The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

 

During its initial run, I always heard great things about Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$299.98 SRP) – whose snappy patter chronicled the trials and tribulations of the fictional Bartlett administration of the United states. As portrayed by Martin Sheen, imagine a cross between Kennedy and Clinton and you have a pretty good idea of the liberal ethos on display. Despite avoiding getting swept up during its seven season run, it wasn’t until the complete collection box set arrived that I decided to take the plunge – mainlining the entire run. No small feat, I assure you. As with Sorkin’s work in the past, it teeters between sublimely brilliant and pompously self-important, but I found myself riveted overall, and eagerly anticipating who would succeed Bartlett at the end of the seventh – and final – season (and actually wishing for a different outcome than the one we got). The 45 discs comprising the set are exactly the same as those found in the individual season releases – featuring audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and gag reels – but new to the set (besides the handsome, sturdy case emblazoned with the presidential insignia) is the pilot script, with an introduction from Sorkin, as well as an episode guide. If you haven’t begun picking up the series on DVD yet, this is definitely the way to go.

 

 

In the annals of short-lived comedies, I would put good money on none being funnier than the six gems comprising the entire run of Police Squad! (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP). Following up on their massive success with Airplane!, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Robert K. Weiss ventured on to the small screen with a parody of the overly-serious Quinn Martin/Jack Webb crime dramas of the 50’s and 60’s, starring the often clueless but somehow competent Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen). What they produced is a gag and visual pun-a-palooza that equals their finest work (see the aforementioned Airplane!) and would eventually be brought back to life on the big screen. Bonus features include audio commentaries on 3 episodes, a Leslie Nielsen interview, a gag reel, audition tapes, and a “Behind the Freeze Frames” featurette. Unfortunately, the celebrity death cameo John Belushi filmed for the series shortly before his death is nowhere to be found – it would have been nice to have that one last piece to remember him by, but I can understand their reluctance to include it.

 

 

I remember hearing that my friends Eric and Jerry were heading to the movie theater, and once I heard what they were going to see, I immediately weaseled my way into going along with them. For us, seeing this film was the must-see ticket of our young lives, as it was the big screen adventure of one of our absolute favorite TV shows. That flick was Transformers: The Movie (Sony Wonder, Rated PG, DVD-$21.98 SRP), and as much crap as people want to give it, it still holds a very special place in my heart. To see Optimus duke it out with Megatron on the big screen, it was young geek heaven – even if they botched things by killing off Optimus (a mistake soon rectified on the afternoon cartoon, once they realized that we fans were not happy with their marketing decision). Did I know, as a kid, that I was basically watching a slick way to eliminate old toys and introduce a whole new product line? Vaguely, sure, but who cares? It’s not like they ever made the Unicron I really wanted when I was still young enough to want to play with it instead of it being a “collectible” (and regardless, I made my own massive Unicron out of Legos). This is all to say that I’m really jazzed by the remastered 2-disc 20th anniversary edition, packed with bonus features including deleted scenes, commentaries, promos, and more. Finally! Now where’s my GI Joe: The Movie special edition…

 

 

Although it’s great to have all 5 films featured in the new Marlon Brando Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) – including Reflections In A Golden Eye, The Teahouse Of The August Moon, The Formula, and Julius Caesar – the standout is the 2-disc special edition of Mutiny on the Bounty, whose stunning new transfer is complemented by 4 vintage featurettes (“Story of the HMS Bounty,” “Voyage of the Bounty to St. Petersburg,” “Tour of the Bounty,” & “1964 New York’s World Fair Promo”), an alternate prologue and epilogue, and a newly-produced featurette “After the Cameras Stopped Rolling: The Journey of the Bounty.” The set also includes commentary on The Formula, a new intro & featurette on Julius Caesar, vintage behind-the-scenes footage on Reflections In A Golden Eye, and a vintage featurette on The Teahouse of the August Moon.

 

 

I remember distinctly, years ago, being underwhelmed with the trailer for Monsters, Inc.. After enjoying both Toy Story and A Bug’s Life, and Toy Story 2, I felt Pixar could do no wrong – but the Monsters trailer gave me pause. The film, it turned out, was not the let-down the trailer led me to expect, but it was nowhere near as endearing ads the previous flicks. Then came Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, and my esteem for the folks up in Emoryville was fully restored – until the trailer for Cars (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) gave me the same queasy feeling of yore. Besides the fact that automobiles have never held an interest for me – and, by extension, racing – I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had seen this movie before… When it was called Doc Hollywood and starred Michael J. Fox. Swap out the flashy big city doctor with a flashy race car, and you’ve still got the story of a fish out of water forced to spend time in a small burg in the middle of nowhere who eventually falls in love not only with a local girl, but also with said small town. That’s both flicks to a “t”. Was I disappointed with Cars? Technically, it was a beautiful film extremely well-animated – Pixar can do that in their sleep – but I found that director John Lasseter too often fell in love with the geeky aspects of the cars and Route 66 environs on the screen, and lost touch with telling a tight story. Is it a disaster? Not by any means, but it’s definitely not in my top 3. Disney has opted to give us a measly single-disc edition instead of the usual 2-disc (I guess Lasseter’s new position at Disney gives him no clout over home video), with deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and the shorts “One Man Band” and “Mater and the Ghostlight.”

 

 

Even 6 months later, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the first “half” of The Sopranos‘ sixth and final season (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP). While it was certainly high on familial intrigue (both meanings of “family,” naturally), there didn’t seem to be much of a spark motivating the season. It didn’t help matters that a large part of the initial episodes were stuck in Tony’s post-shooting coma dream state – which is all well and good, but one can take only so much philosophy and psychology before the desire for meat & potatoes storytelling becomes insistent. I certainly have no idea where the final 9 episodes airing next spring are going to take us, that’s for sure. The 4-disc set features all 12 episodes, plus a quartet of audio commentaries.

 

 

While I still find the mo-cap “animation” technique as jarring as I did on Polar Express, I think Monster House (Sony, Rated PG, DVD-$28.95 SRP) manages to transcend my misgiving by featuring an incredibly entertaining script – about a trio of neighborhood kids who band together to try and battle the suddenly sentient, monstrous, and evil house on their block – and stylized character design that didn’t try for the photo-realism that made Polar Express‘s cast so zombie-like. It’s a glorious mash-up of Goonies, The ‘Burbs, and Monster Squad. Bonus features include an audio commentary, 7 behind-the-scenes featurettes, a scene-breakdown, and an art gallery.

 

 

With he recent spate of vintage talk shows getting DVD releases (including Shout! Factory’s Dick Cavett sets), it’s good to know that we can add another batch of classics from the original king of late night. The 3-disc The Best of Johnny Carson: Volume 1 (R2, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) features dozens of memorable moments from Carson’s 30 years on the air, plus bonus materials including the famous episode when Bob Hope & Dean Martin made an unexpected visit, rare photos, and a compilation of additional moments from the Ultimate Carson Collection. Also available is the single-disc Carson Country (R2, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP), featuring a collection of country & western appearances – everyone from Johnny Cash to John Wayne.

 

 

The 3-disc The Wonderful World Of Louis Armstrong (Time Life, $39.98 SRP) features 40 remastered tracks spanning over 4 decades of the great Satchmo’s career – everything from “Mack the Knife” and “Hello, Dolly!” to “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “What a Wonderful World.” The 3rd disc is a DVD compilation of rare film and video performances that give a small taste of what a fantastic live performer he must have been. My only regret? Where’s “Skokian”?

 

 

It was only a matter of time before the films of Gary Cooper fell under the spotlight of Warners’ amazing “Signature Collection” series, and the 5-films featured in Gary Cooper: The Signature Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) are absolute essentials for any self-respecting cineastes film library. The centerpiece is the 2-disc special edition of Cooper’s turn as the real-life WWI hero Sergeant York, which features an audio commentary from historian Jeanine Basinger, a pair of documentaries (“Sergeant York: Of God and Country” and “Gary Cooper: American Life, American Legend”), a vintage short, the Porky cartoon Porky’s Preview, and trailer. The other four films that round out the set are The Fountainhead (which also includes a new making-of featurette), Dallas, Springfield Rifle, and The Wreck of the Mary Deare.

 

 

The alchemy of creating music has long fascinated me, so it should come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of the Classic Albums series of documentaries (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, DVD-$11.98 SRP each) – each of which goes in-depth behind-the-scenes of a particular iconic album, with rare footage and interviews that flesh out the creative process. The latest in the series spotlight Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, U2’s The Joshua Tree, Steely Dan’s Aja, The Who’s Who’s Next, and Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Catch A Fire. I truly dig this series, and hope they keep rolling them out.

 

 

Although I believe Fox has royally screwed fans who have been supporting the season-by-season DVD releases of M*A*S*H by releasing a feature-laden comprehensive box set just as the 11th season (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) comes out, it’s good to finally have that final run available, if only for the epic, feature-length finale that wrapped up the trials and tribulations of the doctors, nurses, and soldiers of the 4077.

 

 

 

Even though I tend to find host James Lipton a comically over-the-top presenter, I still watch Inside The Actors Studio whenever I get the chance, often finding the conversation fascinating and the occasional insight into the person in the hot seat well worth the sometimes softball banter. The show is getting its time in the DVD spotlight with a 3-disc Inside The Actors Studio: Icons collection (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring the programs with guests Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, and Clint Eastwood, which also feature bonus footage and retrospective pieces with Lipton. Sold separately is the incredible Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which is a very insightful piece done with the actor/comedian after his famed abandonment of his show’s third season.

 

 

While Edward R. Murrrow may be best remembered as a hard-hitting newsman and the very epitome of what journalism should be, he was also the host of what some may call a “puff” series called Person to Person, in which this tough-as-nails journalist would do one-on-one interviews with celebrities like Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, Sid Caesar, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, and up-and-coming politicians like John F. Kennedy. The 3-disc The Best of Person To Person (Koch, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) features over 2-dozen of those now-legendary interviews, in which Murrow reveals that his skills extended beyond just hard news.

 

 

Not only does Roseanne have the “Barr” back, but in her stand-up special Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin’ (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), she’s back on stage and performing again after a long spell away from the mic. Even better, she’s back in form and funnier than ever – which, considering what a groundbreaker she was in the 80’s, makes me no end of happy. In addition to the full special, the disc also features an interview with Roseanne, footage of her pre-show pep talk, a post-show featurette, and Roseanne going head-to-head with her new makeup artist.

 

 

Just in time or all of those difficult holiday shopping lists, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP) contains the full 2-disc special editions of The Sound of Music, South Pacific, State Fair, Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The King and I. Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, bonus films, vintage shorts, deleted scenes, photo galleries, and much, much more.

 

 

As many releases as they’ve gotten in the past – some acceptable, some embarrassing – the “Toho Master Collection” of the Godzilla film series has been more than living up to its name, with the initial release a few months back of the giant lizard’s first film foray a stunningly great overall package. The next two releases – currently available only as an online exclusive at http://www.godzillaondvd.com – are Mothra Vs. Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Not only do they have both the Japanese and English versions of the films, but also audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.

 

 

There’s no denying that She-Ra was a rather blatant attempt to capture young girls with what amounted to a warmed-ver redress of He-Man (ala Superman’s Supergirl). Featuring He-Man’s twin sister She-Ra, the princess of power fought the good fight against the monstrous Hordak and his evil Horde with control of the kingdom of Etheria in the balance. She-Ra: Season One Volume One (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) features the first 32 episodes of the first season, plus the usual exceptional line-up of bonus materials we’ve come to expect from the good people at BCI. Those bonus features include part 1 of the feature-length documentary “The Stories of She-Ra“, a pair of commentaries, an animated storyboard, character profiles, trivia, and more.

 

 

They’ve trickled out over the past few years, but you can finally get the entire 6 season run of the UK’s original – and very, very funny – Men Behaving Badly (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP), plus the Last Call disc featuring the trio of feature-length episodes that wrapped up the series, as well as the 1997 Christmas special and outtakes.

 

 

You know, if you were to look in the dictionary under the word “cheese,” you’d find a still taken from Donny & Marie Osmond’s 70’s variety show. If you want proof of just what a cheesefest it was, look no further than the 2-disc The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 (R2, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which collects hours of hand-picked “classic” moments from the show’s multi-year run. Also available is the Donny & Marie: 1978 Christmas Show (R2, Not Rated, DVD-$12.99 SRP), which has not been seen since its original airing.

 

 

In an era when every single memory from my Saturday morning cartoon childhood is getting is eventually getting its own DVD release, it was only a matter of time before a complete collection of the Groovy Goolies (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) hit shelves. The 3-disc set features all 16 episodes, plus a pair of commentaries, a brand-new documentary, a featurette on the founding of Filmation studios, a sing-along, and image galleries.

 

 

And if that isn’t enough ghoulish delight for you, how about the complete fifth season of Tales From The Crypt (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 3-disc set features 13 more devilishly ironic tales hosted by everyone’s favorite ghoul, the Crypt Keeper.

 

 

 

 

Ultraman: Series One Volume Two (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) wraps up the inaugural season of the bullet-headed Japanese superhero, featuring 19 remastered, uncut episodes. Bonus features include a monster encyclopedia, while the set also contains a pair of collectible cards and an 8-page booklet.

 

 

 

Any show that has the chutzpah to not only be set in the future, but also believe it was a future that would retain 70’s hairstyles and sport super-intelligent chimps, is a show that cries out “cult classic.” So it goes with the Ark II (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), where Earth is a post-apocalyptic wasteland traversed by our heroes in the titular mechanized vehicle (which look like a giant white crayon). You can now own the complete 15 episode run, with bonus features including a newly-produced retrospective documentary, a pair of audio commentaries, and photo & art galleries.

 

 

Although the title Harveytoons: The Complete Collection (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is inaccurate – the set is missing dozens of entries in the series – the 4-disc set does feature tons of classic Harveytoons starring Casper, Baby Huey, Little Audrey, Herman, and Katnip. Here’s hoping a second “Complete Collection” is in the offing in the near future.

 

 

I wasn’t overly enthused with the soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s A Good Year (Sony Legacy, $18.98 SRP) except for its inclusion of a trio of Harry Nilsson tracks, including his fun demo of “Gotta Get Up.” For their inclusion alone, I’d recommend giving this a spin… and then suggest you go get more Nilsson albums.

 

 

It’s hard to believe that, compared to what a backstage drama and cultural juggernaut it eventually evolved into, the first season of Beverly Hills 90210 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP) was a relatively pedestrian affair, focusing more on the fish-out-of-water aspects of the transplanted Walsh twins (Jason Priestley & Shannen Doherty) as they adjusted their Midwest upbringing to their posh Beverly Hills surroundings. This first season has been eagerly anticipated by fans, who won’t be disappointed with commentary by Darren Starr on 2 episodes, and a quartet of retrospective featurettes (“Beginnings With Darren Starr,” “Meet The Class Of West Beverly High,” “90210 Behind-the-Scenes,” and “Looking Back: Season One – The Recap”).

 

 

As if you weren’t feeling soapy enough, how about the complete first season of Melrose Place (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP)? Granted, this is before the inhabitants of TV’s most dysfunctional apartment complex really hit their stride, but the infinitely appealing Heather Locklear is on the scenes, so all is well. Not only do you get all 32 episodes, but there’s a series of mini-featurettes, plus a pair of more in-depth behind-the-scenes and retrospective featurettes.

 

So there you have it… my humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this coming weekend. See ya next week…

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