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…

Seven volumes into Fantagraphics magnificent chronological Complete Peanuts collections, we’ve finally hit what may consider to be the fully-realized golden years of the strip in The Complete Peanuts: 1963-1964 (Fantagraphics, $28.95 SRP). Charles Schulz’s artwork had gelled into its iconic style, the characters are familiar, and the recurring motifs are fully in place. What’s delightful about these complete presentations, though, is that there are plenty of never-before-collected surprises to be found, including characters that were introduced and quickly discarded. This volume’s introduction is courtesy of Bill Melendez, who brought the characters to animated life during this period. I already can’t wait for the next volume…

Long the stuff of cultish cinema geeks, you can now own a lavish, beautifully restored box set featuring the Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). While Tarantino and Rodriguez’s Grindhouse still plays in theaters across the country, partake of this even more intense filmmaker’s oeuvre, championed by the likes of John Lennon, Dennis Hopper, and Marilyn Manson. The films featured in the set are El Topo, Fando Y Lis, The Holy Mountain, and La Cravate. In addition to audio commentaries, interviews, galleries, and a feature-length documentary, the set also features the original soundtracks to Holy Mountain and El Topo. This set is going to make a lot of people very happy.

There are plenty of people that enjoyed the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.99 SRP). I’m not one of them. I couldn’t help thinking, while watching its thinly-veiled sequence of events, that I’d much rather see the real story of Berry Gordy’s Motown and the rise to fame of The Supremes, their eventual sacrifice before the altar of Diana Ross, and the incredible music that accompanied it. Instead, we get a filtered version, as a musical, with songs that pale in comparison to the highwater originals. As a film adaptation of the musical, Dreamgirls still has those flaws, but at least is buoyed by the performances of Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson – who, while not Oscar-worthy, certainly holds the screen. The 2-disc special edition features extended musical numbers, a feature-length documentary, audition/screen test footage, behind-the-scenes featurettes, image galleries, and more.

If only Disney were as on the ball with their Muppet Show sets as they have been in getting the complete run of Dinosaurs out on DVD. The series wraps up with the release of the complete 3rd & 4th seasons (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP), the 4-disc set of which features all 36 episodes, plus audio commentaries, a featurette on the social messages featured in the show, a look at Baby Sinclair, and more.

The author of numerous pop culture travel books, Chris Epting turns his eye towards the rock and roll landmarks of North America with Led Zeppelin Crashed Here (Santa Monica Press, $16.95 SRP). If you’re planning a road trip in the near future and would like to stop by the secret site of David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs rehearsals, or where Ozzy bit the head off a bat, this is the companion for you.

As shocking and disturbing as you’d expect, the documentary Suicide Killers (City Lights Pictures, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) explores the culture and motivations of the suicide bomber. Featuring interviews with family, thwarted bombers, and footage of the preparations of a bomber, it’s a riveting look at a shadowy, and ultimately deadly, life decision. Bonus features include additional interviews/scenes and the theatrical trailer.

While everyone remembers him as Perry Mason, Raymond Burr also starred as the wheelchair-bound San Francisco Chief of Detectives Robert T. Ironside, who becomes head of a special crime-fighting division of the SFPD. Running from 1967-1975 (with a groundbreaking feature-length “pilot” aired in 1966), you can now rediscover the series with Ironside: Season 1 (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The 8-disc set features all 28 first-season episodes, plus the pilot film.

It may be winging its way toward completing its final season, but you can indulge in another round of comfort food with the 8th season of King of Queens (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP). The 3-disc set features all 23 episodes, with guest stars including Ray Romano and the always welcome Huey Lewis.

By the 6th season of Will & Grace (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP), the show had settled into a rather comfortable cruise control, with the stories becoming fill-in-the-blank farce and the now-cliché parade of guest stars never far off. The 4-disc set features all 23 episodes, plus an outtake reel and the usual complement of useless “themed” featurettes.

Knowing what’s to come, there’s an almost palpable sense of a ticking clock for Shannen Doherty in the second season of Beverly Hills 90210 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP). I don’t know if it’s in my head, but I can practically feel the axe coming, and Brenda’s out-of-state sojourn looming. Oh yes, and Ian Ziering’s hair is still very achy-breaky awful. The 8-disc set features all 28 episodes, plus a trio of featurettes, including an overview of season 2.

If you want to binge on all that Spelling-brand soapiness, follow-up 90210‘s sophomore year with the second season of Melrose Place (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP), in which Heather Locklear’s Amanda is in full gear and steamrollering all in her path. This 8-disc set features all 31 episodes, plus audio commentaries from Darren Star on select episodes, and a trio of featurettes focusing on everything from the “baddest moments” to the various and sundry relationships.

As the current season rapidly comes to a close, be sure to pick up 24: The Official Companion to seasons 3 & 4 (Titan Books, $16.95 SRP). Filled with episode synopses, behind-the-scenes information, cast & crew interviews, and oodles of photos, it’s exactly what you want in a show companion.

The original was no classic, but the remake of The Hitcher (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP) manages to be even more forgettable a horror flick, but with the all of the slick visuals we’ve come to expect from Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more.

And let’s wrap up where we began, with end with Charlie Brown – who just so happens to be the first in Dark Horse’s series of limited edition, numbered “Classic Peanuts Character” sculptures ($39.95 SRP). Standing 5″ tall and limited to an edition size of only 1200 pieces, they’ll look quite keen on the shelf in front of your Complete Peanuts volumes.

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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