The Case

You want more Buster? You got it! The PBS Kids sidekick has been enjoying his spin-off show, Postcards from Buster, traipsing around the country with his video camera, and documenting anyone not completely repelled by a talking rabbit in a sweater. These DVD releases each sport four episodes, tied together by a unifying theme. This one, if you couldn't already guess, is music.

• "Beats by the Bay"
Buster and his friends Carlos and Mora, two musicians, and his freakish rabbit/father sojourn to San Francisco. Carlos and Mora have just learned that a kickin' hot music show wants to give them some playtime, and show a music video. Unfortunately, they have yet to make it. So Buster takes it upon himself to track down some budding young stars to participate in the video.

To do this, he checks out a hip hop dance studio. There, he immediately befriends a trio of talented young dancers, and the group takes to the streets of San Francisco, where Buster whips out his camera and starts stockpiling footage for the video.

• "Buster and Beatrice"
San Antonio beckons as Buster and pals cruise the Texas town, scoping out the local Mexican-influenced music and comestibles. Buster meets a young boy who's a bad-ass accordion player, and accompanies him to one of his musical competitions.

• "The Music Mystery"
Buster gets a call from DW, Arthur's sister, in a crossover episode. DW asks Buster to help with some kind of music project, and, lucky for her, Buster is currently in New Orleans, the hub of some of the most memorable American music ever. What follows is a blitzkrieg tour of the different musical tastes shared by the people of New Orleans, primarily the African-American cross-section. Buster is there to capture it all with his camera—everything from drumming to gospel music to stilt-performing to interpretative African dance.

• "Buster's Sweet Song"
Buster's final stop is to Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. He gets another call from yet another freeloading friend asking for yet another intrusive favor. Fortunately, "intrusive" is Buster's middle name, and when his pal asks for help in creating a country-themed song for his father's business, Buster readily agrees. Bouncing from instrument store to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Buster fails to hit paydirt until one morning he goes out for pancakes and runs into singer Billy Dean, who agrees to help the little bastard.

This is the third Postcards from Buster disc I've reviewed and, frankly, I'm running out of ways to say "This rabbit is a little nerd and his adventures bore me to tears, but kids will likely enjoy seeing different parts of the country and the children who live there."

Like all the rest of the shows, these episodes are crammed full of local color, foodstuffs, and, of course, music. The highlighted music styles are diverse and should prove engaging to kids interested in that sort of thing. Heck, I even learned a few things, like how hip-hop originated and that country music stars enjoy it if you interrupt breakfast with their families and shove a video camera in their faces.

So, parents, expose your kids to the different subcultures of the United States the cheap and easy way: buy these discs, stick them in the Panasonic and call it a day.

Case Number 08362: Small Claims Court

Postcards From Buster: Buster's Got The Beat

All Rise...

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