The ShowBuzz Weekly Forecast

SXSW (South by Southwest) Music and Media Conference and Festival begins Friday, March 9, 2007, and runs through March 18 in Austin, Texas.

Here's the place to look for music and film on the cutting edge, not to mention interviews and workshops with the likes of Rickie Lee Jones, Pete Townshend, Bill Paxton, and a keynote speech by former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, who is a producer and host at the cable network HDnet.

If your itinerary doesn't include Austin, then stay in your living room and fire up the DVD player. It's time to let Borat into the sanctity of your home.

MOVIES

"300": Spartan King Leonidas leads an army of 300 soldiers into battle against the massive invading Persian army. Cast includes Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Regan and Dominic West.

"The Ultimate Gift": A young man can't access his inheritance until he finishes several tasks that were set up by his rich grandfather before he died. Valuable lessons are learned all around. In this one, look for Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis and Abigail Breslin.

"Believe in Me": A basketball coach discovers talent and dedication when he unknowingly takes a job coaching a high school girl's team. Cast includes Bruce Dern and Samantha Mathis.

"Beyond the Gates": When a Rwandan school becomes a haven for thousands fleeing genocide, a teacher and headmaster must decide where they stand. Stars Hugh Dancy and John Hurt.

"The Host": A giant monster snatches a young girl away from her family in South Korea, and the family is not about to stand for that.

"The Namesake": This is the story of an Indian-American family dealing with the balance between two cultures, starring Kal Penn.

TV

Can't they all get along? Not by a long shot.

Now some of history's toughest characters are mixing it up on the History Channel for "Barbarians Week," a return to the dark forces of tribal expansion as they tear away at the established civilizations of their day.

This follow-up to a similar programming event a few years ago includes four one-hour premieres: on Monday, "The Vandals" and "The Saxons" (beginning at 8 p.m. ET), then, on Tuesday, "The Franks" and "The Lombards" (same starting time).

The Vandals (whose name lives on as a term for wanton destruction) arrived in the fifth century to ravage the Roman Empire just as it began to crumble, then seized a new homeland cut from the heart of Rome. The Saxons swept across Britain, facing Christians and their own barbarian brothers in a bloody rivalry for power and territory.

In "The Franks," Merovius (a leader said to be half-man, half-monster) descends upon Gaul, setting the stage for his son's savage conquest over Roman and Visigoth armies. And in "The Lombards," Alboin breaks through the Roman defense in Italy in the sixth century and surrounds Rome. He also forces his wife to drink from her murdered father's skull.

"Barbarians Week" continues with encore programs.

Wednesday beginning at 8 p.m.: "Huns," "Goths" and "Modern Marvels: Barbarian Tech"

Thursday at 8 p.m.: "Vikings," "Mongols," and "Modern Marvels: Swords and Knives"

Friday at 8 p.m.: "The Dark Ages"

MUSIC

Ry Cooder, in "My Name Is Buddy," conjures the mood of the Dust Bowl songs he first explored more than 30 years ago. It's a whole new set of original material, with such old friends as pianist Van Dyke Parks and drummer Jim Keltner.

And Mary Chapin Carpenter is out with a new collection titled "The Calling."

"Dylanesque" has long-time Dylan fan Bryan Ferry giving his interpretation of 11 Dylan classics.

And Gary Allan gives us a collection of his "Greatest Hits."

BOOKS

"Nineteen Minutes: A Novel" by Jodi Picoult is a work of fiction but it is reminiscent of the tragedy at Columbine, when two teenage boys went on a murderous rampage. In this case, it is just one boy, but the pain is still palpable.

The ever-popular Maeve Binchy is out with a new one: "Whitethorn Woods."

THEATER

The New York City Opera's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" has its opening night March 7, and it's an extremely limited run. Probably it's worth seeing if you happen to be in New York City if only for Marc Kudisch's interpretation of the Pirate King.

Speaking of not-to-be-missed Broadway performances, Liev Schreiber is opening in "Talk Radio" on March 11, and Vanessa Redgrave begins preview performances in "The Year of Magical Thinking" March 6.

DVD

"Borat — Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan", starring the inimitable Sacha Baron Cohen, is ready for your living room.

If you're looking for something more innocent, try Disney's animated "Peter Pan," with a two-disc release including deleted songs and a sneak peek at an upcoming Tinker Bell movie.

Those in the market for a ruder 'toon can try "South Park — The Complete Ninth Season."

And, finally, devotees of Jack Lord will be delighted to learn that "Hawaii Five-0 — The Complete First Season" is finally available. This one carries all 24 episodes from the 1968 season, not to mention that fantastic theme song.