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 FRED Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

(Please support FRED by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)

Things kicked off proper with To Kill A Mockingbird, and Universal keeps the excitement of their 100th anniversary going with a fully restored, absolutely beautiful high definition presentation of their WWI epic All Quiet On The Western Front (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP). Bonus materials include an introduction from Robert Osborne, a rarely seen “silent” version, and a look at the restoration process.

You don’t have to be lonely or irresponsible to want an Electronic Goldfish In A Bowl ($19.99) – although certainly, if you are, there’s no better pet this side of not having any pet at all. Or a rock. Who couldn’t love an endlessly circling faux-fish, lit by LED and a perfect little visual diversion and desktop conversation piece… That you won’t have to flush.

The now-companionless 11th Doctor puts his own spin Narnia with World War II and plenty of trees thrown in for good measure in the latest Christmas adventure Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow, & The Wardrobe (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP). A wonderful little festive tale. The disc also contains a prequel and a trio of “Best Of” documentaries.

The Doctor & Peri land on barren Androzani Minor in the middle of violent human/android keruffles & find celery useless against stickyballs in the final Peter Davison adventure The Caves Of Androzani (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). This new release of the previously available story adds a lovely batch of bonus materials, including an audio commentary, making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, extended scenes, interviews, and more.

The TARDIS materializes inside a ship full of fraidy-cats paralyzed by flat-footed psychic aliens fond of onesies but not humans in the William Hartnell story Doctor Who: The Sensorites (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP). Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, a photo gallery, and more.

Watch as the History Channel continues to fritter away its reputation with another volume of the lamentable Storage Wars (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), wherein a bunch of mooks go looking for “treasure” in storage unit sales.

The less than dynamic duo return to snigger and snark for a new generation with the release of Beavis & Butthead: Volume 4 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$26.99 SRP). Featuring all new episodes, the 2011 Comic-Con panel, interruptions, and more.

In a brilliant move (and as a way to release potentially obscure characters with a little more context), the fine folks at Underground Toys have begun releasing themed sets based on adversaries of the various Doctors. First out of the gate is Enemies Of The First Doctor ($47.99). The 3-pack features the Dalek-subjugated zombie-like human Roboman from “The Dalek Invasion Of Earth”, a flame-shooting Dalek from “The Dalek’s Master Plan”, and an original-style Cyberman from the 1st Doctor’s swan song, “The Tenth Planet”.

We’ve gotten plenty of incredible premium format Star Wars statues from the fine folks at Sideshow Collectibles, from Darth Vader to Princess Leia, but we’ve finally gotten one of the most iconic – and common – elements of George Lucas’s galaxy far, far away with the Premium Format Stormtrooper ($299). Ready for action and posed to fire his weapon in a most unskilled fashion possible, the Stormtrooper features spot-on armor and accessories, right down to the fanny pack on his belt. Sideshow continues to provide fans with absolutely exquisite 1/4-scale statues sure to delight even the nerdiest of nerds.

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

##

Comments: None