Whether you need gift ideas to set under the Christmas tree, to open after lighting the Menorah or just want to take advantage of all the holiday sales, these are ten recommendations for the top ten television shows and movies to get or give this holiday season: 

10. “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia:” Season 6

See what the Paddy’s Pub gang was up to in sixth season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia!” In this season, there is the mystery of who got Sweet Dee pregnant, the gang gets a new member and Dennis Gets divorced. For those who are feeling the Christmas spirit, the DVD also includes “A Very Sunny Christmas” where you get a good look at how the gang celebrates their holidays and try to avoid having their dysfunctional holiday celebrations yourself. 

9. “The Help”

Emma Stone takes on a role much different than “Easy A” and “Superbad,” when she stars in “The Help.” With the help of Golden Globe nominated actress Allison Janney (“Juno”) and Oscar winner Viola Davis (“Doubt”), Stone is able to transition into a more seriously role as the empowered journalism Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan. It will also add to my holiday cheer to see some familiar faces move from the small screen to the big screen with stars from “True Blood” (Anna Camp) and “Veronica Mars” (Chris Lowell) as some of the racist members of the small southern town. It may not be the happiest holiday film, but the ending will leave you inspired and hopeful.

8. “Sons of Anarchy” Season 4 (Amazon Instant Video)

Need an edgy addition to your holiday gift list? Get your family or friends to get you “Sons of Anarchy” season 4, which comes out this December on Amazon Watch Instant Video. Katey Sagal (“Married with Children,” “8 Simple Rules”) plays the ruthless mother of biker lax, played by Charlie Hunham (Nicholas Nickelby, Undeclared). The part was written just for Segal, and the power dynamic between Sagal and Maggie Siff (“Mad Men”) will not be misconstrued as a catfight. If you haven’t seen the series, this holiday season might be your chance to catch up. This show is currently on FX.

7. “Midnight in Paris”

Woody Allen (Annie Hall) and Owen Wilson (“Royal Tennenbaums” might not seem like the best match, but when paired with Marion Cotillard (“Nine,” “Inception”) and a host of colorful characters portraying some of the most colorful characters of the 1920’s, there’s not really any way to go wrong. Although this film does seem similar to Allen’s 1985 hit “The Purple Rose of Cairo” with Mia Farrow (“Rosemary’s Baby”), I’ve decided to let this one slide. Why mess with a good thing? Although the film may not have a lot of romance, since Rachel McAdam’s character proves more conniving than Regina George, it was on the set that McAdams started dating her current boyfriend Michael Sheen (“Frost/Nixon”). 

6. “Parks and Recreation:” Season 3

Rob Lowe (“St. Elmo’s Fire”) and Adam Scott (“Party Down,” “Step Brothers”) join the cast of literally one of the best shows on television in the third season of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poehler) love life becomes more complicated as does that of the stoic, meat-loving Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). Aubrey Plaza (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) assumes her role as Swanson’s assistant with extra sass this season and Aziz Ansari’s (“30 Minutes or Less”) Tom Haverford leaves the Parks and Rec. department to pursue an alternate career. This season’s end leaves you with a cliff-hanger that could jeopardize Knope’s political career. Please, “treat yourself” to this DVD. 

5. “Crazy Stupid Love”

Ryan Gosling (“Blue Valentine”) and Steve Carell (“Little Miss Sunshine”) may not seem like the most likely set of bros, but “Crazy Stupid Love put the two together in the most unlikely fashion. The two make a pretty dynamic duo as Gosling teaches Carell how to date again after him and his wife (played by Julianne Moore) split up. Alternately Carell teaches Gosling how to have a heart, which helps him with his new romantic interest (Emma Stone). Although this seems like a terribly formulated plot for a chick flick, I can assure you that this film is not your standard romantic comedy. And if you don’t like it or you haven’t liked the last couple of seasons of “The Office,” at least you get to see Gosling slap Carell in the face a couple of times, which could be almost as satisfying as when he gets a wax in the “40-Year-Old Virgin.”

4. “Community:” Season 2

With the recent buzz about the possibility of “Community” going on hiatus, it is more important than ever to support Joel McHale’s NBC series “Community.” Sticking with the spirit of the season, there is a claymation Christmas special that will bring you back to your childhood Christmas favorites! In this season Danny Pudi (“Greek”) shines as the film-obsessed Abed. His dynamic with real-life rapper Donald Glover (“Mystery Team”) is shown with small musical numbers at the end of episodes. Chevy Chase (“Caddyshack”) goes insane this season, as the senile millionaire Pierce Hawthorne, and the show’s writers hit their stride, poking fun at traditional episode formats and sometimes announcing at the beginning of the episode, which type of formulaic script style they’ll follow. My personal favorite of the season is the bottle episode, where the obsessive Annie’s (Alison Brie) pen is stolen and no one is allowed to leave the study room until it is found.

3. “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

I know that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” isn’t a new movie for this holiday season, but I feel that sometimes its left out of the Christmas movie-watching list. Sure it doesn’t have as much heartwarming romance as “Love, Actually” or as many quotable lines as “A Christmas Story” (both great holiday movies), but if you ever get tired of seeing Will Ferrell in bright yellow tights and a hat that doesn’t fit his head, please give “A Charlie Brown Christmas” another try. It is one of Snoopy, Charlie and the gang’s greatest adventures, and there’s nothing like hearing “Christmastime is Here” without seeing Michael Cera pass a red doghouse with his head down to put you in a cheery mood! 

2. “Bridesmaids”

Last summer it was great to see Kristen Wiig (“Knocked Up”) and Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live”) team up in “Bridesmaids.” Wiig proved that she could pull off the role of the leading lady as she tries to be the best maid of honor for Rudolph but is constantly trumped by Rose Byrne (“Get Him to the Greek”) who has more money and self-control than Wiig. Some of the funniest scenes involve transportation; Wiig has a bad reaction to some medication on an airplane, purposely tries to get a ticket from a police officer and begrudgingly drinks lemonade in her car. Melissa McCarthy (“Mike & Molly”) gives a standout comedic performance as the puppy-loving sister of the groom-to-be. “Friends with Kids,” which features a lot of the same actors as “Bridesmaids,” even John Hamm (“Mad Men”) is set to come out this year, so with this DVD, you could have a Wiig-Rudolph marathon.

1. “Super 8”

Elle Fanning steals the show in J.J. Abrams’ (“Alias”) “Super 8.” Produced by Steven Spielberg, “Super 8” combines many of our childhood favorites together (it has been said to have aspects of “E.T.” and “The Goonies”) in order to send the viewer on adventure that he or she will never forget. Child-actor Joel Courtney stars in his first ever film as the loveable Joe Lamb and since then has started on two feature films and one television series. This might not be the traditional holiday classic, but its definitely worth a watch and is sure to bring the family closer together over the holidays.

Reach writer Lindsay Berg here