In preparation for this review of the continued pestilence that is “That’s So Raven” DVDs, I took the liberty to reread what I said in the past three reviews. Initially, I was relatively kind and took a somewhat objective view. However, by the third DVD, I found myself taking much of the review to complain about the show’s star, whom I think is the most overrated actress living today.

Instead of wasting more time and energy on this annoying creature, I’ll recall some of my more colorful comments about Raven and the show itself:

“I didn’t like her when she started out on ‘The Cosby Show,’ and I don’t like her any more now. In fact, I find her arrogant, egotistical, obnoxious and annoying. And those are just her good qualities.”

“What’s the standard life cycle for a Disney Channel show? Three years? Four? Please someone tell me that we’re nearing the run of the abomination that is ‘That’s So Raven.’”

“The entire phenomenon that surrounds Raven seems to be a devious plot of the Devil.”

“Like a dreaded disease, we’re stuck with the plague of Raven.”

“I’m going to have nightmares for months.”

“It’s enough to make someone puke.”

“To say I dislike ‘That’s So Raven’ is like saying Osama bin Laden has a tiny issue with the United States.”

“After getting through my third DVD of her show, I find the episodes easier to watch. It’s not that they’re any better than before. Instead, I think it’s the way cancer patients just learn to deal with pain over the years. I’m just getting numb to the whole thing.”

My view of “That’s So Raven” hasn’t changed. I’m still not getting hate mail yet for my anti-Raven attitude, although Rondell Sheridan did snub me on the red carpet once.

The latest compilation of the show is “Raven’s Makeover Madness,” which features four episodes with the overall theme of fashion. There’s also a bonus episode on the disc that shows Raven and Eddie (Orlando Brown) testing out a possible relationship.

Like the other shows, Raven’s annoying and Eddie’s a freak. Anneliese Van Der Pol is as beautiful as ever and continues to be wasted under the oppressive yoke of Raven. The stories range from the over-the-top to the absolutely ludicrous. Raven desperately tries to do some slapstick humor, but like the rest of her acting, it comes off as false.

There are some shake-ups on the show, including the disappearance of Raven’s mom. However, her call sheet is replaced with Anne-Marie Johnson as Raven’s fashion guru Donna Cabonna. This actually bodes well for Raven because for once, there’s a character that’s more annoying than she is.

The only part of the show I enjoyed was the “Hook Up My Space” episode which poked fun at another dreg of modern television: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Take that, Ty Pennington!

Along with the bonus episode, there’s an interactive trivia challenge called “So You Think You Know Raven.” I took the challenge, and I’m ashamed to say I got a perfect score. How’s that for irony?



Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Fullscreen (1.33:1). English subtitles for the hearing impaired.