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…

There used to be a time on Comedy Central when you couldn’t hit the channel without catching what seemed like endless reruns of the original British edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP), the improv show that launched the careers of Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Colin Mochrie, Paul Merton, and many more before making its way across the pond. The first 2 seasons, uncut and uncensored (as you’ve never seen it on Comedy Central), are now available. That’s 29 episodes across 4 discs, as well as a behind-the-scenes interview with creators Dan Patterson & Mark Leveson. More, please!

 

I’ve had to content myself with a Region 2 edition for the past few years, but I’m happy to say the Fox has finally gifted Region 1 with a nicely pristine widescreen edition of one of the great comic flicks of all time, Bedazzled (Fox, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98 SRP). No, I’m not speaking of the rather hideous Brendan Fraser remake, but the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore original. Peter Cook’s turn as a modern devil out to claim the soul of a rather hapless, hopelessly smitten Faust (Moore) with a desire simply to win the heart of the clueless object of his affection, is a beautifully sly turn. The disc also features Pete & Dud on The Paul Ryan Show, another interview with the pair, the original theatrical trailer, and a conversation about the film with the director of the remake (and man who should have known better), Harold Ramis.

 

If previous seasons of Roseanne were button-pushing, then the sitcom’s 7th season (Starz Home Entertainment, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) took a mallet to those buttons in a run that tackled pregnancy, abortion, nude neighbors, alcoholism, racial prejudice, dueling Beckys, a visit to Gilligan’s Island, and a gaggle of classic sitcom moms. The 4-disc set features all 25 episodes in their uncut glory (is it still too much to ask that they go back and fix the first season, that was released in its edited, syndicated form?).

 

 

Though flawed, one of my favorite sports flicks of all time – which is saying something, considering I care not for sport – is director Barry Levinson’s The Natural (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.94 SRP). It’s probably just because it overflows with underdog cliches, is shot in old timey vision, features a great performance from Robert Redford, and has an iconic score by Randy Newman. And now, newly-remastered and featuring 15 additional minutes, we get a director’s cut via a 2-disc special edition, which also sports a video intro from Levinson and 6 in-depth retrospective featurettes.

 

Weird and wild and like a candle in the wind, Twin Peaks burned out extremely fast. From a landmark first season that paved the way for everything from Lost to Veronica Mars, it made the mistake of not knowing where to go when its central mystery came to a close. Judge or yourself with the release of the complete second season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP), featuring all 22 episodes, fully remastered. Bonus features include brand new interviews with the cast and crew, as well as a complete set of Log Lady introductions.

 

At the end of last year, to little fanfare (and overshadowed by the release of a season of her eponymous sitcom), Roseanne Barr released a children’s DVD called Rockin’ With Roseanne: Calling All Kids! (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). It’s unfortunate that it went largely unnoticed, because it’s actually a fun, funny, music-filled disc that’s wonderfully reminiscent of the likes of Pee Wee’s Playhouse. All I know is that my 3 year-old nephew adored it, and I hope others discover this little hidden gem.

 

The original witchy woman gets a CD/DVD collection with Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (Reprise, $24.98 SRP). No you can light the incense, get out the scarves, and dance in the moonlight to “Edge of Seventeen” and then go watch the video.

 

 

It’s a feature-length outing for one of my favorite, underappreciated Cartoon Network series in Billy & Mandy’s Big Boogey Adventure (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which finds Billy, Mandy & Grim battling the Boogeyman. What’s not to love? The DVD features interviews and the original Bully Boogie short.

 

 

 

Dora continues her explorations with Boots in tow in another volume of Dora The Explorer that’s sure to delight my nephew. Shy Rainbow (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) collects 4 episodes, plus a Backyardigans music video.

 

 

 

The Etherian adventures of He-Man’s twin sister continue in the second volume of She-Ra: Season One (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$48.98 SRP), featuring 33 episodes of Hordak-fighting 80’s cheese. The 6-disc set also features the second installment of the “Stories of She-Ra” documentary, an episode commentary with J. Michael Straczynski, animated storyboards, image galleries, and more.

 

 

Everyone’s favorite Tinseltown crew is back in the first set from the 3rd season of Entourage (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring 12 episodes full of sycophantic goodness and even better Ari rants. Vince is starring in Aquaman as Ari hits the rocks, and Drama eyes stardom on his own. The 3-disc set features a trio of audio commentaries and a featurette on the cast’s Vegas adventure.

 

 

Going in, I thought a film about the fascinating, sometimes equal parts Orwellian and Machiavellian founding of the CIA would be a home run – and there are many reasons to enjoy the portrait of the 30-year career of one of the Agency’s founders in The Good Shepherd (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Sadly, the film is just… well… boring. It’s not the actors – Matt Damon, as founder Edward Wilson, is quite good – but it lacks any of the sense of drive and intrigue that should be there. Is it a disaster? Not in the least. Could it have been better? Yes. Bonus materials include 16 minutes of deleted scenes.

 

Those marvelously macabre critters return in the second volume of Happy Tree Friends first season (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), featuring another 9 blood & irony filled segments, plus commentaries, storyboards, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more.

 

 

 

 

While I found myself enjoying a good deal of the lowbrow Chappelle’s Show comedy of its first season, the second season of Mind of Mencia (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP) is just a mess. Rarely funny, self-derivative (I’ll leave the other assessments of Mencia’s jokes to Joe Rogan), and just… well… boring. It’s a shame, and it makes me miss Dave Chappelle all the more. The 2-disc box set features all 14 episodes, plus deleted scenes, bloopers, outtakes, and more.

 

 

Long before the recent abysmal Robin Hood series hit the BBC, a much better representation of the tales of Hood and his Merry Men was to be found in the series Robin of Sherwood (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP). A wonderful mix of history, myth, and a touch of magic, it’s a dynamic fusion that’s both engaging and adventurous (two things that the modern series sorely lacks). The 5-disc first set features all 13 episodes from series 1 & 2, plus commentaries on a trio of episodes, a pair of retrospective documentaries, a behind-the-scenes documentary, outtakes, and more.

 

I know there fans of Tom Goes To The Mayor (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) who have been positively salivating for the release of the complete series on DVD. I’m not one of them. After seeing the first few episodes, I became tired of what quickly settled into a very basic formula that just left me cold. Still, there are those of you out there who enjoy it – and this is for you. The 3-disc set features all 30 episodes, plus deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, promos, the original TGTTM shorts, a tribute to Bob Odenkirk, and more.

 

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…

-Ken Plume

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