The comic murder-mystery series “Psych” leads these TV shows new to DVD.
“Psych: The Complete Sixth Season” (Universal, 2011-12, four discs, $59.98, 16 episodes, two extended episodes, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). The latest season of this hilarious, fast-talking, pop culture-referencing comedy-mystery series has fake psychic Shawn (James Roday) and reluctant partner Gus (Dule Hill) horning in on investigations of the Santa Barbara Police Department, and often solving them.
Shawn and Gus try to retrieve a stolen “Star Wars” action figure, take on masked avenger the Mantis and go undercover in a mental hospital, among other wacky situations. Meanwhile, Shawn’s romance with Juliet (Maggie Lawson) escalates.
Everyone is perfectly cast, including co-stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy Omundson and Kirsten Nelson, and guests this season include William Shatner, Danny Glover, Molly Ringwald and Cary Elwes, making his third appearance as con artist Pierre Despereaux.
“Gunsmoke: The Sixth Season, Volume 2” (CBS/Paramount, 1961, b/w, three discs, $39.99, 19 episodes, ad spots). Marshal Dillon (James Arness), Chester (Dennis Weaver), Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) and Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) try to keep the peace in Dodge City in this iconic Western. This is the last season for the half-hour format. Guests include George Kennedy (in two episodes as different characters), Cloris Leachman, Jack Elam and Harry Dean Stanton.
“Mad Men: Season Five” (Lionsgate, 2012, four discs, $49.98, 13 episodes, audio commentaries, featurettes). Those 1960s conniving advertising executives are back, with this season focusing on associates questioning the loyalty of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) after his marriage to his secretary. The series remains compelling and continues to maintain its authentic re-creation of the era. (Also on Blu-ray, same price.)
“The Firm: The Complete Series” (eOne, 2011-12, six discs, $39.98, 22 episodes, featurettes). Adapted from the John Grisham novel (which was made into a 1993 movie starring Tom Cruise), this one-season series is sort of a sequel, as it picks up Mitch McDeere (played here by Josh Lucas) some 10 years after the original story as he and his family emerge from the Witness Protection Program and are again targeted by mobsters.
“Waterloo Road: Series 1” (Acorn, 2006, two discs, $39.99, eight episodes). Popular British series follows students and teachers at a private school and attempts to tackle socially significant subjects ranging from teen pregnancy to bullying with authenticity and grit. Jason Merrells and Jamie Glover star.
“Brave New World” (Athena, 2011, two discs, $49.99, five episodes, text biographies; 16-page booklet). Scientists offer expert commentary on a variety of scientific innovations ranging from cancer-destroying bacteria to self-driving cars in this documentary series hosted by Stephen Hawking.
“My First Collection, Vol. 4, Featuring Robot Zot!” (Scholastic, 2012, three discs, $24.95, 12 stories, author interviews, read-along). Animated stories for children 2 and older with narration by Zach Braff and others. This set collects the discs “Robot Zot! … and More Rhyming Stories,” “Too Many Toys … and More Stories About Problem Solving” and “The Curious Garden … and More Stories About Nature.”
“TV Toons to Go” (Mill Creek, 1983-2009, 10 discs, $29.98, 100 episodes, 10 bonus episodes; packaged in tin travel case). Episodes of TV cartoons, including “Busytown Mysteries,” “Heathcliffe,” “Archie’s Weird Mysteries,” “Sabrina: The Animated Series,” etc.
“Pound Puppies: Super Secret Pup Club” (Shout! Kids, 2012, $12.99, five episodes, featurette). Team of canines tries to find homes for stray dogs in this animated series for children.
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