It’s that time of year again, when sites the web-over compile helpful holiday shopping lists to guide you into the deepest, darkest pits of retail with a map that will hopefully get you out alive. Here now, without further ado, is the 2006 Quick Stop Holiday Shopping Guide…

For those of us old enough to remember Mr. Hooper, viewing an “episode” of the current version of Sesame Street is a little like seeing McMurphy after he was lobotomized in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Gone is the sly, hip, multigenerational humor that defined the groundbreaking show’s early years – replaced instead with an infantilized, toothless program that has lost its ability to teach anything but how insipidly saccharine it has become. In fact, I won’t even let my nephew watch it, for fear of it turning him off to learning – and The Muppets. Thankfully, someone must have been awake at the wheel over at Sesame Workshop (formerly the Children’s Television Workshop, or CTW), because they’ve released the first volume of what they’re calling Sesame Street: Old School (Sony Wonder, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 3-disc set features the complete, uncut premiere episodes from the first 5 seasons (well, except for a segment featuring a pop icon who wouldn’t clear the song used… Boo! to him). If that weren’t glorious enough, there are 45 additional bonus segments, the original sales pitch from 1969 (featuring Rowlf!), and more. Watching classic Sesame really drives home just how much they’ve lost the plot in recent years. Bring on volume 2 as fast as you can, because I’ve got to have something to show my nephew…

Everyone has a holy grail toy or collectible that they’ve wanted ever since they were just a kid. For some, it’s a Red Ryder BB gun, for others it might be a Boba Fett figure with firing missile – for me, it was simply a Kermit that looked like Kermit. It could be a doll, or a puppet, or an action figure – it didn’t matter, as long as it actually looked correct. The Henson company, through its long history, has had a horrible time of actually getting licensees who could produce accurate representations of the characters. Too often, the proportions were off, the materials were shoddy – the bottom line being that they were just not right. It wasn’t until Palisades came along a few years back and began producing their Muppets action figures that accurate representations of these cherished characters began to be released for fan consumption. But there was still the holy grail of actually owning a Kermit the Frog – a *real* Kermit the Frog. I won’t go into the history (you can find it elsewhere), but I played a role in getting my holy grail produced – a Kermit the Frog “photo puppet” from Master Replicas ($199). If you’re not familiar with the term “photo puppet,” they’re essentially fully-poseable, full-bodied representations of the Muppet characters used for photo shoots. They have an internal armature, but are constructed of the same patterns and materials as the workable puppet. Master Replicas have done a masterful job of creating a truly unique collectible that fans will kick themselves repeatedly if they don’t pick up. Considering the unbelievably reasonable price point and the edition size of only 2500, you’d be a fool not to snag one as soon as you possibly can.

This holiday season, I intend to spend those cold winter nights holed up with hot chocolate, Little Debbie Christmas Trees, and – Would you believe? – the complete 5 season Get Smart box set (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$199). Long a fan desire, never did I think that not only would we get completely uncut, stunningly remastered episodes that make the series look sparkling fresh, but that the entire run would be released in a special box set absolutely loaded with bonus features. In an age when studios release bare bones season sets only to screw over fans be releasing comprehensive, feature-laden sets at the very end (Hello, Fox!), this comprehensive bonus-filled bonanza is a true delight. Those bonus features include audio commentaries (with the likes of Mel Brooks, Buck Henry, James Caan, Barbara Feldon, Bernie Koppell, Don Rickles, and more), interviews, bloopers, featurettes, Emmy footage, rare commercials, and much more – literally hours of material. Packaged in a box comprised of multiple doors (ending with the phone booth), the set is currently an exclusive available only at TimeLife.com.

It’s been a long, long, LONG wait for the Steven Spielberg-produced Warner Bros. cartoons to hit DVD, and while Tiny Toons is still MIA, fans should be eagerly snapping up the first two volumes of both Animaniacs and Pinky and The Brain (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP each) this holiday season. The 5-disc Animaniacs sets feature the show’s first 25 episodes apiece, plus voice artist Maurice LaMarche interviewing his fellow castmates and the writing staff about the show and their favorite episodes. Meanwhile, Pinky and The Brain advance their plans to take over the world with 4-discs and 22 episodes per volume, which also contain an interview with Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche (Pinky & The Brain) and voice director Andrea Romano, as well as an awkward confrontation between Paulsen and LaMarche when they meet a pair of actors trying out for the big screen Pinky & The Brain – Mark Hamill & Wayne Knight. Must have more!

As a fan of the original Christopher Reeve/Richard Donner Superman film, I was more than delighted with the 4-disc box set released back in 2001, featuring the remastered director’s cut of that first flick, as well as the diminishing returns of its 3 sequels. Never in my wildest dreams, though, did I ever anticipate something as glorious as The Ultimate Superman Collection (Warner Bros., $99.98 SRP). Not only are those original quartet of films completely remastered and looking better than they ever have (including even their theatrical runs), but it’s been bolstered with the inclusion of both the original theatrical and the 2001 director’s cuts of Superman. If that weren’t enough, the set also features the legendary “Richard Donner Cut” of Superman II (Donner was fired and replaced by Richard Lester before he could finish the sequel, which he had shot concurrently with the first film), plus fully remastered editions of the Fleisher Superman cartoons of the 40’s, Bryan Singer’s Up In The Sky! documentary, the Superpup pilot, additional documentaries and featurettes, and much more? And that’s not even including the 2-disc special edition of Singer’s Superman Returns, which you’ll also find in the set. An incredible, one-stop set, no? And while you’re at it – because you know you’re a completist – why not pick up the incredibly flawed, incredibly campy, but nicely remastered international cut of Supergirl (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), featuring a commentary from director Jeannot Szwarc and historian Scott Bosco? You know you will.

At long last, with the release of Star Trek: The Animated Series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP), fans can finally rejoice in the knowledge that every televised Star Trek show and the entire run of feature films is now out on DVD. Ever since the release of Enterprise wrapped over a year ago, the anticipation for the early 70’s cartoon adventures of Kirk & crew has been high, with every scrap of information as to when it would finally see the light of day eagerly anticipated. Well, it” finally here, looking better than ever and sporting audio & text commentaries, a retrospective featurette, a look at the connection between the live action and animated series, a storyboard gallery, and a history of the show. If that weren’t enough, it also comes packaged in a snazzy plastic case similar to the ones that contained the original series DVDs.

If you’ve never heard of the UK quiz programme QI, you’re missing out on one of the funniest “educational” shows ever devised (the devisee being creator/producer John Lloyd, formerly of Blackadder, Not The Nine O’Clock News, and Spitting Image). The key to QI (which stands for “Quite Interesting”) is the central tenet of its philosophy – it’s not always being correct that counts, but interesting (and funny). The interesting nature of a given piece of information spurs conversation and debate, eventually leading round to the learning said informational nugget. Did you know that the Earth has more than one moon, for example? Or that otters kill crocodiles? Airing on BBC2 (and currently in its 4th season), it’s hosted by Stephen Fry and features a rotating panel of four comedians (one of which is mainstay Alan Davies) – and it’s one of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen… Honestly, you’ll laugh as much as you learn, and I hope a network in the US is smart enough to pick the show up uncut (Hello, Comedy Central! Hello, Discovery Channel! Hello, PBS! Somebody!). Until then, you can grab a copy of the interactive QI DVD game (Warner Home Video, DVD-£18.99), a 2-disc, feature-laden DVD set of the first season (2 Entertain, Not Rated, DVD-£19.99) – both of which are available only for Region 2, so make sure you have a Region Free player – and the very first QI Book of General Ignorance (Faber & Faber, £12.99), which collects much of the interesting information featured in the first four seasons into one handy volume. By all means, learn what all the hubbub is about (and stop by the official QI site at www.QI.com). 

 

I’m not knocking the rest of their fare, but the only series that transcends the fraternity comedy of much of the Adult Swim line-up is The Venture Bros. (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Featuring some of the sharpest writing on TV – let alone adult animated comedy – it also contains an incredible cast of characters that are light-years beyond the cheap archetypes populating most series. Go pick up the complete first season set, and catch up with the reruns of the second season.

 

There are collectibles that are basically overpriced knickknacks that prey upon pop culture sensibilities, and then every once in awhile something will come down the pike that complete transcends geeky knickknackery and qualifies as an impressive work of art in its own right. I felt that latter rush when removing Sideshow Collectibles’ scale replica of Spielberg’s killer shark, Jaws ($279.95), from its massive box. Measuring an incredible 28″ from nose to tail, this is a jaw-droppingly stunning piece, sculpted to accurately portray the mechanical “Bruce the Shark” designed for use in the ’75 blockbuster. Mounted on a blue acrylic stand with an adjustable nameplate, it’s limited edition that trumps any Jaws collectible of the past and I daresay future – if you get this, you’ll be beyond satisfied.

For years, it was thought that the inordinate amount of musical clearances necessary would impede a complete season-by-season release of Saturday Night Live, but those not insubstantial hurdles must have been overcome since we now have the complete and uncut release of SNL: The Complete First Season (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP), featuring the Not Ready For Primetime Players literally figuring out what exactly the institution would become while putting on a seat-of-their-pants live program every week. In fact, it’s not until a few weeks in that the shape of the show finally begins to coalesce, and the likes of Belushi, Aykroyd, Chase, and Radner begin to make the show their own, instead of it being a showcase for guest hosts and musical acts. The 8-disc set also features the original screen tests, plus a 1975 TV interview with the cast.

While writer Roy Thomas’s Stan Lee’s Amazing Marvel Universe (Sterling, $50.00 SRP) would have been a must-have overview of the formative years of Marvel Comics and the equally amazing Lee in its own right, the addition of Stan Lee’s audio remembrances makes it an essential experience for anyone who grew up entranced by Lee’s hyperbolic universe and giddy hucksterism. Attached to the impressive tome is an audio player that, when you come to a cue within the book itself, you can press to hear Stan himself relate stories and anecdotes based on what you’ve just been reading about. In practice, it’s like getting an audio commentary from “The Man” himself, and I can only hope that more books will utilize this unique technology.

Of all the shows with fans clamoring for a DVD release, very few have been as requested as the single-season of the Saturday morning animated Dungeons & Dragons (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$54.98 SRP), which aired during the 1980’s. I remember liking it as a kid… of course, I also liked Kidd Video. Still, those amazing guys at BCI (with Ink & Paint DVD) have constructed an wonderful set for the series, collecting all 27 episodes across 5-discs, with audio commentaries, interviews, rare/alternative footage, trivia, and even a “radio-style” performance of a “lost” script which wraps up the series’ cliffhanger ending. If that weren’t enough, geeks will love the handbook included with the set, which integrates the animated characters fully into the D&D universe.

Back when Shane MacGowan could still be intelligible, he and The Pogues crafted what many consider to be their masterpiece – If I Should Fall From Grace With God (Rhino, $11.98 SRP). Not only is this new edition complete remastered and loaded a half-dozen bonus tracks, but it contains one of the most amazing, poignant, and powerful holiday tunes ever penned – MacGowan dueting with the late Kirsty McColl on “Fairytale of New York.”

I can think of no harder to intellectual task than trying to explain a joke, and comedian Jimmy Carr and Lucy Greaves have tackled an even more formidable task in Only Joking: What’s So Funny About Making People Laugh? (Gotham Books, $23.00) – namely, why do we laugh at jokes? Are they universal to everyone? Are there gender-specific jokes that leave the opposite gender with nary a chuckle? Do jokes span cultures and ethnicities? What spurs the laugh reflex, and why is it so closely associated with fear and tension? Far from being a dry discourse, the book is quite a funny exploration that will certainly spur some thought… and, seeing as how it’s also packed with dozens of jokes from dozens of comedians, it may just leave a smile on your face, as well.

Before we move on, I’d also recommend you pick up a pair of Region 2 releases featuring Mr. Carr, beginning with a 2-disc collection of his stand-up DVDs, Jimmy Car: Live (Channel 4, Not Rated, DVD-£22.99) and the first uncensored highlights collection of the panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats appropriately subtitled Claws Out (Channel 4, Not Rated, £19.99). It’s a shame that the extent of Carr’s penetration into the US market is Comedy Central’s import of the Carr’s UK gameshow Distraction, because the man is freakin’ hilarious.

If I were to come up for the best metaphor to describe what reading Neil Gaiman’s Sandman was like – as I sat down with the very first trade paperback, long after a vast fanbase had taken it to heart during its initial run – I’d call it a literary Chinese finger trap. What seemed at first like a rather simple act of reading a piece of graphic fiction quickly ensnared me – so much so that I lost an entire evening trying to extract myself from the fantastic world Gaiman and a bevy of top-notch illustrators had created, only finding freedom after having read the entire run in one sitting. I’m usually not a fan of “double-dipping,” whereby a company will get me to buy another copy of something I already own by dangling the prospect of bonus materials or better quality, but there is no doubt in my mind, after heaving held and lovingly paged through it, that the first volume of The Absolute Sandman (Vertigo, $99.00 SRP) more than lives up to its title as the definitive collection of Gaiman’s epic. The premiere volume (of an eventual four) features the first 20 issues completely restored and recolored, bound in a beautifully slipcased hardcover edition. In addition to a new introduction by DC publisher Paul Levitz and an afterword by Gaiman, the volume also contains the full script to the award-winning “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as well as Charles Vess’s original pencils. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

It has now become a welcome holiday tradition that as the year comes to a close, you can hunker down during cold winter nights watching classic cartoons with the latest Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$64.98 SRP). As with previous sets, Volume 4 features 4 discs full of fully restored and remastered gems starring Bugs, Daffy, Porky & pals, with a dazzling array of bonus materials – including commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, and more – providing welcome icing on the already filling holiday cake. Those just wanting a featureless sampler of the cartoons themselves at a reduced price can pick up the fourth volume of the Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Also available for the holidays is a brand-new Looney Tunes holiday film, Bah Humduck! (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which recasts Dickens’ Christmas Carol with Daffy fulfilling the Scrooge role as the proprietor of the Lucky Duck megamart and Porky as his long-suffering manager.

Of course, the grand poobah of this here site also has a pair of DVD releases worth picking up for the holidays – and I’m not just saying that because he pays my bills. Long before I came to run Quick Stop Entertainment, I was a fan of Kevin Smith – in fact, I attended the Wilmington, NC stop of his college tour that eventually became An Evening With Kevin Smith. As a monologist, Smith is a crackling, visceral, very funny guy – in fact, in terms of delivery and timing, he ranks with the best. I don’t know how to define what “it” is, but he’s got the chops to carry an audience through an anecdote like nobody’s business – which is why I dug his second stand-up set, An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$28.96 SRP). The 2-disc set features gigs in both Toronto and London, as well as behind-the-scenes featurettes (in particular, the one starring Jason Mewes is a keeper). You will never view Dora The Explorer in the same way ever again.

But before he was a master of one-man performance, Mr. Smith was a filmmaker – starting with a little film called Clerks. A little over a decade later, he returns to familiar territory – and beloved characters – with Clerks 2 (Weinstein Company/Genius, Rated R, DVD-$29.95 SRP), which finds Dante & Randal bereft of the Quick Stop and working at a Mooby’s under the managerial eye of a comely lass named Becky (played with a twinkle and sly grin by Rosario Dawson). It also finds our two heroes at a crossroads in their lives, attempting to determine exactly what their lives should be as the leave their 20’s further and further behind. Going in, I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of the film – Clerks was such an icon of its era, and to revisit it seemed almost sacrilege. Thankfully, awkward moments were spared, as I thought Kevin managed to make a film that combined the raunchy, witty, character-driven fun of the early View Askew flicks with the maturity he brought to the severely underrated Jersey Girl (yes, I liked it… a lot). As with previous View Askew DVD releases, this 2-disc set is literally packed to the brim, including 2 audio commentaries, deleted scenes, an impressively in-depth feature-length making-of documentary (Back To The Well: Clerks II), bloopers, and 10 of the “Train Wreck” online diaries.

Keeping it in the family, add Jeff Anderson’s directorial debut Now You Know (Weinstein Company/Genius, Rated R, DVD-$19.95 SRP) to your shopping list. Anderson also wrote this comedic tale of a young man (Jeremy Sisto) who returns to his Jersey hometown after his fiancée cancels their engagement, and hangs out with his lawnmowing slacker buddies (played by Anderson and Trevor Fehrman). Is it a slacker paradise, or should he try and right his torpedoed nuptials?… and is she even still available? Bonus features include an audio commentary, a Q&A, and an intro to the film from Anderson and some guy named Kevin).

Erik the Viking (Arrow Films, Not Rated, DVD-£15.99 SRP) is one of the “lost” post-Python films, overlooked by many in favor of more well known efforts from the likes of Cleese (A Fish Called Wanda) and Gilliam (Brazil). Still, I find writer/director Terry Jones’s tale of a Viking with a conscience (Tim Robbins) to be an enjoyably fun flick, with many of the whimsical and visual qualities that have marked much of Jones’s style. Unfortunately, the original cut of the film was somewhat rushed, and Jones has never been happy with the theatrical version – which means, in this modern DVD age, he’s been given the chance to go back and tweak it for a new 2-disc special edition… well, actually, his son Bill Jones has done the tweaking, producing the “Director’s Son’s Cut” of Erik the Viking. While the US edition is MIA with no release in sight, Arrow Films in the UK has put together a beautiful special edition featuring both cuts of the film, audio commentary with Terry Jones, and interview with Terry and his son Bill, a making-of featurette, extended cast interviews, and a photo gallery.

I’m a huge space nut, and nothing has disheartened me more than the seeming loss of awe and wonder for space travel in kids today. Of course, granted, I was a member of the Young Astronauts as a kid, and haven’t lost that excitement when learning about space. One of the most enjoyable, informative books to cross my desk is Kids To Space: A Space Traveler’s Guide (Apogee Books, $29.95 SRP). It’s truly amazing – basically, it’s a collection of hundreds of questions about space, space travel, and space science posed by America’s school children and answered by astronomers, physicians, astronauts, educators, engineers and scientists. If you’ve ever wondered things like what’s a black hole and how soon we’ll be able to go to Mars (and what we’ll eat and drink there) – the answers can be found within. Not only great for getting kids interested in space, this book is also an amazing resource for writers. Apogee books has an amazing collection of space-related releases, including Go For Launch: An Illustrated History of Cape Canaveral, Sex In Space, and Dr. Werner von Braun’s never-before-printed science fiction Project Mars: A Technical Tale.

Mezco has taken the South Park toy license – one which was has been horribly misused by other companies in the past – and have been putting out a consistently great line-up of figures over the past year, featuring some very nice sculpts and welcome characters. While all are worth picking up (although you’ll probably have to resort to eBay for older waves, due to the popularity of the figures), you’ll find a pic of one of the most recent waves below – featuring Jesus, Butters, Mr. Mackey, Timmy, Frozen Kenny, and Policeman Cartman (Mezco, approx. $12.99 each, depending on the retailer). Notice how accessory-heavy they are, and rejoice that not only does Timmy come with the time-travel machinery for the back of his wheelchair, but Jesus has pitchers of both water and wine.

Let that not be your only South Park gift this holiday season, however, as you’d have to have a heart of stone and a bear trap wallet to pass up the 6″ talking Cartman (Mezco, $24.00). With a dozen catchphrases from the show – all rude and wonderful (including “Screw you guys – I’m going home,” “Kick ass,” “You guys are hella stupid,” and more) – it’s sure to brighten any fan’s desk. In the pic, you’ll see just how much larger it is than the regular Cartman figure.

Jerry Seinfeld cites it as the primary influence for his own show, and anyone who views The Abbott and Costello Show (Passport Video, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP each) will clearly see the precedent it established for a comedy set in New York City and almost entirely about unique characters and everyday events, rather than your typical sitcom fare. It was also anchored by an amazing comedy duo who managed to reinvent themselves for the small screen without falling into the trap of other comedians making the transition, who seemed to believe they were back on a vaudeville stage rather than pioneers on a brand new medium. I can’t recommend the two 5-disc sets comprising the complete 2-season run of the show highly enough, which also feature Lou Costello’s rare home movies, interviews with the duo’s children, the complete “Who’s On First?” routine, and the DVD premiere of the Abbott & Costello short film 10,000 Kids and a Cop.

I have immense respect for any cartoonist who can make a career out of single panel gags – particularly if they’re consistently funny. Long before Gary Larson made The Far Side into a prime example of this in the 80’s, Hank Ketcham’s Dennis The Menace was king of the single panels on the daily comics page. Not content with just their amazing Complete Peanuts line, Fantagraphics has also been releasing Hank Ketcham’s Complete Dennis The Menace (Fantagraphics, $24.95 SRP), the third volume of which is now available, covering the period from 1955 to 1956.

Many of you out there may have fond memories of the small, square, single-color Peanuts books in the “Happiness is…” series, which began with the legendary Happiness Is A Warm Puppy and included titles like Happiness Is A Sad Song, Security Is A Thumb And A Blanket, and Home Is On Top Of A Dog House. The entire series, full of Peanuts philosophy and art, are being re-released (Sterling, $5.995 SRP each) and make the perfect stocking stuffer.

 

Parody, as an art, is incredibly difficult. But you know that. I know that. Everyone knows that. Kaspar Hauser, in their aneurysm-inducingly funny parody of those already ludicrous in-flight catalogs, SkyMaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy From A Plane (St. Martin’s, $14.95 SRP), have managed to pull off a parody that builds on the inherent comedy and makes the humor transcendent. Which is all just a way to say that ads for products like Reality-Canceling Headphones, Crack Pipe Chess Sets, Llamacycles, and other absurdist offerings are very, very funny.

 

Watching the dozen episodes that comprise the second season of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP), I’m baffled as to why the show isn’t still running to this day. Katz and the gaggle of comics that populated his couch seeking therapy (including Ray Romano, Kevin Meaney, Joy Behar, Emo Phillips, Janeane Garafalo, Garry Shandling, Steven Wright, Joy Behar, and more) produced comedy that remains timeless – and the interaction between the good doctor and his aimless son Ben (H. Jon Benjamin) manages to top even that. In addition to a pair of audio commentaries, the bonus features bear out my theory that the show could easily return with a trio of audio “follow-up calls” between Katz and Wright, Phillips, and Behar. Until Comedy Central recommissions the show, snap up this set and the previously available first season.

I hate double and triple dipping on titles, but the newly remastered films comprising the James Bond: Ultimate Edition (Fox, Rated PG/PG-13, DVD-$89.98 SRP each) look so incredible compared to the previous releases that the upgrade doesn’t feel nearly as bad as it could. These films have never – ever – looked better. The 20 films are spread across four 5-disc box sets, and each flick gets a 2-disc edition containing not only the bonus features from the previous releases, but newly-produced commentaries and featurettes as well. Snag the lot of them for yourself, or make sure someone special gets them under the tree this year.

 

I love it when a collectible pushes all of my nostalgia buttons, and that’s certainly the case with Dark Horse’s beautifully sculpted 6″ vinyl Underdog figure ($17.99). How can you possibly look at that and not want one? You can put it on your desk, right next to the talking Cartman figure.

 

 

 

 

 

No game show feels more gloriously representative of its era than Match Game, hosted by odd uncle-type Gene Rayburn. The game was almost irrelevant compared to the swinging era banter – and occasional cattiness – of the 6 “celebrities” comprising the show’s all-star panel that would fill in the “blanks” on phrases like “When Lola walked into the prom, everyone was amazed. You see, not only was her prom dress strapless, it was also BLANK-less.” Those celebrities included the likes of Jack Klugman, William Shatner, Vicki Lawrence, Fannie Flagg, Charles Nelson Reilly, and the devilish Richard Dawson. The 4-disc Best of Match Game (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) contains a selection of 30 episodes (including one featuring Kirstie Allie as a contestant), plus a tribute to Gene Rayburn, the original 1962 pilot, a retrospective look at the best moments with Brett Somers, and an interview with Somers.

While collections have been available in the past, Fantagraphics has pulled out all the stops on the new chronological collection of E.C. Segar’s Popeye (Fantagraphics, $29.95 SRP). Also known as Thimble Theater, Volume 1: “I Yam What I Yam” begins its collection in 1929 (Thimble Theater began in 1919) with the introduction of a sailor named Popeye into Segar’s eccentric strip full of oddball characters. As lovingly constructed as Fantagraphics equally must-have Complete Peanuts, the first volume covers 1928-1930, featuring dailies as well as color Sundays. Hopefully, next Christmas will bring a complete Pogo collection…

 

Based on the success of the first volume, fans of The Electric Company (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) can get quite the stocking stuffer for themselves (or the children in their life) full of old school instruction starring Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno and Spider-Man with the second volume collecting even more episodes from across the series’ long, lauded run. The 4-disc set contains 20 more episodes, plus a retrospective featurette, new episode intros, trivia, and a Dick Cavett Show segment with Bill Cosby. And while you’re at it, if you haven’t already, why don’t you pick up the first volume, as well? Maybe that will speed the release of the next set…

Ah, but your holiday viewing is still not over! You absolutely must get The Original Television Christmas Classics box set (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring Rankin-Bass’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty Returns, and Cricket On The Hearth.

 

 

I have a theory that every property eventually gets a decent action figure line, even if they’ve had numerous dud licensees in the past. Case in point are the wonderful Looney Tunes figures coming out of DC Direct (approx. $12.99), which finally give these characters the respect and attention they deserve. They’re being released as 2 pairs of complimentary figures from a specific film – for example, Series 1 featured Bugs and Elmer in full regalia from Chuck Jones’ “What’s Opera, Doc?” and Sylvester and Daffy in the swordfighting scene from Jones’ “The Scarlet Pumpernickel.” Pictured below is Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner from “Scrambled Aches.” Hopefully, a future wave will give us Robin Hood Daffy and that laughing porcine Friar Tuck.

For the true cineaste on your holiday shopping list, how about the limited collector’s edition of Cinema Paradiso (Miramax/Genius, Rated R, DVD-$39.99 SRP)? The set includes the 2-disc special edition of the film – which includes both the U.S. theatrical cut and the original director’s cut, an audio commentary, 2 new documentaries, and trailers – a CD of Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack, and one sheet & lobby card reproductions.

 

 

 

If you have any History Channel junkies on your shopping list (I count myself in that addicted number), then you should probably pick them up the massive 10-disc History Channel Ultimate Collections: World War II (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP). The set collects 30 of the Channel’s documentaries covering both the war in Europe and the war in the Pacific into one comprehensive (and large) compendium packed with archival footage, interviews, plenty of context, and more. If that weren’t enough, the set also features documentaries from the History Channel’s “blunders” series – Battle of the Bulge, A Bridge Too Far, The Bomb Plot To Kill Hitler, and The Scattering of Convoy PQ17.

By all means, you can have your Darrell Hammond and Jimmy Fallon “Best Of” collections, but the Saturday Night Life: The Best Of… collections I was really looking forward to was for Robert Smigel’s Saturday TV Funhouse (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). In addition to the original special that aired a few months back (which featured some truncated cartoons), the DVD features additional Funhouse pieces, including uncut versions of those edited for the broadcast. Best of all, though, is the collection of audio commentaries on the set – featuring Smigel, Mr. T, Al Franken, James Carville, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Bryant Gumble, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and more. Truly priceless, and truly funny. I demand a second volume posthaste.

Where most would opt to simply record a Christmas album, Elton John decided to collect together his favorite holiday tunes into Elton John’s Christmas Party (HEAR Music, $15.98 SRP), featuring 21 tracks from the likes of The Pretenders, The Band, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffett, Otis Redding, Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys, Rufus Wainwright, The Ronnettes, The Flaming Lips, and more.

 

Director Robert Zemeckis employs a lush all-CG canvas to bring the visual splendor of Chris Van Allsburg’s Polar Express (Warner Bros., Rated G, $26.98 SRP) to life, taking Tom Hanks along to play 5 different roles in the film – most important being the conductor of the magical train that carries a doubting child to the North Pole for a face-to-face with Jolly St. Nick. Unfortunately, that lush imagery doesn’t survive the translation to moving pictures, with much of the animation in the character’s faces being more akin to a zombie flick than a holiday perennial. The 2-disc set features behind-the-scenes featurettes, a nice mini-doc on Chris Van Allsburg, a deleted song, and more.

Although it’s no longer all over the television dial like it used to be when I was a kid, not a year goes by when I don’t take the time to watch It’s A Wonderful Life (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) during the holiday season. The special edition features a beautifully restored print (a far cry from the grainy, scratched prints of my youth), a making-of documentary, a tribute to Frank Capra, and the original theatrical trailer.

 

 

Speaking of must-have holiday films, you can now snag a 2-disc set featuring both the original black & white and colorized versions of Miracle on 34th Street (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Disregard the colorized version, but definitely watch the fully restored black & white original, with commentary from star Muareen O’Hara, Fox Movietone News footage, AMC Backstory, a promotional short, a featurette on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and a TV version of Miracle.

 

Of those that have released new holiday albums this year, one that has been getting the most spin in my player has been James Taylor At Christmas (Columbia, $18.98 SRP), which finds the singer/songwriter putting a wonderful spin on seasonal chestnuts like “Winter Wonderland” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” as well as treats like Joni Mitchell’s “River.” It’s definitely a “warm and fuzzy sitting by the fireside and sipping a mug of hot cocoa” kind of holiday album.

Obsessive people always make the best documentary subjects, and such is the case of those featured in Wordplay (IFC, Rated PG, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which focuses on Will Shortz – the puzzle editor at The New York Times – and the people who create and obsess over the puzzles that run in that esteemed daily. The film features testimonies from famous faces who are obsessed with his puzzles, including Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Ken Burns, the Indigo Girls – just a few of the estimated 50 million other Americans who enjoy the crossword of champions. Bonus features include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, an interview gallery, featurettes, 5 “unforgettable” puzzles, and more.

Those of you in a charitable mood – who share that attitude with a love of British comedy – should pick up the Region 0 PAL release of The Secret Policeman’s Ball: The Complete Edition (ILC, Not Rated, £24.99). For those of you unfamiliar with the series of concerts over about a 10-year span, they were a collection of comedy and pop acts – including the likes of the Pythons, Neil Innes, Peter Cook, Eric Clapton, Rowan Atkinson, Sting, and dozens more – that banded together to raise money for Amnesty International. This 5-disc box-set collects the lot of them, along with the retrospective documentary “Remember The Secret Policeman’s Ball.” Not only is this a collection of legendary British comedy, but 10% of each sale goes to Amnesty International.

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.

So there you have it… our humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this holiday season. Hope you make it out alive…