Mad Men: Season One DVD delivers

Mad Men season two begins July 27 at 10 p.m. on AMC

The first season of the Golden Globe winning series Mad Men comes to DVD today in an ultra slick, limited edition Zippo lighter packaging. The four-disk set contains all 13 episodes of the first season as well as a slew of supplemental goodies.

After coming down off a contact nicotine high (you'll know what I mean after watching the show), it's safe to say, his is one of the best series on TV, hands down. The collection of virtually unknown actors mixed with superb writing and spot-on décor sets this series apart.

With a solid cast of actors, Jon Hamm (Don Draper) is definitely a standout. No matter how many despicable acts he does, you still can't take your eyes off him. This also rings true for John Slattery as Draper's boss Roger Sterling and January Jones as multi-issue wife of Don Draper.

The aspects I love about the series are the things I see, that if done today, would be condemned by much of society. For instance, when the Draper's children enter a room while playing, the daughter has a plastic dry cleaning bag over her head the mother reprimands her. Not for wearing the garment bag but the fact that her clothes are probably getting wrinkled in the bedroom.

Along with the 13 episodes, there are bonus features that range from completely compelling to utterly useless. "Establishing Mad Men" and "Advertising the American Dream" are amazing. Seeing the actors talk about how they "needed" to be part of this series demonstrates how and why the show is a success. Also, learning that we are exposed to over 3,000 ads in a single day blew me away.

The "Pictures of Elegance" feature is a bore. The visuals are cool but it's too slow and, honestly, how interesting is it to talk about hair design? Not much. If the kiddies are having problems sleeping, this could be your passport to happiness.

The audio commentaries are awesome. You can hear the chemistry between the actors as they discuss elements of the series as mundane as cabinets, filter or no filter and the horrible contraption known as a girdle.

With a price tag of fifty bucks, the four-disk set is well worth your pennies. But be warned, Mad Men can become an addiction, with the compulsion to watch becoming overwhelming. With over 10 hours of footage, it's easy to get your fix, though.