Big food, Spike marathon and Oscar snubs

One of the greatest benefits of a Netflix subscription is instant online access to Discovery Channel and Travel Channel TV shows. For example, you can find multiple seasons of "Deadliest Catch," "Dirty Jobs" and "MythBusters."

While "MythBusters" will stimulate the mind, Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" will get your stomach rumbling for something greasy and excessive. In each episode, host Adam Richman visits a different U.S. city and indulges in the biggest, most iconic comfort foods around. We're talking giant hamburgers, triple-deep-fried chicken and sandwiches twice as big as the human head.

At the end of each show, Richman takes on a daunting food challenge. Whether it's eating 180 oysters in 60 minutes or a cheeseburger the size of a small child, Richman consumes more food than what a typical underwear model eats in three months. Surprisingly, Richman isn't even that overweight.

Surely most nutritionists couldn't give "Man vs. Food" a stamp of approval, but each episode has the suspense of a "Rocky" movie, and Richman is a fun little ball of energy and one-liners.

"Man vs. Food" clocks in at 22 minutes without the commercials, so it's pretty easy to power through several of the 38 episodes available on Netflix Instant Viewing. Just try to eat a salad before sitting down.

Must-See Oscar Snub!

Academy Award-winning documentary "The Cove" should already be high atop your must-see home video list. Add "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" to the pile, as this documentary about has-been rockers tirelessly working for a comeback was the most glaring snub in this year's Documentary Feature category at the Oscars.

The Canadian metal band was kind of a big deal back in the 1980s, and the doc opens with hefty testimonials from rock legends like Slash and Lars Ulrich.

Inexplicably, Anvil never made the jump to superstardom, but the now-middle-aged guys fit small-time gigs in between their unassuming day jobs.

"The Story of Anvil" isn't just a film for people interested in metal music. From a European tour that goes horribly awry, to a massive blowup between the band's most senior members, director Sacha Gervasi captures some truly riveting drama. It's the kind of drama that most screenwriters couldn't dream to execute believably. The movie never ridicules the part-time metalheads, and unlike most wannabe rock stars, you'll actually want to see these guys hit the big time.

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is now available on DVD.

Instant Viewing Marathon: The Best of Spike Lee

While Spike Lee is now often more known for his verbal spats with other celebrities (he even had the gall to make Clint Eastwood's day), the "Inside Man" director used to be one of the most provocative filmmakers around.

Luckily, some of his most dynamic work is available for Netflix Instant Viewing. You can also find much of his catalog in the bargain area of most rental outlets.

His best film available is "Do the Right Thing," the landmark 1989 film about race relations in Brooklyn, New York, on one of the hottest days of the year. The terrific ensemble includes Lee, John Turturro, Ossie Davis, Rosie Perez, Samuel L. Jackson and an Oscar-nominated Danny Aiello as an Italian-American pizzeria owner.

The film spurred some controversy at the time, but looking back, it's a travesty that Lee didn't earn an Oscar nomination for direction (he was nominated for Original Screenplay). "Do the Right Thing" is still fresh after 20 years and is an incendiary, essential portrait of urban life.

Other must see Instant Viewing choices from director Spike Lee: "Mo' Better Blues" with Denzel Washington as a jazz musician, "Malcolm X" starring Washington as the famous activist, college drama "School Daze," crime drama "Clockers" starring Harvey Keitel, and Lee's most recent, the World War II drama "Miracle at St. Anna"

New This Week on Blu-Ray and DVD:

"The Princess and the Frog," "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" "Ninja Assassin," "Broken Embraces," "Breaking Bad: Season 2."

Available Saturday:

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon." Available Tuesday: "The Blind Side," Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Brothers," "Mad Men: Season 3"

Ticket Stubs is sponsored by the Hayden Cinema 6 Theater. Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com. Read more reviews and entertainment at www.NormdogEntertainment.com.