Through a series of short films from filmmakers including Chris Hegedus and Mario Van Peebles, The First Amendment Project explores the rights, responsibilities, power, and attacks on free speech in this country. The recounting of Bill O'Reilly and Fox News's ridiculous copyright infringement suit against Al Franken is truly hilarious – and unimaginably pathetic. Bonus features include interview outtakes, performances, a deleted scene, galleries, and more.

(New Line, Rated R, DVD-$27.95 SRP)

Unlike his more recent annoyingly over-the-top performances, Sean Penn's performance of Sam Bicke – an everyman who actually plotted the assassination of President Nixon in 1974 – is engagingly understated. It makes watching the aptly named The Assassination of Richard Nixon that much more refreshing, which also boasts a terrific supporting cast, including Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts. The DVD features an audio commentary from writer/director Niels Mueller.

(New Line, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

So you want to make the third installment in the living dead Blade franchise, and you're worried that audiences are growing tired of – you know – your vampire a**-kicking lead, so what do you do? Hook him up with sidekicks! Ripping the name from the comics, Blade: Trinity features The Nightstalkers - a clan of human vampire hunters whom Blade must team up with to take down the ever-reemerging vamp threat. He gets saddled with cutie Nightstalker Abigail (Jessica Biel) and ripped Nightstakler Van Wilder… er, Hannibal (Ryan Reynolds). Oh yeah – Van Wilder's been working out big time… And it's scary. It's not cinema, but it's at least a watchable popcorn-fest… And it's got Dracula! The unrated version of the film contains 10 additional minutes, plus a blooper reel, alternate ending, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a pair of audio commentaries.

(Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$26.99 SRP)

If there's one aspect of film appreciation that DVD has certainly spurred on, it's the embrace and acceleration  of film restoration at the major studio level. Once a campaign of film aficionados, it's now become an economic force to be reckoned with, as even the most obscure of projects gets the funding necessary to not only restore audio and visual elements, but even footage long since excised. Case in point is the reconstructed version of Samuel Fuller's war epic The Big Red One, starring Lee Marvin. Not only has it been fully restored and remastered, but 47 minutes of footage (supervised by critic/filmmaker Richard Schickel) have been added back in, fleshing out the original truncated (and hurried) cut. The added effect is to give the film a scope it never had. See, this is what DVD is all about. The 2-disc set features a commentary with Schickel, alternate scenes, restoration comparisons, a documentary on the reconstruction, a profile of Fuller, the War Department film "The Fighting First," the 1980 promo reel, TV & radio spots, the theatrical & reconstruction trailers, and a still gallery. And if you're looking for a wartime double feature (this is the month of Memorial Day, after all), pick up a copy of the newly-restored Battle of the Bulge, which features a pair of vintage making-of featurettes.

(Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

By its next-to-last season, Dawson's Creek was really running on fumes. Not that it was ever a brilliant series to begin with – Kevin Williamson's verbose teens were always too cute and affected for their own good, and once the novelty wore off (episode 2) it was all downhill. Oh, and Ven der Beek's forehead always scared the crap out of me. That thing is freakin' huge. The 4-disc set is entirely featureless… Save for that giant forehead.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$129.99 SRP)

I loathe Enterprise. I despise it with the fiery heat of a thousand suns. I hate it because I love Star Trek . As a concept, I'm fine with the initial idea of Enterprise – a prequel series exploring the initial pre-Kirk exploration of the galaxy by the first starship to bear the name "Enterprise." As executed, however, the show is an insipid collection of mediocre scripts, pitiful casting, and botched opportunities. But I know there are some people out there who, for some reason, like it. Love it, even. Fine. I hope you enjoy the complete first season of Star Trek: Enterprise, featuring all 25 episodes across 7-discs, plus audio commentary on the premiere (a ST TV DVD first), a trio of text commentaries, featurettes ("Creating Enterprise," "O Captain! My Captain! A Profile of Scott Bakula," "Cast Impressions: Season One," "Inside Shuttlepod One," "Star Trek Time Travel: Temporal Cold Wars and Beyond," "Enterprise Secrets," and "Admiral Forrest Takes Center Stage"), deleted scenes, and outtakes. Outtakes! No other series set gave us outtakes (even though they exist), but Enterprise gets outtakes! Typical.

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP)

Everybody Loves Raymond fans (you know who you are) can avoid the urban depth of Seinfeld and head straight to the complete third season of everybody's favorite domestic sitcom starring the always-loveable Peter Boyle. The 5-disc set features two audio commentaries with Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal, bloopers, deleted scenes, and the MT&R panel with the cast and Rosenthal.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$58.95 SRP)

It was during the fourth season of I Love Lucy that Lucy, Ricky, Fred, & Ethel made their legendary trip out to Hollywood, encountering a boatload of famous faces, including William Holden, Rock Hudson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Harpo Marx. The 5-disc set features all 30 episodes (beautifully restored with the original music), bloopers, a behind-the-scenes audio featurette, and production notes. These releases have really been a high-water mark for TV on DVD, particularly in regard to classic series.

(Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.92 SRP)

I'm all for the recent flurry of themed DVD collections from studios like MGM and Warners, if only because it provides a perfect economic excuse for them to delve into their massive catalogues and package in titles that wouldn't otherwise see the light of day, alongside more recognizable classics. The latest is Warners' John Wayne: Legendary Heroes Collection, which contains The Sea Chase, Blood Alley, McQ, Tall in the Saddle, and The Train Robbers. As you can see – a wide range. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, newsreels, and trailers.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

So, will Peggy survive plunging thousands of feet after her recreational skydiving took a turn for the worse when her parachute failed to open? Will Bobby be a rodeo clown? Is Hank a murder? And how many foot fetish web sites have you been to? Find out everything (but the last thing) in the complete fourth season of King of the Hill. Sadly, there are still no bonus features (Come on, people! Those character commentaries in Season's 1 and 2 were hilarious!).

(Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

I will admit, up front and with a (somewhat) clear conscience, that I really did like License to Drive when I was younger. Really, it was the pinnacle of the epic "Two Coreys" run of films, and a pretty darn good comedy about a hapless 16 year-old who just wants to get his driver's license, even though the universe – and a completely insane series of events over the course of a single evening – are against him. Add brand new interviews with Coreys Haim and Feldman, an audio commentary with director Greg Beeman & writer Neil Tolkin a deleted scene, TV spots, and trailers, and you've got a guilty pleasure worth picking up.

(Eagle Media, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

Watching the current Doug Stanhope/Joe Rogan version, it only makes me pine for the enjoyably hedonistic Man Show of yore, featuring host/creators Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla. There was a giddily juvenile spirit to the Kimmel/Carolla years, that has been replaced by a snarky off-putting vibe in the show now. Relive the glory days of The Man Show with the release of the complete third – and penultimate Kimmel/Carolla - season . The 4-disc set features all 26 episodes, plus bonus unseen girls on trampolines, "Women in Sports," "If I Had a Son…," "Alien," "How It Really Happened," and Juggies Angylique & Vanessa dance segments.

(Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$29.96 SRP each)

Gearheads (hi, Dad!) will be rushing to their favorite DVD emporium for the complete 1^st & 2^nd seasons of both Monster Garage and American Chopper. For the uninitiated, both series feature entertainingly over-the-top nutters who customize vehicles (Monster Garage) and motorcycles ( American Chopper) for a bevy of clients who pay top dollar for some truly weird-a** customizations. All 4 sets feature 3 discs and 13 episodes a piece, with Monster Garage featuring the bonus behind-the-scenes episode "Under the Hood." The Chopper sets feature commercial shoot outtakes and Paul Sr. interview clips.

(Walt Disney, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Combine the slick blockbuster sensibilities of Jerry Bruckheimer with an attempt to capture the historical adventure of a latter-day Indiana Jones – casting Droopy-faced Nic Cage as your lead – and you'll get National Treasure. Which is a shame, really, since it's a vapid, annoying, cloying bit of grating fluff, featuring a "Treasure of the Founding Fathers conspiracy" that makes The Da Vinci Code look like a brilliant piece of fiction. Ah well. The DVD features an alternate ending with optional commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary, a making-of featurette, a featurette on the Knights Templar, two more featurettes ("Treasure Hunters Revealed" & "Reiley's Decode This!"), plus an opening scene animatic with optional commentary.

(Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

The Monkees did it first, but The Partridge Family went one better – let's build a TV show around a fake band, but let's make them a family, too! And, suckers that we are in the American public, we bought it… And their records ("I Think I Love You," "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat," "Come On Get Happy"). It also gave the world Danny Bonaduce, and for that we can only thank whatever higher power you believe in. Now you can grab your own slice of 70's faux-pop with the complete first season of The Partridge Family, which also contains a pair of featurettes, audio commentaries (with Shirley Jones & Bonaduce), and a 4-song sampler CD.

(Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.95 SRP)

While not a big Andrew Lloyd Webber fan (don't get me started on Cats), I do enjoy a fair chunk of the music from Phantom of the Opera . Don't ask me why. Still, the lavish theatrical adaptation of Phantom managed to make me despise even the songs I liked. There's absolutely no charm in this film – it's all over-the-top style, sound and fury signifying nothing. Oh, it was directed by Joel Schumacher. That explains it. As far as bonus features go, all you get is the trailer.

(Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Pocahontas was the Disney film that broke the spell. Up until that point, I'd enjoyed The Little Mermaid, was impressed by Beauty and the Beast, laughed out loud at Aladdin , and was blown away by The Lion King. So it's no surprise that I anticipated the release of their latest venture, loosely based on the historical interaction between Captain John Smith and Pocahontas in early colonial America. Oh, and it was an annoyingly flat disappointment of a film. But oh well. Hey, it did have at least one good song – the governor's villainous "digging" song. The 2-disc 10^th Anniversary Edition features another of those annoying extended cuts with the insertion of another song (why, Disney?) but thankfully it's optional. The set also features deleted scenes, a making-of, and a bunch of tacky kiddie crap.

(MGM/UA, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

When you've got a new 2-disc edition of Mel Brooks's 80's sci-fi parody Spaceballs, you'd think I'd be praising the special features – but I'm not. I'm not because the new additions – a new making-of featurette that looks like it was produced by the same people that make training videos for Burger King, a "conversation" between co-writers Brooks and Thomas Meehan, a John Candy tribute featurette, photos, storyboards, and galleries – aren't terribly spectacular. The commentary with Brooks is the same featured on the original DVD, which was recorded for the laserdisc – and they even neglected to port over the original EPK that was on that former release. So what's to like, then? Well, the fact that we finally have the film in anamorphic widescreen. That alone makes the upgrade worth it (but keep your original for the EPK). Oh, and smoke if you got 'em.

(R2, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP)

I'm a sucker for classic television, and I'm even more of a sucker when that television is like a pop culture bonanza – which is exactly what you get with the first volume of episodes from the classic This Is Your Life. Hosted by Ralph Edwards for over 20 years, this program would surprise celebrities with a retrospective on their lives, bringing in "mystery guests" from the person's past. In this initial 3-disc collection, 18 shows are features, with guests like Laurel & Hardy, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Lou Costello, and Vincent Price. This is truly must-see material for any pop culture geeks out there.

(Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

He was no Ropers, but Don Knotts made quite the impression as the google-eyed and easily exasperated landlord Ralph Furley, who joined the cast of Three's Company in its fourth season. Besides that one major change, the hijinks are still the same, as Jack must continue pretending to be gay in order to share the apartment with Janet & Chrissy, and madcap hijinks and pratfalls ensue. I think you know the formula. The 4-disc set features all 25 episodes, plus audio commentary on "Chrissy's Hospitality," a featurette on casting Knotts and Suzanne Somers, interviews, and "best of" montages for each of the characters.

(Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, DVD-$14.98 SRP)

Post 9/11, the story depicted in the 80's cable mainstay Turk 182 takes on a new resonance. When the NYC mayor (Robert Culp) denies his fireman older brother (Robert Urich) his pension after a serious on-the-job injury, a young artist (Timothy Hutton) begins a series of public graffiti attacks utilizing his brother's nickname and badge number. Soon the campaign reaches critical mass, and the public begins to cheer him on, even as the mayor's security chief (Peter Boyle) tracks him down. Bonus features on the newly remastered DVD include an audio commentary with director Bob Clark and the theatrical trailer.

(Universal, Rated R, DVD-$14.98 SRP)

The bonus features have remained the same, but Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys has gotten a spiffy new remastering, and it looks great – so much so that I'd suggest repurchasing if you're already the proud owner of the original version of Gilliam's bleak time travel epic. Those repeated bonus features include the extensive behind-the-scenes documentary The Hamster Factor, an audio commentary with Gilliam & producer Charles Roven, a featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

(Universal, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

It doesn't have nearly the claustrophobia of John Carpenter's low-budget original, but the remake of Assault on Precinct 13 certainly cranks up the intensity, turning a potboiler into a bruckheimer-eaque exercise in slick filmmaking… and I liked it, surprisingly enough. Maybe that's because I can identify with the story – being trapped in a soon-to-be-decommissioned police station with violent criminals with a rogue mob outside your door. Something about that just strikes a chord. The DVD features behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

(Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$79.92 SRP)

Watching the films in Warners Controversial Classics Collection, it's hard to believe that they stirred up controversies at all. Some, however, still have a bite to this day, even if it's not quite as striking as during the initial release. The seven films – Fury, Blackboard Jungle, I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang, Bad Day At Black Rock, The Americanization of Emily, Advise & Consent, and A Face in the Crowd – are all fully restored and feature bonus materials including audio commentaries, documentaries, cartoons, featurettes, and trailers. Featuring subject matter ranging from prisoner abuse to racial tension, these films run the gamut of hut button issues, and feature stellar casts (Glenn Ford, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, Paul Muni, Andy Griffith, James Garner, Julie Andrews, Walter Matthau, and more).

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

It seems like such a simple/stupid idea to base a comedy around the group of hangers-on that hover around a celebrity, but it's taken HBO's subtly hilarious Entourage to nail the formula to the post for all the world to see. As actor Vincent Chase's star begins to rise, his friends from back home in Queens hitch a ride, navigating all the ins, outs, and absurdities of Hollywood along the way. Of particular note is Jeremy Piven's spot-on performance as Chase's stereotypical agent. The 2-disc set features the entire 8 episode first season, plus audio commentaries and a interviews with the cast & crew.

(Criterion, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

Most of memories of the documentary Hoop Dreams revolve around the Oscar controversy following its release, rather than the film itself. After watching it again, I'm struck by just how powerful its story of 2 inner-city kids – followed over a period of 5 years – as they pursue their dream of a basketball career, all the while coping with school and their home life. The Criterion release features audio commentaries with the filmmakers and the now grown-up kids, Siskel & Ebert segments, a music video, and theatrical trailers.

(Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

Mark my words – Topher Grace is the next Tom Hanks. In role after role, he sparks the same kind of response I got to the early work of Mr. Hanks – namely "this guy's good" and "why can't this guy choose better movies?". With the comedy In Good Company, Grace finally gets a part to shine in – that of a young turk who gets promoted over a company veteran (Dennis Quaid), only to fall in love with his daughter (Scarlett Johansson), making an already awkward working relationship even moreso. Now here's hoping Topher doesn't drop the ball, and turn into the next Bud Cort. The DVD features an audio commentary with Grace & director Paul Weitz, deleted scenes, a featurette on successful businessmen and how they got where they are, and a look at the New York filming.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

Even though everything was firing on all cylinders during the third season of In Living Color, the writing was on the wall that the Wayans clan – particularly Damon and Keenan – were not long for the show. It was also the season that the recurring characters really took off, from "Men On…" to Homey the Clown, but the real breakout was Jim Carrey. After this season, there was no keeping him down – in fact, his film career was right around the corner.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP)

It's probably its lack of preachiness – and sly wit – that makes the religious-themed Joan of Arcadia tolerable to me. I normally gag at shows like Touched By 7th Heaven, but I've actually enjoyed the episodes I've caught of this series, starring the unbelievably cute Amber Tamblyn as 16 year-old Joan, a high school student who begins to be sent on missions by a higher power… Think of it as a cross between Highway to Heaven and The Dead Zone. Check the show out for yourself with the complete first season, featuring audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

(Touchstone, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I actually enjoyed The Last Shot, a comedy about a down-on-his-luck screenwriter (Matthew Broderick) who gets the opportunity of a lifetime when a producer (Alec Baldwin) agrees to make his film, and even let him direct it. Little does he know that his producer is actually an FBI agent, and the production is actually an elaborate sting operation intended to root out the mob. It's wacky, sure, but sometimes you need wacky. Bonus features include an audio commentary with director Jeff Nathanson & Broderick, a featurette on the actual events that inspired the film, deleted scenes, "Robert Evans Presents..." featurette, and "Joan Cusack's Montage."

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$26.95 SRP)

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like The Life & Death of Peter Sellers. A biopic of the late comedic genius (and incredibly complicated man) was long in coming, but this somehow managed to miss the mark. The casting of Geoffrey Rush as Sellers was a touch of genius, as Rush manages to capture the elusive quality of Sellers the man, while still being able to recreate the subtle work of Sellers the actor. But where the film falls down is in its meandering, directionless script and the equally lethargic direction, which never manages to capture Sellers as well as Rush does, leaving Rush's performance twisting in the wind – truly a complete and utter shame. Bonus features include an audio commentary with Rush and director Stephen Hopkins, a second audio commentary with writers Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, deleted scenes, and a making-of featurette.

(Criterion, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I really, really wanted to like We Anderson's latest piece of oddball cinema, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, but it just never gelled into anything even marginally as appealing as any of his previous efforts – Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, or The Royal Tenenbaums. And boy, was I disappointed. Don't get me wrong – the flick itself had great potential… Casting Bill Murray as a Couseau-esque aquarian documentarian bent on revenge after a giant shark eats his partner has "quirky classic" written all over it. So what in the hell happened? After watching its plodding, aimless morass, I can only think it was a kitchen sink mentality sans a blueprint… Sort of like a 1941 for the new millennium. Sad, really. If you're intent on picking it up, the only way to go is the 2-disc Criterion edition, featuring an audio commentary with Anderson & co-writer Noah Baumbach, an in-depth documentary detailing the production of the film, an episode of an Italian talk show featuring interviews with Anderson & Baumbach, an interview with composer Mark Mothersbaugh, 10 complete performances of the Portuguese Bowie songs, an intern video journal, cast & crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, photos, artwork, and the theatrical trailer.

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$14.99 SRP)

If a big screen remake of a film is in the offing, you can bet your bottom dollar that the studio will release a new special edition of the original film, often adding bonus features and a new transfer to lure in both newbies and people who already own the original edition. True to form, the original Burt Reynolds edition of The Longest Yard is out just in time for the modern retake starring Adam Sandler. Bonus features include an audio commentary with Reynolds and writer/producer Albert S. Ruddy,  a pair of retrospective featurettes, a look at the new flick, and the original theatrical trailer.

(Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

Watching the 38 episodes comprising the second season of My Favorite Martian, it makes me miss the deadpan comedic talents of Ray Walston all the more. As the Martian hiding out as Bill Bixby's "Uncle Martin," Walston was a delight whose timing was impeccable. Unfortunately, four of the episodes are presented in their shortened syndication versions since the original prints could not be located. Here's hoping they eventually turn up, since more Walston is always welcome.

(Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP)

By the third season of Quantum Leap, I was beginning to get burnt out on the adventures of Dr. Sam Beckett. I mean, how many times can you see him leap into a woman before it loses shock value? So much so that he's got to start leaping into dogs and chimps before anyone bats an eye. It's a shame, since Bakula still had the presence to pull everything off (a presence that would be missing by the time he took over as Enterprise's lackluster Captain Archer). Sadly, there are no bonus features to speak of…

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP)

While the 5^th season of Cheers was also the last for Shelly Long's Diane Chambers, it also happens to be my favorite of the series. It's got the blooming of the loony relationship between Frasier and Lilith, and my favorite episode of all time – the one in which the gang gathers at Carla's for a Thanksgiving that goes hilariously pear-shaped ("Thanksgiving Orphans"). Unfortunately, the 4-disc set features no bonus features whatsoever (surely there must be gag reels, or at the very least the rare promo film the cast made for the government), but at least the sets seem to be coming out at a fairly brisk clip.

(Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

As music documentaries go, the highest complement I can give Fearless Freaks – which chronicles the rise of the gloriously indie band The Flaming Lips – is that it reminded me of the excellent They Might Be Giants doc Gigantic. Both feature oddball success stories about musicians that not only marched to the beat of their own drummer, but they got others to follow it as well. The DVD features an audio commentary with the band, a director's commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, live clips, and photo slide shows.

(Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP)

The Golden Girls was actually a far wittier – and acerbic – show than even I remembered from the dim recesses of my pop culture mind. Bea Arthur's Dorothy is queen of the devastating asides, delivered in her husky, almost frightening voice (she's like a defrocked Big Bird), followed closely in the quick wit category by mama Sophia, man-chasing Rose, and naïve Rose (the always-watchable Betty White). The second season set contains nothing but a cheap trivia feature. Come on – I know there are probably incredibly blue bloopers featuring the gals cussing up a storm… hand 'em over!

(Fox, Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP)

As the country sinks slowly into a conservative cultural morass, the shocked reaction to Dr. Alfred Kinsey's landmark study of human sexual relations doesn't seem all that far-fetched (in fact, one wonders how politicians today would react to it… Probably pass a law or something). Kinsey's study is all the more fascinating when one realizes what a straight-laced, relatively unemotive person he actually was – which is brought to life by Liam Neeson's wonderful performance in Bill Condon's Kinsey. The single disc features no bonus materials save for an engaging commentary from director/writer Condon, but the 2-disc edition adds a second disc with a documentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel, "Sex Ed at the Kinsey Institute", and the theatrical trailer. I'd also recommend you pick up the in-depth PBS documentary on Kinsey (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) at the same time.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP each)

In my day, Nickelodeon was all about watching Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Mr. Wizard, Nick Rocks, You Can't Do That On Television, and that behind-the-scenes show hosted by Leonard Nimoy. To a younger generation, their "classic" Nick shows include a pair of programs that are getting the seasonal treatment – The Adventures of Pete & Pete and Clarissa Explains It All. The 2-disc Clarissa set features all 13 first season episode, plus star Melissa Joan Hart on MTV Cribs and a "Nick Time Capsule: 1991-1993." The first season of Pete & Pete features 8 episodes, 4 specials, 2 shorts, audio commentaries, and songs.

(Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP)

Legal tussles are still holding up the release of the original 60's camp classic, but Bat-fans can find some solace in the release of the better-than-it-should've-been reunion film Return to the Batcave, which reunites Batman stars Adam West and Burt Ward with what remains of their supporting cast – Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and the late Frank Gorshin – for a tongue-in-cheek telepic about the origins of the TV show.

(Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP)

At first, I admit, I didn't like Scrubs. At all. Which is odd, because I now feel it's the logical successor to one of my absolute favorite shows, Newsradio. Like Newsradio, it's got an excellent ensemble cast, sharp writing, crisp direction, and an offbeat view of the reality of its setting and characters. Now I can go back and watch the complete first season and wonder what my problem was. Bonus features include a look at the actors before they were cast, reflections from the cast & crew, outtakes, deleted scenes, an interview with Zach Braff, and more.

(New Line, Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.95 SRP)

In light of recent events, Alejandro Amenabar's film about the real life 30-year fight to die waged by Spaniard Ramon Sampedro (played by Javier Bardem) is all the more powerful. In The Sea Inside, Bardem brings Sampedro's struggle to life – ironic, considering the subject matter – and makes an emotional case for the right to end ones life. Bonus materials include an audio commentary with Amenabar, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and the theatrical trailer.

(Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

It's been said before, but it's absolutely true that it was during the fourth season of Seinfeld that the show really hit its stride – not only in the scripts and performances, but with the audience as well. Until that point, the show was a cult favorite bubbling under the surface, waiting for a wider audience to find it… And find it, they did, with episodes like the euphemism-bending "The Contest," the taboo-baiting "The Bubble Boy," and the just plain surreal lunacy of "The Junior Mint." And to be honest, the list of classic episodes goes on and on – this season was packed. Thankfully, the previous bonus-intense releases were not a fluke, as this 4-disc set contains a bevy of bonus material, including audio commentaries on select episodes, deleted scenes, interviews, bloopers, a brand new retrospective documentary, original promo spots, and much more. The show may be about nothing, but these sets are certainly packed with a whole lot of something.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP)

Although it bears the opportunistic title Bart Wars, the latest Simpsons 4 episode mini-collection  only bears one episode even marginally connected to Star Wars – that being the Mark Hamill guesting "Mayored to the Mob." The other episodes contained on the disc are "Dog of Death," "Marge Be Not Proud," and "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson." Who said there's no such thing as synergy?

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP)

Six Feet Under ? Never was a fan. Buncha whining. Sopranos? Love it. Curb Your Enthusiasm? Big fan. Deadwood? F*** yeah. Six Feet Under? Just never caught on with me. But there are those who love it, and those people will be picking up the Complete Third Season. The 5-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and 5 audio commentaries with the writers and directors.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

After the utter brilliance of South Park: The Movie, I felt a bit let down by Matt Stone & Trey Parker's Team America: World Police . It wasn't quite as biting or tight as I had hoped, and seemed to suffer from a lack of focus as the film proceeded – which is a shame, because it's dotted with hilarious set pieces, including the opening scene in Paris, Kim Jong Il's ballad, and America's fight song. The should be given a medal, though, for their perfect recreation of the Gerry Anderson supermarionation, which guaranteed even the weakest of moments would still have the comedy inherent in puppets shuffling across the screen. The unrated edition restores a few cuts made for the theatrical cut (including the extended sex scene), with bonus features including 8 behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted/extended scenes, outtakes, a puppet test, and the theatrical trailer.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP)

For every excellent black & white season of The Andy Griffith Show they release – and season 2 is now hitting shelves – I regret that it brings us that much closer to the digital unleashing of the horrid color episodes. As effortless and memorable as the early seasons are, the later multi-hued seasons are just an awkwardly pale imitation of faded glory (which is ironic, I know). Still, lap up these early releases with all haste. The set features the original sponsor spots, but nothing else in the way of bonus features. Where are the audio commentaries from Griffith, Knotts, and Howard?

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$36.99 SRP)

The third season (and its star, for that matter) may be MIA, but you can still dive into the unadulterated (and uncensored) genius that is the second season of Chappelle's Show. Not since Richard Pryor has a comedian been able to so effectively pull off racial humor that manages to deliver as many laughs as it does points, but Dave Chappelle and writing partner Neal Brennan manage that tricky feat in spades. And yes, the second season is the season of "I'm Rick James, b****!" and the brilliant use of a decidedly edgier Wayne Brady than we've ever seen before. The 3-disc set features all 13 episodes with audio commentary from Chappelle & Brennan, stand-up from Dave, over an hour of bloopers & deleted scenes, 2 unaired Charlie Murphy stories, and an extended version of the Rick James interview. Here's hoping Dave gets back in the saddle soon, because I'm really jonesin' for a third season.

(Fox, Rated PG-13 , R, DVD-$26.98 SRP each)

I don't know what to think about the studio tendency to "double-dip" – defined as the release of a bare bones version of a film on DVD, which is followed in the not-too-distant future by a deluxe special edition of said film. One the one hand, it's nice to not have to wait too terribly long for a film to come out on DVD. On the other hand, it's a waste of money to have to re-but a film. Either way, the jury's still out – and so are a couple of double-dips from Fox, featuring 3 of last year's bigger flicks. Getting 2-disc deluxe editions are The Day After Tomorrow, I, Robot, and Man on Fire. All of the bonus features of the previous releases are ported over (thankfully) with additional featurettes, documentaries, and commentaries.

(Showtime, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP)

With her Showtime series Fat Actress, Kirstie Alley tries to pull off her own Curb Your Enthusiasm (which, if I were to go for the easy joke, could be called Curve Your Enthusiasm… See, it wasn't even a good joke – but I went for it, dammit). Playing a fictional version of herself, Kirstie tries to find work in an image-conscious Hollywood where the subject of her weight has become the fodder of every tabloid under the sun. The show is largely enjoyable (and, like Curb , features guest stars aplenty), but it never manages to capture the lightning in a bottle wit of Curb. The 2-disc set features all 7 first season episodes, plus commentaries and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

(Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP)

I'm a fan of Denis Leary's firefighter dramedy Rescue Me, but it's unfortunate that it's built on the ashes of Leary's much-missed, short-lived The Job, whose truncated 19-episode run gets its due on DVD. Leary's high-strung, Nyquil-addicted detective was a comedic revelation, and this show deserves to be rediscovered. Bonus materials include audio commentaries and interviews with Leary & co-creator Peter Tolan, and a gag reel.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

I can point to the departure of Gary Burghoff's naïve Radar O'Reilly as the final nail in the coffin of the M*A*S*H I had come to love – the happy go lucky dramedy best exemplified by the show's first 3 years. With Burghoff's departure in season 8, the show became a much more strident message piece, often struggling to remember that there was supposed to be the occasional laugh (you'd think they'd remember Poppins adage about a "spoonful of sugar…").

(Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

I have been waiting years – years! – for Newsradio to finally hit DVD. As lesser series all got their day in the sun, I eagerly anticipated when I could finally lay my hands on my very own copy of one of the finest, funniest sitcoms *ever* to hit the small screen. And now, after years of waiting, the complete first and second seasons are getting their release, courtesy of a 3-disc special edition. Yes – a special edition, featuring commentaries on 20 of the 29 episodes, plus a featurette and second season gag reel. I swear they better not trickle these releases out – gimme seasons 3-5 ASAP!

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

How many shows did Gerry Anderson do, anyway? Every time I think the Anderson catalogue has finally been exhausted, another series makes its way to DVD. The latest is the second season of the live action The Protectors, whose heroic trio (Robert Vaughn, Nyree Dawn Porter, & Tony Anholt) jet around the world as agents-for-hire, solving mysteries and thwarting villains. They're like an upscale version of The A-Team. The 4-disc set features the complete first season, plus commentary with director John Hough on the episode "2000 ft to Die."

(Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

Hearing Brian Wilson's Smile is like someone giving Schubert a chance to complete his famous "Unfinished Symphony." Even better, the final result lives up to the long-held hopes of listeners and the potential of the music itself. The tale of Smile is a sad, twisted affair, but here's the short of it – meant as the Beach Boys' ambitious follow-up to the already ambitious (and brilliant) Pet Sounds, Wilson's Smile (with lyricist Van Dyke Parks) was met with a lack of support from both his fellow bandmates and their label. Though tantalizingly close to completion, the tracks were eventually shelved, Brian had his breakdown, and the legend of Smile began, aided and abetted by trickling leaks of unfinished (and tantalizing) tracks that hinted at what a landmark album Smile could have been (its release would have pre-dated - and maybe even trumped – The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's). A few of the songs intended for the album also made their way as – get this – practically filler on subsequent Beach Boys releases (including "Good Vibrations"). Brian pulled himself out of his personal tailspin in the late 80's, and managed a miraculous comeback that proved the magic was still there. Still, Brian would avoid talk of Smile whenever someone would broach the subject, which made his announcement that he was finally going to finish it all the more stunning. Going back into the same studio where he'd recorded in the 60's (and using a vintage "tube" console), Brian and his touring band embarked on the impossible – a realization of an unreleased album whose reputation grew to mythic proportions in the intervening decades. Who could live up to the expectation? Brian Wilson, that's who. The album is a revelation, sounding like a timewarp and satisfying every hope I had for it. A modern pop symphony, Wilson makes it clear that he was the musical genius behind his former band – the sound he's recreated could have been recorded in 1966. That entire tale is told in the documentary Beautiful Dreamer, which is features on the new 2-disc DVD of Smile, with bonus materials including an aftershow featurette from the Royal Festival Hall premiere, interview highlights, a performance of "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow," and the theatrical trailer. Best of all, though, is the second disc – which contains a complete live performance of Smile, which finds Wilson and the band in stunning form. Additional bonus materials on this disc include solo piano performances, a recording sessions featurette, the contest-winning video for "Heroes and Villains," and a photo gallery.

(Lions Gate, Not Rated, DVD-$22.98 SRP)

Go Speed Racer! For a show about a racecar driver, his DVD collections certainly come out at a snail's pace. One a year, it seems, with Volume 3 now hitting, containing 13 episodes and zero bonus features. Oh, and it comes in a tin shaped like a steering wheel.

(BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

What if 5 astronauts were to embark on a solar system-spanning tour of the planets beyond Earth – from volcanic Venus to dusty Mars, or even the surface of a comet? Well, Voyage to the Planets and Beyond explores that epic journey, with stunning special effects in this exploratory docu-drama. The disc also includes a 50-minute exploration of the history of space exploration, and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

(Sony, Rated R, DVD-$28.95 SRP)

As horror flicks go, Boogeyman is your standard, ho-hum, by-the-numbers affair of recent years, including this faux-psychological take on a young man who's been haunted by the memories of the boogeyman eating his father 16 years prior. Or his father walked out on the family, and he invented it all. Whatever. You know you'll see this regardless, if only for a way to kill a few hours on a Friday night. You know I'm right, too. Bonus features include deleted scenes, an alternate ending (they all seem to have one of these now), behind-the-scenes featurettes, visual effects progressions, and animatics.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

My 1980's viewing consisted of a few mainstays, including the patchwork, grab bag programming of early Nickelodeon, before they had the wherewithal to fund their own shows. Those cherished oddball acquisitions included Canada's You Can't Do That On Television and a pair of cartoons from Thames in the UK – Danger Mouse and Count Duckula. Duckula hasn't found his way out of the crypt yet, but the first 2 seasons of Danger Mouse have, and the world is a better place for it. Essentially a James Bond-meets-Sherlock Holmes parody, it featured the fearless title character, accompanied by his timid hamster sidekick Penfold, as they took on villains like the diabolical toad Baron Silas Greenback (think Blofeld). Beauty. The 2-disc set features the never-aired pilot episode and character descriptions. Now bring on Duckula!

(Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP)

Remember how I enthused about the first season of Home Movies? About how funny it was? Well, the second season is just as funny, if not more so. This is also the season that introduces young filmmaker Brendon Small's sci-fi hero, Starboy. That episode alone is worth the price of admission. Bonus features on the 3-disc set include audio commentaries (with Brendon Small, Loren Bouchard, and Melissa Galsky), animatics with crew commentary, songs from the show (and a music lesson), the winning entry of the "Small Shorts" film competition, a guest stars featurette, Brendon interviewing Melissa, an interview with writer Bill Braudis, and more.

(History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

From Washington to Bush, the 8-part documentary The Presidents covers the personal lives and careers of the nation's 43 Commanders-in-Chief, from their triumphs to their tragedies, accomplishments and failures, in a vivid manner that brings even Hayes to life. The 3-disc set also features the documentary All the Presidents' Wives.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

As a sci-fi junkie, I found the classic (though seldom-seen) 1970's Brit-sci-fi series The Tomorrow People fascinating viewing. Like a UK version of the X-Men, the basic premise centers around the adventures of the next stage in humanity – the Tomorrow People – who fight evil forces across time and space using the powers of telekinesis, telepathy, and teleportation. All in all, it's a quirky little footnote that's worth checking out. The 4-disc Set 1 features all 26 episodes from the show's first 2 seasons, plus an audio commentary on the episode "The Slaves of Jedikiah," "The Origins of The Tomorrow People" featurette, and cast bios.