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…

The release of a new volume in Fantagraphics’s beautiful presentations of the The Complete Peanuts is greeted with both joy and impatience, as I can’t wait to tear into each new entry and view strips that – 9 times out of 10 – I’ve never seen before. Not to mention the ability to watch Charles Schulz’s strip grow and evolve, as characters are introduced, and mainstays are mere babes of innovation. The latest volume, covering the period from 1965-1966 (Fantagraphics, $28.95 SRP) introduces a pair of landmarks – Snoopy’s epic doghouse battles with the Red Baron, and a lass named Peppermint Patty. Brilliant reading, and a must have.

With the release of the complete 10th season of South Park (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), the DVD sets have finally caught up with the first run airings, as we’re currently halfway through the show’s 11th season. The 10th season featured the kids’ memorable addiction to World of Warcraft, the brutal death of Chef, the skewering of Family Guy, the mystery of the urinal deuce, hell on Earth, and more. The 3-disc set features all 14 episodes, plus the usual mini-commentaries from Matt & Trey.

It may be hard to justify the purchase of yet another release of Jim Henson’s 80’s classics The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (Sony, Rated PG, DVD-$24.96 SRP each), but they have managed to sweeten the pot to a degree that another purchase certainly is in order. First and foremost, both films are treated to brand new high definition transfers (if only Disney would get off their asses and give us that with Henson’s Muppet movie library). In addition, Brian Froud has been brought in to do new commentaries for both flicks, and there are brand new documentaries to supplement the vintage documentaries that have been ported over from the previous releases. All in all, a worthy upgrade.

It’s taken its sweet time coming to DVD, but comedy fans can rejoice now that Rowan Atkinson’s still-hilarious Rowan Atkinson Live! (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) has finally arrived on the little shiny disc. Not only do we get the special itself, but 3 additional bonus sketches to boot.

No matter how dowdy, bespeckled, bespectacled, and braced they make America Ferrera in Ugly Betty (Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), I still think she’s the most beautiful thing on screen. Maybe it’s because her Betty has a genuine personality, and it shines through in this – for all intents and purposes – TV version of The Devil Wears Prada. Check out the complete first season and see if you don’t agree with my assessment. The 6-disc set features all 23 episodes, plus audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

Hugh Laurie’s Dr. Gregory House returns in the 3rd season of House (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), which arrives with a whole bevy of rare and exotic diseases and maladies to make even the dysfunctional doc delighted at all the challenges he’s able to tackle. The 5-disc set features all 24 episodes, plus commentaries, featurettes on props and the soundtrack, a breakdown of the episode “The Jerk”, a look at the production office, a gag reel, and more.

HBO’s epic journey back to the politics and intrigue of ancient Rome (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP) reaches a too-quick conclusion with its 2nd (and final) season. It’s a shame that such an epic canvas as this was scuttled – along with Deadwood – in favor of overly-pretentious, unintelligible fare like John From Cincinnati. Still, take your final toga turn with this 5-disc set, featuring all 10 episodes, plus audio commentary on five episodes, historical and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more.

Criminally overlooked when it hit theaters a few months back, Unaccompanied Minors (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$28.98 SRP) deserves a second chance. Directed by Paul Feig, the creator of Freaks and Geeks, it’s a fun little tale about a group of minors left unattended when a snowstorm closes the airport they’re in, mid-transit. Just trust e – check it out for yourself. Bonus features include an audio commentary, additional scenes, featurettes, and more.

I’m really not too big fan of procedurals, but I know there are plenty of fans of the cases undertaken by the lawyers of the military’s Judge Advocate General courts, dramatized in – you guessed it – JAG (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$64.99 SRP). The 6-disc fourth season set features all 24 episodes, plus a gag reel.

After being booted by the band, Monkees producer Don Kirshner was brought in to pick songs for another fully fictional band – only this time, there was no chance that the artists would rebel. That’s because Kirshner was recording Archie and Jughead for their Saturday morning animated soon-to-be-hit, The Archies (Classic Media/Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$26.95 SRP). Their first radio hit was “Sugar Sugar”, and you can view the original context in this complete collection of The Archie Show, with interviews, galleries, an interactive jukebox, and more.

Dexter (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is easily one of the most unique shows on TV, as it follows the life and work of Dexter Morgan who – after being orphaned as a young boy – is adopted by a police officer who recognizes homicidal tendencies in young Dexter, and decides to teach him how to channel those tendencies into tracking down and killing the perpetrators of heinous crimes who have slipped through the cracks. As an adult, Dexter is a member of the police force, using his access to lead a double life – all the while creating a façade as a caring human being in his day job, expressing emotions he doesn’t feel. Truly a fascinating concept, and worth a spin. The 4-disc set features all 12 first season episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentaries, 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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