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…)
You wouldn’t think a comedy like Caddyshack (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) would benefit so much from high definition, but the new Blu-Ray benefits from a crystal clear picture that looks better than it ever has previously. To add even more incentive, there’s a new feature-length 30th anniversary documentary featuring most of the principals (sans Bill Murray and Chevy Chase) reminiscing, as well as the half-hour featurette from the original DVD release. The film is also available via iTunes & Amazon On Demand.
Who wouldn’t want a radio controlled robot you can fit in the palm of your hand? I know! Well, the dream you never thought you had has come true with the line of Zbit Mini R/C Robots ($14.99 each). There’s a whole line of the little buggers to choose from, and each one is just as nifty as can be.
Launched in the wake of Raiders Of The Lost Ark and clearly playing in the same ’30s adventure sandbox, Tales Of The Gold Monkey (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.97 SRP) was TVs attempt to cash in with a pretty damn fun series starring Michael Collins as a young American transporting people on the run in the South Pacific in 1938 via his Grumman Goose seaplane. Felled by high costs after one season, you can now own it all in a set packed with commentaries, featurettes, and more.
It’s only in hindsight that you realize the entire season you spent watching Ice Road Truckers (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.95 SRP) on the edge of your seat worried about a truck (and trucker) falling through the ice was really just an entire season of watching trucks drive. Back and forth. Because nothing deadly has happened yet. Really, you’re just watching a soap opera. In trucks. On ice. The 3rd season set contains all 13 episodes, plus additional footage.
It’s a shame that we can only get it divorced from the Jim Henson Hour, within which it was originally presented, but it’s worth picking up Jim Henson’s Dog City (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) just to support the release of more Henson specials.
While most of the attention went to Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, the other magician film, The Illusionist (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), is a fun little love story wrapped up in a mystery, with a cast that includes Ed Norton, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, and Jessica Biel. The new 2-disc Blu-Ray features the original standard edition DVD, containing the bonus materials.
Abandoning the 2-disc half-season sets in favor of the single disc episode collection familiar to fans of Spongebob, iCarly: iSaved Your Life (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) contains an extended director’s cut of the titular episode, plus a trio of episodes and the movie “iQuit iCarly”. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Many doubted it would happen, but it turns out that Larry David did return for a 7th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), and he brought with him a holy grail of a storyline for comedy fans – a meta Seinfeld reunion, bringing all of the principals together for a the shooting of a special within season. Bonus materials in the 2-disc set includes interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
For those keeping score, the Charlie Chan TCM Spotlight Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), features the final three films starring Sidney Toler as the legendary sleuth who makes solving crimes a family affair. Those three films are Dark Alibi, Dangerous Money, & The Trap, with Roland Winters debut as Chan rounding out the set in The Chinese Ring.
Proving once again that their purpose is to really dig into the vaults and release titles that otherwise wouldn’t get a DVD release, the Warner Archive has added the Red Skelton Whistling Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.95), which contains a trio of flicks starring Skelton – Whistling In The Dark, Whistling In Dixie, & Whistling In Brooklyn.
On the heels of the success of Hercules and Xena, Warners waded into the fray with The New Adventures Of Robin Hood (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.95), which aimed for the same kind of tone but never caught on like the others did. For the dedicated fanbase, though, the Warner Archive has made the first season available, which makes me think the rest of the series will be coming in due course.
How many of you remember that Family Matters (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) didn’t start out with Urkel? No, the nasally ubernerd was nowhere to be found at the beginning of this spin-off from Perfect Strangers, which began as a simple family sitcom. If only they knew what the were about to be engulfed by in just a few short episodes. The first season set contains all 22 episodes.
Tween & teen girls are the intended audience for the extended edition release of the Disney Channel movie Starstruck (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$28.99 SRP), about a small town girl who hooks up with a pop star after a chance encounter. Bonus features include music videos, an additional song, and the soundtrack CD.
Talk about a show that just limped along to the end – you can now own the 6th and final season of Nip/Tuck (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), a guilty pleasure of a show that became guiltier and less pleasurable as things wound on. Bonus materials are limited to a featurette on the psychology of plastic surgery.
Featuring over 22 points of articulation, 2 sets of interchangeable posing hands, an openable chest with positive “blue” energy inside, battery-operated illuminated eyes, interchangeable arm cannons, interchangeable rocket boots, and a display base, Hot Toys’ 12-inch Astro Boy figure ($104.99) is not only a fine collectible, but also a great gift for a kid (the ones that take care of their toys, naturally). Unlike their recent vinyl Astro Boy display, this one is fully poseable. Ridiculously so. Get it while you can.
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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Jerry Seinfeld cites it as the primary influence for his own show, and anyone who views 
You know, sometimes work is dragging your spirits down, you’re sitting at your desk tired and dejected, and you know there’s only one thing that could possibly lift your spirits – Drumming. And with the 
It’s got its flaws, but I did enjoy Guy Ritchie’s amped up but still faithful take on 
Granted, there’s something inherently underwhelming about watching footage intended for IMAX presentation on a home theater setup, but there’s no denying that there’s some beautiful footage to be found in the self-explanatorily titled 
I’m not going to claim it’s a good film – or even that it’s not mostly boring – but yes, the original 
It’s not the next season set, but iCarly fans can spin a collection of two TV movies and a pair of episodes contained in 
The 5th season of 
I was a fan of his work on Newsradio, but I’ve never really gotten into Joe Rogan’s stand-up comedy. For those who have, he’s released a brand new DVD – 
Criterion continues to release classic flicks that you don’t even know you want in your collection until you sit down to view them. One such impressive flick is Nicholas Ray’s 
If your kids walked out of the theater eager for some mighty Viking dragon-training action, you can let ’em get into to early onset cosaplying with the 
You’d be wrong if you dismissed the documentary 
No, I should not be surprised that, after the massive financial success of the first film, there would be 
Even when they’re not brilliant, I still enjoy a Nick Hornby film, and I enjoyed 
With the release of the 8th season of 
You wouldn’t think that a series about the legal maneuvering of a maverick High Court judge would be very appealing, but it is in 
Did you know that Steven Seagal is a deputy of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana? Yes – that Steven Seagal. Well, if you’re still doubting me, take a look at 
The penultimate 6th season of 
While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth is the one most-remembered, the detectives that populated the works of other contemporary writers are presented in the second volume of 
For the pre-schoolers in your life, there’s a pair of new Nick releases sure to keep them occupied while you try and get a moment of peace – 
Originally intended as its swan song, the strong viewer numbers of 
Still with the single disc, no-set releases, fans can now pick up 
Watch as a family grabs hold of a tragedy and rides it back into the limelight as 
Want to see what the girls of Jersey Shore will turn into in 20 years time? Pick up the crass, clueless 
I admit – besides just being a fan of the show and being delighted that another volume has arrived – I’m even more delighted by the release of the 
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of wimpy flashlights. I want a flashlight that looks like it came right out of The X-Files… You know, with that wildly improbably beam that illuminated an entire wooded area with a powerful white light. Well, fantasy has become reality with the 
I had little expectation going in, but to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the new CG-animated adaptation of Tezuka Osamu’s 
I wish Disney’s grand return to traditional animation hadn’t been a by-the-numbers princess film, but at least there’s enough fun and spirit in 
The 13th season of 
The second half of the film doesn’t live up to the first half, but 
While it’s not quite the revelation that some tried to make it out to be, 
Well, 
Why, exactly, did USA decide to cancel 
It doesn’t take long into the second season of 
Are you a teen or a middle-aged person desperate to fantasize with the unique ability to turn off the portions of your brain able to assess the quality of script or acting? Well, then the latest installment of the cinematic Twilight saga, 
Explore the history behind the big screen with a pair of History Channel documentaries whose big-screen counterparts are apparent – 
Mill Creek returns with a clutch of fan favorite titles repackaged and offered at rock bottom prices. Their latest batch includes 
While watching 
Bide the times until the next full season set with the single-disc collection 
Produced by the Wachoski Brothers, 
To dismiss 
As part of their in-house plan to continue releasing shows that may not have the sales to go a more traditional big-box route, fans can now pick up the complete second seasons of both 
John Krasinski takes David Foster Wallace’s 
Yes, I know I’m a little close to the material – but you know what? I’d still recommend you pick up a copy of 
The miniaturization of video cameras is beginning to frighten me. This terror is completely overridden by the geek delight in holding a digital memory camera that’s only slightly larger than a chapstick tube. The camera I speak of is the 
Sadly, we’ve now reached the limit of the currently produced episodes of 
I’ve seen the episodes a half-dozen times each (I often replayed them while working), but it’s the mark of a classic show that I’m looking forward to digging into the 3rd season set of 
Yes, it really has been 100 episodes since the squarepanted sponge of Bikini Bottom first made his way onto our TV screens. How do I know this? Because there’s now an uber-deluxe box set titled 
They’ve been released what seems like a half-dozen times by at least three different companies, but this is the first time that 
Abrams is fast becoming a real juggernaut with their incredible Abrams ComicArts imprint, as they’ve been releasing some absolutely top-notch tomes that belong on your shelf. Like, now. First up is a loving, in-depth tribute to 
Much like Pineapple Express, those going into 
Have I mentioned before just how much I’m enjoying Warner Bros.’ On-Demand DVD service at WarnerArchive.com? I have – numerous times – because it’s great to see a company find a way to make smaller catalogue titles available to fans when economic realities prevent a full-fledged commercial release. Case in point are a trio of new titles that have been added to the site – King Vidor’s 
Does anyone still watch 
Serial womanizer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey finds his plans to bed a bridesmaid at his brother’s wedding is derailed by the supernatural guidance of his departed uncle (Michael Douglas), who originally instructed him on his boorish ways, to mend his ways and find true love (in the form of Jennifer Garner) in the tolerable rom-com 
Comedy Central may have killed their much-missed show, but at least there’s still live performances to keep The State alumni David Wain, Michael Showalter, & Michael Ian Black together, as you’ll see on 
Despite further muddying already cloudy waters with divergent continuity, the biggest drawback of the axed 
When his wife and child are murdered by a serial killer, a celebrity psychic renounces his conning past and devotes himself to using his observation and analysis skills to bring killers to justice in 
It may not be the best sitcom that ever came down the pike, but I still love me some 
It pretty much sums itself up in the title – 
When a killer begins copying the murders found in novelist Rick Castle’s stories, the author is enlisted by the NYPD to help bring the murderer to justice in 
Really, the only purpose that 
It seems Warners believes that audiences were simply dying for an origin prequel to their middling live action Scooby-Doo franchise, which means we know have 
I can’t have been the only one not surprised that 
Oh, Disney Channel – why are your tween/teen comedies just so unrelentingly bland? It’s no wonder iCarly is kicking your ass in the ratings – one has only has to look at the episodes featured on the inaugural DVD release of the new Jonas Brothers sitcom 
Just yesterday (well, last year), it seemed that RiffTrax was just a web concern, with nary a physical DVD release to their name. Now, the DVD releases are coming fast and furious, the latest being another two volumes of short subjects featuring riffsters (and MST3K alum) Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, & Bill Corbett – 
Want a little extra monitor space without all of the fuss and massive footprint? Look no further than the 
Hot on the heels of their inaugural release comes 
Halloween is rapidly approaching, so Universal is using the holiday as an excuse to drop a few much-desired titles on Blu-Ray that make for perfect holiday viewing – 
Speaking of Simon Pegg & Nick Frost, their epic cop action/comedy 
If I had to name my favorite instrument, hands down (pun intended, sadly) it would be a piano. So much so that I was completely captivated by the documentary 
Leonard & Sheldon both find a girl in the second season of 
The fourth season of 
I’m a bit disappointed that they’ve decided to break them up, but you can now get the most recent animated incarnation of 
Where Torchwood fails in its belief that it’s more than it really is, 
Fans have been waiting a long time for an official, snazzy-looking edition of the Boris Karloff-presented anthology series 
The long public domain nightmare is over – Bonanza has finally arrived on DVD in a beautifully remastered, fully official form. They really want people to know, so they’ve named the premiere releases 
It doesn’t hold a candle to the feature film, but at least at the start, the TV spin-off of 
While not as successful as her dip into fairy tales, 
Fox and MGM have dipped into their catalogues to put together a slate of high-def releases perfect for your October/Halloween viewing list – 
Hot on the heels of the first two volumes, 
Its title led many to believe that Russell Davies might be pulling the trigger on the 10th Doctor’s regeneration a bit early, but last year’s Christmas special, 
My sister loves 
Amanda Tapping stars as Dr. Helen Magnus in 
Miramax has opened up the high-def floodgates with a quartet of Asian flicks sure to delight fans of Asian cinema – 
Essentially a PG-13, network version of Showtime’s Masters Of Horror (meaning no nudity, no gore),