How to Spend $20

By Eric Hughes

June 17, 2008

For the greatest wizard of all time, Merlin is pretty darned incompetent in this movie.

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Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP's look at the latest DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: David Duchovny ditches The X-Files for a vastly different project, diehard Jericho fans ready another round of boxed peanuts and one comedian shows what may happen if marijuana were ever legalized.

PICK OF THE WEEK

For people who canceled their HBO subscriptions: Californication: The First Season

Showtime has really gotten into the groove as of late with its original programming slate. From Weeds to Dexter to The Tudors, the tiny network finally is generating even more buzz than its pay cable rival HBO, which has fallen off its rocker somewhat after failing to find replacement series once The Sopranos, Sex and the City and Six Feet Under exited the airwaves. And Showtime's Californication stands as no exception to the network's recent creative renaissance. Starring The X-Files' David Duchovny as troubled novelist Hank Moody, the series follows his character's move to Los Angeles and the subsequent relationship problems he deals with, specifically with his ex-girlfriend, Karen (Natascha McElhone) and daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin). Season two is expected to air later this fall.

Disc includes: Character bios; sample episodes from Showtime's Dexter, The Tudors and more.

For people who just can't let go: Jericho: The Second Season/Jericho: The Complete Series

Nowadays, it's not all that uncommon for a broadcast television series to get cancelled by its network. In 2007, CBS did exactly that to cult hit Jericho, a drama set during the aftermath of a nuclear attack that the network axed after Jericho's freshman season completed its 22-episode order. But how often do you hear of a series getting booted off the air twice...by the same network? Faced with a barrage of hate mail and an incredibly unique save-the-show campaign - peanuts, anyone? - CBS revived the series for a second season, only to cancel it again after just seven episodes, which aired earlier this year. Fans are mounting a new campaign to bring back the series yet again, but an embarrassed CBS probably won't play Mr. Nice Guy for another go around. Sorry, Jericho fans, but it's about time you attach yourselves to a show that people actually watch.

Jericho: The Second Season disc includes: Rebuilding Jericho featurette, Nut Job featurette, deleted scenes, unaired alternative ending.
Jericho: The Complete Series disc includes: Episode commentary, Tick Tick Boom featurette, Behind the Scenes "Thank You" featurette, 100 Reasons to Watch Jericho featurette, table read, napalm action sequence (from season two), train crash sequence (from season two), Cast Members' Memorable Moments featurette, cast biographies.




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For people who want to relive the classic Merlin v. Mad Madam Mim: The Sword in the Stone (Anniversary Edition)

It wasn't just the music industry that underwent a British invasion. Film, too, had a version of its own, specifically under the Disney fold. Back in the Mouse House's heyday, there was The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and, of course, a little film called The Sword in the Stone, perhaps one of my favorite kidvids. Out today in a special 45th-anniversary package, the film is about the early days of King Arthur and his education under the masterful wizard Merlin. Because of his ability to pull out a sword from a very secure stone, young Arthur becomes the rightful heir to England's throne by performing such a miracle. Based on T.H. White's novel of the same name, The Sword in the Stone was the last feature released during Walt Disney's lifetime.

Disc includes: All-New Merlin's Magical Academy Game, Knight for a Day short film, Brave Little Tailor short film, Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers featurette, The Sword in the Stone Scrapbook, Disney Song Selection.


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