“Halo Legends” will hit DVD and Blu-ray on February 9. Distributed by Warner Home video and produced by 343 Industries, part of Microsoft Game Studios, the CG and traditional anime will explore the history and origins of the Halo universe and some of its characters. The eight episodes will cover seven storylines, which will also be available via On Demand and Digital Download.

The episodes will fall inside Halo’s 26th Century continuity as humanity battles aliens to protect the ever-expanding space colonies of Earth. Halo fans will recognize some characters and locales from the games. Each episode will be 10 to 17 minutes long, with about two total hours of viewing.

Halo Legends will have the same look and feel as “The Animatrix” and “Batman Gotham Knight,” in that each episode will be self contained. Each episode will be presented as imagined by a the director or animator. Children of the 80s and anime fans, alike, will recognize the work of some of these creative contributors including Shinji Aramaki, who did character designs on “MASK;” Mamoru Oshii, creator and writer of “Jin-Ro;” and Hideki Futamura, a key animator on “Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.”

Extras on the two disc will include a “making of” feature, audio commentary with the directors and a mini-feature detailing the rise of the Halo franchise from an Xbox game to a mammoth property commanding over $1 billion in revenue with games, comics, novels and other merchandise. The Blu-ray will retail for around $35, the two-disc set for around $30 and the DVD for around $20.

In addition to the thrills of Superman’s weekly adventures, each episode included a mini-segment called Superman Family Album that told the “real” story of what it was like to grow up as the most powerful boy in Smallville.

Joe Ruby and Ken Spears talked about the DVD and series recently, and the studio sent the interview over:

QUESTION: How was the title character developed for your Superman series?

JOE RUBY: “We went through a lot of different directions in development as to what kind of Superman we wanted. We had several different models – the crying/feeling Superman, the lecturing/do-gooder/save-the-day Superman, then there was the hip Superman and even the long-haired Superman. And, of course, there was the old straight-as-an-arrow Superman. Ultimately, we settled on the Christopher Reeve model – he had personality and a sense of humor, and yet he was still Superman. We figured that it worked for the films, so it would work well for us.”

QUESTION: Why were there only 13 episodes to the entire series?

JR: “I think the problem for us was our timeslot. It turned out 8:30 in the morning was a killer for Superman. Only the little kids were up, and they don’t understand Superman as well as the older kids. It wasn’t for 4- to 5-year-olds”

QUESTION: Was there a guiding theme to the series?

KEN SPEARS: “I think we were true to Superman to begin with – we produced a show that the audience expected Superman to be. He was the tried and true Superman, That’s who they wanted to see – that’s the feedback that we continue to get today.”

JR: “We basically had Superman tackling anything and everything, with the marching orders to have bigger-than-life fights.”

QUESTION: What did you see as the strength of your Superman series?

KS: “We had the best talent in the business at the time – that was our strength. They were excellent. When you first create a show, you hope your talent will be able to plus it – and they really plussed it. There are so many shots in the show that weren’t written into the script – those kind of great additions come straight from the artists and the storyboarders.

JR: “We had a pretty amazing crew – and an especially great crew of artists – including some of the best comic book guys in the business, and that made for good filmmaking. Guys like John Dorman and Gil Kane – we had an army of great talent on that show. Give credit to John Dorman – he’s a filmmaker and that’s the difference. He made sure the show had all the creative shots, the movement, some of that great left-to-right or down-angle camera moves. The show was well paced, well boarded, and I think John really put these things together well.”

QUESTION: Did splitting the production between two overseas studios in Japan and Korea cause any problems?

JR: “It was an experience for us, from a production standpoint, traveling overseas and working with two different interpreters having to translate in three different languages. They’d be answering before I’d get done with my question. It was the worst torture I ever had in my life.”

QUESTION: Looking back now, can you see how Ruby-Spears Superman fits in the canon of productions surrounding the Man of Steel?

JR: “As a kid, we all grew up with Superman. He’s the favorite, always. Your heroes stick with you. So we wanted to make the best Superman show we could, to really set it apart. I think everyone that worked on it felt that way. He’s Superman.”

KS: “It was like an honor to do something that classy and classic as Superman. He’s the No. 1 guy. We wanted to do it justice.”

“If I were making a film of myself, I would definitely start with my childhood” said Director Roman Polanski in a 1987 interview with Diane Sawyer. Director and star of “Polanski Unauthorized” Damian Chapa does exactly this in his timely new biopic of the infamous Polish director.

Chapa starts the film in 1939, where we meet the young and happy boy version of Polanski and his loving parents. In a rather cliché move, each time the film flashes back to this period, it’s shot in black and white.

The film jumps between periods in his life in absolutely no chronological order.

The film begins in 1939 then jumps between the years 1968, 1977 and 1966 with no specific pattern. Chapa doesn’t spend much time in each year, which might confuse some viewers at first, as the storyline seems disjointed. However, what we are getting from Chapa with this style of story-telling, are bits and pieces of Polanski’s life, which is all the public has anyway.

What ultimately holds this film back is the excessive use of symbolism. Showing Polanski’s childhood in Nazi-occupied Poland is enough for people to grasp that he knew the horrors of war growing up and was most likely haunted by them. There really isn’t a need to include the Devil as a central character, constantly on Polanski’s back and having conversations with him.

Polanski is such a divisive figure in the mind of the American public and that is what this film successfully delivers. We see Polanski the Holocaust survivor, the director, the visionary, the womanizer, the criminal, the fugitive, the husband, the father and the haunted man. And while Chapa may not look very much like Polanski, he has the speaking cadences and mannerisms down precisely to deliver a convincing performance.

“Polanski Unauthorized” is now available on DVD

This time we have “The Office” Season Five on DVD.

If you want a copy, all you have to do is register a free account with Blast and leave a comment here!

It’s so wicked easy to win! Anyone can do it!

Blue Blockbuster Express kiosks will be open in more than 100 Tedeschi Food Shops by the end of the month, with kiosks planned in all 188 stores in New England by the end of the year.

It’s amazing that these little kiosks do so well. Redbox kiosks, a common sight at Stop & Shop stores, combined with the mega-popular Netflix service are literally erasing video rental stores from existence. That’s to say nothing for iTunes, illegal downloading, On Demand television and DVR service.

The kiosks will hold a whopping 900 DVDs, ranging from classics to brand new titles. All you do is swipe a credit card. Just like Redbox, it’s a dollar a night.

This Tuesday Warner Brothers Animation released “Superman Batman: Public Enemies” on DVD.

For those not familiar with the graphic novel created by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, this is the story that pits the “world’s finest” against the full force of the United States government.

But animations like Justice League Unlimited have done similar stories, so what’s new?

Most noticeably, the visual feel is different from many other Warner Brothers comic book based cartoons. The animation, based on the art Ed McGuinness drew for the graphic novel, is charged with excitement.

The mainstays of the animation are the same, however. Kevin Conroy’s iconic voice breathes life into the caped crusader as it has from Batman the Animated Series, in 1992, all the way through Batman: Gotham Knight- the 2008 DVD animated companion to the films starring Christian Bale.

Two of the major voices from JLU are also back. Tim Daly reprises as Superman, and Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor.

The story is a bit more politically charged than any previous animated features about the titanic team-up. First of all, Luthor is president. It begs the question; if things got really bad, how far would the American public be willing to go to make things right?

In this world we elect a man with the savvy to do whatever is necessary to keep the citizenry safe. When a country-sized asteroid comes hurtling from space the president’s resolve is tested.

And that asteroid is pure kryptonite.

In a live televised address, President Luthor calls for a meeting with Superman. When the man-of-steel meets the Commander In Chief, a new addition to the Secret Service lends a super-powered hand putting the hurt on the Last Son of Krypton. The confrontation quickly turns south for Superman, and the results lead to a perfect opportunity for a set-up. President Luthor issues a bounty for one billion dollars. Maybe he should put a pinky to his lip? But instead he unleashes all kinds of super-powered heavyweights, to slug it out with the man of tomorrow and the dark knight, who stands by his buddy through thick and thin.

The pair find themselves in deep trouble when Mongul and Solomon Grundy show up in the first wave of stringers looking to cash in on the bounty. Shit hits the fan when the bounty hunters are finished and the President plays his ace card, some top-tier members of The Justice League. These are probably best left a surprise, but suffice it to say there are two heroes whose name begin with “Captain” who slug it out with the big “S.”

The battles can be summed up in one word, for anyone who is into superhero cartoons, nerdgasm.

One key difference from the comic book is noticeable. The climax. In Loeb and McGuinness’s version Batman and Superman confront Lex in the Oval Office. Batman tells Superman that they can “make it look like an accident.” Direct threats on the chief executives life, in the land’s highest office, might not be politically prudent right now. The cartoon opts for a more discreet location and no consideration by the teamed-up superheroes to kill the president, but it does leave room for a question. If a sitting president ever took truth and justice too far, would the world have any way to check the might of the only real super-power?

Leave your favorite cheer in a comment below from your registered account and the best 10 cheers will receive free “Fight To The Finish” DVDs. So get out your pom-poms and spirit fingers, because you’re going to have to bring it to win it.

This contest ends August 28, so make sure you leave your cheer before then for a chance to win!

We have 10 copies of “Last House on the Left” to give away to some lucky winners. Just share with us in the comment section from your registered account the most terrifying moment that you have ever experienced, and the 10 scariest stories will win a free DVD.

This contest ends August 14, so make sure to leave your comment before then for a chance to win!

Okay, so maybe you didn’t experience any of those things, but we’re sure you have a story. Tell us at Blast about the first time you saw the original “Friday the 13th” for a chance to win one of 10 DVD copies of the new “Friday the 13th” film, hitting stores Tuesday June 16. Send an e-mail over to schwartz.t@blastmagazine.com for a chance to win one of these copies.

They’ll all be released on July 28.

The science fiction epic that not only bridged generations but brought a whole new generation into the genre is over, but season 4.5 on DVD and Blu-ray will have 13 hours of extras including three extended episodes of the series finale that were never aired. There will also be deleted scenes and behind the scenes fun. Finally, there are commentary tracks and podcast-able interviews with executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series is a ridiculous 20 disk Blu-ray or 25 disk DVD set with every episode and just about every bonus feature you can think of.

Season 4.5 bonus features on Blu-ray only:

• U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive signature feature puts viewers one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever leaving the movie.
• THE ORACLE: An interactive guide including ships and characters.
• BATTLESTAR ACTUAL: A glossary of all the unique Battlestar Galactica terms.
• WHAT THE FRAK HAPPENED TO YOU? Explore the history and connections of your favorite characters through video clips and relevant facts.
• BD-LIVE: Access the BD-Live Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers, and more!
• BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ULTIMATE BATTLE: Players can battle their friends as Colonials or Cylons using strategy and luck to achieve victory.
• MY SCENES: Pick your favorite scenes from the film to create your own video montage.
• THE MUSICIANS BEHIND DAYBREAK: Composer Bear McCreary interviews and explains how many unique musicians have contributed the show and specifically the series finale, Daybreak.

Blu-ray and DVD features:

• EVOLUTION OF A CUE: Composer, Bear McCreary takes us step by step through his process of creating the music of Battlestar Galactica.
• What the Frak is Going On With Battlestar Galactica?: A recap of Battlestar Galactica’s first three thrilling seasons – in only eight minutes!
• …AND THEY HAVE A PLAN: What do they mean every episode when the opening sequence on the Cylons states “And They Have A Plan?” All will be revealed in the upcoming movie The Plan.
• THE JOURNEY ENDS: THE ARRIVAL: Battlestar Galactica has traveled full circle. The journey has concluded never to be revisited. But how did we arrive at the end?
• A LOOK BACK
  • SO SAY WE ALL: Executive Producer Ron Moore and the cast and crew reveal their personal insights on Battlestar Galactica.
  • MANIFESTO DESTINY: It all began with this manifesto. Why was it written and what was the response?
  • BATTLE-STYLE GALACTICA: Those behind the camera delve into their approach to visual style of Battlestar Galactica.
  • MARTYR TO A CAUSE: As the only actor to appear in both the original and reimagined series, Richard Hatch offers his unique perspective on Battlestar Galactica.
  • THE SINS OF THE FORGIVEN: Insights on the curious religious aspects of Battlestar Galactica.
  • BATTLESTAR REVELATIONS: Firsthand accounts from those on the Battlestar for the past five years.
  • AUDIO COMMENTARIES BY RONALD D. MOORE, DAVID EICK, AND EDWARD JAMES OLMOS
• Moore’s Podcast Commentaries
• Eick’s Video Blogs
• DELETED SCENES

The Battlestar Galactica saga began on one devastating day, when the human population of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol was annihilated in a series of surprise attacks by their own creation—the Cylons, a race of sentient robotic clones. The few survivors huddled together on space ships, facing almost certain death at the hands of their ruthless enemies. In Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5, Commander William Adama (Emmy Award-winner Edward James Olmos), the hawkish military leader of the last surviving battleship, searches for a habitable planet as the murderous Cylons follow relentlessly. As mysterious premonitions help Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) the President of the Twelve Colonies, guide the ship to the fabled Thirteenth Colony, Earth, treacherous double agents, Cylon spies and internal dissent plague the Galactica. The ship’s crew and passengers battle for their lives—and the survival of the human race—armed with only cunning and determination against the military might of the Cylon Empire.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” will also include “Under the Hood,” an autobiography of “Watchmen” character Nite Owl featured heavily in the graphic novel.

Both titles are executive produced by “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Deborah Snyder, Thomas Tull and Wesley Coller.

A comic-within-a-comic from the original “Watchmen” graphic novel, “Tales of the Black Freighter”tells the story of a sailor’s return home after being marooned. It is read in “Watchmen” the graphic novel by a young man in New York City while the city around him is being destroyed. The events in “Black Freighter” seem to mirror those in the world of “Watchmen.”

A “Director’s Cut” version of “Watchmen” is planned to be released incorporating “Tales of the Black Freighter” into the film as director Zack Snyder had originally intended. Due to the length it added to the film, Snyder was forced not to include “Black Freighter” in “Watchmen”s theatrical release.

“Under the Hood” is the autobiography of the original Nite Howl, Hollis Mason. It discusses how Mason’s life led him to become a masked avenger and how the Minutemen, the first superheroes to emerge in the “Watchmen” universe, were formed. It is directed by Eric Matthies, written by Hans Rodionoff and produced by Eric Matthies and Wesley Coller. Stars Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Stephen McHattie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan appear as their characters from the theatrical “Watchmen” film in this live-action documentary style special.

“Watchmen: Tales from the Black Freighter and Under the Hood” will be available on standard definition disc for $27.95 and Blu-ray disc for $35.99.

If an American needs any further excuse to sit down and watch a British drama, Mobile is it. Mobile will convince you.

A seeming madman starts blowing up cellphone towers all over England and shooting people in cold blood simply because they were talking on their mobile phones — messages graffitied nearby proclaim the phones to be the work of the devil.

The four-part series brings together three main interlocking plots. A former telecom engineer with a terminal brain tumor comes under suspicion for the bombings. The plot then turns to two executives, Sir James Corson (Keith Allen) and David West (Michael Kitchen) who take turns trying to ruin each other’s careers. Enter Maurice Stoan (Jamie Draven) a former army sharpshooter who misses out on his chance to become a third generation warrior (the 2003 invasion of Iraq — perfect parallel to modern history) when his wife and child are killed by a hit-and-run driver, sending him home on bereavement leave.

The three plots culminate in the fourth and final episode. It’s explosive. It’s dramatic. It’s got guns, sex and betrayal. You just know some American film company is going to steal the plot and make an awful Hollywood movie out of it.

Before that happens, you need to watch Mobile.

Mobile’s stars — British veterans Kitchen (Foyle’s War) and Allen (BBC America’s Robin Hood) and a younger up and coming Jamie Draven — perform their roles with typical British dramatic perfection. Two female costars may be familiar to Americans — Samantha Bond (Moneypenny in the Pierce Brosnan Bond films), as the wife of the telecom executive and Julie Graham (Bonekickers, At Home with the Braithwaites) as the wife of the engineer.

The 2007 series was a big TV hit in the U.K. but has never been seen publicly in the United States yet. Mobile won a Silver World Medal at the 2008 New York Festivals International Television Broadcasting Awards.

This hilarious early 80s sketch comedy series gives you a rare glimpse at these four superstars at a young age as they perform SNL-style skits.

The series was released August 26 and features hits on the US, bureaucracy, the Cold War and especially themselves with irreverent references co-written by Laurie and Fry.

It’s Saturday Night Live meets Monty Python, and you’ll love it.

The series runs 315 minutes with a bonus 3-part pilot series.

The direct to DVD and Blu-ray feature is directed by series veteran, Martin Wood. Written by Brad Wright and Johnathan Glassner, developers and creators of the TV series, this movie is sure to please hardcore fans. The budget is clearly much bigger this time around. Everything from the back-from-the-past costumes, the CGI, and even the on-location filming looked far more detailed, expansive, and expensive than even the previous movie.

The movie is not advised to be seen by the unconverted. It is not only rich with time paradoxes and alien technology dialogue, but it’s also deep in Stargate universe mythology and SG-1 history. New people will get lost, and fans of the show will find their trivia knowledge absolutely put to the test. What you thought you knew about Stargate will need to be re-visited or you will have questions.

So far, fan reviews have given it praise. That being said, there are always the fans who will see this and ask ‘what the hell?’ While the movie clocks in at an average length of 1 hour and thirty minutes, it will seem short. Not rushed, but will seem as if more could of been included to show what happened than the explanations that were verbally given. Stargate is known for this sort of scripting, where days pass by and an explanation for an obvious gap in visuals is just spoken of as a cheap way out of actually filming something.

This movie will get confusing, as it is with all time-travel stories, logic will need to take a step outside. In Stargate:Continuum, Ba’al is the last of the Gou’ld to be sentenced to death in the new Tok’ra headquarters. Interesting to note that Tok’ra are nomads, but have finally chosen to settle. The well internet leaked appearance of Jack O’Neill comes early, and doesn’t disappoint as the one true fulcrum of the SG-1. The plot begins to take off when the SG-1 team members begin to disappear one by one.

The featured characters turn out to be Colonel Mitchell, Daniel Jackson, and Major Samantha Carter. They escape the disappearing phenomenon by jumping into the stargate. They find themselves not back home inside the SGC, but instead, inside a frozen boat, far away. What makes this movie worth while, as the remaining SG-1 team figures out away to foil Ba’al’s plans, are the numerous cameos by past Goa’aulds. This movie is truly meant for the Goa’auld lover out there.

One of the returning characters that should be reveled, specifically for Blast readers is the appearance by Don S. Davis, as General Hammond. Davis, who died this summer, gives an all too familiar performance as the well-loved authority figured who’s so partial to SG-1. This time it comes with a twist, but he has optimal screen time to do him final a Stargate farewell. Which is more that I can say for Apophis. Again.

While not wholly loved by the Stargate community, Beau Bridges gives a stellar monologue that finally does justice to what we all thought of about the alternate realities. He really gives voice to the ‘alternate universe’ perspective of why they wouldn’t just allow another SG-1 copies to run the place just so they can get back to their own time and/or space. With this movie we even get some semblance of normalcy and real heart break toward the end.

Fans of the series will need to see this one to finally wrap-up those 10 years of adventure. SG-1 has already proven themselves legends among the stars. And now they the prove how timeless they really have become.

I’ll leave you geeks, nerds, dorks, fans with something from Brad Wright himself: “MGM has suggested we start thinking about that and start putting a story together, and that’s what we’re doing right now. But not just a movie … it seems that MGM is confident SciFi Channel or some television outlet will pick up the previously announced third series “Stargate: Universe” as well.”

SAN DIEGO — It’s coming out on DVD in January, but we got the chance to screen the upcoming Marvel/Lionsgate animated feature “Hulk vs. Wolverine” on Thursday.

Fans of the animated series will appreciate the spirit of the yellow-clad, “bub” shouting, canine-familiar superhero and the transformation between a meek Dr. Banner and a monstrous Hulk calling Wolverine “little man.”

The 40-minute movie opens true to the pair’s first comic book meeting, with The Incredible Hulk tearing up Canada and the military calling on Wolverine to put a stop to him. They square off before the story pans to some of Logan’s past and the origins of the Weapon X program, nicely paying tribute to the comic book roots.

The Weapon X program and its maniacle “Professor” are back, and they want Wolverine and the Hulk as weapons for themselves. The Weapon X crew includes Sabretooth, Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike and a hilarious Deadpool who steals the show.

It’s a bloody, limb-ripping feature that will surely please X-Men fans come January. It ship on one disc with Hulk vs. Thor.

It is so refreshing and out and out hilarious to watch Hugh Laurie in his native accent as he plays a bumbling British doctor whose kids are sleeping with each others’ girlfriends as he saunters through thinking he’s losing his mind and hearing people’s thoughts in this sex-charged tale of mid-life crisis and family dynamic.

Laurie plays Paul Slippery, who can’t remember the last time he had sex with his wife (Anna Chancellor), but has to deal with his three sons who try to shag everything in sight.

In the US, this would be an inappropriate premise for television or something you’d see in HBO after Sex and the City and the L Word, but Fortysomething actually makes sex on television tasteful.

You also get to see Hugh Laurie cross dress as a Muslim woman in the fourth episode.

Very simply, Fortysomething is brilliant.

The series runs six episodes, one hour each, on two DVD’s being released by Acorn April 8.

The feature-length movie that all Stargate: SG-1 fans have been waiting for is here. After the grandiose ending that left the Asgard in the dust, the Ori possibly finished, and our heroes stepping through to the unknown, this chapter ties up the loose ends once-and-for-all — so don’t worry about any “To Be Continued” showing up.

The movie’s direct-to-DVD format has allowed producers Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright, the opportunity to finish of the Ori story arc mostly the way they intended to.

The DVD also comes stuffed with special features you’ll actually want to watch. There’s everything from a “making of” featurette, to a special Comic-Con Spolight. The cover-art, alone is worth getting it legally and not from P2P networks. Having the golden artwork in your physical DVD collection can really make it seem more like a trophy, than just another movie. Plus, it’s only around $20. Trust me, you’re getting your money’s worth, if not more.

The main film has a Prelude option, which serves as a “previously on…” segment, which is worth watching if you missed a couple of Season 10 episodes. Or, if you just haven’t been watching the Season 10 DVDs lately and you want a refresher course. It highlights where we left off from the TV series, from the time of Mitchell joining the SG:1 to Adria’s ascension, and finally the acquisition of the Asgard technology in the final episode.

I applaud the extended, full orchestra main theme. Jerry Goldsmith has outdone himself again.

SPOILER WARNING

In the opening scene, we get to see the Ancients, but old, benevolent race who built the Stargate system many years ago. Then the movie cuts to Daniel Jackson uncovering an artifact.

It all feels very much like a regular Stargate episode. This time around, theres no teaser. The action quickly vamps up. There are really no introductions per-se, so anyone coming in out of the blue will not know what the hell is going on.

Tomin, who we saw in seaons 9-10, makes his appearance early on, adding to the continuity of the story arc. As a small skirmish over the newly-discovered artifact quickly turns into a surrender, we find that our heroes have again something up their sleeve.

As Mitchell, Carter, Jackson and Teal’c begin their mission after receiving vital Intel, a new appointee from the IOA, James Merek, has his own agenda.

As the problems begin to mount for our team, new avenues of truth and solutions begin to unravel and appear. Sometimes in the form of Ancients, and other times it’s Mitchell’s run-and-gun approach. Carter’s ingenuity is always helpful, especially when seven Ori motherships are alerted the Odessey’s presence.

Teal’c’s past makes a wonderful come back, in an emotionally driven dialog between him and Tomin — betraying your false gods. The stakes get even higher when a Prior arrives on Earth with an urgent message.

You will not be disappointed with the conclusion and the aftermath.

It’s too early to tell whether this will lead to more direct-to-DVD movies for SG-1 but one thing’s for sure: This movie makes true legends of the team of SG-1.

5 out of 5 stars

By the way: Due to a reporting error, we incorrectly reported that Jerry Goldsmith made the musicial score for “Stargate: The Ark of Truth,” when in fact it was Joel Goldsmith.

“We’ve listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases,” said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. “With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term.”

“We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home.”

By June, Wal-Mart and Sam’s stores will only offer Blu-ray hardware and DVD’s. 2008 has not been kind to HD DVD. Toshiba rang in the new year by getting the devastating news that Warner Bros. would produce all of their HD titles on Blu-ray.

I never, ever get enough of watching the Red Sox win. After living for years under the shadow of my entire Yankee-loving family, I’ve acquired a library of books, posters and DVD’s from all things 2004 and 2007.

The 90 minute special premiere in high-def on the MOJO HD channel January 10, and here’s how they sum it all up:

The film captures all the drama as the Red Sox overcame a three game to one deficit versus the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS to secure a berth in the World Series. They then faced the red hot Colorado Rockies who had won 21 of their last 22 games and became the second team ever to win their first seven games in a postseason. With original game broadcast footage plusoff-the-field candid moments with players and coaches inside the dugout and the clubhouse, viewers can relive Boston’s amazing four game sweep for their second World Series championship in the last four years, including their exuberant clubhouse celebration.

The film includes Dustin Pedroia’s lead off home run and the back-to-back-to-back home runs of Youkilis, Ortiz and Ramirez — first time in World Series history. They also highlight J.D. Drew’s breakout grand slam, Jacoby Ellsbury’s emergence as a star-calibur player, and Mike Lowell’s MVP performance.

I really liked that they also included scenes from the victory parade, which I was front-row for.

The 2007 team was something special, like the 2004 team, they came back from the brink in the ALCS. Then they outright swept the World Series. They just wanted it more, and they have a nation of fans behind them.

You also have to give MLB Productions credit for telling the story of the 2007 Colorado Rockies also. They were basically out of it, but they seemed to win every game in the last month of the season to somehow make the playoffs — 13 wins in 14 games and a win in a one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres that took 13 innings, where they were down two runs in the top of the 13th, against the all-time saves leader, only to come back and win. Then they swept Philadelphia; then they swept Arizona. They easily could have been the story of the year.

Living in Boston, I’ve had a chance to see some amazing sports moments over the last five years — football, baseball, hopefully basketball this year. This film is another chance to take an closeup look at the team and the story.

The 2007 World Series Film will re-air January 23 at 9:30 p.m.

“This breathlessly energetic, dazzling live concert spectacular brought the house down-and the cameras were rolling there to catch it all,” RCA Music Group said in a statement.

Back to Basics — Live and Down Under will be a 90-minute video available for $14.99 exclusively at Best Buy February 5.

“Christina’s done it again — another stunning long-form from one of music’s greatest performers. We are fortunate Best Buy shares our excitement and has partnered with us on this project,” said Tom Corson, EVP/GM of RCA.

The concert features 18 songs from the four-time Grammy Award-winning superstar’s career, including hit singles “Ain’t No Other Man” and “Candyman” and number one hits “Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” and “What a Girl Wants.”

The DVD captures the excitement of this lavish tour, from the unique stage with 3 distinct scenes, more than 600 moving lights and a state-of-the-art hydraulic system, to production incorporating everything from burlesque cabaret to trapeze choreography, fire jugglers, and stilt walkers-but the heart and soul of the show is Christina Aguilera, with her awe-inspiring voice and silver-screen charisma. Bonus material gives viewers a true 360 degree perspective of the tour by featuring exclusive interviews with her dancers, wardrobe (Simone Harouche), hair and makeup (Stephen Sollitto), musicians, background vocalists, musical director (Rob Lewis), Jordan Bratman (Christina’s husband) and Christina herself.

Aguilera has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and created four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is also a three-time Grammy Award-winner.

Track list:
Disc 1:
1. Into: Back to Basics
2. Ain’t No Other Man
3. Back In The Day
4. Understand
5. Come On Over
6. Slow Down Baby
7. Still Dirrty
8. I Got Trouble
9. Makes Me Wanna Pray
10. What A Girl Wants
11. Oh Mother
12. Enter The Circus
13. Welcome
14. Dirrty
15. Candyman
16. Nasty Naughty Boy
17. Hurt
18. Lady Marmalade
19. Encore: Thank You
20. Beautiful
21. Fighter
Disc 2: Special Features- Exclusive Behind the Scenes Footage & Interviews

The DVD contains over 50 crank calls including questions about poop and the word “Badonkadonk.” It includes calls from Special Ed, Hadassah, Spoonie Luv, Niles Standish, Gladys and Bobby Fletcher.

The compilation did piss off one Amazon.com user, who complained about two poorly missing skits: “This is not the best of “Crank Yankers”. It is missing the two funniest skits— the fertility clinic with Sarah Silverman and the dude ranch skit. I want my money back,” wrote D. Gramling.

Overall, it’s still three hours of Crank Yankers. If you’re a fan, check this one out.

Chancer, Series 2 is the conclusion to the hit 90s series. Owen plays Derek “Dex” Love. He’s devious, dangerous—and even more determined. Dex, a.k.a. Stephen Crane, gets out of jail and goes to work for his former romantic rival, Piers Garfield-Ward (Simon Shepherd). The two men are both only interested in one thing, the orphaned baby of the women they both had loved. They work together to keep the child away from his megalomeniacal industrialist grandfather (Peter Vaughan).

The series co-stars Louise Lombard (CSI). In a plot packed with double crosses of the heart and the wallet, Chancer propels powerfully toward its surprising, devastating conclusion.

The LA Times: “Owen has aged like a fine wine, and his star quality shines through in this compelling drama series.”
Entertainment Weekly: “Watching Owen in Chancer is like looking at a foal you just know is gonna be a thoroughbred.”
San Francisco Chronicle: “great fun.”

The second series is seven episodes and is almost six hours long.

The collection has all 30-episodes on 6 discs, giving you almost 19 hours of one of the best programs on television.

Discovery put out the entire fourth season “as they debunk, decode and demystify some of the most popular urban myths and legends. Using modern-day science, they put each myth to the test – from concrete gliders to anti-gravity devices – separating the real from the really out there,” they said recently.

They don’t just tell myths, they put them to the test. Watch for Earthquake Machine, which ends with some really surprising results. Also, Killer Cable Snaps ends by disproving that a tension cable snapping away will cut a man in half. They also revisit several myths that viewers questioned the results of.

This one is a must have. Mythbusters is one of the most popular shows around, and here’s your chance to avoid having to buy them episode-by-episode. Get the whole season in one box.

On that note, I humbly submit this news story that I recently wrote for The Boston Globe.

On December 27, a mobile home trailer exploded in the driveway of a home in Plympton, Mass., sending its occupant flying out through the front door and into the nearby woods. The lucky man was not seriously injured. The explosion was caused when the man, who had no sense of smell from a previous injury, was fixing the heat on the trailer. The trailer filled with gas and exploded.

“His eyebrows were gone and his hair was singed, but he was OK,” fire officials said. The occupant, whom Rich did not identify, refused medical treatment.

There you go, Adam and Jamie!

Episodes include:

• Confederate Rocket
• Vodka Myths
• Steel Toe Amputation
• Seasickness: Kill or Cure
• Paper Crossbow
• Shredded Plane
• Archimedes Death Ray
• Helium Football
• Franklin’s Kite
• Cell Phones on Planes
• Bullets Fired Up
• Myths Reopened
• Mind Control
• Exploding Pants
• Steam Cannon
• Killer Whirlpool
• Crimes and Myth-Demeanors 1
• Crimes and Myth-Demeanors 2
• Shattering Subwoofer
• Deadly Straw
• Earthquake Machine
• Diet Coke and Mentos
• Killer Cable Snaps
• Concrete Glider
• Air Cylinder Rocket
• More Myths Revisited
• Exploding Lighter
• Anti-Gravity Device
• Firearms Folklore
• 22,000-Foot Fall

Slings & Arrows stars Paul Gross (Due South) and Mark McKinney (Saturday Night Live, Kids in the Hall).

Combing hilarious satire with heartfelt human drama, S&A mines dramatic and comic gold from the personal and professional crises of a dysfunctional Canadian theatre troupe. Winner of 8 Geminis for the first two seasons, the final season swept all the major 2007 awards. Guest stars include Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Mean Girls), indie sensation Sarah Polley (Away From Her, Go, The Sweet Hereafter) and renowned Stratford Festival actor William Hutt in one of his last performances. The New York Times called it “Absolutely addictive” while the San Francisco Chronicle said, “An exceptionally well crafted, beautifully nuanced and wonderfully smart series…an almost unexplainable level of pitch-perfect drama and comedy.”

Gross is the artistic director of The New Burbage Theatre Festival who’s living in the shadow of his predecessor and dealing with touchy actors, a jittery general manager, a pretentious guest director and his own romance with the festival’s leading lady.

The set contains all 18 episodes, giving you about 14 hours of pure enjoyment, not including the bonus features. It’s also optimized for 16:9 widescreen.

The three-episode mystery follows Guy Foster, an unemployed Fleet Street reporter who falls under the suspicion of police when his wife, Melissa, is found strangled in the British countryside.

Fleet Street is very much like Boston’s Washington Street and New York’s Newspaper Row. Fleet Street was home base for the British press until around the 1980s.

Guy’s newspaper went under and the crusading author simply couldn’t find a job that fit. Then a second and third person are murdered and the clues start to mount up against Guy who finds himself in a rather precarious situation. In the background is a shrink who claims to have treated Guy, though Guy vehemently denies it.

Melissa was directed by Peter Moffatt and written by Francis Durbridge.

It takes a bit of patience to get through Melissa, particularly for a younger American audience. It’s two and a half hours long without car chases, explosions or machine guns, so try to open your mind a little. Melissa is a gentlemanly British drama with a well-written plot and excellent acting.

Get past that and Melissa is a wildly entertaining, utterly brilliant murder mystery out of the 1970s — and the scenery is especially interesting, including record players, cars, clothing, home decor, wallpaper and everything else from 30 years ago.

Particularly interesting to me, Guy Foster is a passionate and emotional protagonist who insists on living his own way as a freelance writer and reporter, not wanting to be tied down under someone else’s thumb.

Kinda like some nut-job I know who freelances and runs an online magazine…

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Then one night last year, Mythbusters was over and this Bon Jovi song comes on, and I decide to watch an episode of “the fishing show.” Now I’m hooked.

What really strikes me about Deadliest Catch is that the Discovery folks put in cameras and producers, documentary style, and ended up with better characters and dramatic plots than most of the striking writers could put out.

From Sig Hansen, the third generation Norwegian to salty Alaskan Phil Harris on his boat, the Cornelia Marie, Deadliest Catch is no small achievement.

Watching these fishermen haul 700-pound crab pots from the bottom of the Bering Sea over and over again and watching them deal with everything from legal problems to winter storms, it’s often easy to forget that Deadliest Catch is unscripted. Moreover, it’s easy to forget that any of these people can die — fishermen and producers — at any time.

The reminders come from the solemn episodes where the boats break away from fishing to search for survivors from a vessel sunk by a rogue wave or storm. They rarely find many alive in the frigid waters. This came to life in the first season especially, when one of the featured boats, Big Valley, sunk early on, killing all but one aboard.

The third season starts off with the beginning of the Red King Crab season and disaster as the fishing vessel Ocean Challenger sinks, taking three men with it and showing a dramatic Coast Guard helicopter rescue where one of the crew members is saved.

Season three is contained on five DVD’s with nearly nine hours of footage. I was disappointed by the lack of special features — Discovery did a really good special called “After the Catch” where narrator Mike Rowe shared stories and beers with the captains and crew. That was another amazing part of deadliest catch, bringing narrator and subjects together.

Either way, the DVD set is an excellent gift and a great way to relive Deadliest Catch.

Episodes:

A Tragic Beginning
Journey back to Dutch Harbor, Alaska – the largest fishing port in the United States. The 2006 Red King Crab season kicks off as 81 fishing vessels eagerly return to stake their claim in the million dollar jackpot.

The Unforgiving Sea
After the Ocean Challenger fishing boat sinks, a Coast Guard helicopter rescues the only known survivor. Meanwhile, two bodies are pulled from the water and another man remains lost at sea.

Pain and Paybacks
After a deadly start to the season, the Bering Sea claims more victims. Deckhand Lenny Lakanoff of the Wizard suffers a crippling injury, leaving Captain Keith scrambling to shore.

Cheating Death
Halfway through the season the grind is on with crews working throughout the nights. Equipment failures, fatigue and bad weather make fishing even more dangerous.

Bering Sea Salvation
Experience the heart-wrenching tales of the Bering Sea as Captain Johnathan Hillstrand of the Time Bandit recounts a rescue attempt he made nine years ago that ended in tragedy.

The Last Lap
The grinding 2006 Red King Crab fishing marathon comes to a close as holds fill with King gold. With money in their pockets, the fishermen return home for a short rest before returning to the 2007 Opilio Crab Season.

New Beginnings
All aboard as the January Opilio crab season opens. Several greenhorns are about to experience the subfreezing temperatures and icy winter waters of the Bering Sea for the first time.

Caught in the Storm
Only days into the Opilio season, a major storm system hits the fishing grounds causing Captain Andy of the Time Bandit to call his men off deck.

Crossing the Line
A monster storm blows through the Time Bandit and Cornelia Marie grounds, and a double change of guard takes place on the Wizard as Captain Keith Colburn and greenhorn Nick both head south.

Trials of the Greenhorns
The harsh winter weather puts the greenhorns to the test, but the Northwestern and Cornelia Marie greenhorns step up to prove their worth by working through broken bones and icy decks without complaint.

Ice and Open Water
The promise of a great catch outweighs the dangerous risks faced by the Opilio Crab fishing vessels. The Far West Leader attempts to survive the loss of one engine, while the Time Bandit enjoys unseasonable weather and unprecedented catches.

A Frozen Finish
The 2007 Opilio crab tally is in and a winner is declared. After a long and difficult crab fishing season, the Northwestern enjoys a sweet homecoming with friends and family back in Seattle.

Bonus features include three “lost” episodes featuring Dave Attell, Louis C.K. and Conan O’Brien; An Evening with Dr. Katz: Live from the Comedy Central Stage; and a 28-page booklet with an introduction from Dr. Katz and memoirs from his favorite patients with watercolor illustrations of each.

“I’m so proud of that work and, I’m a compulsive name dropper, [but] when I did a movie with Ice Cube over the summer I said…I hope my best work is not behind me but if it is, I’m glad its Dr. Katz,” said Jonathan Katz, Dr. Katz’s creator, stand-up comedian and image for Dr. Katz’s character.

Although the show has been one of the highlights of his life, Katz has now become a comedian with a cause. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, (MS) in 1997 Katz says on his personal website that he, “thought it was a stage…like puberty without pimples.” Soon he realized MS was a life-long disease and for the first time he became a comedian, “with a hook.”

The release comes at a time when his comedic appearances are mostly for fundraising or educational events related to his illness. The comedian is also involved in a Jewish comedy show that airs online at WKATZ.com and is produced in his at-home studio. At this point in his career, Katz is taking care of himself and enjoying his wife and daughters, whom he claims are far funnier than him, but he still imagines what would make a good comedic series today.

“When trying to get on air with another show one of the problems is finding an audience. The audience for animation now is very male, very young, very horny…and into violence. We won the first Emmy award for an animated comedy and I’m a little jealous, in a good way, with the success of South Park because they make more money from the sweatshirts, but I don’t think it’s a place adults would look for animation entertainment, at least for me. Sometimes I underestimate the appeal,” Katz analyzed.

Dr. Katz shared the life of a therapist who lived with his deadbeat son, Ben, and had interesting day-to-day dealings with his attractively sarcastic secretary, Laura. He made his comedian and artist patients, animated versions of Ray Romano, Rodney Dangerfield and Dave Chappelle, among others, do their stand-up routines or have in depth one-on-one’s to decipher their psychological issues.

The style of the show was one of a kind, with scripts that only included plot ideas and cast members that ad-libbed on these for the rest of the show. The range of topics discussed also varied and were original since, as Katz explains, comedic inspiration can be drawn from everywhere.

“I don’t want anyone laughing that’s not involuntary, I’ve been getting courtesy laughs form my daughters for the past 25 years. I could use the whole world for inspiration,” Katz said. “The other day I did a show about the sounds of my house keeping me up at night.”

Overall, he says, comedy can be a shield that disguises personal dilemmas. Katz admits that many comedians resort to alcohol or drugs because of past pains that keep on living after laughs from audiences die out. He became a comedian almost accidentally, his mother passed away when he was 16 and the death left him, “somewhat unfinished.”

Katz admits that Ben was the character he assimilated to the most. His father, he claims, did not cut is allowance until he was 30 years old. A fact hard to believe but that basically represents a life overindulged. Surprisingly, this past has not affected Katz’s welcoming persona.

“When I was little I wanted to be a cowboy because that was on TV and then as I got older I waned to be a really good cowboy,” said the comedian who considers himself lucky. “People will say to me, ‘I haven’t laughed for 12 years’ and it’s a good feeling, helping people who don’t have a lot of laugh in their life, you don’t have to have MS to be miserable.”

Besides his comedy show and the DVD release Katz is focusing on script writing for two comedies he would like to see made into full-length movies. Now living in Massachusetts he continues to learn that life is unexpected … and the Red Sox addictive.

“I’m from New York and when I first moved here my father in law said, ‘don’t get involved with the Red Sox, they will break your heart,’ and now were crazy Sox fans,” Katz said about the World Series champions.

While with Blast, the funny-man answered some rapid-fire questions; these certainly proved Katz is both, odd and unique.

Blast- What’s your favorite color?
Katz- Yellow an black, because I’m allergic to bees

Blast- What is the most memorable gift you’ve received?
Katz- I remember $2,500 I got in savings bonds for my Bar Mitzvah and I threw them by mistake in the incinerator. Unlike the Israel bonds I still haven’t matured.

Blast-What do you like to eat?
Katz- I love Cuban sandwiches, they’re comfort food for me, and I do like salsa picante too. My sister moved to Puerto Rico, she visited and fell in love with PR…and with Jose Montalvo. When I go there I eat the food.

Blast- What’s up with Britney?
Katz- I think she’s hurting like anybody else and for a guy who needs attention, I can get it with all my clothes on. I’m not sure she has that skill. I remember when I told my daughter, “You know she’s not a bad dancer,” she said, “Yeah, for a slut.”

Blast-How would you describe Jonathan Katz?
Katz- I guess I’m so removed, I sort of have a separate professional person and then the person. I’m 60 but I wish I was more curious about people and I don’t think I’m a good listener, I wish I was a better husband and father, but at least I now I’m a good dog owner. My dog loves me.

This puts her in league with the only five artists who have previously received the International Artist Award: Elton John, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart and Aerosmith.

Usher presented the award saying, “With gifts as big and generous as nature, a voice that touches the heart of everyone who hears it, a smile that can light up a stadium, she is something rare and special. In a world of divas and superstars, there is only one Beyonce.”

Columbia Records has just released The Beyonce Experience Live, a deluxe DVD capturing all the visual thrills and musical excitement of the singer’s world concert tour, The Beyonce Experience.

Recorded on September 2 during Beyonce’s SRO performance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, The Beyonce Experience LIVE! DVD contains Beyonce’s full concert performance — more than 2 hours of music. It also includes performances by special guest artist Jay-Z as well as that evening’s reunion of Beyonce with Destiny’s Child.

Beyonce launched her 2007 world tour in Tokyo on April 10 following the release of her latest chart-topping album, “B’Day,” bringing the multi-media extravaganza stateside beginning July 6 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The most eagerly anticipated tour of 2007, “The Beyonce Experience” showcases the international music and film star, along with her sizzling all- female band, performing musical hits, classics, and surprises in a newly-created, state-of-the-art concert environment.

Discovery Channel has released the complete first season of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. Join Mike has he takes on everything from sewer inspection to hot tar roofing in this widely popular spin on educational television.

In Dirty Jobs, Mike Row redefines the traditional everyman as he dives headfirst into weird, strange and most of all dirty jobs that regular people do every day.

Episodes:

Bat Cave Scavenger & Worm Dung Farmer
Visit a cave where bat guano (a.k.a. bat poop) is collected for some of the best fertilizer in the world. Then, join Mike as he burrows his way onto a farm that specializes in worm dung.

Roadkill Cleaners & Chinatown Garbage Collector
Mike rides along with some professional road kill collectors – and takes his turn scooping up five-day-old asphalt ornaments. Plus, learn how some of your discarded scraps are turned into fine wine.

Sewer Inspector & Pig Farmer
Mike braves the cockroach- and rat-infested sewers of San Francisco as part of his latest gig. Things get even messier in Iowa as he learns the fine art of pig insemination.

Chick Sexer & Vexcon
Mike takes an “egg-cellent” vacation to the Murray McMurray Hatchery for a little chicken sex ed. Later, he joins forces with the Vexcon Pest Control group for an all-out assault on a home ruled by cockroaches.

Sludge Cleaner & Hot Tar Roofer
Mike wades into a greasy pit of sludge to help an environmental company recycle some gunky grime. In Hot Tar Roofer, Mike lands on a church rooftop and learns how to melt down chunks of black tar for roof repair.

“The complete, unedited 66-minute concert including ‘Something In The Way’ and ‘Oh Me’ not aired during the original 44-minute broadcast,” MTV said in a statement. “‘Unplugged in New York’ also includes five previously unreleased rehearsal performances and MTV News interviews with the band and audience members.”

“Unplugged” was filmed Nov. 18, 1993 at Sony Music Studios, the show first aired on MTV Dec. 14, 1993, months before Kurt Cobain’s death.

The DVD also features a “Bare Witness” interview with the band.

Features:

COMPLETE SHOW (UNEDITED):

• About A Girl
• Come As You Are
• Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam
• The Man Who Sold The World
• Pennyroyal Tea
• Dumb
• Polly
• On A Plain
• Something In The Way
• Plateau
• Oh, Me
• Lake Of Fire
• All Apologies
• Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

MTV NEWS – BARE WITNESS: Documentary

THE REHEARSALS:

• Come As You Are
• Polly
• Plateau
• Pennyroyal Tea
• The Man Who Sold The World

The DVD is available now.

Dominic Da Vinci is the controversial coroner in Vancouver, and it’s his job to get to the bottom line of the city’s suspicious deaths. This is a Canadian solution to Law & Order, and it’s incredibly popular, so much so that it’s being made available to a wider American audience on DVD

This is a great series that The New York Times called “unlike anything on television.” Season 2 contains 13 episodes, about 10 hours total on four discs.

If you’re in the mood for something different in the cluttered world of crime drama, try this on for size.

It is one of the most compelling tellings of the dawn of the nuclear age I have ever seen. Day One is a long-form movie, just under two and a half hours, but the story pulls you in while the brilliant acting keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even though you already know how the movie ends (the atomic bombing of Japan) Day One finds a way to make the material fessh.

You do have to be ready for a history lesson. This isn’t an action, shoot-em up movie, but Day One tells this true story amazingly. This is a historical drama without any sense of bias. All sides are told and the humanity of the major players is evident throughout. The film tells the story of the decision to build and drop the Atomic bomb and the level of thought and debate that went into the decisions on all sides.

If you enjoy Day One and other long-form historical dramas, look out for Space Race, which picks up where Day One leaves off.

Day One will be available on DVD November 13.

Quick hits
Director: Joseph Sargent
Staring: Brian Dennehy, David Strathairn, Michael Tucker, Hume Cronyn, Richard Dysart
Rating: NR
Distributor: Acorn Media
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Run Time: 140 minutes

The FutureSex/LoveShow concert DVD from his August Madison Square Garden presentation as well as a FutureSex/LoveSounds deluxe edition with CD and DVD will be available this November.

The concert DVD can be bought only at Best Buy on November 20. Buyers can ensure they get a copy by preordering the set at BestBuy.com.

The double DVD gives fans an intimate look at the buzz of activities before, during and after the New York performance. In addition to the concert, the set includes a song-by-song running commentary by Timberlake himself; behind-the-scenes concert and backstage footage; a hi-speed bonus music video of the concert; and full length interviews with Timberlake, his band, and crew.

Timberlake’s sophomore solo album has proven to be filled with hits. The DVD set of his tour is just like his album, entertaining, well done and original. For fans, this will not be just another concert DVD that is watched once and is then left in the shelves to gain dust.

If by any chance supplies run out, the CD’s deluxe edition will still be available starting November 27. FutureSex/LoveSounds debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and has sold nearly eight million copies worldwide. The first single from the deluxe album is the soulful duet with Beyonce, “Until The End Of Time.” It also includes the original 12 tracks from the multi-platinum album and additional all-star bonus tracks-which Timberlake recorded in collaboration with major artists.

A bonus DVD of unreleased footage from worldwide performances, director commentaries and ‘making of’ reels of videos complete the package.

Whether it is the concert set or the CD package, both products are worth waiting in line for, preordering or fighting for against screaming tweens. Australian residents got the best deal though. They enjoyed the entertainment live since Timberlake’s tour continued at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on October 27.

Label: Jive Records
Genre: R&B
Release Date: November 20, 2007

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Sony Pictures Television, with help from affiliates in 99 percent of the country carrying the highly-rated sitcom in syndication, are asking viewers to vote in the Seinfeld Viewers Choice. Voting started on October 15 and will run through November 5.

Clips from 35 of the most popular episodes will be showcased as streaming content on Yahoo! TV (www.tv.yahoo.com) and viewers will be asked to select their 10 faves from the clips available. Votes will then be tabulated and the top 10 episodes will air as part of two Viewers Choice themed weeks on November 12 and November 19.

“Seinfeld is the greatest comedy in television history,” said Robert Oswaks, executive vice president of marketing for Sony Pictures Television. “This promotion is a great way to let Seinfeld’s huge viewer base vote on and watch their favorite episodes in the November sweep.”

A random winner from all of the online voters will be drawn to win a grand prize. The prize consists of a $4,500 shopping spree from Overstock.com and a Seinfeld fan package, which includes the ninth season DVDs, a Seinfeld hat, T-Shirt and mug. Throughout the entry period, voters can also enter for a chance to win 10 other prizes.

Premiering in 1990, Seinfeld told the story of four single friends living in New York. It earned well-deserved reputation for generating water cooler conversation from hilariously random and original storylines about Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Kramer (Michael Richards). The series scenarios have left viewers with lasting memories about puffy shirts, close talkers, big salads, black & white cookies, shrinkage, killer envelopes, marble ryes and the unmistakable “yada yada yada.”

While on air, the show was nominated for 57 Emmy Awards and won a total of 13. TV Guide also ranked it number one on its list of 50 Greatest Shows of All Time an in its current season in syndication Seinfeld consistently ranks as the number one off network comedy. If not chosen as grand prize winners fans can get the ninth season DVD’s, out November 6, to try and get closure for never getting a tenth one.

“Replete with infidelities, betrayals and rivalries, English history comes to life and emerges as a compelling family saga,” the company said in a statement recently.

The box-set is two discs with five episodes covering nearly 250 years of British history, including a blunt telling of Charles II, who fathered 17 illegitimate children.

Also included are the “austere William of Orange, whom Parliament invited to conquer England; plain, pragmatic Anne, who oversaw the expansion of a great empire; George I, who established the Hanoverian line but never learned English; and regal Victoria, who ushered in a new age that saw the Monarchy become the model for middle-class morality.”

This lively, engrossing narrative shows how events in the bedroom and on the battlefield shaped Europe’s longest-surviving governing institution. In a world rocked by populist revolutions, how did England’s monarchs manage to hold on to power? Starkey finds answers in the English tradition in which kings and queens rule by consent of the people, as well as in the adaptability and tenacity of those who sat on the throne.

The set coincides with these episodes airing on public television starting in October.

The first set was released last September and covered the time period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Restoration times.

DVD 2-Vol. Boxed Set: 5 episodes – approx. 239 min. – 16:9 widescreen – (CC)

Release Date: October 30, 2007
Price: $39.99

The set features eight daring shipwreck expeditions to the depths of World War II’s most deadly naval battles and attacks.

“Rather than looking for treasure, the Sea Hunters seek only to complete the historical record. Besides delving deep into each site’s history,” said one writeup. “You’ll sit in on prep sessions as the team struggles with the technical challenges of their dives. Then you’ll see exactly what they see, thanks to dramatic underwater camerawork. And in each episode, you’ll hear exclusive interviews with survivors, witnesses, and other experts, bringing a human dimension to historical events.”

With the rising popularity of the Discovery Channel, History Channel and now the Science Channel in the U.S., The Sea Hunters is a great gift for dads and anyone interested in seeing sunken submarines and destroyers.

On November 13 Comedy Central Records will release Rough Around The Edges – Live From Madison Square Garden, Cook’s third comedic album.

The full-length CD with accompanying DVD showcases his amusing new stand-up set recorded in front of thousands of fans at the main arena of Madison Square
Garden. Rough Around the Edges comes out on the heels of his two platinum-selling albums Retaliation and Harmful if Swallowed.

The CD is filled with Cook’s energetic and cartoon animated-like jokes. His clever wordplay and observations about human behavior make him appealing to audiences of all ages. Because of this, Cook has maintained his reputation as a prolific stand-up comedian while distinguishing himself as a charismatic and versatile actor.

The record and DVD will be available on November 6, perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

If you’d like to get your hands in a copy e-mail us at Giveaways@BlastMagazine.com with your complete contact information By November 25. A random winner will be selected from all the entries.

“Sing along with the citizens of South Park with everyone’s favorite holiday classics such as ‘Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo’ and ‘Christmas Time in Hell,’” Comedy Central said in a statement. “Check out the boys bringing Christmas to Iraq and learn how hard it is to be a Jew during this holiday season.”

The DVD, called “Christmas Time in South Park” will be in stores November 13

Episodes:

“Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo” (original air date: 12/17/97)

While the kids at South Park Elementary are attempting to stage a non- offensive, non-denominational holiday play, Kyle checks himself into a mental institution.

“Merry Christmas Charlie Manson” (original air date: 12/09/98)

Cartman’s Uncle Howard breaks out of prison to share Christmas with his family. He shows up for dinner with his cellmate Charles Manson.

“Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics” (original air date: 12/01/99)

Hosted by Mr. Hankey himself, holiday songs are performed in unique South Park style.

“A Very Crappy Christmas” (original air date: 12/20/00)

Mr. Hankey’s a no-show for Christmas this year. He’s busy with his new wife and their three little nuggets. Without Mr. Hankey, the boys are doing everything they can to bring the spirit of Christmas to South Park. They are inspired to make a video Christmas card starring Jesus Christ and Santa Claus.

“Red Sleigh Down” (original air date: 12/11/02)

When all the tallies are in, Cartman is overdrawn in the “naughty” column and has to score one big “nice” to be eligible for Christmas presents this year. He enlists Jesus, Santa and Mr. Hankey to help him bring Christmas to the downtrodden citizens of Iraq.

“It’s Christmas in Canada” (original air date: 12/17/03)

The Broflovski family is dealt a devastating blow when Ike’s Canadian birth parents show up unexpectedly and want their baby back. When the townspeople decide to forgo Christmas gifts and take up a collection to get Ike home to South Park, the boys are distraught. Before all the money for their Christmas presents get spent, they hightail it to Canada to bring Ike home themselves.

“Woodland Critter Christmas” (original air date: 12/15/04)

The woodland critters in South Park ask Stan to help them build a manger in anticipation of the birth of their Lord and Savior. Stan complies only to find out that they serve a very different Lord.

Launched in 1997, South Park, now in its 11th season, is the highest-rated show on Comedy Central.

From Acorn Media: “One of the most honored, prolific, and critically acclaimed modern crime writers, Rendell has been called this era’s “Queen of Crime.” In these six tales of suspense, Rendell examines the jealousies, betrayals, and resentments that lead to tragedy. A stellar cast brings each story off the page and onto the screen with all of the author’s delicious irony and intrigue intact. Featured actors in Set 2 include James D’Arcy (Master and Commander), Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle’s War), and Alexis Denisof (TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The mysteries aired in syndication on public television in the 1990s.”

Episodes::

Bribery & Corruption—Young Nicholas Hawthorne (James D’Arcy) has a crush on a married woman with whom his widowed father has begun a secret affair. Then she winds up murdered.

Front Seat—Cecily Branksome (Janet Suzman) opens old wounds by nosing into a long-resolved murder in her childhood hometown—to the growing annoyance of her husband Hugh (Edward Hardwicke).

A Case of Coincidence—When a surgeon’s wife turns up murdered, Inspector Masters (Keith Barron) and Chief Inspector Moore (Ronald Pickup) face increased pressure to bring a serial killer to justice.

A Dark Blue Perfume—Newly widowed Liz (Susannah York) rediscovers life and love with a troubled man who has a mysterious past.

May & June—Since childhood, May Thrace (Phoebe Nicholls) has resented her sister June (Christine Kavanagh)—especially when they compete for the same man’s affections.

The Orchard Walls—Sent to the country to escape war-ravaged London, a young girl (Honeysuckle Weeks) discovers the adult world’s dark secrets. Co-starring Alexis Denisof.

Released: October 23
MSRP: $49.99
DVD 3-Vol. Boxed Set: 6 episodes – Ranging from 50 to 105 minutes each
SPECIAL FEATURES: Ruth Rendell biography and cast filmographies.