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…)

It’s not hard to believe that the folks behind the golden age of Rhino Records are behind Shout Factory, as their releases in the last year have further cemented them as the company bringing out the most brilliant catalogue celebrations that absolutely must be added to any right-thinking fan of pop culture’s collection. The latest? No Pryor Restraint: Life In Concert (Shout Factory, Not Rated, CD/DVD-$87.98 SRP), which brings together material from Pryor’s 8 albums, exclusive compilation tracks, previously unreleased material, and the concert films Live In Concert, Live On The Sunset Strip, and Here And Now. Get this set. Get it now.

If you’re life is as full of gadgets, computers, and doodads as mine, then chances are you use a lot of compressed air cans. Probably a ridiculous amount, really. So how about a solution that still provides a powerful burst of air but in a reusable fashion? That’s exactly what you get from the Hurricane 2 Canless Air System ($99.99), now available from the fine folks at Thinkgeek. It delivers a 200mph airflow and – best of all – is rechargeable. How nifty is that?

Growing up, our family had an RCA Select-A-Vision videodisc player. One of the massive videodiscs my father owned, and I remember watching, was the Paul McCartney & Wings concert film Rockshow (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), which I can now relive in pristine, non-analog form via the newly restored Blu-Ray. The concert itself features Macca & Wings at the height of their power with a blistering set, available for the first time in its complete form. Ace.

This month’s classic Doctor Who releases feature a pair of stories from the Jon Pertwee’s years as the 3rd Doctor – a special edition of Inferno (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) and the new-to-DVD The Mind Of Evil (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). Both are packed with the usual assortment of nifty bonus features, including new documentaries, audio commentaries, deleted scenes, galleries, and much more.

It doesn’t hold a candle to Warner’s legendary Wizard Of Oz (which gets a restored 3D upgrade and theatrical release this fall), but Sam Raimi’s prequel-ish Oz The Great And Powerful (Walt Disney, Rated PG, 3D Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP) is an enjoyable enough romp through L. Frank Baum’s merry old land with the newly-arrived carnival magician (James Franco) who prophecy states will be the powerful wizard that saves the land from the wicked witch. While the 3D edition is bonus free, the regular Blu-Ray release (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP) includes featurettes, bloopers, and a personal video diary from Franco.

Yes, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Paramount, Not Rated, 3D Blu-Ray-$54.99 SRP) is every bit the pulpy, mindless fun B-movie you’d expect given the premise is about the pair of former childhood witch hostages (Jeremy Renner & Gemma Aeterton) all grown up as bounty hunters tracking down witches. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes.

Former CIA operative Michael Westen is in hot pursuit of his old nemesis Anson Fullerton in the 6th season of Burn Notice (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) as Fiona remains in prison and everyone from assassins to drug cartels are after him. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, a featurette, and a gag reel.

Aaron Sorkin’s latest walk-and-talker, The Newsroom (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP) suffers from many of the same ponderously bloated issues that felled his take on late night comedy, Studio 60 – which is a shame, because he knows how to bring together a great cast (here led by Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer), but then bogs them down with awkward platitudes in the most purple of prose. But hey, some love it, and if you want to see it in a TV newsroom, this is the show for you. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

This week also brings a new clutch of TV releases from the CBS vaults, including the first volume of the 9th and final season of Perry Mason (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$45.98 SRP), and the two volumes comprising the complete 6th season of Rawhide (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$45.98 SRP each), starring Clint Eastwood as trail foreman Rowdy Yates.

Picking up where Spielberg’s biopic ends, the historical reenactment of Killing Lincoln (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) details the secret plot which spurred actor John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

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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