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…
(Please support Quick Stop by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)
What made the comedy of Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind work so well was the actual musicianship of its principal trio, who’ve decided to take center stage as themselves for Unwigged & Unplugged: An Evening With Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer (Courgette Records, Not Rated, DVD-$15.97 SRP), a must-have concert DVD that is exactly what it says on the tin.
Having seen it’s uber-cool, nerd-pleasing beauty firsthand as it illuminated my hotel room for both myself and Doc Hammer, I have nothing but praise for the Laser Stars Projector ($169.99). The tiny little projector easily fills a room with not only shifting green laser stars, but also blue clouds. Words simply can’t do it justice.
Though often viewed as a lesser light when compared with the juggernaut that is Mary Poppins, I’m quite fond of Disney’s 70’s, post-Walt stab at recapturing some of that magic – Bedknobs & Broomsticks (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Fully restored and remastered, the new special edition features a look at the special effects, a reconstruction of the cut song “A Step In The Right Direction”, a spotlight on the Sherman Brothers, and David Tomlinson’s “Portobello Road” recording session.
One of the films that I’ve been anticipating a high-def release for is Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) – even though it’s a got a soft look and doesn’t exactly cry out for the super audio/video experience. They’ve done a remarkable job on this disc, and it was well worth a spin. Bonus features are ported over from the standard edition’s special edition, but they’re a nice clutch, so I’m perfectly fine with that.
Long before he had to scream over the bombastic production of the US Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay was more straightforward, less caricatured, and more helpful with struggling restaurants in the original UK Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP). The complete second season is now available, featuring 10 episodes.
After a disastrous, catastrophically bungled second season fumble, Heroes (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) tried valiantly to right the ship in its 3rd season – mainly by streamlining the narrative, brining the characters back to the forefront, and not shoveling in more confusingly tangential storylines. Did it work? For the most part, though it still hasn’t recaptured the promise of its first season. Perhaps season 4 will get us back there. Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, galleries, and a Pinehearst ad. A Blu-Ray edition ($79.98 SRP) is also available, which adds an exclusive season 4 preview and a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of Coyote Sands to the bonus materials.
Not as beloved as the original iteration, there are still fans that are waiting for the fourth volume of Ben 10: Alien Force (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). The disc features 5 episodes and a sneak peek at characters from Ben 10: Alien Swarm.
Ever wondered How The Earth Was Made (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)? You know – the scientific, non-fairytale way? Well, take a gander at The History Channel’s in-depth documentary series that collects a clutch of programs looking into that very subject. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.95 SRP) of the original special is also now available.
It’s a slow recovery, but the 5th season of The Office (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) has begun course correcting from the detrimentally cartoonish bent of the last season that threatened to take the show in the same disastrous direction that destroyed Scrubs. The 4-disc set contains audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, webisodes, promos, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($69.98 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
Though Sherlock Holmes is the only one that has remained a household name, there were plenty of other detectives found in Victorian literature – 13 of which are featured in The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP). Produced in the 70’s, this series also featured Jeremy Irons’ screen debut.
The fourth season of Supernatural (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) finds Dean rescued from Hell by an angel, who recruits Dean & Sam to fight Heaven’s battle against a soon-to-escape Lucifer . This season even has Dracula. The 6-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus a trio of commentaries, deleted scenes, a featurette, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($79.98 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus features.
More classic Doctor Who hitting DVD with the release of a Sylvester McCoy adventure, Doctor Who: Delta And The Bannermen, and a pair of Tom Baker adventures – Image Of The Fendahl & The Deadly Assassin (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP each). All three discs are jam-packed with commentaries, interviews, featurettes, deleted scenes, galleries, and more.
Bringing a little slice of their True Life Adventures into the digital age, Disney Nature has crafted a new documentary that pulls together a globe-spanning menagerie with high definition-ready exotic locales for Earth (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), narrated by James Earl Jones. Yes, it’s worth it just for the visuals. Bonus features include a making-of featurette, filmmaker annotations, and a standard DVD copy of the film.
WWII buff? You’ll want the Ultimate Collections box set of World War II: The War In Europe And The Pacific (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which contains 15 documentaries across 4 discs, and every one is a keeper.
The drama and intrigue on not-so-sleepy Wisteria Lane continues in the 5th season of Desperate Housewives (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), beginning with Edie’s new husband. The 7-disc set features all 24 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers.
How do you know Halloween is fast approaching – at least by studio standards? The Halloween DVDs are already coming out. Disney has repackaged their previously available Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP) with a limited edition plush Winnie the Pooh in his Tigger costume.
I’ve dipped back in occasionally (like when Dana Snyder guested), but have never really gotten swept up in Brothers And Sisters (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP). I do concede it has a pretty top-notch cast – led by Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths & Rob Lowe – but it’s just not my cup of tea. The complete third season set contains all 24 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers.
This past season, JJ Abrams returned to TV with Fringe (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), a sci-fi show that’s a little bit X-Files and a little bit CSI, but mainly seems to exist to give Joshua Jackson work. The 7-disc set features all 20 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes, a production gallery, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($79.98 SRP) is available with identical bonus materials.
You know, it’s a shame that the network couldn’t see fit to give Worst Week (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) the support – and renewal – it deserved, because it was one of the few consistently funny, stand-out comedies to debut last year. See what I mean by picking up the complete season set, which features audio commentaries from executive producer Matt Tarses and star Kyle Bornheimer.
I’m always delighted when a show that I have zero expectations about blindsides me by being a nice little piece of television. Such is the case with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), which stars Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of Botswanna’s first & only female-owned detective agency. It’s a like a sunny Raymond Chandler novel. The first season set contains all 7 episodes plus a clutch of featurettes.
It’s unfortunate that Important Things With Demetri Martin (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) is as uneven as it is, because Martin is one of the few new comedians that evoke the same kind of offbeat genius that could be found in Steven Wright and Mitch Hedburg. Give the disc a spin, and join me in hoping the second season better reflects Martin’s potential. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted sketches, and more.
The previous iterations with a hoot, and I’m glad that Sony is continuing to release some offbeat catalogue titles from the vaults under their “Martini Movies” banner. The latest batch includes a young Michael Douglas in Summertree, Alan J. Pakula’s Love And Pain And The Whole Damn Thing, Jaque Demy’s Model Shop, Jane Asher in The Buttercup Chain, and The Pursuit Of Happiness (Sony, Rated PG/R, DVD-$19.94 SRP each). All 5 flicks also contain the original theatrical trailers.
With Amy Poehler in the lead and surrounded by a seasoned comedy cast, it makes it all the more unfortunate that Parks & Recreation (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is just not a funny show. Not only does its aping of The Office‘s camera style make for a feeling of unimaginative conceptual repetition, but the scripts have been lackluster, to say the least. The first season set features audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and an extended cut of the finale.
It’s a shame that Nickelodeon’s other big live action kid-friendly sitcom, True Jackson VP (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), isn’t as well written or engaging as the vastly superior iCarly. I suppose it’s amiable enough – and lightyears better than the Disney Channel dreck – but not up to par with its network-mate. The 2-disc first volume contains 13 episodes, screen tests, featurettes, and bloopers.
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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