TVIt's always a little mystifying to me when "The Simpsons" Treehouse of Horror specials air after Halloween, but hey, a good funny fright works for me any time of year. Featured in this year's episode: a robot battle for Springfield, Homer whacks George Clooney, and the Grand (not Great) Pumpkin seeks some revenge for all those carved comrades. (FOX, Nov. 2, 8 p.m.)
Yes, there's a lot of junk on TV. But the medium can also rise to the occasion quite beautifully, as with this week's PBS documentary, "Medal of Honor." The film traces the history of our country's highest military honor from the Civil War to the present, and the richly drawn stories will stay with you for a long time after you turn off the set. Never forget how much we owe these men (and one woman). (PBS, Nov. 5, 9 p.m.)
DVD
Roger Ebert said Steve Carell made an "infectious" Maxwell Smart in the 2008 big-screen "Get Smart" flick. Moviegoers agreed -- when the film came out in June, it won the box office with $39.2 mill. If you missed it, or if you want to see it again, you can now pick up the DVD on Election Day. (Out on DVD Nov. 4)
"Spin City" was canceled in 2002, and fans still miss it. While two sets of Michael J. Fox's favorite episodes were released, it's been a long drought for those who want to watch the comedy on DVD. Finally, the complete first season comes out this week, just as the election sends us back into full-on spin mode. (Out on DVD Nov. 4)
Movies In “JCVD,” Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself — or at least a very comic version of himself. The down-on-his-luck action star, who can’t find work, suffers from a drug problem and is losing custody of his daughter, gets stuck in the middle of a bank heist. It’s nice to know that Van Damme isn’t afraid to laugh at himself — and we shouldn’t be, either. (Opens Nov. 7)
Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star as energy-drink salesmen sentenced to working as Big Brothers in “Role Models.” It could just be a wacky comedy, but Rudd did co-write the screenplay, director David Wain is the man behind “Wet Hot American Summer,” and the film does feature Christopher “McLovin’ Mintz-Plasse. So let's hope that it’s better than it looks. (Opens Nov. 7)
An eight-year-old son of a Nazi soldier and a Jewish boy in a concentration camp strike up a friendship in “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” Slowly, the soldier's son and his mother (“Departed” co-star Vera Farmiga) wake up to the horrors happening all around them. Writer-director Mark Harmon is the man behind “Little Voice” and “Brassed Off.” (Opens Nov. 7)
Music Rapper Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) releases his first solo album in nine years, “Renaissance.” The rapper isn’t afraid to get political. One song features an excerpt of one of Barack Obama’s political speeches over guitar music. Raphael Saadiq, Norah Jones, D'Angelo and Amanda Div also appear on the album. (On sale Nov. 4)
Grammy-winning country star Brad Paisley doesn’t sing much on his latest CD, “Play,” instead he simply plays his guitar. The CD features guest appearances from Keith Urban, B.B. King, Vince Gill and Buck Owens among others. “It's not all country. We do everything from jazz guitar to one that's very heavy metal,” Paisley told the Charlotte Observer. (On sale Nov. 4)