Black Friday TVs: Three deals I'd go for

Yesterday we presented a fairly comprehensive listing of the best TV deals we've see for the Black Friday holiday. I spent some time going over the list again, and here are the three deals that I'd be considering if I were in the market for a new TV this weekend:

Panasonic TC-P50U2, $700 at Best Buy
There are certainly less expensive 50-inch sets, but I'm a fan of Panasonic's plasmas. This model gives me the 1080p resolution I want in a set this size, and its superior black levels and accurate colors will keep me happy when I'm watching movies. I never listen to a TV's built-in sound (three of my home's displays are actually monitors with no built-in tuner or speakers), so the TV's ho-hum sound isn't an issue. And I'll get my online access via the Blu-ray player.

Vizio XVT553SV, $1,498, Sam's Club
I don't love the design of this set, but this 55-inch Vizio is one of the few LCD TVs I'd buy. It has tons of features including a big 55-inch 1080p screen with a wide viewing angle, a full-array LED backlight with local dimming that actually improves black levels and contrast, and effective 240Hz technology to reduce motion blur. Also, it has built-in dual-band Wi-Fi, plus access to Vizio's robust VIA online service, including streaming movies from Netflix and Vudu. Most places currently have it for about $1,750, so $250 in savings might get me up off the couch.

Insignia NS-32P650A11, $378, Best Buy
I can't resist a deal where you can get an appreciably larger set for the price of a smaller one, and this sub-$400 42-inch Insignia plasma TV fills the bill. (In fact, when I saw the model number I incorrectly first assumed it was a 32-inch LCD TV.) Not surprisingly, it's a bare-bones 720p (1024x768) model and it only has two HDMI inputs. But I prefer plasmas, and it has a nice slim design. More importantly, Insignia sets have performed well in the CR TV Ratings, typically offering very good picture quality at fairly low prices. And it comes with a limited two-year warranty, a year longer than most sets.

So those are my final top-three Black Friday TV deals. If you're looking for a TV this weekend, let us know what sets you're considering and whether you actually act on your impulses. We're also wondering if there's room for haggling, so let us know about the best prices you get.

—James K. Willcox