COUCH THEATER

PICK OF THE WEEK

Bubbles, Buttercup and Blossom are "The Powerpuff Girls" . "Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger" (3-Disc Collector's Edition) - I have a pretty extensive library of comedy albums, and one of my favorites is a rare double album by Bill Cosby from 1969 entitled "8:15 12:15." The first disc is of his all-ages, family-oriented 8:15 show. The second is the adult-oriented midnight show. What's great about this album is that the show is essentially the same, but you get to witness a master comedian gear his material to a specific audience.

That's why I'm looking forward to getting this latest Chris Rock boxed set. His HBO special "Kill The Messenger" was recorded in South Africa, London and New York City. The three concerts are spliced together with Chris beginning a joke in, say, New York and delivering the punchline in South Africa. Some folks found this approach jarring, but I thought they pulled it off beautifully.

This boxed set contains not only the original broadcast, but the full, uncut shows from each venue, so you can witness how Rock plays to each audience on all three continents. For fans of stand-up, this is a must-have for your collection.

DOGS OF THE WEEK

. "Max Payne" - Oh look! Another movie based on an old video game! Hey, it's starring that Marky Mark guy, an actor with all the emotional range of scrapple! Guns go boom! Marky Mark scowls! Crooked cops. Funky drugs! Mila Kunis tries to look sexy and dangerous — like a Pomeranian wielding a spork! Plot? We don't need no steenkin' PLOT! Just quick cuts, loud music, bang-bang!

Gahhhhhhh!

. "Repo! The Genetic Opera" - Darren Lynn Bousman directed many of the sequels to "Saw," a movie franchise about torture. With "Repo!" Bousman has turned the tables and made a movie that will torture audiences.

"Repo!" is a sad and obvious attempt to manufacture a cult film. It tries too hard to be the next "Rocky Horror Picture Show," and instead is so self-consciously camp that it becomes sad and annoying at the same time. It also has Paris Hilton. Need I say more? TV SERIES "The Powerpuff Girls" The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary "Moonlight" The Complete Series "Emergency!" Season 5 "The Rockford Files" Season 6 "MI-5" Vol. 6 "Jurassic Fight Club" Season 1 "My Three Sons" Season 1, Vol. 2 "Waking the Dead" Season 3 "Criss Angel Mindfreak" Season 4 "Jonathan Creek" Season 3