Nearly a dozen WBNX shows will be releasing DVD collections this summer.  Here’s your one-stop guide to their street dates and bonus material:

One Tree Hill: Season 7 due Aug. 17.  Also contains three featurettes: New to Camp One Tree Hill, The Directors’ Debut, Pt. 2, and Spring Break; along with two audio commentaries, unaired scenes and a gag reel.

90210: Season 2 due Aug. 24.  Includes commentary with producers and series stars Michael Steger, Jessica Stroup, Trevor Donovan and Jessica Lowndes.  Other extras:  New Faces, Same Drama; From the Hills to the Beach, The Look of 90210; Beverly Hills Surf Crew; Adrianna and Navid; a set tour of the Beverly Hills Beach Club; and the season in review.

Gossip Girl: Season 3 due Aug. 24.  Special features:  Interactive Viewing Experience on Eps. 16; Throwing a Party, Gossip Girl-style; unaired scenes; Lady Gaga and Plasticines music videos; and a gag reel.

The Vampire Diaries: Season 1 blu-ray and DVD due Aug. 31.  Featurettes include Bringing Vampire Lore and the High School Experience from Page to Screen; The Popularity of Vampires and the Fans Who Love Them; A New Breed of Vampires—Casting the Series; and Vampire 101: Rules of the Vampire.  Other extras:  Creators and director pilot commentary; A Darker Truth webisodes; unaired scenes; gag reel; and downloadable audiobook of Vampire Diaires: The Awakening by L.J. Smith.

Smallville: Season 9 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7.  Featurettes on Zod and the Justice Society of America; cast and creator commentaries on two episodes; and unaired scenes.

Supernatural: Season 5 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7.  Bonus material includes a gag reel, an unaired scene from “The Real Ghostbusters” episode, producer/writer commentary track on “The End,” the Ghostfacers web series, and Apocalypse Survival Guides: Bobby’s Exclusive Video Collection.

Three WBNX weekday comedies recently released DVD sets:  The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Season 5), My Wife & Kids (Season 2) and According to Jim (Season 2).  Here’s a rundown on our other syndicated series:

Lost: Season 6 and The Complete Collection, on blu-ray and DVD, due Aug. 24.  Too much bonus material to list, including the much-anticipated 12-15 minute “new chapter of the island history” with Ben and Hurley.

The Office: Season 6 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7; and the Seasons 1-5 Collection on Sep. 8.  Many hilarious extras!

Desperate Housewives: Season 6 due Sep. 21.  Extras include bloopers and deleted scenes.

Scrubs: Complete series, Seasons 1-9, due Sep. 28.  Many extras!

Legend of the Seeker: Season 2 due Sep. 28.  Bonus material includes extended scenes and two featurettes: Under the Underworld and Redemption of a Mord’Sith—Meet Cara.

Some call ‘em little monsters…and more often, that’s a literal tag.  For over half a century, Hollywood has been using evil kids to creep us out—the latest example coming on Legend of the Seeker.  The finale wrapped with a blinded Richard Cypher being led to a climactic showdown at the “pillars of creation” by Declan, a seemingly innocent child who was actually the Keeper of the Underworld.  It called to mind other scary network children, such as Lilith on Supernatural; Colin, the anointed one, on Buffy; and Phoebe’s offspring of the Source on Charmed.  And doesn’t the name Damien still give you chills?  A Nebraska film prof says the appeal of all these bad seed youngsters is “fear of the unknown.  They live in a very different world from adults, in which fantasy and reality intermingle,” he tells AP.  How much of that eeriness is inherited?  Well, test the theory this fall when The CW introduces more babies than a Justin Bieber ballad.  The season finales revealed three surprise pregnancies: Haley on One Tree Hill, Jen on 90210, and strangely blonde Georgina (pictured) on Gossip Girl.  As the prime villains on their dramas, Jen and Georgie can duke it out for worst Monday mommy status.  ‘Course, if their babes fuss all night, they can take solace in knowing…there’ve been far worse TV tykes.

Legend of the Seeker embarks on the home-stretch of a thrilling journey this weekend with the first of three new episodes—leading up to the Series Finale on May 22.  Throughout April, we’ve been treated to stunning revelations:  Richard’s once-tyrannical father was alive and hiding a key scroll; and Zedd is responsible for the birth of Darken Rahl—who just arranged for his own escape from the Underworld.  With his half-brother/arch-enemy now among the living, The Seeker faces a new obstacle in preventing The Keeper from destroying mankind….and Saturday night, an uneasy alliance with Rahl may be Richard’s last hope.  There are storyline clues in the titles of the four upcoming episodes: Extinction, Eternity, Unbroken and Tears; but we wonder, can the good guys locate the magical Stone of Tears in time?  Will Richard and Kahlan find a loophole enabling them to marry without his enslavement to the Mother Confessor?  Zedd and Cara—what are their futures?  Should we expect cameos from Denna, Jensen, Nicci or Dennee?  Is Darken Rahl destined to regain his throne, or will an angry Keeper summon him back to the pit?  Craig Parker (pictured) is being given a chance to shine as Rahl, and his chemistry with Craig Horner, Bridget Regan, Tabrett Bethell and Bruce Spence is off the charts.  This cast will be greatly missed when next fall arrives, but the conclusion of their epic, mythical mission—starting tomorrow—promises to be legendary. 

Read all about it!  That seems to be the common thread in a wellspring of book news involving WBNX stars and shows.  Here’s the lowdown:  

The Vampire Diaries:   Nearly two decades after the original four novels were released, prolific author L.J. Smith is working overtime on the franchise.  Two stories from her new trilogy, The Return, are already on the shelves, with the third, Midnight, due in early July.  But wait, there’s more!  This week, Ms. Smith confirmed yet another forthcoming trilogy, Stefan’s Diaries, to be set prior to the earliest tomes.  

Legend of the Seeker:   Terry Goodkind has penned eleven Sword of Truth volumes, plus a prequel, since 1994; and it was thought that his final installment, Confessor, would close the series.  However, he announced this week that a new Richard and Kahlan novel is in the works and set for an early 2011 release. 

Supernatural:   Last year, Jim Beaver (Bobby, pictured) published a memoir, Life’s That Way, chronicling his late wife’s battle with terminal cancer and its affect on his family.  The book was released in paperback this week, and in a few days will be available in the online kindle format. 

My Wife & Kids:   Ten years ago, Damon Wayans (Michael) did some comic freestylin’ in Bootleg, a collection of humorous anecdotes and the comedian’s own stand-up material.  Now he tries his hand at straight-on drama in Red Hats, the story of a lonely widow who finds friendship and renewed happiness in an unlikely place.  Look for its release May 4.  

Just beyond the midway point of season two, Legend of the Seeker star Bridget Regan (Kahlan) ‘confesses’ that adding Tabrett Bethell (Cara) to the cast has been a quantum leap.  “Tab was the missing piece of the puzzle,” she tells E!  “That’s what made this season take off.  She just came in and challenged all of us and our characters challenged her.”  There’s no hint of rivalry between the two beauties.  “It was such a boy’s club last year,” she muses.  “Just having a woman on the set; we’re in it together, a bit of a team, which is great.”  Bridget is also keen on Kahlan and Richard’s (Craig Horner) burgeoning affection:  “I fight for that so much, and not just because Craig’s dreamy.”  This weekend’s new episode combines elements of drama and humor the series is noted for, with Cara nervously masquerading as a polished princess to spare the Mother Confessor from execution—and Zedd (Bruce Spence) in drag as an ugly lady-in-waiting.  Laughs aplenty!  Watch for a rare TV guest appearance by former Hardy Boys teen idol Parker Stevenson. Legend of the Seeker recently teamed with pop-rockers Newmatic for a wondrous music video (below) which highlights the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand and the unforgettable moments from this season. 

Legend of the Seeker returns this weekend with the first of four consecutive all-new episodes and promises to be one of the best in series history.  It’ll evoke a Mord’Sith reunion of sorts, with Richard’s arch-nemesis Denna (Jessica Marais) returning in a showdown vs. Cara (Tabrett Bethell)—this season’s amazing cast addition.  Once sent to kill Richard, Cara (pictured) later became his accomplice in vanquishing Darken Rahl.  The stunning reveal that Richard is heir to Rahl’s throne compelled her to join the Seeker’s wary group as a protector…though the unspoken attraction between the two is palpable.  Enter Denna, who last year tortured Richard and killed his mother.  She plays a major role in The Sword of Truth novels, and her evil scheme Saturday will have series-changing consequences, foreshadowed in the teaser promo when Cara declares “Richard is dead.”  Denna is seen not only in her familiar red leather, but also fully clad in tight white—another mystery.  Her villainy continues the following week when she captures Zedd, who is powerless to use wizardry against a Mord’Sith.  Before this month is over, Cara’s feelings for the (perhaps dead or missing) Seeker will intensify, so the jealous tension Kahlan has restrained will likely spill out.  Cara, after all, did kill Kahlan’s sister, a Confessor; and that murder has brought electricity to every scene the two share.  If you’re not yet a fan of this epic fantasy, there’s no better time than Saturday to join the legions.

Legend of the Seeker has amassed such a loyal following, it’s almost as if fans have been happily zapped by the ‘Mother Confessor.’  The series became so popular that it was awarded a full second season after only a handful of episodes—and the charming lead actors receive rock star-type receptions.  Craig Horner (Richard Cypher-Rahl) and Bridget Regan (Kahlan Amnell) spoke with WBNX during a recent publicity tour.  Here are some excerpts from the interview:

There are new evil forces terrorizing the Midlands…

CH:  “Yes, at the end of the first season we defeated Darken Rahl, which was our main goal—but in doing that, we’ve now embraced Wizard’s Second Rule, which is ‘the greatest harm can come from the best intentions.’  So even though we’ve rid the world of Darken Rahl, so to speak, we’ve torn the veil to the Underworld…”

BR:  “There are these creatures we’ve never seen and people that we’ve killed who are coming back to get us.  So now we’re out to defeat The Keeper (of the Underworld), who is Baddie Number One.”  

CH:  “And we’re also happy about (Rahl’s life-after-death), because we love Craig Parker.  He’s got a lot of good energy, he’s great.”

On translating heroes from best-selling novels to television…

CH:  “We had about six weeks in New Zealand before we ever started shooting the series, and we didn’t have a script, so all Bridget and I could really do was read the book, Wizard’s First Rule.  That’s the best kind of research you can do, you really get a feeling for the characters.  There’s a lot of ‘Kahlan’ in Bridget and a lot of ‘Richard’ in Craig, and I think that’s why we got the roles.”

BR:  “I like that the fans are really passionate about these characters.  It almost ‘heightens’ the whole thing for us.  We really want to do the characters justice and want The Sword of Truth fans to picture us as their Kahlan and Richard.” 

Growth of the characters in Season Two…

BR:  “I’ve never played a character this long, and when I did another part between seasons it was totally jarring.  I’d been playing Kahlan for nine months, and then to go do something else was like turning old rusty wheels.  But I love the role of Kahlan; it’s a joy to play someone you feel like you know so well, it’s just like a ‘second skin.’”

CH:  “Definitely.  The writers are even starting to kind of write specifically for us; they’re really watching our personalities come thru on-screen and writing that way.”

Taking Legend of the Seeker to a new level…

BR:  “Both of us felt the show become really ‘great’ last season during Episode 8, which was called ‘Denna.’  We enjoyed that one a lot.  It was almost verbatim from the book, so it was nice to go back and read that section and get inspired by it.”

CH:  “And yes, Denna (Jessica Marais) comes back this season…bigger and badder.”

BR:  “We also find out that Richard has more powers than he knew he had, which is huge.”

Television’s biggest fall sweeps month is always a bonanza for viewers, as stars and stunts punctuate many storylines.  There are some special treats coming up on CW dramas, such as popstar Lady Gaga performing her new single “Bad Romance” on the Nov. 16 episode of Gossip Girl, hints People; and an Upper East Side cameo by Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh).  Also, who do you expect to see first—Serena’s elusive father…or the allegedly-dead Bart Bass?  Hmm.  Moving to Tuesdays, conniving film villain Kelly Lynch settles in on 90210 as Ivy’s (Gillian Zinser) hot mama.  Wonder how dating her daughter’s English teacher will play in the West Bev lounge?  Over on Melrose Place, Nick Zano (pictured) has officially joined the cast; and no, we haven’t seen the last of Sydney (Laura Leighton).  Turns out, Amanda had some unfinished business with the red-haired temptress, and that’ll unfold when Heather Locklear debuts Nov. 17.  Fans of The Vampire Diaries can begin debating which of the new characters is secretly a vampire slayer!  And don’t forget Legend of the Seeker, which premieres this weekend with two new recurring characters to cause havoc for Richard and Kahlan.  Jolene Blaylock, best known as the Vulcan T’Pol on Enterprise, portrays a mysterious Sister of the Dark, whose powerful magic could destroy the Confessor.  And Michael Whalley, 26, brings a bit of levity to his thorny role as Flynn.  The actors have completed filming nearly half of Season 2 in New Zealand, and took some time for an interview with WBNX earlier today.  We’ll post some of their comments here soon.

Toss out everything you thought you knew about Legend of the Seeker.  The immensely-popular epic fantasy series returns next Saturday with a two-hour Season Premiere Event, and though it might seem impossible to top the explosive first-year finale—just wait!  For starters, Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia on Buffy and Angel) will guest-star as an angry leather-clad Mord’Sith.  Then, with Darken Rahl’s stunning demise, Richard, Kahlan and Zedd have unwittingly ripped open the underworld, unleashing unspeakable evils to combat.  And with Rahl finally dethroned, the ensuing power struggle leads a suspicious, unexpected defector to the Seeker’s camp:  new series regular Tabrett Bethell as “Cara.”  The premiere episode also uncovers the relationship between the Seeker and the tyrannical villain he killed.  Perhaps the biggest shocker is revealed in the new preview below; it’s way too good to spoil in print, and some fans may not want to know before next Saturday.  (Also, if you need a five-minute refresher on the story thus far, click here to watch a great recap video.)  

Not yet a fan of Legend of the Seeker? Then chances are pretty great that you’ve never seen the show.  It’s just that good.  The story is epic, but the characters are three of the most likable heroes ever to dwell in sci-fi/fantasy TV.  And that’s due to the chemistry and appeal of Craig Horner (Richard), Bridget Regan (Kahlan) and Bruce Spence (Zedd), not exactly household names when the series began last November.  The buzz has steadily built, however, for the stars and the show, which is based on The Sword of Truth novels.  Season 1 ended with the shocking demise of Darken Rahl—in accord with original book, Wizard’s First Rule.  This fall, events will likely be drawn from the sequel, Stone of Tears, with Richard and Kahlan’s relationship strongly tested.  Below, Craig and Bridget preview the new season with E! Online.  And if you’re new to the series, click here for a 5-minute refresher video that’ll quickly bring you up-to-speed.