Every now and then, a television show emerges that is truly ahead of its time. Unfortunately, more often than not, these shows are not appreciated to their fullest level and are likely to be canceled - or buried - before they can blossom. Alas, that is the fate of genius.

“Greg the Bunny” is one of those shows. Not since my college days with “Mystery-Science Theater 3000” do I recall a show with such a biting wit and edginess, yet a lovable cuteness overall. It’s really a shame that the FOX television network canceled this series.

Imagine you could peek behind the scenes of “Captain Kangaroo,” and you’re horrified to find out that the Captain is a gun-toting cross dresser while Mr. Moose has a nagging morphine addiction. This is the kind of thing you’d find in the short-lived FOX television series “Greg the Bunny.” The show follows the premise that puppets are real living creatures - 3.2 million in the U.S. alone. Preferring the name “fabricated Americans,” the puppets have all the faults us humans do.

“Greg the Bunny” takes us behind the scenes of a once classic (but now fledgling) cable children’s show called “Sweetknuckle Junction.” The network has ousted their lead rabbit and wants to recast a new lovable creature. Jimmy (Seth Green), who is the son of the director Gil Bender (Eugene Levy), pulls some strings which lead to the audition for - and eventual casting of - his roommate, Greg the Bunny.

Think of it as “The Larry Sanders Show” without the puppets and no one nearly as ugly as Garry Shandling. Greg meets the cast of “Sweetknuckle Junction,” and everyone has their faults. Of course, the puppets steal the show, including the prima donna Warren Demontague (a fat monkey in a leather helmet) and the has been Count Blah, whom the creators describe as a cross between The Count on “Sesame Street” and Bela Lugosi from “Ed Wood.”

In addition to the great puppet characters, the human cast is superb. Eugene Levy, Seth Green, Sarah Silverman and Dina Winters all complement each other without stealing the spotlight. And an extra special shout out goes to Bob Gunton, whom many will remember as the evil warden from “The Shawshank Redemption,” as the jovial host Junction Jack.

While most shows stumble in their first dozen episodes, “Greg the Bunny” hits the ground running out of the gate and shines in the first six episodes. The pilot features such bizarre things as Count Blah warning against prison rape and Greg bathing in the kitchen sink. (Of course, when Greg farts in his “tub,” Jimmy is taken aback, saying, “Those are my dishes in there!”)

In the middle of the show’s run, the producers leaned more towards stories about the humans, rather than keeping the focus on the puppets. This actually may have been the show’s downfall, but it was still a shame it was canceled.

The DVD features audio commentary on six of the episodes, sometimes even featuring the puppet characters themselves. There’s also several behind-the-scenes featurette that show Greg’s early days on the New York City public access show “Junktape” and IFC interstitials.

There are also a good number of deleted scenes that couldn’t fit in the time constraints of the show. Additionally, some “puppet auditions” are also included, as well as an Easter Egg that leads you to “Puppet Porn.” Not for the squeamish.

If you’re into off-center humor and would get a kick out of seeing a charming kiddie show on crystal meth, then get a copy of “Greg the Bunny” on DVD. And enjoy it while you’ve got it because it’s the whole series on the disc - all 13 episodes. You won’t find a second season anywhere.



Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full frame (1.33:1). Spanish subtitles. English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.