Our TV-on-DVD picks of the week both come from Acorn Media, our fave distributor of first-rate British and Canadian TV on DVD. They are The Adams Chronicles -- the Emmy-winning series about early America's most influential first family -- and the crime drama DNA (Complete Series One and Two), about a crack forensics investigations unit.

Actor Paul Giamatti may be scoring big right now on HBO's John Adams, but that's not the first miniseries to tackle the complex, fascinating family who helped father (and mother) the United States. A lavish 1976 production, The Adams Chronicles is an acclaimed miniseries tracing 150 years of history through the eyes of John Adams and his heirs. These 13 hours on four discs feature 1,100 actors and 250 studio and location sets. The Adams Chronicles was honored with four Emmys and a Peabody Award.

Produced for America's bicentennial, The Adams Chronicles scored a rare television hat trick: critical raves, stratospheric ratings, and scholarly recognition. Based on more than 300,000 pages of historical documents, the 13-episode series examines American history through four generations of Adamses and 150 years of American history, from the birth of the Revolution through the Gilded Age. This quintessential American First Family includes, of course, John, the passionate revolutionary and second president; his intelligent wife, Abigail Adams; John Quincy Adams, the proud son of a famous father and our sixth president; Charles Francis Adams, a skillful minister to Great Britain during the Civil War; historian Henry Adams; and railroad magnate Charles Francis Adams, Jr.

John's relationship with Abigail is depicted lovingly. Years after the Revolution, living in France as a diplomat for the still-unrecognized United States, Adams greets his family whom he hasn't seen in several years. When Abigail asks, simply, "How are you feeling, Mr. Adams?", he replies, holding her gaze, "Twenty years younger than yesterday." Because of John's achievements during the revolution and afterwards as vice president and president, subsequent Adams generations have a hard time dealing with this legacy of public service and accomplishment and frequently wonder if they are measuring up to their distinguished ancestry.

Going well beyond politics, this television masterpiece portrays these men as husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, as well as leaders. Based on the family's personal diaries and correspondence, The Adams Chronicles not only educates as a true historical epic, but also captivates as a complex, compelling family drama. Additionally, with its impeccable historical accuracy, more than 400 colleges and universities based a history course on the series.

Starring Emmy-winners George Grizzard (Wonder Boys) as John Adams, William Daniels (St. Elsewhere, 1776) as John Quincy Adams, and Kathryn Walker (Neighbors, Uncle Tom's Cabin) as Abigail Smith Adams, as well as David Birney, John Beal, Peter Brandon, Charles Siebert, and Nancy Marchand (The Sopranos).

Special DVD features include a 12-page program guide featuring articles by C. James Taylor, editor-in-chief of The Adams Papers, and Neil Horstman, president of the White House Historical Association.

Also out this week is the DVD debut of DNA, combining the modern fascination with forensics and the in-depth character studies of classic British mysteries in a uniquely satisfying hybrid. Often compared to CSI, the hit U.K. series stars Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actor Tom Conti (Reuben, Reuben; Shirley Valentine) and Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny in Die Another Day, Tomorrow Never Dies, GoldenEye).

Conti stars as Joe Donovan, an accomplished but troubled criminologist who returns from a mental breakdown to lead Manchester's crack Forensic Investigations Unit. Called in to consult on a murder case that suspiciously resembles the one that drove him into near madness years ago, Donovan redeems his reputation and rediscovers his devotion to the job. Yet his professional dedication bleeds into his personal life, alienating his wife (Samantha Bond) but appealing to his son (Ryan Cartwright, The Grimleys), who wants to follow in his father's footsteps.

Packed with fascinating procedural details and wickedly captivating plot twists, every episode of DNA delivers that uniquely flavored British mastery of suspense. But with its complex characterizations, it also explores the human dimension of the scientists who solve crimes.

The two-volume boxed set includes the complete Series One and Two in five episodes. In the U.K., the series aired under the title DoNovAn.

Among the other TV-on-DVD offerings this week, we get Saturday Night Live: The Complete Third Season (Universal), The Rat Patrol: The Complete Series (1966-68), Mission: Impossible: The Fourth Season (Paramount), Two and a Half Men: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros.), Drawn Together: Season Three (Paramount), and Stargate: Infinity: The Complete Series (Shout! Factory).

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