Graphic: Natalie Peeples

The 2021 holiday season brings plenty of presents to choose from for big fans of the small screen. Whether you’re shopping for a Ted Lasso lover or looking to fill your own stocking with some Sopranos swag, The A.V. Club is here with just the right gift recommendations. Our carefully curated guide highlights some of the best, coolest, and geekiest gifts available this year. Trust us: Any one of these presents would make the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes.

A Waystar Royco hat

A Waystar Royco hat$25The perfect hat to wear if you want to overthrow your dad as king of the holiday dinner table, says, “I watch Succession and I may or may not be a horrible person.” The twill cap has a pre-bent rim, just like Kendall wears, and would look perfect on anyone who spends a lot of time getting in and out of Town Cars or blacked-out Suburbans. We can’t vouch for its sturdiness when facing down the wind generated by a helicopter’s whirling propellers, but it should at least be able to withstand a good tongue-lashing from Tom. Should you need more coverage, . [Marah Eakin]

A Ted Lasso hoodie

A.F.C. Richmond training hoodie$67.95Greyhounds fans, listen up: Now’s your chance to get out there any support not only your favorite ragtag bunch of soccer players, but also your favorite uplifting sitcom. The WB Shop is selling a whole line of Ted Lasso merch, from Bantr-emblazoned jerseys to Ted-style visors. We’re particularly partial to this A.F.C. Richmond training hoodie, which says “I’m a fan of Ted Lasso,” but only to those who are really wink-wink, nudge-nudge in the know. Wear it while you’re kicking a ball around the pitch or just watching TV on the couch. [Marah Eakin]

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Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History Of The Sopranos

Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History Of The Sopranos$24An oral history of The Sopranos written by two guys who were actually there—most of the time, at least—stems from Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirrpa’s immensely successful Talking Sopranos podcast. As our own Matt Schimkowicz wrote in , “Imperioli and Schirripa’s interviews with the show’s cast and crew, including heavy hitters like Edie Falco, David Chase, and Steve Buscemi, are frequently funny and insightful. There is no shortage of late-night tales from the production or moving tributes to James Gandolfini here.” If you’ve got a family member who constantly reminds you that The Sopranos is the best TV show of all time, at least as far as they can tell, this could be the perfect book to throw under the tree. [Marah Eakin]

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Complete Series boxed set

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Complete Series boxed set$219.98 for the limited edition collector’s set, $59.98 for the standard editionIf you’re trying to figure out what to buy a terminally online Gen Z-er, anime is one option. (Take it from this old millennial—anime is, like, super popular with the youth of 2021.) Neon Genesis Evangelion, a cornerstone of the genre, is . Evangelion has never been available on Blu-ray in North America, which makes this release a huge deal. So if the person you’re buying for is already a fan, consider springing for the lavish collector’s edition. If you’re just taking a wild swing here, there’s also a standard edition. [Katie Rife]

Not All Diamonds And Rosé: The Inside Story Of The Real Housewives From The People Who Lived It

Not All Diamonds And Rosé: The Inside Story Of The Real Housewives From The People Who Lived It$28.99Another glimpse into how the sausage gets made, takes a look at the juggernaut that is Bravo’s Real Housewives universe. It’s not a hyper critical look, considering the book comes from Andy Cohen’s publishing imprint, but it’s a great read for Bravoholics all the same. Author Dave Quinn talked to nearly all of the Housewives past and present from across the franchises, detailing behind the scenes backbiting, never before seen storyline details, and even some inter-franchise spiciness. This book was an instant New York Times bestseller, and it’s easy to see why: It’s a campy quick read that will keep any Bravo fan gasping. [Marah Eakin]

The Trixie Mattel doll

The Trixie Mattel doll$145Any drag fan knows Trixie Mattel. The RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars season three winner has gone on to make quite the name for herself, taking YouTube by storm both on her own channel and alongside Katya on UNHhhh, and popping up as a panel judge on the new singing series Queen Of The Universe. She’s even signed a deal for a new Discovery+ series, in which she makes over her own new eponymous motel in Palm Springs. A noted doll lover herself—it’s right there in the name, after all—Mattel finally bit the pink bullet during the pandemic and It’s beautifully modeled and laden with great accessories, including a scaled-down version of Mattel’s own pink guitar. It’s the perfect gift for Trixie diehards, drag fans in general, or anyone who collects beautiful fashion dolls. Act fast, though: Unless you pre-order the doll by November 26, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to snag one. [Marah Eakin]

Warm & Wonderful’s Black Sheep sweater

Warm & Wonderful’s Black Sheep sweater$295If you’ve watched The Crown, you’ve seen . Made famous when a young Princess Diana began wearing the design, the black sheep sweater has been copied many, many times over the past 30-0dd years. With the success of The Crown, though, hip and preppy company Rowing Blazers teamed with Warm & Wonderful to remake the sweater to the owners’ original specifications. It’s not cheap, but pish posh: British royalty wouldn’t have it any other way. [Marah Eakin]

Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit Of New Frontiers

Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit Of New Frontiers$50A new book that takes a deep dive behind the scenes at HBO, was birthed from award-winning journalist James Andrew Miller’s more than 750 interviews with key sources including all of the network’s living past presidents and A-listers like Zendaya and J.J. Abrams. Capturing HBO’s march to become a world-class content producer, Miller reveals secrets, surprises, and drama inside the company. It’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes at a TV network or who might just want to read a little more about some of their favorite HBO shows. [Marah Eakin]