This look at TV shows newly released on DVD is led by the cable series that won Glenn Close a best-actress Emmy last year.
"Damages; The Complete Second Season" (Sony, 2009, three discs, $39.95). Wealthy, connected, powerful and duplicitous New York attorney Patty Hewes (Close) once again tries to out-manipulate her young associate Ellen (Rose Byrne) in the second season of this tense cable series. You may recall that Patty tried to have Ellen killed at the end of last season, and now Ellen is working undercover with the FBI to expose her.
The manipulative Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson) is back, having had an apparent epiphany and wanting to change his evil ways, and a new mystery develops as a former acquaintance (William Hurt) asks Patty for help (thus reuniting Close and Hurt, stars of 1983's "The Big Chill").
The second season of this FX cable series is just as riveting as the first, but it's also very adult, with violence sex, and foul language.
Extras: widescreen, 13 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, trailers
"Dallas: The Complete Twelfth Season" (Warner, 1988-89, three discs, $39.98). Evil, conniving Texas oil tycoon J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) and family return for a 12th season of soap opera double-crosses, with side trips to Austria and Russia. Linda Gray, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Charlene Tilton and George Kennedy are among the co-stars.
Extras: full frame, 26 episodes
"Girlfriends: The Final Season" (CBS/Paramount, 2007-08, two discs, $39.99). This eighth season was the last for this amusing, if overly sexual sitcom about professional women in Los Angeles and their bumpy romantic adventures.
Extras: widescreen, 13 episodes, trailers
"The Game: The Second Season" (CBS/Paramount, 2007-08, three discs, $39.99). This show is a spinoff of "Girlfriends" and follows three women who are involved with professional football players.
Extras: widescreen, 20 episodes, trailers
"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (Warner, 1985, $19.98). An animated special based on the off-Broadway show, which includes the songs "Happiness," "Suppertime" and other memorable and amusing tunes. For those of us who have seen the show onstage, this animated version takes a bit of getting used to, but it's good family fun.
Extras: full frame, featurette (examining the off-Broadway hit), trailers
"Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics, Volume 1" (Warner, 1977, $14.97). This disc includes the first four episodes of the title Saturday morning series, featuring a bevy of Hanna-Barbera characters besides the Scooby bunch: Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Hong Kong Fooey and many others.
Extras: full frame, four episodes, episode "Smart House" from "Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue" series, trailers
"SpongeBob SquarePants" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). More adventures with SpongeBob and pals, including "Grandpappy the Pirate" and "Cephalopod Lodge."
Extras: full frame, eight episodes, art galleries, trailers
"Dora the Explorer: Let's Explore! Dora's Greatest Adventures" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). "Lost Map," "Hide and Go Seek," "Journey to the Purple Planet" and five other episodes.
Extras: full frame, eight episodes, interactive game, trailers
"Go Diego Go! Lion Cub Rescue" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). The title episode leads off this collection, which includes "Diego's Ringed Seal Rescue."
Extras: full frame, four episodes, trailers
"Yo Gabba Gabba! Birthday Boogie" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). Shows include "Birthday," "Dress Up" and "Talent."
Extras: full frame, four episodes, trailers
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com