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!

Okay, I know that Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs in the new remastered version isn’t coming out until April, but I figured I’d give you a heads-up early. Eric Clapton’s most famous song and plenty of extra goodies would be reason enough to buy this 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. AMAZON already has previews of all the songs on both disks so you can sample what’s going to be released April 26th. I can’t wait!

Here’s the promotional listing of what’s going to be included:
* Six exciting performances from what was to be Derek and the Dominos’ second album, all remixed by the original session engineer, Andy Johns. The highlight of the six tracks is “Got To Get Better In A Little While” – the group’s last recording – presented in this collection both as a mesmerizing jam version and as the first-ever release of the fully produced studio version, finally completed by founding member Bobby Whitlock on keyboards and vocals.

* All four audio performances from Derek and the Domino’s sole, historic television appearance on The Johnny Cash Show, November 9, 1970 – including Clapton’s famous jam on “Matchbox Blues” with Cash and rockabilly legend Carl Perkins.

* The two tracks produced by Phil Spector in early summer 1970 that amounted to the first release by Derek and the Dominos: “Tell the Truth” and “Roll It Over,” the A- and B-side of a single that was quickly pulled from circulation by the group.

* The Layla session out-take “Mean Old World”: the legendary acoustic duet performed by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman.
TRACK LIST
Disc 1
1 I Looked Away 3:06
2 Bell Bottom Blues 5:05
3 Keep On Growing 6:23
4 Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out 4:58
5 I Am Yours 3:35
6 Anyday 6:36
7 Key To the Highway 9:38
8 Tell the Truth 6:40
9 Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? 4:43
10 Have You Ever Loved a Woman? 6:54
11 Little Wing 5:33
12 It’s Too Late 3:51
13 Layla 7:05
14 Thorn Tree In the Garden 2:51
Disc 2
1 Mean Old World 3:52
2 Roll It Over 4:31
3 Tell the Truth 3:23
4 It’s Too Late 4:11
5 Got To Get Better In a Little While 6:34
6 Matchbox 3:56
7 Blues Power 6:31
8 Snake Lake Blues 3:34
9 Evil 4:34
10 Mean Old Frisco 4:04
11 One More Chance 3:15
12 Got To Get Better In a Little While 3:45
13 Got To Get Better In a Little While 6:05

Last week I was faked out by the TOP CHEF crew. In previous seasons of TOP CHEF, when the competition got down to three contestants, that was the finale. But, for this All-Stars competition, they changed the rules and are pitting the last two contestants against each ofter. Last week, Antonia was sent home (sorry, Beth). Mike (left, above), crude but talented, takes on neurotic but brilliant Richard (right, above). As you know from last week, I’m hoping Padma (center, above) announces Mike is TOP CHEF tonight, but I’d be satisfied with Richard, too. At this point in the competition, both chefs have proved they are extraordinary.

This five-disk Blu-ray set includes The Hound of the Baskervilles and my favorite: Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The other twelve Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce movies included on these disks vary in quality. I’m not happy with bringing Sherlock and Watson into the WWII era (like in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon and Sherlock Holmes and the Voices of Terror. But, these are minor quibbles. This Blu-ray set is well-worth the $79.99 price tag on AMAZON. Obviously, if you’re a hard-core Sherlockian, this collection is a must-buy.
MOVIE LIST:
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Voices of Terror
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
The Spider Woman
The Scarlet Claw
The Pearl of Death
The House of Fear
The Woman in Green
Pursuit to Algiers
Terror by Night
Dressed to Kill

No, this is not an economic forecast. This anthology takes classic horror short stories and turns them into graphic stories in the Tales from the Crypt tradition. Stories by Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, David J. Schow and Paul F. Wilson are adapted by Eduardo Barreto, Toby Cypress, Mike Hoffman, Nat Jones, Ted McKeever, Tony Salmons, and Ashley Wood. In addition, Completely Doomed features the Eisner-nominated “Blood Son” by Ashley Wood and Chris Ryall, based on the Richard Matheson short story. Scott Tipton adapts another Matheson story, “Crickets,” with art by Mike Hoffman. “Slasher,” “Cuts,” and “Masks” by F. Paul Wilson all resonated with me, especially “Masks.” Eduardo Barretto illustrates David J. Schow’s “Blood Rape of the Lust Ghouls,” and Kristian Donaldson adapts Robert Bloch’s “Final Performance.” There’s also a bonus: the book includes a gallery of Doomed magazine covers. Very nice! If you were a fan of Creepy and Eerie you’ll want to check this out. GRADE: B+

Depending on your mood, you’ll either love or hate Young Frankenstein: The Musical. The play follows the plot of the classic Mel Brooks movie. The grandson of Dr. Victor Frankenstein returns to the family castle in Transylvania and embarks on reenacting the experiments that brought corpses to life. There are some silly romantic sub-plots. Dracula shows up. Singing, dancing. I thought the production was pretty vacuous. If you’re in the mood for fluff, you’re in luck. If you want something more, Young Frankenstein: The Musical will disappoint you. This tour company will be in your neighborhood soon. If you want to attend, you should buy tickets soon. Our performance was sold out. GRADE: C+