Tonight on PBS Masterpiece Theater the story of Upstairs, Downstairs continues. The original classic series was broadcast in the U.S. from 1971 to 1975 in 68 episodes. Set in England from 1903 to the mid-1930s, Upstairs, Downstairs depicts the class differences between the servants who live “downstairs” and their masters who live “upstairs.” This new series is set in 1936, the Year of Three Kings (George V died, Edward VIII abdicated, and George VI–of The King’s Speech fame–comes to power). Change is in the air. PBS plans to broadcast three 1-hour episodes: the first one tonight, then April 17, and the last one April 24. BBC1 has ordered 12 more episodes for 2012. If you’ve seen this series, you know the quality of performances and the drama of the historical setting. Check your local listings for times and stations.

If you’re a fan of Golden Age comics, you’re going to want to check out this eye-popping collection of stories from Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Most of these adventures are reprinted from 1940s comics. The Simon and Kirby Superheroes include the complete Simon & Kirby runs of characters like Fighting American, Stuntman, the Black Owl, the Vagabond Prince, Captain 3-D, the Shield (Pvt. Strong), and the Fly. Many of the stories have mystery aspects with clever solutions. Who knows how long this wonderful volume will be in print. Don’t hesitate or it will be too late! GRADE: A

Planet Stories just published Battle in the Dawn: The Complete Hok the Mighty, a collection of Manly Wade Wellman’s stories about a hero at the beginnings of civilization. Fans of Clan of the Cave Bear will find enjoyment in reading about Hok and the early humans as they struggle against the savage bands of Neanderthals. Wellman wrote these low-tech tales for AMAZING STORIES in the 1930s, but these adventures are timeless. In David Drake’s “Introduction,” Drake explains that the background of these stories is based on Wellman’s experience growing up in Angola, Africa. Vivid exploits and intense action blend together in these wonderful, mythic tales.

Diane and I finally caught up with this frothy concoction based on the Brothers Grimm Rapunzel. In Tangled, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is a princess (although she doesn’t know she is). Rapunzel has been kidnapped as a baby and now she is locked in an isolated tower. Rapunzel has very long hair with magical properties that can heal the injured and generate youth. Mother Gothel, an elderly crone, stole Rapunzel from her royal parents in order to stay young forever. But when Rapunzel turns 18, a thief, Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi), climbs Rapunzel’s tower to escape his pursuers, Rapunzel decides to trust the rogue and convinces Flynn to help her escape. Tangled is Disney’s 50th full-length, animated film. Like most contemporary animated films, this movie operates on two levels: one for the kids and another for adults. With music by Alan Menken, Tangled is one of the best of Disney’s musical confections. GRADE: A

Alan Bradley’s clever mystery involves secrets from the past and rare stamps in post-WWII England. Set in 1950, the story is narrated by a young girl named Flavia. Her passion is chemistry. “Once I had taught myself to make sense of the chemical equations such as K4FeC6N6 +3K = 6KCN +Fe (which describes what happens when the yellow prussiate of potash is heated with potassium to produce potassium cyanide), the universe was laid open before me.” (p. 9-10) Flavia has a flare for poisons. When a stranger is found murdered in the family cucumber garden, Flavia’s father is held as a suspect. Flavia takes a dim view of the ineffectual investigations of the police and conducts her own search for clues. In the dead man’s luggage, Flavia finds two incredibly rare stamps. And that leads to further complications. My only quibble with Bradley’s book is that sustaining the fiction that a young girl, no matter how precocious, could outwit both the police and the killer. Charles Portis manages to pull this off with Maggie Ross in True Grit, but Bradley is no Portis. GRADE: B

For a mere $7.98 you could be the proud owner of 3 DVDs (over six hours!) of a documentary of one of the funniest groups in the history of comedy. Almost the Truth samples the 39 episodes on the BBC, includes segments from the movies, and features interviews with the members of the group. The documentary spans their early struggles, BBC censorship, and how Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd bankrolled Monty Python and The Holy Grail. If you’re a Monty Python fan, this is a must-buy. If you’re a casual fan, this 3-DVD set is an incredible value. Just clink on salebooks.com to start buying!

The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen. Like Twin Peaks, The Killing is the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle. The police investigation takes place in semi-real time. Each episode represents one day (how very 24ish). Season One consists of thirteen one-hour episodes. Tonight, the 2-hour premiere starts at 9 P. M. Check your local listings for the broadcast time in your area. If you’re a fan of “Nordic Noir,” this is going to appeal to you. For more information, click on the NPR story below.

Butler plays VCU tonight in the first of the Final Four games to determine the winner of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. I’m picking Butler because they came within a shot of winning it all last year against Duke. But VCU has had an incredible season! In the second game, Kentucky takes on UConn. I’m going with UConn. This game is a complete toss-up to me. It would not surprise me to see Kentucky win. I hope Butler wins it all Monday night. I’ve enjoyed all the bracket-busting surprises of the 2011 version of March Madness. This is about the only sporting event that rivals the Super Bowl.

The Lost Files of Nancy Drew will delight your guests who peruse it after seeing it on your coffee table. Each double-page layout features a different Nancy Drew mystery, and provides information on how Nancy solved the case. The first layout contains notes from the first Nancy Drew book The Secret in the Old Clock. Entries from Nancy’s Journal, a copy of the will she discovered in the clock, the charity tickets Nancy sold to the Topham’s, and other clues document the case. The Lost Files of Nancy Drew contains pop-ups, pull-outs, ribbons, diagrams, and codes. The book is interactive: you get to pull pictures out of sleeves, open envelopes, untie bows, and inspect other evidence that Nancy used to solve her cases. This book is fun for kids of all ages! If you know a Nancy Drew fan (I’m one; I read both Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys as a kid), this is the perfect gift!