Before I start, let me convey the depths of dislike I have for the Disney Channel’s latest teen icon Raven. 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.

So, I come to this DVD with a bit of a bias. The show “That’s So Raven” is put together with the same basic formula as other Disney Channel shows. However, it is completely a vehicle for Raven - so much so that she overshadows her otherwise more talented co-stars. Anneliese van der Pol who plays her best friend Chelsea on the show, deserves so much more than sidekick status. And Rondell Sheridan, who plays Raven’s dad, is such a talented comedian that it’s a shame seeing him slum in this series. Well, at least it’s a steady paycheck.

The premise of the show is that Raven is your average high school kid who has a strange supernatural power. She had sudden premonitions in each episode. This provides her a way to find out what they mean and how they come to be before the credits roll.

This DVD contains four episodes of the show, including one that has not aired yet. In “That’s Not So Raven,” Raven gets a chance to design her own dress for a young designer’s contest. However, when the former supermodel head of the contest won’t let her model her own fashions, Raven goes on the offensive. This episode preaches in a not-so-subtle way about a fashion industry that just hasn’t changed - and probably never will.

In “If I Only Had a Job,” Raven foresees her father getting fired from the restaurant where he works as a chef. In order to help get his job back, Raven and her friends stage a ridiculously annoying set-up to make the restaurant boss think she’s a famous singer diva. Not too much of an acting stretch for Raven, apparently.

In “He’s Got the Power,” Raven’s friend Eddie (Orlando Brown) suddenly finds himself with premonition power himself. However, this power goes to his head as his predictions bring him superficial popularity. With a wasted cameo by Haylie Duff, things are set straight as Raven and Chelsea dress up again, this time as Disco Divas.

The final episode, “Boys ‘N Commotion,” takes a few jabs at the boy band phenomenon. Think of what the world would be like if Ja Rule and Ricky Martin resurrected Kurt Cobain to make a new boy band, and you’ll feel the pain of this episode. It appears that Raven might learn about what it means to be loyal to friends, but it really just turns into a message that it’s better to hide your mistakes.

The production budget of this show is so low, it is shot on video and film-looked to give it a professional edge. However, the video artifacting is so prevalent that it looks like some indie filmmakers shot it with consumer grade cameras.

The bonus features are pretty weak, and again are nothing more than a stage for Raven. My god, this girl wouldn’t have any career without the Disney machine behind her. There are two music videos - “Supernatural” and “That’s So Raven” - both performed by (surprise! surprise!) Raven.



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