Puppets have been a part of television since the medium went public in the late forties. Usually they were cute and cuddly little creatures that entertained both children and their parents. At least two entire generations were taught their numbers and letters with the silly puppets on Sesame Street. Well, forget everything you ever thought about these little cloth-made performers; Greg the Bunny and his crew are back in town. Greg may look like a small stuffed bunny but he is rude, crude and socially unacceptable. He is also the creation of the brilliant yet undeniably warped minds of Sean S. Baker, Spencer Chinoy and Dan Milano. Greg started his life on a Fox sit-com where he and the other puppets thought and acted as if they were real. The show depicted them behind the scenes of their own show making diva like demands and generally acting up. They didn’t last long on that network but soon found a new home on the Independent Film Channel. It was there that they performed satires of many classic films. The second DVD of these little gems is now available through Shout Factory. ‘Passion Of Greg The Bunny, The: Best Of The Film Parodies Volume 2’, Contained in this volume are six of their parodies and if you enjoy sacrilegious, raunchy comedy then this is something you will truly find entertaining. Do not be influenced by your fond memories of puppets on TV in your youth; this is an adult presentation that is not suitable for the kids. The disc is rated TV-MA with a parental advisory for a good reason; listen to it. If you are easily offended let’s just say you have been warned.

The opening of their IFC was in itself a parody. The announce states that they are a crack comedy troupe who when their series was cancelled escaped into the underground to the Independent Film Channel. Now if you have an independent film that you need to parody and no one else can help maybe you can watch Greg the Bunny. Of course this is lifted almost directly from the ‘A-Team’ and it nicely sets the stage for the off beat humor that will follow.

After a scene wraps Wumpus wants to play connect four but nobody in the cast or crew wants to hang out with him. Later at lunch Gilbert Gottfried tells Greg that you have to befriend ‘retards’ like Wumpus to thank God that he has normal intelligence. Greg goes back to the set to play with the monster. Greg takes Wumpus roller-skating and tells him there are friends. Later on Wumpus watches as Warren the Ape teases Greg. Wumpus follows Warren to a bar after work waiting for him. Inside Warren is smoking, drinking and trying to hit on the young woman tending bar. She has Warren tossed out and as Warren is urinating on the wall behind the bar Wumpus sneaks up behind him and kills him. Back at the studio Wumpus overhears Greg having a fight with his agent and he goes out to kill him. Wumpus goes on a killing spree murdering anyone that is in any way against his friend Greg. This episode contains graphic puppet on puppet violence and a lot of fake blood, it is hysterical.

As he commentary track explains this parody is one that tries to be as faithful as possible too the style of the original film. It opens with Greg’s agent Pal Friendlies visiting the set to see Greg. The unseen director reminds Pal that he is not supposed to just drop by the set. Before he leaves Pal almost knocks down the set and Greg is hit with a light and becomes unconscious. In his dream he wanders in the dark with smoke blowing all around him. A car drives up and Greg recognizes Pal only he calls himself Lap and states he is from the town of Dogville. He asks if Greg is on the run from gangsters but Greg is not able too remember. We see the township of Dogville in an overhead shot with the town drawn out in chalk with characters standing in various locations. The simple town folk are unaware of the disruption that this stranger will bring. Like the original film the sets are bleak and overly simplistic, in this case drawing on chalkboards. The local blind man, Count Blah, makes unwanted sexual advances towards Greg. This is not the place that Greg wants to be but he is unable to leave.

This segment opens with Wumpus, apparently dead partially wrapped in plastic sheeting; he has only one eye. Flashes go off as someone is taking pictures of him. Next you see Greg and Warren riding a sandworm from Dune; somehow the wrong David Lynch film got in here. They are just filming a parody and break for lunch. Back at the craft services table Greg is looking for his meal while Warren reads the paper. On the back page is a story about a local monster being murdered. Warren is sure nobody cares who killed Wumpus. Greg becomes determined to find the killer.

Okay, this is not a film parody but it is funny. It makes fun of all those ‘Behind the Music’ episodes on VH1. In this Greg and his band are recording their new album. The style of the interviews, reenactments and even the graphics are a spot on perfect match for the real show. Warren speaks to the camera about how he believes in the band and how he is sure this time it will be about the music and not commercialism.

Pal is in court defending Warren while Greg is getting ready to shop in Chinatown. Pal is completely inept at being a lawyer and makes a scene in court. The judge adjourns the court in disgust. Greg is wondering around Chinatown and goes into a little gift shop. He goes up to the bored clerk wanting to buy some ancient Chinese magical items. Greg winds up buying a plastic skull with some fake jewels on it hoping it contains some forbidden magic. Greg brings the skull too work and somehow his mind is exchanged with Warren’s.

Greg is being interviewed about his new film. He is wearing robes and crown of thorns and says that he felt it was important to tell people the true story of the Easter Bunny. Instead of going for the obvious parody the gang takes on the film within a film documentary ‘American Movie’. The segment is mostly interviews with members of the cast and crew about helping Greg fulfill his vision for this film.

Besides the parodies there are a ton of very funny extras. One of the best is ‘Fur on the Asphalt’ a reunion special. It features some of the human guest stars that have appeared on the Fox and IFC series. Included are Seth Green, Sarah Silverman, Adam Goldberg and Jon Favreau. Yes, the director of the 2008 summer blockbuster hit, ‘Iron Man’ is here making fun of himself and his friends. There is ‘Dinner with Friends’ an uncut version of the bit on IFC. ‘Loose Stitching’ is a on the set tour of the series. There are several deleted scenes and outtakes available. This is very funny but you have to be able to take some outrageous satire.