How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
October 7, 2008
For people who need more Dr. Spaceman (pronounced spa-CHE-min, of course) in their lives: 30 Rock: Season 2
From Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Conway, Will Arnett and Edie Falco to Carrie Fisher, Matthew Broderick, David Schwimmer and Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock's second season was infiltrated with a bevy of guest stars. However, unlike Will & Grace, which signed on guest actors for the sake of putting their mug on camera, this NBC comedy knows how to put its stars to good use. Four men received Outstanding Guest Actor noms at September's Emmys (with Conway taking home the prize), while three ladies - Falco, Fisher and Stritch - earned their own nods in the Outstanding Guest Actress category.
In its first season, 30 Rock was one of those rare shows that grew better with age. By the end of the season, it quietly became so much better than its first handful of episodes that the two were arguably incomparable. Building off that momentum, 30 Rock's sophomore season was even better than the first, benefiting not only from its guest actor list, but also storylines that carried over multiple episodes. (Were they silly? Tracy's porn videogame story arc would point to a resounding yes, but such is the comedy in 30 Rock).
The series' third season kicks off October 30th, following a series of Saturday Night Live political specials that are slated to air in its timeslot. And new season buzz is already growing, with Megan Mullally, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey and (maybe!) Steve Martin signed on for roles alongside Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted scenes, "Cooter" episode table read, 30 Rock live at the UCB Theater, Tina Hosts SNL featurette, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Presents: An Evening with 30 Rock featurette.
For people who miss Maude Flanders: The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season
Obviously, The Simpsons get a shout-out no matter what season or merchandise item is being promoted. (I do this, of course, to ensure that the other fine folks here at Box Office Prophets don't have my head for failing to make mention of it). So here we are with the show's 11th season, which aired way back during the 1999-00 television season. Highlights include Bart being diagnosed with ADD, Homer bowling a perfect 300 game, Apu's wife giving birth to octuplets, Maude Flanders dying after a freak NASCAR accident and Springfield Elementary going bankrupt.
The show's 20th season, which ties Gunsmoke's U.S. primetime, scripted television record of 20 produced seasons, started September 28th. Treehouse of Horror XIX, featuring parodies of Charlie Brown and Transformers, airs November 2nd.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, A Star on Hollywood Boulevard featurette, The Many Faces of Krusty featurette, deleted scenes, Multi-Angle Animations Showcases featurette, Special Introduction from Matt Groening feauturette, original sketches.
For people who take kindly to randos squatting in their living spaces: The Visitor
Never appearing in more than a few hundred theaters, indie film The Visitor stars Richard Jenkins as Walter Vale, an economics professor who befriends a pair of illegal immigrants - Tarek and Zainab - who have been living in his New York City apartment without him knowing. When Tarek is arrested at a subway station and is taken to a detention center, the professor tries to prevent his deportation from the United States by paying for an immigration lawyer.
The movie, from The Station Agent's Thomas McCarthy, earned rave reviews from critics, but not without controversy. Some criticized its opposition to immediate deportation of illegal immigrants, as well as the injustice in deciding who gets deported, and when.
Disc includes: None.
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