About a six months ago, I caught the middle of an episode of I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 on BBC America. I had no idea what it was, but it was hysterically funny, and I was hooked. I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 tells the continuing story of Alan Partridge, a spectacularly untalented fictional British TV personality who has fallen on (relatively) hard times. Once the host of an unpopular BBC chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You...with Alan Partridge, Alan has now returned to his home town of Norwich, in East Anglia, on the very most eastern edge of England, where he's reduced to doing an early morning local radio show. His wife has kicked him out of his home in favor of an athletic instructor, and Alan now lives at the anonymous, sterile Linton Travel Tavern hotel, where regular employees Michael (Simon Greenall), a Geordie handyman who Alan can't understand, Susan (Barbara Durkin), the manager of the hotel who never stops smiling despite Alan's outrageous statements, Sophie (Sally Phillips), a new employee who openly can't stand Alan, and Ben (James Lance), Sophie's boyfriend, put up with Alan's incessant, idiotic demands. His assistant, Lynn (Felicity Montagu), suffers daily humiliations from Alan's insensitive comments about her looks and age. While stewing in the crushing boredom of his box-like hotel room, and "accidentally" ordering up Asian porn (Bangkok Chick Boys) Alan dreams of getting back into the big time (via performing gay lap-dances for his potential bosses), while performing the kind of menial duties one-time celebrities must face, including shooting a boat video and providing commentary for a local farmers' fair.

There's been a lot of talk about Ricky Gervais' The Office, particularly now that it's been recreated here on American TV. It's a brilliant show, but it's a shame that Alan Partridge hasn't taken off here, as well. This narcissistic, sexually confused bumbler, created by comedian Steve Coogan, has been around British TV and radio for some time. In 1991, Coogan first appeared as Partridge on the surreal BBC radio program, On the Hour, where Partridge was the inept sportscaster. Coogan was given his own radio show for the Alan Partridge character, which he then parlayed into Knowing Me, Knowing You...with Alan Partridge, a chat show spoof that was extremely popular with audiences in the U.K.. Coogan parlayed this show into I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1. A second series followed, with Coogan making occasional appearances as Partridge on other shows. There was talk about making a feature film of the character, but Coogan's high-profile failure as Phineas Fogg in the Jackie Chan remake of Around the World in 80 Days probably put the kibosh on any American studio sinking money into the project (the Mr. Bean movie didn't make a dime here).

It's always difficult to discuss a comedy series like I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 because a writer can never quite adequately describe to an audience what makes something funny. You have to experience it for yourself. Coogan has created a vicious, hilarious and ultimately sad portrait of an oblivious twit who loves only himself, and who has impotent rage for everyone else; as Alan famously says to his assistant Lynn, "I just hate the general public." If Alan were in any way talented, he might be partially forgiven for his racist, sexist, false bravado facade, but he exists in a vacuum of talent. Constantly trying to come up with program ideas to get back on TV, Alan pitches mind-numbing projects such as "Inter-City Sumo" (putting overweight people in "nappies" and having them wrestle), "Arm Wrestling with Chas & Dave (a spoofy cult music group in the U.K.), and when all else fails, "Monkey Tennis." Alan's absolute desperation to be nothing more than famous - at the cost of all values and morals - forms the tragic crux of the show, which only adds to the comedy. As Alan says to Michael, the equally desperate Geordie hotel handyman, "I want to understand man's inhumanity to man...and then make a programme about it." At the end of the series, Alan has been improbably saved by an old friend who wants to sign him up for a five year television contract. Just as he's signing, the friend keels over, and instead of calling for help, Alan grabs his hand, and forges his signature on the contract. This insensitivity extends into Alan's personal life, as well, where he pushes people away with his obnoxious manner. Obsessed with the past (his favorite bands are ABBA and Wings - the band The Beatles "could have been"), his role model is Roger Moore, who looks vacantly out at him from a glossy 8 x 10, a reminder of a false, fake "swinging 60s" British past that Alan obviously idolized. On a desperate afternoon, when Alan has nothing to do, he walks to the local mini-mart, to buy gallons of window washer fluid. While walking along the hazardous expressway roadside, Alan sings the theme from Goldfinger as cars whiz by. It's hilarious and sad at the same time. Alan's equally oblivious with how he comes off to people. Inappropriately bringing up his flaking skin and fungus feet, Alan's attempts at seduction with the hotel help are cringingly funny, particularly when everyone seems to know that Alan may have issues with his sexuality (what exactly is Alan hiding in that top desk drawer that causes people to blanche?). I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 is a brilliant comedy that creates an unforgettable comedy character, while satirizing our world-wide obsession with fame and celebrities.

The DVD:

The Video:
The picture quality is fine for I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1. It's video, not 35mm film, but it's clear and sharp.

The Audio:
The mono soundtrack is adequate; luckily for understanding Geordie Michael, there are English subtitles available.

The Extras:
If it bothers you that there's only six one-half hour episodes of I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1, don't worry; there's a wealth of extras included on this two disc set. On disc one, you can choose two audio commentaries that include Coogan in character as Alan Partridge with Lynn, his secretary (some really funny bits; a weird experience but not as funny as you might think), or writers Coogan, Armando Iannucci, and Peter Baynham discussing the show. This commentary is terrific, with plenty of inside info on the production of the show. It's funny, as well, with the guys having an easy time with each other. On disc two, there's Add On Alan, a compilation of 20 minutes or so of outtakes, that are hilarious to watch. It's unusual for outtakes to be as funny as the stuff they left in, but here they are. Unused Alan is a 20 minute extended improvised scene of Alan and Lynn in a car. It's introduced by the writers, and you can see what they left in the final episode, by viewing the completed scene. Audio Alan is a collection of audio sound bites from the show -- just highlight the CD cases above Alan's head to play them. Still Alan has some fun pictures of Alan, while Coogan sings his pathetic version of "Goldfinger" as musical accompaniment. As Well as Alan has text bios on all of the stars and creative talent involved with the show.

Final Thoughts:
I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 is a brilliant comedy of the cringe-inducing life of fictional British TV personality, Alan Partridge. Steve Coogan has brought to life a character that's as memorable as anything Peter Sellers or Monty Python created, and it's a shame he isn't bigger over here in America. If you like any kind of British comedy, I highly recommend this series (and even if you don't, you should try I'm Alan Partridge: Series 1 -- it's one of the funniest shows out there).