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…

It’s been a long wait, but I’m thrilled that the second season of Black Books (BBC, Not Rated, $24.98 SRP) is finally hitting the US. Giddy, in fact, since it’s one of the finest comedies – British or American – ever produced. Created, co-written by, and starring Shaun of the Dead co-star Dylan Moran, it centers around the twisted world of customer-hating bookshop owner Bernard Black, a man fond of drink, swearing, antipathy, anger, but definitely not customers… Imagine if Basil Fawlty’s antisocial tendencies were given full reign and a bottle of vodka. Paired with Black is new-hire Manny (Bill Bailey), a good-natured man clearly out of his element and an easy target for Bernard’s ire and ridicule – which is only mitigated somewhat by the presence of daffy friend Fran (Tamsin Greig). Crikey, how I love this series. The complete second series features all 6 episodes, plus commentaries and outtakes. Here’s hoping they hurry up and release the already-available-in-the-UK third series post-haste.

3rd Rock From The Sun was one of those shows that, despite a decent run, was cancelled before the steam had run out of the series. In some ways, I suppose I should be thankful that I was spared the often sad decline of many a once funny sitcom, but after watching the 20 episodes comprising the 6th and final season (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), I found myself wanting more of the Solomon family’s tenure on Earth. The final 4-disc set features the alternate ending to the finale (the one that was shot in case the show somehow got a seventh season), introductions to the alternate ending, and a retrospective featurette.

It’s one thing to lovingly restore “classics” like Citizen Kane or Casablanca, but I really get excited when a seminal piece of science fiction cinema gets treated with equal respect, as Warners has done with Forbidden Planet (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$26.98 SRP). The print is positively pristine, for one thing – it probably didn’t even look this speaking in theaters, and it certainly didn’t feature the 5.1 mix found here. A beautiful presentation of the film would be enough, but the 2-disc special edition also features deleted scenes, a complete follow-up vehicles starring the iconic Robby the Robot (The Invisible Boy & an episode of The Thin Man TV series), a trio of documentaries, an excerpt from the MGM Parade TV series, and trailers. If only Universal had given half this level of attention to This Island Earth, I’d be a happy man.

The real highlight of the second volumes of both DuckTales and Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP) – besides the fact that they’ve come out at all – is that Disney managed to listen to the fan outcry over their lunk-headed negligence in including both series’ 5-part pilot storylines in their respective Volume 1 sets. Unlike the excellent TV animation sets coming out of BCI, Disney still doesn’t even take the time to put a single bonus feature on these discs, which is a damn shame considering what seminal shows these were.

“Gummi Bears – Bouncing here and there and everywhere…” If you’re of a certain ages, chances are you know every one of the lines that follow… and are probably singing them right now. There once was a time when Disney crafted some remarkable TV animation that could be enjoyed by all ages, and it all started with Gummi Bears (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP). You can now own the first three seasons, but as with all Disney TV animation releases, there are absolutely zero bonus features. Disney – ring up BCI. They know how to do it right.

In what has turned into an incredibly supermonth, not only do we get the fifth and sixth seasons set of George Reeves’s Adventures of Superman (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – wrapping up the show’s run – but we also get the fourth and final season of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The Reeves set features a featurette on Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), while Lois & Clark features an interactive Superman timeline hosted by Dean Cain.

Although initially put off by The Fellowship of the Ring, I was eventually won over by Peter Jackson’s epic, almost-Wagnerianly operatic filmmaking, with its immense running time and larger-than-life cinematic bombast. I had high hopes for Peter Jackson’s King Kong, hoping that its over 3-hour running time would fly by with the energy, exuberance, and obvious love for the original that Jackson has professed over the years. Unfortunately, that was not the case – instead, I found Jackson’s Kong to be overly long and self-indulgent, plodding along from effect to effect, with leaden drama (and the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome ever). It was surprising, then, to learn that an even longer extended cut would be coming down the pike (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), adding 13 minutes of what mainly amounts to even more time on Skull Island. Despite my disappointment with the film, I will say that no one puts together bonus features as well as Jackson & company, and this 3-disc set is no exception. In addition to a wonderful commentary with Jackson and co-writer/producer Philippa Boyens (it’s more enjoyable than the film, for me), an additional 38 minutes of deleted scenes, a short film made by the cast, outtakes, brand-new making-of featurettes, a spotlight on the creation of Skull Island, video conceptual art galleries, both the 1996 and 2005 scripts (Jackson had been wanting to make Kong for years), and more. Even if you’re no fan of PJ’s giant ape, this is a nice set with some very spiffy behind-the-scenes materials.

Johnny Cash’s concert behind the prison walls of San Quentin on February 24th, 1969 is the stuff of legend second only to his gig at Folsom, and for the first time since that performance, the 3-disc special edition of Johnny Cash At San Quentin (Sony Legacy, $39.98 SRP) features 31 tracks, most of which were previously unreleased, in addition to a DVD featuring the original Granada TV documentary of the concert.

Peter Bracke’s Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP) is a comprehensive volume chronicling the history of the seminal slasher franchise, from Jason’s very first musical sting stalking of horny teenagers in an isolated summer camp to the latest efforts to revive the hockey-masked terror. For any fan of the series, it’s a must-have tome.

As environmental consciousness has been moving increasingly towards the mainstream in recent months, we’ll probably be seeing more films like Chris Paine’s Who Killed The Electric Car? (Sony, Rated PG, DVD-$26.96 SRP), which tries to uncover what exactly happened to GM’s once-promising line of electric vehicles that made a splashy debut in the mid-90’s only to me mysteriously recalled a short time later. Was it business? Was it politics? Was it something far more insidious? Bonus features include deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a music video.

There’s been quite a few concert DVDs from Paul McCartney in recent years, but I think my favorite is the just-released Paul McCartney: The Space Within (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP). Maybe that’s because it’s in support of an album I really dug (Chaos & Creation In The Backyard), and it’s always a thrill to hear what good voice the 64-year-old former Beatle is in. The disc features interviews with Macca and the band, plus sound checks, the US Tour pre-show film, and a behind-the-scenes tour featurette.

Marlo Thomas is back in the complete second season of That Girl (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), as Ann Marie’s career begins to take off (with commercials, magazine covers, and a Broadway show opposite Ethel Merman) and her relationship with Donald (Ted Bessell) becomes strong… But not so strong that the fiercely independent Ann Marie is ready to sideline her burgeoning career for marriage. The 4-disc set features all 30 episodes, plus audio commentaries, a featurette, and a never-before seen 1965 pilot for “Two’s Company” (starring Thomas).

Crikey, has it really been almost a decade since The Green Mile (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$20.98 SRP) was released? Due to its massive length, the original DVD release was practically featureless – which is a shame, because it was one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work, and featured a clutch of amazing performances. Well, all is rectified with a new 2-disc special edition, featuring an audio commentary with writer/director Frank Darabont, a making-of documentary, Tom Hanks makeup texts, Michael Clarke Duncan’s screen test, a 6-part documentary gallery, a spotlight on the teaser trailer, and the theatrical trailers.

Alex Borstein is best known for her characters MADtv‘s “Ms. Swan” and Family Guy‘s “Lois Griffin”, but in Alex Borstein Is Drop Dead Gorgeous In a Down-to-Earth Bombshell Sort of Way (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), she sets out to answer the question “What the hell happened to all the cool chicks on TV and in the movies?” in a live stage show that explores why the Mary Tyler Moore’s of the TV world have been replaced with the likes of Paris Hilton (What the f*** happened?) . In this hilarious show, Alex moves seamlessly and conversationally through stories, characterizations, impressions and yes, even a bit of song. From Scooby Doo’s Velma to Renee Zelwegger to Tina Turner, no one is safe from her keen eye and often bizarre take on the world. The disc also features a trip behind-the-scenes of Family Guy.

When it first premiered, I was immediately hooked on Little Britain, which played like the bastard child of The League of Gentlemen and Benny Hill. Unfortunately, by the time the third series rolled around (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams had become over-reliant on recurring one-note characters, cheap laughs, and catch phrases. Unlike The League of Gentlemen, which radically rejiggered its formula for each consecutive season while still retaining the comedic essence, Little Britain wound down with a tired thud – which is unfortunate, because Lucas & Walliams are appealing performers. I hope they can reinvent and reinvigorate themselves in the near future. The 2-disc set features highlights from the BBC’s Little Britain night, audio commentaries on all the episodes, deleted scenes, a Richard & Judy interview with Matt & David, a Heresy radio episode, and David on Top Gear.

While not the seasonal sets most fans were hoping for, there’s no mistaking that – much like their Sgt. Bilko set earlier this year – Paramount has attempted to put together a rather nice package for their 3-disc Gunsmoke: The Directors Collection (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$36.99 SRP). In addition to the 15 remastered episodes (directed by the likes of Arthur Hiller, Robert Stevenson, Dennis Weaver, Peter Graves, William Conrad, and Victor French), there’s also audio commentaries from a selection of the directors in question, an Amanda Blake interview from The Mike Douglas Show, CBS radio broadcasts, a soundtrack scoring session, and more.

Babylon By Bus (Penguin Press, $24.95 SRP) is one of those stories that is just unbelievable enough to be absolutely – and amazingly – true. Bus‘s true story focuses on a pair of Boston schlubs named Jeff Neumann & Ray Lemoine who, on the spur of the moment, decide that high adventure is the order of the day, and its to be found in post-liberation Iraq. Arriving shortly after the fall of Baghdad when reconstruction was still a seemingly workable thing, they found an often lawless, surreal ball of confusion torn between the American military presence, the citizens of Iraq, the insurgents, and the increasingly unstable relationship amongst them all. Their memoir (written with Donovan Webster) is at times funny, at times disturbing portrait of the region from a pair of modern, everyday observers who find themselves caught in the mess.

After five years and dozens of leaps, Dr. Sam Beckett faced hi final batch of televised adventures in the final season of Quantum Leap (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). The show had its ups and downs, but the ending is a sucker punch that I still feel, all these years later, that ranks right up there with the brutal slap across the face that wrapped up The Wonder Years. Sadly, there’s not a single bonus feature in sight, but at least another TV series has managed to eke out its full run on DVD.

As I eagerly await this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, I can bide my time with another pair of classic adventures on DVD – The Mark of Rani (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) from the Colin Baker years, and Tom Baker’s Doctor in The Hand of Fear (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP). Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, continuity announcements, vintage featurettes & interviews, and more.

Jumping on the bandwagon begun by companies like Warner and Fox, Universal has begun to mine their incredible film archives and issue some very nice collections of more obscure catalogue titles grouped under a given film icon. Their latest in what they’ve labeled the Screen Legend Collection (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP each) spotlight 5 films apiece from Bing Crosby (Waikiki Wedding, Double or Nothing, East Side of Heaven, If I Had My Way, Here Comes The Waves, Cary Grant (Thirty Day Princess, Kiss and Make Up, Wings In The Dark, Big Brown Eyes, Wedding Present), and Rock Hudson (Has Anybody Seen My Gal, A Very Special Favor, The Golden Blade, The Last Sunset, The Spiral Road) in 3-disc sets.

I think I’m falling out of love with Family Guy. I used to be a big fan, and would laugh at its often absurd left-field stream-of-consciousness writing style, but with the episodes featured in the fourth volume (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), I’ve become weary of the often senseless storytelling and paper-thin characters. It reminds me of a bad season of SNL, when the writers throw anything at the screen – overused catchphrases, included – and hope that something sticks. It’s just lazy, and it’s unfortunate – because I did like the show. A lot. Come back to me, Family Guy. The 3-disc set features audio commentaries on all 14 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, an optional censored audio track on 5 episodes, and multi-angle scene studies.

I still, for the life of me, can’t understand the appeal of The Da Vinci Code (Sony, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.96 SRP). It’s a turgid, uninvolving, hack-pulp novel that seemed to have latched onto airport-zeitgeist and made a multi-millionaire out of its author, Dan Brown, and stirred biblical controversies that leave me completely uninterested. The same can be said of Ron Howard’s equally turgid adaptation, starring a shaggy Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon, hot on the trail of something or another having to do with a church conspiracy to cover up the concept that Jesus knocked up Mary Magdalane. Okey dokey. The 2-disc special edition features behind-the scenes featurettes, a first-day diary with Ron Howard, and conversations with Hanks and Brown, and more.

Like most shows that take the awkward plunge into the abyss of romantic tension dispersment by hooking up their opposites attract couple, by the 5th season of Northern Exposure (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow) and Maggie (Janine Turner) were a seemingly permanent fixture around Cicely, Alaska – with all of the dramatic confusion that usually entails. Of course, this also turned out to be the penultimate season, and by the following year, Morrow (and Fleischman) would leave the show mid-season, and things would limp to an awkward close for the eccentrics of Cicely. The 5-disc set features all 24 episodes, plus almost 40 minutes of deleted scenes.

Dig into the sitcom stacks this weekend with the complete sixth season of The Golden Girls and the fifth season of Home Improvement (Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP each). Golden Girls features conversations with the cast from the Museum of Television & Radio, while Home Improvement sports a blooper reel.

While not up to the level of a college classic like Animal House, Accepted (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is an affable comedy that – while no work of genius – is genuinely enjoyable if taken as a throw-away laugher. When a schlubby high school student gets turned down by every college on his list, he decides to do what any aspiring academic would – start his own school. The South Harmon Institute of Technology is a bizarro reflection of college life, with the students in charge. Bonus features include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

Yeah, yeah, yeah – the second season of NCIS (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$64.99 SRP) still features the same kind of pulse-pounding anti-espionage, anti-terrorism stories, but the real reason for watching the show is to support the continued career of Mark Harmon. I do it for the man who gave us Summer School. The 6-disc set features a quartet of featurettes (“Investigating Season 2,” “What’s New In Season 2,” “The Real NCIS,” and “Lab Tour with Pauley Perrette”).

Anyone expecting a frothy romantic comedy out of The Break-Up (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) will be in for quite a shock, as the bubbly laugh-fest of the trailers is actually a rather dramatic tale of a disintegrating relationship – that of Gary & Brooke (Vince Vaughn & Jennifer Aniston) whose break-up eventually manifests itself as a bitter struggle for their shared apartment. Think of it as a take off on The War of the Roses, but without the humor. Bonus materials include an alternate ending, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, and more.

As train wreck television goes, the second seasons of Flavor Flav’s search for a mate, Flavor of Love (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP) has got to be near the top of the list. When one of your prospective paramours has to be excused to use the bathroom, you know you’re on a roll. The 3-disc set features all 11 uncensored episodes, plus bonus scenes and interviews, plus a bevy of behind-the-scenes 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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