How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
November 25, 2008
BoxOfficeProphets.com
For people who bought the Freaks and Geeks complete series DVD way back in 2004, only to learn that an even better DVD collection of the Judd Apatow series is available today: Freaks And Geeks: The Complete Series (Special Edition)
Freaks and Geeks only lasted 18 episodes (15 airing on its original NBC home, the rest on Fox Family Channel), yet the teen dramedy's core fan base is strong enough to warrant a second edition of complete series DVDs. The set from 2004 had six discs. This one? Eight. And in addition to table readings, featurettes, cast auditions and other fun gems, the new collection comes with an 80-page faux yearbook (in color!) with essays, pictures and episode synopses. The major downside to the new goodies? A $170 price tag. Ouch.
The show, set in the fictional Flint, Michigan suburb of Chippewa in the early 1980s, centered on a teenage girl, Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini), and her brother, Sam (John Francis Daley). While Lindsay makes the transition from proper young girl to teenage slacker, her brother and his geeky friends merely try to fit in to a social universe that is none too accepting. James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen and Jason Segal also star.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, behind-the-scenes footage, promos and TV spots, "Kim Kelly is My Friend" table reading, Question and Answer Session featurette, Cast Auditions with the Freaks featurette, Cast Auditions with the Geeks featurette, Cast Auditions with Several Other Students of McKinley High featurette, raw footage, Long Live Rock! featurette, Sober Students Improv Players featurette, Tales of the Secret Service featurette, photo galleries, "I'm With the Band" table reading, "Girlfriends & Boyfriends" table reading, Alternate Universe featurette, "The Bus" complete script, Seven Minutes in Heaven featurette, The Graduation featurette, montage of memorable scenes, 80-page faux yearbook
For people who can't believe they haven't seen a new episode of 24 since May 21, 2007: 24: Redemption
Remember 24? You know, that hot show on Fox that used to have quite the stranglehold on the American public before that three-month writers strike messed up its formula? Well, the wait is nearly over. Season seven starts up in January 2009 with yet another series of 24 episodes. And in case you weren't among the 12 million or so who tuned in for the prequel to season seven (titled 24: Redemption) that just aired in the network's normal Sunday 'toon lineup, the two-hour TV movie is now available in stores for your viewing pleasure.
In the special, which bridges the gap between the May 2007 finale and the new season, hero Jack Bauer finds himself stuck in a military coup within the fictional nation of Sangala. And all he's asking for is a little peace and quiet. For once. Meanwhile back at home, Allison Taylor is being sworn into office as the next President of the United States. The movie is supposedly inspired by the U.S. government's response to the situation in Rwanda.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, footage not seen in the broadcast version, the first 17 minutes of the premiere episode, The Making of 24: Redemption featurette, Blood Never Dry: Child Soldiers in Africa featurette, 24 Season Six in Four Minutes featurette
For people who think Will Smith doesn't have nearly enough money as he should have: Hancock (Unrated Special Edition)
Is there a film Will Smith can't open? He's got star power like no other. Removing Ali and The Legend of Bagger Vance from his resume (and his cameo in Jersey Girl if you really want to get picky about it), the 40-year-old hasn't starred in a movie that grossed less than $110 million in the States since 1995's Bad Boys ($65.6 million). For those with horrid math skills, that's 13 years. A decade and then some. The lifetime of a healthy dog. Incredible.
And the man's luck continued this summer with the release of the $150 million budgeted Hancock. Released in July, the superhero film debuted with a $62.6 million weekend and ended up with nearly $230 million in domestic receipts by its exit from theaters in September.
The story, originally written by Vincent Ngo way back in 1996 (talk about development hell!), stars Smith as the titular character, a vigilante superhero who regularly costs the city of Los Angeles millions of dollars through his reckless actions. However, Hancock one day saves a guy, Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), who makes it his goal to positively change Hancock's public image. Charlize Theron also stars.
Disc includes: Footage not seen in theaters, Bumps and Bruises featurette, Home Life: The Building of the Embrey House and Hancock's Trailer featurette, Seeing the Future featurette, Superhumans: The Making of Hancock featurette, Building a Better Hero: Special Effects featurette, Suiting Up: Costume Design featurette, Mere Mortals: Behind-the-Scenes with "Dirty Pete" featurette, digital copy of the film
For people who miss this comic's seven dirty words: George Carlin: It's Bad For Ya
Televised live in March on HBO, George Carlin's It's Bad For Ya marked the comedian's 14th and final stand-up performance on the pay cable channel. The legend passed away on June 22nd of heart failure at age 71.
In the 67-minute special - which previously went under the working title of The Parade of Useless Bullshit - Carlin ripped on a number of things, including swearing on the Bible, how raising a child isn't difficult and, strangely, the things people say when others die. The special was performed in the Wells Fargo Center For The Arts in Santa Rosa, California. An audio recording of the same show was released in July.
Disc includes: Too Hip for the Room featurette, Carlin on The Jackie Gleason Show, January 25, 1969 featurette
For people who wouldn't mind spending the holidays with a man not unlike Bill O'Reilly: A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All
Further proving that Christmas begins earlier every year, Comedy Central aired a Stephen Colbert Christmas special on Sunday. Yes, more than a month before the actual holiday. Available on DVD today, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! finds Stephen trapped in a cabin in upstate New York during a snow storm. To help pass the time, some of his "friends" (Toby Keith, Elvis Costello, Feist, Willy Nelson and Jon Stewart among them) swing by to sing a number of Christmas songs with the TV personality.
Disc includes: Video Yule log of burning books, Stephen's 25-day video advent calendar, alternative endings
November 25, 2008
2008 World Series: Phillies vs. Rays
ABBA: The Movie
The Atomic Cafe (Collector's Edition)
B.B. King: Live
Barenaked Ladies: Talk to the Hand Live
Beverly Hills 90210: Seasons 1-6 (Set)
Beverly Hills 90210: The Sixth Season
Bottle Rocket (Criterion Collection)
Boyz II Men: Motown Journey Through Hitsville, USA
Case Closed: Season 3
David Lynch: Lime Green Set (Includes Music CD)
The Doris Day Show: The Complete Series (Set)
Family Affair: The Complete Series (Set)
Fred Claus
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: The Complete Series (Set)
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: The Final Season
Hall & Oates: Live at the Troubadour
Heart: Dreamboat Annie Live
Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock
Larry the Cable Guy's Star Studded Christmas...
Lil Wayne: Blood, Sweat & Tears
Lunar Jim: 1st Season, Volume 1
Lunar Jim: 1st Season, Volume 2
Meet Dave
The Mod Squad: Season 2 Volume 1
Molly Hatchet: Flirtin' with Disaster Live (Widescreen)
O.A.R.: Live From Madison Square Garden
Paul Simon: Live From Philadelphia
The Pink Panther Ultimate Collection (Set)
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Space Chimps
Superman: Doomsday (Special Edition)