Sears Black Friday ad for 2009 has been released early, and here’s a look at their HDTV deals for this year. Scans of the ad can be found here: 1, 2, 3, 4

Our Picks for the Best Bargains:

• Panasonic 42″ Class Plasma HDTV $649.99 *
• Samsung LN40B500 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $599.99 *
• Samsung PN42B400 42-inch Plasma HDTV $549.99
• Samsung LN46B500 46″ 1080P LCD HDTV $899.99 *
• Samsung PN50B430 50-inch Plasma HDTV $699.99 *
• Samsung PN50B530 50-inch Plasma HDTV $899.99
• Sony KDL40S504 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $664.99 *
• Sony KDL-46S504 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV $854.99 *
• Toshiba 40RV525U/R 40″ 1080P Class LCD HDTV $589.99 *
• Zenith Z42PO2 42-inch Plasma $499.99 *

Rest of the Deals:

• AOC 32-inch Full HD LCD TV $379.99
• LG 55LH40 55-inch LCD HDTV $1499.99
• Panasonic TC-P54G10 54-inch Plasma HDTV $1499.99
• Proscan 40LC45Q 40-inch LCD HDTV $539.99 *
• Samsung LN22B350 22-inch LCD HDTV $249.99 *
• Samsung UN40B6000 40-inch LED HDTV $1399.99
• Samsung 46″ Class LCD HDTV (Model LN46B650) $1309.99 *
• Samsung 46″ LED HDTV (Model UN46B6000) $1599.99
• Samsung 55″ LED HDTV (Model UN55B6000) $2469.99
• Sharp 19″ Class LCD HDTV (Model LC19SB27UT) $179.99 *
• Sony 32″ Class LCD HDTV (Model KDL-32L504) $379.99 *
• Sony 46″ LCD HDTV (Model KDL46V5100) $1239.99
• Sony 52″ LCD HDTV (Model KDL52V5100) $1599.99
• VIZIO 32″ ECO HDTV (Model VO320E) $349.99

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series will be available as a Blu-ray box set on July 28, 2009 for $350 suggested retail ($209 preorder price from Amazon.com). The 20-disc box set will include all 4.5 seasons of Battlestar but unfortunately leaves out the 10 webisodes that were included on the DVD version.

Blu-ray Review has a good breakdown of the set’s extras.

HD Nation is available as an HD download in iTunes and from Revision3’s site.

Gladiator starring Russel Crowe is getting a special two-disc Blu-Ray treatment, with a release date of September 1, 2009. Amazon has it available for preorder for $27 (regular $49.99). The discs will feature both the original and an extended version of the film along with separate audio commentaries for each version. List of extras below:

• Audio Commentary: Two separate commentaries accompany the original theatrical version and extended version of the film.
• The Scrolls of Knowledge: The original trivia track has been newly enhanced with focus points allowing viewers to access a series of new behind-the-scenes featurettes exploring key scenes and how they relate to the historical accuracy depicted in the film. The extended version of the film also includes a deleted scene marker.
• Visions From Elysium: Topic Marker-Viewers can tag moments of interest throughout either version of the film, allowing them to create “shopping lists” of topics to learn more about. Thanks to the Blu-ray player’s memory, the topics will automatically be loaded when Disc 2 is inserted, giving viewers immediate access to featurettes and galleries of interest.
• Strength And Honor: Creating The World of Gladiator-The definitive documentary on the origin, production and impact of the Oscar-winning classic. The documentary includes an all-new Enhanced Viewing Mode allowing viewers access to additional interviews and behind-the-scenes material.
• The Making of Gladiator: HBO First Look special.
• Gladiator Games: The Roman Bloodsport-Learning Channel special.
• Hans Zimmer: Scoring Gladiator-An exploration of the rousing soundtrack.
• My Gladiator Journal: Personal diary of the young actor who played Lucius.
• Image & Design: Featurettes and galleries covering the production design, storyboards, costumes and more.
• Abandoned Sequences & Deleted Scenes
• VFX Explorations: Germania & Rome-Shot deconstruction with the visual effects artists.

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Walmart has a rollback deal on the Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray player for only $98–the cheapest price we’ve seen yet on a Blu-ray player. The deal can only be found in-store, so you might want to call ahead to check for availability.

There’s a new entrant into the bargain Blu-ray player field. Meijer has introduced the Curtis Mathes Blu-ray player for $99 (that’s base price, not sale price). It has 1080p output, DVD upconverting, Dolby Digital audio, and an Ethernet port for service (which makes it a Profile 1.1 player since it can’t connect to the Internet).

No professional reviews yet, but the reviews at Meijer.com give it an average of 4.5 stars.

Link:

Meijer.com: Curtis Mathes Blu-ray Player for $99

Sears.com has a refurbished Magnavox RNB500MG9 Blu-ray player for only $99.00 (while supplies last). This is the first $99 Blu-ray player from a major retailer that I’ve heard about. The player is Profile 1.1 with 1080p output and upconversion.

Link:

Magnavox RNB500MG9 Blu-ray player $99 at Sears.com

If you haven’t started watching Lost, this is the way to do it. Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 are now available on Blu-ray. Each season features audio commentaries as well as tons of other goodies as well. Season 5 will be available in December. Each season is $50.

Link:

Lost on Blu-ray, Seasons 1-5 at Amazon.com

Not to outdone by Walmart, Best Buy is offering their entry-level Blu-ray player, the Insignia NS-2BRDVD, for $129. However, unlike Walmart’s $128 Magnavox, this is advertised as a sale price.

Link:

Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu-ray player for $129 at Best Buy

CNET review of the Insignia BS-2BRDVD Blu-ray player

Bargain Blu-ray players just received a new record low price with Walmart selling the Magnavox NB530MGX Profile 1.1 player at $128 as the base “non-sale” price. The online store is showing it as sold out, but it’s widely available in Walmart brick and mortar stores as well. Enter your zip code into the Find a Store search box to find the nearest to you.

This new low pricing leads me to think that Blu-ray players are going to go for $99 on Black Friday for 2009.

Links:

Magnavox NB530MGX $128 at Walmart.com

Save on Rollback Electronics at Walmart.com!