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…

As Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers once so aptly put it, the waiting is the hardest part – particularly when it comes to the now yearly release of another full season set of Jim Henson’s classic Fraggle Rock (HIT, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). We’re now up to season 3 which – depending on how they handle the release of the short 4th and 5th season – may be the penultimate Fraggle set. The denizens of the Rock are firing on all cylinders this season, with a well-defined world, great songs, and quite a bit of character development. And, most importantly of all, it’s a FUN show. Bonus features include many behind-the-scenes interviews, plus a packet of designer Michael Frith’s original conceptual drawings.

If you’re a child of Jim Henson and the Muppets like I am, then you’ll probably love the documentary Stories of the American Puppet (Mazzarella Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which chronicles the history of puppeteering in America, including the creations of Bill Baird, Shari Lewis, Buffalo Bob Smith, and many more luminaries who brought an ancient craft into American’s homes.

Those still jonesing for more Mystery Science Theater can get another fix courtesy of the newest addition to the Film Crew library – Wild Women of Wongo (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) – featuring the riffing of MST3K alums Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett. Bonus features include the ability to make the Crew dance, and a “Wongo-style” goodbye from the guys.

It’s taken years of a criminally bare-bones edition before we finally get the long-awaited special edition of The Graduate (MGM/UA, Rated PG, DVD-$24.98 SRP). The 2-disc 40th anniversary edition features an audio commentary with Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross, second audio commentary with Mike Nichols and Steven Soderbergh, 4 featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, and a CD contains a selection of Simon & Garfunkel’s songs from the film.

Fans who have been holding off buying the individual releases can now unload their accumulated cash on Avatar: The Complete Book 2 Collection (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$64.99 SRP). The 5-disc set features all 20 episodes, plus an exclusive bonus disc with interviews, featurettes, shorts, and more.

Congrats to David Boreanaz for scoring a post-Angel hit with Bones (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), whose second season is hitting DVD with a feature-laden bang. If you’re not familiar, Boreanaz stars as FBI agent Seely Booth alongside Emily Deschanel’s Dr. Temperence “Bones” Brennan in a cross between CSI and The X-Files. The 6-disc second season set features all 21 episodes, audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel.

It’s goofy high-octane action schlock, but there’s still charm to be found in John Woo’s Face/Off (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$19.99 SRP). I don’t know exactly if it warrants a new 2-disc special edition, but now there is one, replete with audio commentaries, deleted scenes (including an alternate ending), a making-of featurette, a spotlight on Woo, and the original theatrical trailer.

The witchy Halliwell trio bow out in the eighth and final season of Charmed (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), with 22 episodes of the same basic formula that made the show a cut-rate Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The 6-disc set features a 2-part documentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries, and a look at the show’s fanbase.

To me, evolution is fact, and the statements of those whose belief lies in “intelligent design” that are interviewed in scientist/filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson’s Flock of Dodos (Docurama, Rated PG, DVD-$26.95 SRP) are equal parts delusional and funny. Olson, however, does allow them to present their case – and also explores the frequent difficulty for scientists unskilled in public speaking to present the scientific reality of evolution when faced with a coordinated effort of theological spin. Olson presents the scientific principles with east to understand animation that should be a required viewing in high school science classes nationwide. Bonus features include deleted scenes, interviews, additional animation, and more.

I’ll be honest with you – I’ve never watched an episode of Two And A Half Men (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP)… That is, until I caught a few in the complete first season set. It may not be my kind of sitcom, but I can see how its amiable, classic sitcom quality – like the similar stealth powerhouse, According To Jim – would be appealing to middle-of-the-road viewers turned off by fare like The Office or 30 Rock. The 4-disc set features all 24 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes and a gag reel.

Try as I might (and admittedly, I haven’t been trying *that* hard), I can’t bring myself to like Grey’s Anatomy (Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP). Well… I can’t even like it. Frankly, I can’t even tolerate it. But I now its soapy, predictable, ogling storylines about McDempsey and crew have their fans, and more power to them. I’m sure they will devour the extended dreaminess found in 7-disc 3rd season set, featuring expanded cuts of the episodes, plus audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. Paging Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard.

Of the two adaptations of Nora Roberts novels hitting DVD – Carolina Moon & Blue Smoke (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.96 SRP each) – I’ll have to say the enjoyment factor of Blue Smoke was made entirely by the presence of both Alicia Witt and Scott Bakula (who I still haven’t fully forgiven for Enterprise. Still… Alicia Witt…

The fourth season of Las Vegas (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) marked the end of James Caan’s run on the show, but what a memorable season it was, even featuring a crossover with Crossing Jordan. The 4-disc set features all 16 episodes, plus a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a season 3 recap.

The princess of power returns in the second and final season of She-Ra (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 6-disc set features all 2 episodes, plus a pair of audio commentaries, interviews, galleries, trivia, 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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