A new 'Futurama,' more TV favorites on DVD

Lots of follow-up seasons — and some full-season sets — are on tap among DVD releases this week (scheduled to arrive in stores on Tuesday).

TV series

• "Futurama: Bender's Big Score" (Fox, 2007, $29.99). "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening was the force behind the the sci-fi farce "Futurama," done in a similar animated style — and he's the force behind this first of a series of "Futurama" straight-to-DVD features, with three more scheduled for release during 2008-09.

Speaking of "the force," Mark Hamill is among the guest voices here, along with Sarah Silverman — and Al Gore! The plot has to do with nudist alien Internet scammers, and, yes, it gets a bit raunchy, but fans will also find it as clever and funny as the original show. (The original voice cast returns, too.)

A bigger issue here, however, is that this bodes well for the future of TV series that have been prematurely canceled. If these "Futurama" episodes do well, perhaps other canceled shows with large fan bases will find a place for reunions or series wrap-ups on DVD (something that was once provided by network-TV movies).

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, episode: "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad," featurettes, promos

• "Gilmore Girls: The Complete Seventh Season" (Warner, 2006-07, six discs, $59.98). This delightful, witty, smart and funny series did falter during the last couple of years, but there was still an awful lot to love. The mother-daughter dynamic of Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) is excellent, and the show on the whole is often hilarious and just as often quite touching. And this farewell season satisfactorily wraps up the various story lines, offering closure in a way that many series are never allowed.

Extras: full frame, 22 episodes, deleted scene, featurettes (also available is "Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series," 153 episodes, 42 discs, $258.82, with two booklets)

• "Mission: Impossible: The Third Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1968-69, seven discs, $54.99). More adventures with Peter Graves and his team of super spies. Among the guests are Robert Conrad of "The Wild Wild West," boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Ed Asner, Martin Sheen and Joan Collins. Martin Landau and Barbara Bain left the show after the end of this season.

Extras: full frame, 25 episodes