The British have long had a knack for combining a cutting sense of irony with fall-down-funny situations – "Monty Python's Flying Circus" skews towards the more absurd end of the spectrum, which is with what most are familiar. But thanks to a little show known as "The Office," many more Stateside viewers are becoming well acquainted with the English gift for taking uncomfortable laughter to new and hilarious heights.

But before David Brent and even prior to our own Larry Sanders, there was a Brit who was taking the venerated talk show form to strange and new lows. Alan Gordon Partridge (Steve Coogan, 24 Hour Party People, Coffee & Cigarettes) is a bit of a cult hero in the United Kingdom – first rising to prominence in the late Eighties and early Nineties presenting sports news on BBC Radio 4's "On The Hour," he soon transitioned in 1992 to hosting "Knowing Me, Knowing You," a spoof chat show with fictional guests whom Partridge nevertheless managed to annoy and offend.

A one-off documentary ("Knowing, Knowing Me, Knowing You") that dealt with the tumultuous private life/behind-the-scenes of Partridge and his show led to the 1994 creation of the TV version of Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, retaining the format of the radio show and adding a house band, led by Glenn Ponder (British musical comedian Steve Brown). While in reality, the show was a massive hit, the fictional world found Alan ending the show after the first series.

With a total of two radio series, three television series, several TV and radio specials, as well as appearances on BBC's "Comic Relief," Partridge has had his life chronicled through all of its attendant ups and downs. He served as a launching pad for Coogan, who's gone on to success in films on both sides of the Atlantic. Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge is a cutting, bitingly funny satire on "chat" shows, right down to the lame ABBA-influenced theme song and Partridge's annoying catchphrase, culminating with "A-ha!" Eliciting a mixture of revulsion and sympathy, Coogan's Partridge is in over his head in most episodes – whether it's booking a transsexual Playboy model or inadvertently booking a gay male dance troupe, Partridge fumbles his way through each program, somehow still upright by the credits.

Directed by Dominic Brigstocke and written by Coogan, Patrick Marber (yes, the same playwright responsible for Closer), Armando Iannucci, Rebecca Front and Doon Mackichan, among others, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge is a master class in subtle underwriting and farcical humor applied with a straight face and semi-serious tone. Many of the guests on Partridge's show are no doubt meant to send up the stereotypes of guests on these shows, within the larger framework of mocking the "chat" show format. It may take a couple passes to wring all the humor out, but these programs, despite being a relatively brief run, merit more than one viewing. If you loved The Office, you'll definitely want to get to know Alan Partridge. A-ha!

The six episodes that comprise the complete series of Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge is contained on one disc, with the bonus features taking up residence on the second disc. Packaging wasn't available for review, so I can't comment on that.

The Video:

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge is presented here in 1.33:1 fullscreen as originally broadcast. The image suffers a bit from the PAL-to-NTSC conversion but nevertheless looks very clean and crisp – the garish colors pop sharply, there's no edge enhancement and that horribly dated opening credits sequence flows smoothly.

Offered in Dolby 2.0 stereo, the cheesy music given life by Glenn Ponder and his band sounds warm and smooth, while every line uttered by the smarmy Partridge and his embarrassing assortment of guests is heard loud and clear – no distortion and no drop-outs.

For a cult show, this two-disc set boasts a considerable amount of supplemental material – on the first disc, each episode includes a commentary track featuring Marber, Front, Brown, Iannucci but no Coogan, which is bitterly disappointing considering he's the star of the show (although, an amusing reason is given each time as to why "Alan" can't join the recording session). Nevertheless, the quartet is joined by Melanie Hudson on the fourth episode, Alan Ford on the fifth episode and David Schneider and Doon Mackichan on the final episode. These tracks are just dryly funny as the show itself and well worth a listen for fans.

The second disc houses a wealth of bonus features – not the least of which (under the heading "Festivalan") is the 1995 Christmas special "Knowing Me, Knowing Yule: The Alan Partridge Christmas Special," featuring commentary from Marber, Front, Brown, Mackichan, Schneider, Iannucci and (again) no Coogan. Also on board (under the heading "Originalan") is the first 15 minutes of the pilot of "Knowing Me, Knowing You," filmed in April 1994 and complete with an introduction setting up the segment; under "Ruralan" is a five minute, 15 second clip of Alan indulging in his "Christmas ramble"; "Alan Aid" houses six minutes of Alan's appearance on BBC's "Comic Relief 1995"; "Optionalan" allows for subtitles to be turned on/off and "Additionalan" includes "Commercialan" (nine commercials, running an aggregate of four minutes); "Stillalan," a photo gallery; "Biographicalan," which includes biographies for 17 cast and crew members and finally, "As Well As Alan," which is a list of credits.

I understand that Coogan's quite a bit busier these days than perhaps he was when filming this show, but it's baffling and more than a little frustrating that the man at the center of it all can't be bothered to at least sit for an interview when every other person creatively associated with the show made time. It detracts somewhat from the sheer volume of content knowing that Coogan is nowhere to be found. Very disappointing.

Grab a tall glass of Sprunt and pull up a chair for an evening with this affordable and surprisingly packed two-disc set – fans of ironic and satirical British humor will have a field day with Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (but odds are they're already familiar with the show). Those who know neither the genius of Steve Coogan or the skill with which the Brits keep pounding out these minor classics would do well to pick up (or at least rent) Mr. Partridge's TV show posthaste. Highly recommended.