A thread about Alan Partridge, and not about 2000ad

[Jayzus B. Christ]

So, anyone watching the new Alan Partridge series? What do you think? Bear in mind that i din't see last Monday's one yet, but I videoed it, so don't tell me what happens.

[Quirkafleeg]

It's back of the net but I could do without the laugh-track

[Jayzus B. Christ]

Cashback!
THe laugh track is a bit much; also I wish they'd tried a new format (like the last series was at the time). It's a bit old hat now, especially with things like the Office and Phoenix Nights around. Not bad, but I'd like to see him back on the telly, back on the telly; as opposed to just back on the telly. If you know what I mean.

[Adrian Bamforth]

I want to like it but I'm afraid it's just not very funny.

Unfortunately none of the other characters are really developed this time, they just feed the odd line to Alan, it's pretty much a one man show. One of the great things about the chat show for instance is that many of the guests were as ridiculous as Alan.

Struggle and faliure is generally more funny though Alan has become very arrogant and obnoxious as he feels more successful. Oddly enough, Alan was someone you could actually empathise with I think and the idea of him being just cruel and tactless misses the point about him. The humour used to so often be in the way he struggled to be tactful yet his prejudices couldn't help but come through. He tends also to keep saying things I think are just out of character, obscenities for instance - personally I think he's more conservative at heart, though I find writers will often write more crudely when they run out of material, that 11 Oclock show factor...

I also find many of the new scenes like reworkings of old situations, like the wife-swapping couple like the stalker episode.

Still, at least he hasn't started wearing a ridiculous costume or dressing like a woman for no good reason.

ADE

[Tiplodocus]

Yes. I've not liked it either. There have been one or two good laughs but generally pretty weak.  Ade's right about them reusing situations ( the South African thing was done last series with "Oirish").  Bizarrely, I think it might work better with LESS in each episode; they just seem to be going for setup, gag, setup, gag and not all of the gags are that funny.

Change of format would be good - he'd be perfect in a LARRY SANDERS format.

[Jayzus B. Christ]

Listening to some of the old radio shows he used to do, I think they are far superior the new series. If anyone hasn't heard them; have a look for them: They are in the same format as his old 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' TV series, and are extremely funny. I had heard that Alan was supposed to be presenting a quiz show for this new series, and I can't help thinking that this would have been a lot better. Still, I liked the name of last monday's episode (which I still haven't watched, because my video is fooked): 'Bravealan'. I see what they've done there.

[Leigh S]

Agree pretty much with what everyones said above - this weeks episode had a few more laughs than the first two, but not half as good as the last series.

[Quirkafleeg]

Thinking about it a bit more. The geordie bloke's good but I'm really missing the rest of the hotel staff. The new characters don't really compare. Whilst each episode has several laugh out moments it's not reached the level of genious that the previous ones have. Nothing as good as 'ten-inch plate' or farmers mentalist yet. Same old same old, it real needs to move on... as many of you have already said.

[Mangamax]

Best part of each episode is the radio station at the start and then it all goes downhill from there

[Woolly]

I can remember alot of people saying 'I'm Alan Partridge' wasnt as good as 'Knowing me Knowing you' when it first started. Give the new series time, Cause lets face it- substandard Alan is still better than no Alan at all!

Lexi'!

[John Caliber]

This series has been the best to date; classic Partridge, excellent scenarios. You need to watch them a couple of times at least to get a handle on them (I watch the two cable TV repeats on Tuesday and Thursday) - the show gets better with each viewing. Alan Partridge is not a comedy for fans of 'easy comedies' like Friends and Will & grace, but work at it and you will be rewarded. Roll on the DVD!

- JC

Link: The DICE ORGY

[Tiplodocus]

I feel most of the people who have contributed to this thread are actually fans of the previous shows and the character.

I don't think people are complaining because "IT's not like FRIENDS" or "WILL and GRACE".  

Rather, I think they just think it's rehashing old ideas,the main character has teetered off into the realm of the unbelievable, it's lost some of the funnier supporting characters and it's throwing TOO many gags at the screen in the hope that some of them stick.

Probably.

[petemaskreplica]

Partridge is great, his Bond-fest on mon was truly awful(a contradiction i know!)

[Adrian Bamforth]

Trouble is, and this might make me sound pedantic (but then for me thinking about this kind of thing is half the entertainment), the Bond scene could have been performed by all kinds of characters in other sitcoms from Men Behaving Badly to My Family. It doesn't really say anything about Alan his profession or obsessions,  and again it seemed out of character to me - discussing Bond trivia makes him seem positively normal.

Still, glad you found it entertaining.

ADE

[Quirkafleeg]

Right, so what was the theme tune he was listening to in his car while he was waiting for Lynn at the grave yard?