In future times, when today’s action figure collectors are living together at the only rest home that will take them, sharing their stories of days gone by, much discussion will center around the Hasbro Indiana Jones action figure line of 2008, and the mistakes that doomed it to failure.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Temple of Doom wave will most likely be the last to see retail daylight, and even that wave has been harder to find than an honest man in politics. Many others were shown, and the diehard fan’s obsession was fueled, but these things will not come to pass. The whys are many. Collectors will cite the over production of the first couple waves, with their lame Mutts, poor paint jobs, and weak quality control. Average parents will point out a lackluster fourth movie that failed to drive kid’s interest to the overall franchise. And I’m sure Hasbro will point out that Indy had to battle against a crowded summer of high performing blockbusters like Iron Man and Wall-E, and the weakening economy that’s drying up the action figure market. And of course, Bakugan is kicking everyone’s ass.

Despite the reasons, the effects are here. Finding the Temple of Doom wave - which includes a new Indy, Willie, Short Round, Molan Ram, a Temple Guard, and the Chief Temple Guard - has been the quest of collectors for several weeks now. If you’re lucky, you may find them at a Meijers or a Kroger. If not, you’ll pay through the nose on Ebay or from your local scalper.

I’ve managed to snag a few, although both Indy and Willie remain on my hunt list. I’ll check out the Chief Temple Guard tonight, and much of what I say about him translates to the rest of this wave as well. If you have any questions, drop me an email at mwc@mwctoys.com, or visit my site at Michael’s Review of the Week - Captain Toy.

Indiana Jones Temple of Doom wave - Chief Temple Guard

Temple of Doom used to be my least favorite Indiana Jones movie. That was of course until this summer and the release of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. TOD has it’s issues, but they are nothing compared to the stinker that is KOTCS. But no matter how badly George and Stephen treat their poor Indy, I still buy all the figures. And while TOD might not be the best of the movies, it certainly has some of the coolest looking villains.

You’ll remember the Temple Guard Chief. He’s the big ugly dude that likes beating the kids in the mine, and who pays for it in a rather brutal and nasty death. Your trivia of the day - this character was played by the English actor Pat Roach, who also played the German Mechanic in Raiders of the Lost Ark and a Gestapo solider in Last Crusade, making him the only other actor (other than Ford of course) to play in all three original films.

Packaging - ***1/2
I’ve liked the small packages all along, with their retro feel and general Indy branding. The shape of the bubbles do make them a bit difficult to store for the MOCers, but they hold up surprisingly well to basic shelf wear.

Sculpting - ***1/2
I suspect that had earlier waves been sculpted this well, they would have sold much better. If it weren’t for one issue, I would have gone full four stars here.

The head sculpt might only be 3/4″ from tip of beard to top of turban, but you can clearly see Pat Roach’s character in there. The fine detail work on the beard is excellent for this scale, and the folds and layers of the turban look very realistic.

The body work is general top notch as well. The torso was probably intended for the German Mechanic as well, since the belts and accoutrements you see are all glued on separately. He stands about 4 1/4″, slightly above the other figures in the line, fitting in pretty well scale wise.

My only problem with this category is in the figure’s ability to stand. I always include that concept with the sculpt, rather than the articulation - you might think otherwise. I had a mighty tough time getting this guy to stand on his own, although it is possible with the right combination of the ankles, knees, hips and feet. This is due in large part to his very small feet, which make it tough to get the high center of gravity just right.

Paint - ***
The worst aspect of the early waves of Indy figures was the sloppy paint. It looks like Hasbro got those issues resolved just in time to cancel the line.

Many of the pieces are cast in the appropriate color, like the arms, torso, legs, etc. You can tell by the slightly glossy plastic look to these parts that they were not painted separately. This works fine for me, particularly since the colors from one plastic piece to another remain consistent.

There are small details that are added, however, including things like the eyes, teeth, and small spots on the outfit. There’s a bit more slop here than would be perfect (especially under the glaring eye of the camera - in person it’s not as noticable), particularly around the red and black on the sash/belt. But it’s a huge improvement over the early waves, and indicates that Hasbro could get it right given time. Unfortunately, they didn’t have as much time as they needed.

Articulation - ***1/2
Considering the scale, this boss baddie has an impressive number of useful joints.

There’s a ball jointed neck, but the ball is so far up his head that it operates pretty much like a cut joint. The shoulders are ball jointed too, but they have an excellent range of movement, and take full advantage of their ballish nature. The arms also have a cut joint above the elbow, a pin joint at the elbow, and a cut wrist joint. That’s a lot of arm articulation for this size figure!

The waist is also cut, and he has the standard T hips. The knees are ball joints though (or peg/post as I like to call them), allowing the lower leg to move forward and back as well as giving it the ability to turn. There’s this same sort of peg/post joint at the ankle too, and it’s a good thing since without the mobility in the ankle, you’d have a tough time keeping him standing.

Accessories - ***1/2
Often, the accessories get dumped to keep the price down. That’s not the case here.

All the Indy 3 3/4″ figures have come with a special accessory - a treasure of sorts. This relic comes in a cardbard crate, along with a small sticker. If you collected six of the stickers and sent them in, you could get the mail away Crystal Skull skeleton. The artifact that comes with the Chief Temple Guard is a Spartan helmet, made from soft rubber. The helmet is quite large for this scale, and actually fits in better with a figure in the 6 - 7″ scale. In fact, you could put it with your Disney Indiana Jones, and it would fit in great.

The Chief also comes with three of his own goodies. There’s the cat-o-nine-tails style whip that he used on the kids/slaves, as well as a long, curved saber. This sword can fit inside a loop that is sculpted on his belt. Finally, there’s his unique dagger, which he can hold in his hand, or it can be sheathed in a loop on his chest.

Three film appropriate accessories along with the relic make for a much better Accessories score than we usually see in this scale, at least in the current market.

Fun Factor - ****
Great looking figure with solid articulation, a nice group of accessories, and the ability to stand off against a key hero - how much more fun can any one action figure be? Collectors may find themselves drawn more to Willie (another great sculpt and paint), but the kids are going to be attracted to the bad guys to give Indy someone to smack around. I suppose Willie or Short Round could serve that purpose too, but then there’d be that whole series of parent/teacher conferences you’d have to attend.

Value - ***
Some retailers have dropped the price of their Indy figures as low as $5, although most places are still in that $7 range. That’s a pretty average price for a 3 3/4″ figure, but most don’t have this number of accessories, or this level of articulation, making this a better than average value.

Of course, finding this guy (or any of the TOD wave) at retail is the far bigger issue than paying seven bills for him.

Things to Watch Out For -
It’s unlikely you’ll get a ton of choices when picking up this figure, so looking for the best paint is probably a moot point. Thankfully, the paint has been great on all the ones I’ve seen.

Overall - ***1/2
The sad, unfortunate truth is that this entire wave, from the new Indy to Short Round, is a big improvement over past waves. It looks like Hasbro was just getting it right when they had to stop. And collectors (including me) will be whining about never getting a Toht for years to come.

If you do see this wave, and you or someone you know is interested in them, I’d grab them. While I have my fingers crossed that there are crates of these sitting in some warehouse, it is likely that it’s the same warehouse from Raiders, and those crates will never be seen or heard from again. Hey, there’s an idea for George - Indy 5: Indiana Jones and the Quest for the TOD wave. It couldn’t be any worse than KOTCS.

Where to Buy -
As I said earlier, these are mighty tough to come by. Krogers (yes, the grocery store) had some when the DVD was released, and Meijers has stocked them off and on. They’ve trickled in to some other mass retailers, but not in any real numbers yet. You can find them online, but you’ll pay quite a premium. I suspect we’ll see these dumped at some retailer like Big Lots eventually.

Related Links -
I’ve covered a TON of Indy merchandise at mwctoys.com, but let’s just stick with the 3 3/4″ line for now.

- I had a guest review of this entire TOD wave, as well as another guest review on various figures from the earlier waves.

- I covered the Swordsman, Indy and Marion in one review, as well as several of the deluxe two packs.

CARSON CITY - Sunday morning is quiet time at the Bunny Ranch. The crisp mountain air rejuvenates the lungs after a night of breathing in a whirlwind of carnality. The parlor is tidy so there’s no remnants of Saturday night’s parties. The space is so calm that you can imagine cloistered monks nearby. The silence is broken by the occasional buzz at the front gate.

Who goes to a brothel on Sunday morning? Perhaps it’s someone who went to church on Saturday night and needs to occupy his time until the NFL pre-game shows hit the air? Why should wide receivers have exclusive rights to groin pulls on the Sabbath?

The other sound we hear while roaming the peaceful hallways is the distinctive laugh of Bunny Love as she watches The Colbert Report in her room. Sean Hannity filmed at the Ranch last year. When will Colbert visit to make his What Makes America the Greatest Country in the United States special?

The big event this morning is waffles. Even in a den of iniquity, there’s the sweet smell of batter hitting the griddle. Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof has made this a traditional brunch staple since he and many of the girls have fond memories of Sunday waffles. This isn’t merely a Cathouse, it’s a Cathome.

The Party Favors conversation with Hof continues with a discussion of who came up with the HBO Cathouse series. Turns out Showtime screwed up. The show has really been a phenomenal recruiting tool for both clients and future Bunnies. The stock market was going to hell during our visit. Hof discusses what he has done to make sure that Wall Street’s woes won’t translate to a drop in business. Like the government, he wants to keep stimulating America.

Having spent too many nights in strip clubs, my line of questioning turned to how the atmosphere at the Bunny Ranch is much more relaxed. The women aren’t teasing to drag you into the champagne room. There’s no massive ex-football lineman eager to break your fingers for touching the talent. You get to relax and know the women. There is a pole in the parlor in case you need to see a twirl or two. And unlike a strip club, there is sex in the champagne room. Dennis also elaborates on how the internet is more important than ever for the women to secure dates.

Hof explains what happens to a Bunny that falls in love with a guy who isn’t earning with his hands what she was collecting on her back? Women are able to admit to their parents that they work at the Bunny Ranch thanks to the success of HBO’s Cathouse. It’s not like they have to admit that Brent Owens wrote a poem in their honor. Finally I ask the big question: When did Dennis become a stud?

The third and final part of this monumental interview will be part of our Thanksgiving spectacular. Learn about all the big changes at America’s Cathouse. We’ll also spend time with Brooke Taylor. She’s juggling a music career with her day job. There shall be kind words about our personal guide, Danielle Luciano. Plus a very special visit from Charo!

THE PRICE OF FAME

My phone won’t stop ringing with urgent calls from producers for Dr. Phil, Tyra and Jerry Springer. Once word of the Party Favors visit to the Bunny Ranch hit the web, they want to book me as a guest. Who wouldn’t want a very special episode entitled: “Husband took pregnant wife to brothel for their wedding anniversary!”

I can’t deny that it happened.

The traditionalist in me demands a visit to Chi-town so I can defend myself to a crowd chanting “Jerr-E! Jerr-E!” Dr. Phil would be hard since the entire time I’d be fighting from impersonating the old side o’meat. “I didn’t do anything to my wife that she wouldn’t have done without the assistance of the ether.” Tyra is just too damn tempting. Her producer has hinted that Tyra will spend most of the interview rubbing my bald head. If my wife is also palming my dome with Tyra, I will count that as a menage de trois. I’m easy.

BELAUGH BECRY BEGONE

Now that it’s out of previews, reports confirm that Criss Angel’s Believe at the Luxor is the biggest bomb to hit Nevada that wasn’t government funded. He might be the only performer that’s openly hated in Sin City. When we got on the shuttle bus at the airport, our driver talked trash about the goth magician. He was happy to quote the bad buzz. The guy at “Half-Priced tickets” slammed the show based what a pal told him. When I asked waitresses about the show, they warned me not to waste my time or money on a “TV magician.”

In all my time in Vegas, I’ve never heard anyone in the tourism industry completely trash a new show. They’ll cushion the negatives by discussing how hard it is to open a show and getting the kinks out during the previews. There’s always optimism in their voice. They know that a good show brings people to the city. Vegas needs tourist dollars. But they couldn’t resist mocking Angel and his besmirching the reputation of Cirque du Soleil. Rumor was that this might be the first Cirque du Soleil show to completely fail on the Vegas strip. The stories were so bad that I had to see it. How could I resist a trainwreck that supposedly ended with Angel screeching out the theme to Mindfreak? I wasn’t going to pay full price. Normally I’d beg for a press pass, but I didn’t want to feel obligated to review the show if the badness chased me out of the theater.

Turns out the Half Price ticket place had no discount offer for Believe. I roamed down to the Luxor to see if the box office had a bargain deal. They wanted $65 for the nose-bleeds. I wandered about the hotel looking at Angel’s designer motorcycle and car collection. What’s the point of owning a motorcycle if you’re putting it beneath glass? On the way out, they had “contest” to win Angel’s old car. The top of the ticket promised 2 for 1 tickets. While enjoying a drink, a Luxor waitress said you could get tickets for $20 a pop. I thought I was set with the coupon. For $20, I’d bring the old lady to see the Magical Cheese. However the woman at the box office told me that the coupon didn’t work for them. I had to take it “there.” She pointed at the counter for a time-share joint. The time-share folks informed me that I could get Criss Angel tickets for $20 each if I brought my wife on a tour of their new place. There was no way I was going to pay $40 plus 3 hours of my life to sit through 95 minutes of dancing rabbits. The box office remained staunch that the best deal they could give me was $130 for 2 tickets. For half that price I took my wife to Bouchon for brunch.

I can neither personally confirm nor deny the Criss Angel trainwreck. Why pay fat dollars for a skinny premise? Nobody said there was an number that had to be seen to be believed in the act. Supposedly the biggest magic trick of the production was making the Luxor decide he’s worth $85 for a 10 year contract. If Believe vanishes from the Luxor Pyramid, it might be Angel’s only illusion that gets a standing ovation.

ZILCH

How could they have stopped making Zima? What about the children? I can’t believe something so bad lasted so long. Zima always tasted like a dead gin and tonic. Back to Fresca and Canadian Club for me.

CHECK ONE AIR

Does anyone really want to book passage on an airlines run by rock band roadies? The Sprint ad makes it look good. But what’s the reality? You want to know the penalty for checking a 51 pound bag? How about all the overhead bins filled with empty bottles of Jack Daniels? Where do they touch when you set off the metal detector? Bring kneepads if you want an aisle seat on Air Roadie.

BLU-RAY LOVE

Planet of the Apes Blu-Ray restores the glory to the original film that unleashed monkey-world domination-mania. They have cleaned and restored the print to make it look mint. This is an evolution from the original DVD release. If you ever want to understand the advantage of a 1080p transfer, look at the clouds and desert landscape at the start of the film when Charlton Heston and his crew search for civilization on this new planet. The detail in the vistas shine like you are part of the team. The best part about the first Apes film is that the simian masks are still fresh so the seams don’t shine. If you have a Blu-ray player, you’ll notice the difference. They’re offering each film separately or in the Planet of the Apes: 40th Anniversary Collection. Monkey maniacs will be thrilled with the extra violent scenes snipped form Conquest of the Planet of the Apes have been restored. This was the film where the apes revolted from their human masters. It reflected the violence that was erupted in the urban areas of America at that time. This scary film now packs a visual punch that matches the ape emotions.

Kung Fu Panda Blu-ray makes this CGI martial arts flick shimmer with the action. Like other CGI flicks, the 1080p is the only way to purchase it for your collection. You get all the detail from the programmer on the HD screen. There’s a gorgeous level of color to this Asian based comedy about a Panda who wants to prove he can kickass like slimmer animals. The idea of a chubby guy throwing around karate skills isn’t that unusual. Sammo Hung. This is also the first Jack Black film in a long while that didn’t annoy me. This is the best film ever about Panda’s beating down slimy creatures.

Secrets of the Furious Five is a bonus DVD that comes bundled with the DVD of Kung Fu Panda. The Kung Fu Critters return in this 25 minute animated short that seems to be the pilot for a TV series. The Panda must teach a class to a bunch of newbies. He spends most of the time recounting the adventures of his buttkicking team. Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman provide their voices to the project.

Tropic Thunder Unrated Director’s Cut Blu-ray is a film that shines for the talent of two stars: Tom Cruise and Danny McBride. If it wasn’t for their unexpected comic performances, this film would have been a complete mess. Cruise is the studio head who realizes that Ben Stiller’s latest film would be more profitable if he’s killed by an Asian drug lord. He’s done up to be Tony Kornheiser’s sexy brother. His dancing scenes rank up there with his moves in Risky Business. McBride is the explosive’s expert who blows away Stiller and Jack Black. Only Robert Downey Jr’s extreme actor can keep up with McBride. He gets even more moments to shine with this unrated cut. Stiller is the extremely weak link in his own film. He doesn’t even play a character during the notorious “Full Retard” scene. It’s like he thinks Downey is merely running lines. The best reason to grab this in 1080p Blu-ray is a chance to experience McBride’s cast interview in HighDef. You’ll swear he’s sitting in your living room. You might offer him a beer.

DVD SHELF

Futurama: Bender’s Game is the third of the movies revived the series. This is a Dungeons and Dragons geek out complete with an extremely magical polyhedral dice set. The fate of the universe rattles in Bender’s metal hand. Plenty of laughs for fans of Lord of the Rings. Things get really topical with a plot about out of control fuel prices. Can Bender save the universe via his love of mythical creatures? There’s a fantastic spoof of demolition derbies with iconic spaceships getting battered around the arena.

Mind of Mencia Season 4 Uncensored unleashes the 10 latest episodes minus those pesky “booooop” noises. Carlos Mencia goes to town on Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt. He’s points out that we’ll know things are bad in America when Mexicans decide its not worth the effort to sneak over the border. His spoof of Indiana Jones as a guy stealing 40 ounces of Holy Grail malt liquor glistens. Only Carlos dares to create a kiddie show aimed at the Darfur market. Creation of the Asian version of Jesus will upset your great aunt. Carlos keeps up the troublemaking. The 2 DVD set contains deleted sketches and clips of him talking to the audience during the commercial breaks. He gets really blue with his brother when the cameras aren’t supposed to be rolling.

Scrubs The Complete Seventh Season is a true necessity for fans of the show. Between the writer’s strike and NBC being ticked off at losing the series to ABC, these 11 episodes of Scrubs were run without any sense of time or order. NBC ran the second to last episode as the finale since it looked like the series had wrapped up. It’s practically a lost season. The big change for J.D. (Zach Braff) is the birth of his baby. Is he ready to be a daddy? Will Elizabeth Banks marry him? Is he going to hook up with Sarah Chalke? Will the Janitor kill him and sell the baby on ebay? How hell does the Todd always look excited while unleashing the crotch jokes? Is Robert Maschio worshipped in frat house shower rooms? To get a sense of the bonus features, here’s some bloopers.

The Boys in the Band was the first studio film to deal with openly gay characters. The action takes place at a birthday party where the claws get sharper as the bar gets drained. Imagine a roomful of Paul Lyndes that aren’t trying to act butch to impress Peter Marshall. That’s the acid wit that gets flung around. Part of the issues facing these men is the fear of being forced out of the closet into the straight world at the end of the ’60s. There’s a commentary track from director William Friedkin. A 45 minute long documentary about The Boys in the Band’s making helps set the historical context and cultural impact.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson proves there was a time when a writer from Rolling Stone magazine mattered. Alex Gibney’s documentary follows his rise in the new journalism movement of the ’60s culminating in three great non-fiction books: Hells Angels, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Johnny Depp reads Hunter’s words as we follow his wild ride of a life. The drugs, the women, the guns and the politicians get their due. The film focuses on what made the good doctor a legend to college journalists. He dared to make himself an equal partner with the subjects in his dispatches from the road.

Star Trek: The Original Series Remastered Edition Season Three wraps up the High Definition rebuff. Purists will complain about the old models behind replaced by CGI spaceships. Those who want to enjoy the show will no longer have to squint their eyes to avoid seeing the stray piece of fishing line. Spock and Kirk have never looked richer in color. The third season opened with “Spock’s Brain.” An alien steals Spock’s brain and Kirk has to retrieve it. You know what steals my brain? A fifth of Jack Daniels and a bag of pork rinds. “And a Child Shall Lead Them” has an early performance from Pamelyn Ferdin. She worships an evil angel played by uber-lawyer Melvin Belli. After this performance, Belli would help the Rolling Stones set up the deal to play Altamont. This adds a dimension to Gimme Shelter. The final episode, “Turnabout Intruder” has Kirk’s body hijacked by an ex-lover. The real prize of this set is an extended version of “The Cage.” This was the original pilot with Captain Pike running the Enterprise. The late Gene Roddenberry intros the episode.

Comedy Central Salutes George W. Bush reminds us all that this president was an inspiration to humor no matter how grim he made reality. The channel used him as the main character for That’s My Bush and Lil’ Bush. Did Clinton have that much series action? Ford? Nixon? Carter? Bush’s daddy? They have episodes from each series. There’s also the South Park where the boys have to deal with W. while investigating rumors of 9/11. There’s also an animated segment from Last Laugh ‘07. Lewis Black, D.L. Hughley and Dave Attell shrink themselves down to go inside W’s ass. Can they survive this Fantastic Journey? They find W’s brain in the wrong place. Last Laugh ‘06 has Lewis Black giving W. the business for his facial expressions never match the tone of the words he’s saying. Not to leave Dick Cheney out of this “farewell” DVD is The Root of All Evil that has the Vice President battle Paris Hilton in Lewis Black’s courtroom. I predict that next year you’ll see W. as the guest of honor for Comedy Central’s Roast. There’s even a nice poster to hang up on your wall as you mark down W.’s final days in the White House.

The Odd Couple The Final Season wraps up one of the most underrated brilliant sit-coms. What a relief it is that all five seasons made it onto DVD so swiftly. The premise is simple enough, two divorced guys share an apartment. Oscar (Jack Klugman) is a sportswriting slob. Felix (Tony Randall) is an anal photographer. They are constantly giving each other the business. The final season has the most jawdropping of shows - Felix’s teenage daughter runs away to be a groupie for Paul Williams. She wants to nail “The Rainbow Connection.” Howard Cosell mouths off in “Your Mother Wears Combat Boots.” Felix attempts to sooth Howard into letting Oscar become a guest announcer on Monday Night Football with an opera angle. Is this how Tony Kornheiser got in the booth? Neil Simon makes a cameo, but I won’t say in what episode to keep you surprised. Leif Garret makes a couple appearances as Felix’s son this season. I hope Leif isn’t still pissed at mentioning our meeting at Hooters. The final episode wraps up the series in a way that we expected from Cheers, Seinfeld and MASH. Rediscover the joy of Felix and Oscar with this final fling.

Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.: The Final Season gives everyone’s favorite marine an honorable discharge right as Vietnam got interesting. Did you know that Jim Nabors was close to 40 when he called an end to the series? These new sharp transfers reveal how they dyed his hair black so he didn’t look twice as old as the other marines. The season starts off with a bang when Sgt. Carter (Frank Sutton) sells his car to Gomer. But it’s not a simple deal since Sgt. Hacker (Allan Melvin) was originally supposed to buy it. He pranks Carter into thinking his car gets more mpg than a hybrid. Duke (Ronnie Schell) returns with a promotion to be corporal to Carter’s unit. He doesn’t quite bring calm to the barracks like Cpl. Boyle (Roy Stuart). “Flower Power” has Rob Reiner as a hippie. He turns an expensive military vehicle into a VW microbus. It’s sad to see the end of Gomer’s tenure at Camp Henderson, but they must have retirement age for privates.

Hawaii Five-0: The Fifth Season contains the best episodes of the entire series with three part “‘V’ for Vashon.” McGarrett (Jack Lord) and his crew have to tangle with three generations of a crime family that have ruled the islands’ underworld. This is prime cop work as the force tangles with Harold Gould’s dad and son. “The Jinn Who Clears the Way” has Wo Fat destroy a noble family using a son’s betrayal to secure defense equipment. McGarrett swears this is his moment to finally cut away the fat. The big change this season is the loss of Kono (Zulu). He is mysteriously dropped from the force. Det. Ben Kokua (Al Harrington) fills in without a missing a beat. He seems like a younger version of Det. Chin Ho Kelly. He does McGarrett’s bidding without hesitation. The strange thing about the series is Jack Lord looks tough in his blue suit, but his “native clothes” makes him look like Bea Arthur’s older sister.

Streets of San Francisco: Season 2, Volume 2 is cop action for people who don’t want to cross the Pacific. Karl Malden (Mr. American Express) and Michael Douglas (Basic Instinct) are the buddy cops keeping the Tenderloin safe. The series was shot on location so it’s not merely Los Angeles backlots and Frisco b-roll. If you have fond memories of the land of Rice-A-Roni, you’ll enjoy the views around the crime scenes. “The Runaways” has Larry Wilcox raising his orphaned siblings in a squat. Wonder if his time with Malden made him aspire to be a TV cop on CHiPs? “Blockade” terrorizes women with Charles Martin Smith as suspect in a rape/murder. Who knew that Toad could have murdered Candy Clark in American Graffiti? Cheryl Ladd appears in this episode along with Film Noir icon Ida Lupino. Another great 12 cases that remind us while Michael Douglas’ hair rivaled Jack Lord’s coif.

The Ultimate Ride Shaun White bring the gusto of the Flying Tomato to the small screen. This is an exotic adventure as White heads into the Japanese wilderness to find untamed mountains to snowboard. Not since Godzilla has a monster devoured the countryside of this ancient country. After watching this, you’ll be ready to claim your own neighborhood slopes once it snows.

Inside Access: Mike Tyson returns us to a time when he brought glory back to the heavyweight title. The discs include many of his early fights since most didn’t even last the first round. Iron Mike was a fierce force. Then he met Don King and the rest is in the court records. But this DVD set doesn’t focus on the trainwreck with the face tattoo. This set is for those who want to study the most destructive puncher in the sweet science.

Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season is perfect to keep 7 year old girls occupied. The 26 episodes will keep the kids trapped in the family room. Being a loyal watcher of The Soup, I had to see the Miley Cyrus showcase. By day she’s a normal school girl. At night she’s international superstar singer. And like Batman, only a few people know of her dual identity. How can none of her classmates not suspect she’s Hanna Montana? None of them notice that their friend has the same smile and nose. Is she really going to school with kids who have had botched Lasik surgery?

High School Musical DVD Game and Hannah Montana DVD Game are two great ways keep kids busy this holiday season. All they need to do is work the DVD remote control and barely carry a tune. High School Musical allows them to singalong with Zac Efron (the new Frankie Avalon) and Vanessa Hudgens (the new Gina Gershon). Do they think they have that Wildcat spirit? The game does not explain Ashley Tisdale. Hannah Montana has a major trivia game. Plus there’s a choreography class so they can perform eight different routines. For parents, this means hours of “look at me dance” hilarity. There’s plenty of songs for singing along. A bonus game has you audition for the drummer position. Shame you can’t audition for atmosphere coordinator. This is a really sweet way to get the kiddies to stay in the family room and away from the grown ups table on Thanksgiving.

Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC) Volume Four & Volume Five is essential viewing for two original episodes from Japan. The nearly hour long episodes of Takeshi’s Castle from the mid-’80s are even more freaky than the Spike TV 30 minute adaptations. Kenny Blankenship is even more clueless in his native tongue. Guy LeDouche has always been a douchebag. The things he tries to do to female contestants would have him up on charges in America. Also you’ll discover that there are no teams in the original version. It’s survival of the fittest. The second bonus episode has them head up to the mountains for a wintery challenge. There’s also 26 episodes of MXC from Spike. How can you resist watching Japanese people getting slammed in the dome on Sinkers and Floaters? Earthquake Grandpa has become my new favorite game thanks to this DVD.

Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan briskly sums up the history of the major rap conglomerate. They were 9 rappers from Staten Island aching for a break in the early ’90s. They were brought together and accepted the Kung Fu theater influences of the GZA. This group identity made them a force in both size and merchandizing. Ol’ Dirty Bastard became a trainwreck with his demons overtaking his skills. Director Gerald K Barclay hung with them and shot their first video. His footage gets us inside the action of the time instead of forcing us to just listen to talking heads reminisce. This is the perfect documentary if you’ve wondered about the Wu Tang references on The Dave Chappelle Show.

Paramount has launched the Centennial Collection in which the pride of their vault will be issued in two DVD sets. They’ve created new transfers for this series that appear richer and sharper than the early editions. Sunset Boulevard: Centennial Collection is the complete must have for people who buy 1001 Films to Watch Before Your Arteries Burst From Popcorn Butter. William Holden is a down on his luck screenwriter who hides from his creditors in the mansion of a silent movie star (Gloria Swanson). Buster Keaton has a cameo. Things go completely weird when she turns him into her housepet. The second disc of bonus features cover Holden, Swanson, the film and director Billy Wilder. Sabrina: Centennial Collection reunites Holden with Wilder, but this time the love interest is the much more youthful Audrey Hepburn. His rival for her affection is Humphrey Bogart. How can a woman pick between Bogart and Holden? My favorite special feature on this is a documentary about Paramount’s output in the ’50s. Roman Holiday: Centennial Collection now allows Hepburn to tease Gregory Peck. She was a tantalizing treat during this time. The best bonus feature on here deals with blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. These are great gifts for young cinephiles.

7th Heaven: The Seventh Season brings more clean cut family drama to the small screen. The big crisis revolves around the Reverend dad (Stephen Collins) having a double bypass. His recovery makes him want to retire from the ministry. Will this end the series? Don’t panic too hard since there’s still four more seasons to go. Seventh Heaven only went off the air last year.

Noelle is a unique Christmas film. During the holiday season, a Catholic priest arrives at Cape Cod church in an attempt to see if the parish needs to be shut down. He finds his old seminary classmate in charge of the place. The numbers of people in the pews has been dwindling. But those that remain are devoted. Director/star David Wall’s tale takes a twist on the normal religious holiday film. Can his priest quit being a beancounter and see the true work being done in the name of the baby Jesus?

We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of A COLBERT CHRISTMAS on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of GOMER PYLE USMC: THE FINAL SEASON on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

We’re giving away, in conjunction with Fox Home Video, three (3) copies of SPACE CHIMPS on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

Welcome to TV or Not TV: The week before Thanksgiving edition.

Before turkey day comes, however, we’ll be seeing two of the Sunday night shows on HBO signing off for the season.

The first show that will be having its season finale this week will be Entourage. I’ve always enjoyed Entourage, even though the last two seasons have proven extremely unbalanced. Last season we saw actor Vincent Chase hot off of Aquaman success seemingly implode over his dream project of Medellín. This season we see the consequences of Medellín on his career and his attempts to recover it.

This season started off good and seemed to really have the potential to be a step in the right direction. These last three episodes of the season, however, have almost undone for me any good feelings I had about the season. In many ways it feels like the writers really don’t know what direction to take the show any more and they are just throwing anything they can at us to try to give us a compelling reason to watch. I don’t know how it could but I really hope this week’s season finale reverses that. It has to give us some hope since the show will be back for its sixth season in the summer of 2009.

The second show that will be ending its stellar first season will be True Blood. I tuned in for the premiere of this show and it moved so slow for me that I wrote it off for the next four weeks. During that time the buzz started and I came back (thanks to the OnDemand feature of cable) and was able to correct my mistaken abandon.

If you don’t know about True Blood it would be a little tough to summarize. Imagine a world (based on the Sookie Stackhouse books written by Charlaine Harris) where vampires due exist and they have “come out of the coffin” and made their existence known (thanks to the invention of a synthetic blood product that the show takes its name from). The show itself takes place in the small (and fictional) Louisiana town of Bon Temps and centers around telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie falls for vampire Bill Compton, which brings the normal and paranormal worlds together and gives us the vehicle for this series.

With an amazing cast of characters, a season wide serial murderer mystery sub-plot, and an interesting take on drug addiction (and the drug source) the show is powerful, compelling and entertaining. Each hour of the show (except the season premiere) comes off perfectly paced and balanced and gives us just enough information to want more. If you have OnDemand and a subscription to HBO I strongly encourage you to work your way through this amazing show. If not than I am sure the inevitable DVD release of Season 1 will be here before Season 2, which HBO has already given a green light.

Now that we’ve talked about two shows that are going away let’s talk about all of the shows that will be here this week.

MONDAY

CBS – 8:30 PM: Didn’t get enough of Jamie-Lynn Sigler on last night’s episode of Entourage? Tune in to How I Met Your Mother for more as she plays a party monster that keeps Robin busy.

FOX – 9:00 PM: Sorry, but I just have to call BS on Prison Break. Last week we see an emotional T-Bag getting all soft over the death of former CO Brad Bellick. This week his soft streak continues. This is almost as bad as Heroes trying to redeem Sylar.

CBS – 9:30 PM: The day before the wedding Fred Willard plays Sam’s dad on Worst Week. Finally a reason to watch this show again!

TUESDAY

NBC – 8:00 PM: Jerry Rice and Steve Young show up on The Biggest Loser: Families to put the players through NFL style workouts. I swear I’ve had nightmares about this EXACT same thing.

CBS – 9:00 PM: Patrick stages a séance to prove a supposed psychic is a fake while looking incredibly smug on The Mentalist.

FOX – 9:00 PM: A man on Fringe is so convinced he is being attacked by butterflies (you read that right) that he leaps from a window to escape them (seriously, butterflies?).

WEDNESDAY

NBC – 8:00 PM: Not since Sonny & Cher or Donnie & Marie have we seen a really good variety show. Rosie O’Donell hopes to change that tonight with Rosie Live! Good luck Ro, I’m rooting for you.

ABC – 8:00 PM: If you didn’t get enough of Fred Willard on Worst Week than you can get a second helping of him on tonight’s Pushing Daisies. Personally I’m just hoping for more Stephen Root who showed up on the last episode and has three more episodes to go.

THURSDAY

CW – 8:00 PM: Tonight’s episode of Smallville is the last you will see until January and we get a look at Doomsday. I’m sure there will be cliffhangers galore. Too bad the CW will just retread this seasons previous episodes until 2009 instead of giving us Reaper sooner.

NBC – 9:00 PM: Toby returns tonight on The Office and may be getting framed for a mess left in the microwave.

FOOD – 9:00 PM: Find out new things to do after next week’s big feast on Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving Left Overs.

NBC – 9:30 PM: Two words are all I will give you to entice you to watch 30 Rock this week: Steve Martin.

FRIDAY

TOON – 9:00 PM: Way to know your fans Lucas! Tonight on Star Wars: The Clone Wars that whacky Jar Jar Binks is mistaken for a Jedi. Um… yeah, I’ll tune right in. Just wait for 11:00 PM to tune into the Clerks cartoon episode instead.

TOON – 9:00 PM: When it comes to holiday specials Larry the Cable Guy’s Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza will git ‘er done (sorry, I had to).

SATURDAY

FOOD – 7:00 PM: With Turkey Day around the corner you can start to get ready with tonight’s offerings on Food Network. Come off like you worked all day in the kitchen with help from Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade Thanksgiving. Next steal some great ideas from All Star Thanksgiving Recipes and watch other people do all the work with the big Thanksgiving meal face off on Iron Chef America.

CMT – 8:00 PM: Sometimes the programming really does live up to the theme of the network. Enjoy Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling followed by the season finale of My Big Redneck Wedding and topped off by Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team. Makes me want to get into my boxers and grab a beer just typing it!

TOON – 9:00 PM: Even though it was extremely sanitized for its original DVD release I still really enjoyed Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

SUNDAY

AMC – 3:00 PM: I’m not sure anyone can handle this much Balboa in one sitting. Take in Rocky I through V and if you make it from III on you are stronger than the Italian Stallion himself.

FOX – 8:00 PM: In a way to try to spark interest after a year and a half absence (as well as see what the ratings are like after) the folks behind 24 bring us the 2 hour movie 24: Redemption. You won’t need to see this to know what is going on when the show comes back in January, but it can’t hurt.

ABC – 8:00 PM: Although host Jimmy Kimmel might be reason enough to get me to tune in to the 2008 American Music Awards I give you six words people: New Kids on the Block performs! Let’s see if they still, in fact, have the right stuff (while late 80’s teens hang their head in embarrassment over their former obsessions).

BBCA – 8:00 PM: I can’t find a funnier title for a show this week than Sugar Mummies, where the hour is spent examining the effects on family and lives of younger men falling in love with drastically older women. Yes, I know, the title is just a translation kind of thing but man it makes me laugh.

- Will Wilkins has turkey and stuffing on the brain.

We’re giving away, in conjunction with HIT Entertainment, one (1) copy of FRAGGLE ROCK: THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of THE ODD COUPLE: THE FINAL SEASON on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

We’re giving away, in conjunction with Fox Home Video, two (2) copies of MEET DAVE on DVD.

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

Official Rules

No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

No Purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One entry per day, per person.

All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 24th.

The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

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…

With Popeye The Sailor Volume 3: 1941-1943 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), the Flesicher era of the sailor’s animated adventures came to a close, with production shifting to Paramount and Famous Studios, and the tone quickly shifting to a sedate, domestic form, leaving behind much of the quirky humor that made the Flesicher years such a joy. The 2-disc set features 32 cartoons, plus audio commentaries, a documentary on the roots of animation, and bonus shorts from the vaults.

Rejoice, animation and comedy nerds! A new Futurama direct-to-DVD movie has arrived in the form of Bender’s Game (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), a tale of the Planet Express crew’s journey into a bizarre subterranean world populated by knights in Bender armor and a distinctly medieval motif in search of fuel (due to skyrocketing prices, natch). Bonus features include an audio commentary, featurettes, animatics, a deleted scene, bloopers, Bender’s anti-piracy warning, and a sneak peek at the next movie (Into The Wild Green Yonder). If that weren’t enough, a Blu-Ray edition is also available ($39.99 SRP), and it even features a video picture-in-picture commentary.

Though there’s quite a few clunkers in there, I still enjoy watching the films of Abbott & Costello. The first comedy routine I ever recognized as such - and love to this day - is “Who’s On First?”. Universal has brought together the entirety of the duo’s film output in Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$119.98 SRP). That’s 28 films - including the must see titles Buck Privates, The Naughty Nineties, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, and Abbott & Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff. Bonus features include a compilation of classic routines from the films, Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld, a behind-the-scenes look at their monster movie mash-ups, commentaries, and more.

Dreamworks has always had a hard time making an animated film that actually looks visually pleasing. The Shrek movies are a mess, Madagascar was slightly better, and Over The Hedge was a step in the right direction. The first film to actually look wonderful and provide a story to match has got to be Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks, Rated PG, DVD-$34.98 SRP), which stars Jack Black as the titular character who must confront his destiny in order to save his village. It’s truly a fun, fun flick, and gives Pixar a run for their money. Be sure to pick up the set that features the bonus Secrets Of The Furious Five disc, featuring a brand new adventure. Bonus materials on the standard release include behind-the-scenes featurettes and even a special segment with Food Network’s Alton Brown. The Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) features additional storyboards and interviews, as well as a trivia track. And it looks really, really good in high def.

Although I’m still a bit disappointed that they leapfrogged over the release of just the fourth and final season, at least we can have the complete run of Jim Henson’s classic series in Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection (Hit, Not Rated, DVD-$139.98 SRP), just in time for the 25th anniversary. The 20-disc set features all 96 episodes, plus copious amounts of featurettes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes materials. It’s the ultimate Fraggle celebration, and a must fan of anyone wanting to dance their cares away in these dark times.

I don’t necessarily want to live in the future presented in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but I have to admit that they did have some pretty nifty gear to shelter themselves with on those endlessly rainy nights. Surely you remember the glowing umbrellas that everyone had, clutched in their downtrodden fists as they made their way through the grubby streets. Well, now you can own your very own LED Umbrella ($24.99), thanks to the fine folks at ThinkGeek. Yes, you know you want one.

The first film was lackluster, but things are definitely improved - if not great - in Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.98 SRP). Some of the awkwardness has been shaken off, and the execution of the plot - about the awakening of an ancient army whose prince is bent on the destruction of the human world - is a far sight closer to capturing Mike Mignola’s work. The 3-disc special edition contains a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary, galleries, deleted scenes, an audio commentary, a tour of the Troll Market, and more. A deluxe Collector’s Set is also available ($64.98 SRP), which adds an exclusive Gentle Giant bust and director Guillermo Del Toro’s sketchbook.

Paramount has dipped into their pool of classic films and pulled out a trio for remastered special editions they’re terming their “Centennial Collection”. Getting the blue ribbon treatment are Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, and Roman Holiday (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP each). Those bonus features include audio commentaries, retrospective featurettes, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, trailers, and more.

I’m not entirely happy that studios continue to shaft fans who support their season-by-season releases of TV shows only to be confronted at the end with a comprehensive set that includes exclusive bonus material. The latest is the classic The Wild Wild West (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$129.98 SRP), which gets a 27-disc collection sporting all 104 episodes. The exclusive bonus features in question are a pair of previously unavailable TV movies that any completist fan would want - shame they have to pay for all the rest of the stuff they already have to do so. However, if you don’t own the series, this is the way to go - it’s a fun ride, and you won’t regret it.

One of the things I love about just how much catalogue digging the studios have been doing for DVD is that they’re able and willing to put out niche releases that spotlight the work of directors who are not exactly household names, but whose work deserves a spotlight. Such is the case with the late 50’s Columbia westerns of director Budd Boetticher collected in the appropriately titled The Films Of Budd Boetticher (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP). Those films are The Tall T, Decision At Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome, and Comanche Station. The set features introductions (from Clint Eastwood, Taylor Hackford, & Martin Scorsese), audio commentaries, a documentary, and trailers.

Get all three Jason Bourne films in one easy-to-grab package with the new Bourne Trilogy box set (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP), containing The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum. The bonus features are the same as those found in the individually released editions, and include audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

It was slow going at first, but I stuck with Reaper (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) because I could sense that it had the potential to develop into a fun, goofy, exciting little genre show like classic Buffy. Thankfully, as the season progressed, the tribulations of Sam - a young slacker who discovers his parents sold his soul to the Devil (Ray Wise), who forces him to become a bounty hunter of hell’s escaped demons - have come into their own. If you haven’t checked it out yet, do check out the complete first season set, featuring all 18 episodes plus audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

The first volume was a nice little slice of catalogue holiday cheer, and Warners opens the vaults again for their Classic Holiday DVD Collection: Volume 2 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), featuring All Mine To Give, Holiday Affair, It Happened On 5th Avenue, and Blossoms In The Dust.

For anyone that’s been holding off on snagging the classic UK sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo! - the follow-up from the creators of Are You Being Served set in occupied France during WWII and playing like a Franco version of Hogan’s Heroes - then now’s the time to get the whole lot in ‘Allo ‘Allo!: The Complete Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$249.98 SRP). The 19-disc set features all 9 seasons, plus retrospective documentaries, archive interviews, the cast on the game show Blankety Blank, and more.

There are a ton of them in the various studios’ vaults, but Warners dips into theirs for a trio of World War II rah-rah flicks with their new Homefront Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring Irving Berlin’s This Is The Army, Thank Your Lucky Stars, and Hollywood Canteen. Bonus materials include a new Warner At War documentary, audio commentaries, music/patriotic shorts, cartoons, newsreels, trailers, and more.

One of the mainstays of my many sleepless nights glued to Nick At Nite in the late 80’s and early 90’s was I Dream Of Jeannie. It remains one of the great escapist sitcoms of the late 60’s, with humor that was timeless and certainly not terribly thought-provoking. It’s marshmallow fluff. If you’ve been passing up the season-by-season sets that have been released the past few years, now is the time to take the plunge and pick up I Dream Of Jeannie: The Complete Series (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$174.95 SRP). The 20-dosc set features all 139 episodes, plus audio commentaries and a set of collector’s cards, all housed within a cardboard Genie bottle.

I’m going to give you one reason - and one reason only - to pick up Cartoon Network’s Chowder: Volume 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). However, it is a compelling reason, and one that can not be ignored. It refuses to be ignored! In fact, the reason will grab you by the collar and drag you to your nearest DVD emporium. That reason? One of the main characters on the show is voiced by none other than Dana Snyder. That’s right. Now do you see?

I went into it expecting a complete and utter disaster. Imagine my surprise when I found the big screen Get Smart (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.99 SRP) to be an amiable, often funny take on the misadventures in espionage of one Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell). Bonus features include an alternate joke track, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a gag reel, and more. A Blu-Ray edition is also available ($35.99 SRP) with identical bonus features.

Oh, George. You truly have gone insane. You should talk to someone about your pathological need to tear down what you’ve built - it’s really quite sad. Case in point - the CG animated feature pilot for Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). It’s not only wretched, it’s embarrassing. The story is a mess, the animation is sub-par, and it manages to make the Prequels seem classy by comparison. The 2-disc special edition features an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, webisodes, deleted scenes, galleries, trailers, and more. A Blu-Ray edition is also available ($35.99 SRP) containing the same bonus materials.

It’s been 30 years since Animal House (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP)??? Sweet Jebus. The new 2-disc special edition features a retrospective documentary on the making of the film, a mockumentary catching up with the Delta alumni, and an on-disc version of the Scene It game. FOOD FIGHT!

Another in the long (and appreciated) line of box sets collecting a selection of an actor’s filmography in one handy package, The Gregory Peck Film Collection (Universal, Not Rated, DVD, $59.98 SRP) sports 6 of his flicks. Those 6 flicks in question are To Kill A Mocking Bird, Cape Fear, Arabesque, Mirage, Captain Newman, MD, & The World In His Arms. The set also contains a feature-length conversation with Peck, making-ofs for Mockingbird & Cape Fear, award speeches, and more.

It may be low-grade genre fare, but there’s a certain exuberance about the Brit series Primeval (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), about a team led by evolutionary biologist who begin encountering creatures both prehistoric and futuristic as the fabric of time begins to tear apart. The 4-disc set features all 13 1st season episodes, plus audio commentaries, a making-of featurette, and “Through The Anomaly” by Andrew Lee Potts.

Since MTV abandoned Unplugged and VH1 walked away from Storytellers, there’s a gap in the world for a show featuring great live performances from diverse and interesting artists. In the UK, that show is Live From Abbey Road. Want proof? Pick up a copy of Live From Abbey Road: Best Of Season One (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) and check out the performances from the likes of John Mayer, Dr. John, David Gilmour, The Zutons, Gnarls Barkley, Wynton Marsalis, and more.