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WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Booyakasha! What's not to love? Cohen goes undercover as a hip-hop listening, slang-spitting "journalist" to interview all manner of folks — Buzz Aldrin, Newt Gingrich — with the unspoken goal of what Brits like to call "taking the piss" out of them. Deliberately mispronouncing words and asking bone-headed questions while simultaneously skewering his interviewees by the sword of their own self-righteousness, Ali G is one of the few true originals in recent TV comedy. Cohen also plays Borat, a Kazakhstan TV reporter, on the faux-show Borat's Guide to America. Cohen's other main guise is Bruno, a sexually ambiguous fashion reporter with his own "show," Funkyzeit Mit Bruno.
BEST SEASON: The first one, and, as of yet, the only one. (Fear not, G-heads: the new season starts in July on HBO.)
EXTRAS: All six episodes from the 2003 season, one featuring commentary by Sacha Baron Cohen & writer/producer Dan Mazer; unedited and unreleased Spyz Movie pitch; unseen footage; a glossary of G-speak.
- Timothy c. Davis
FAWLTY TOWERS
WHO AND WHEN: Starring John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs. Originally broadcast on BBC 1975-1979.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: The whole shebang.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In this classic and hilarious BritCom, Cleese plays innkeeper Basil Fawlty, who just can't quite manage his hotel — never mind being nice to the guests. His stuffy wife Sybil (Prunella Scales), constantly picks on him. No one does manic irritation better than Cleese. Watch out when the little tufts of hair stick out over his ears. Cleese is also a master of physical comedy and the supreme sarcastic mutter.
BEST SEASON: Only 12 episodes were made, all good. Two favorites: "A Touch of Class," in which Basil tries to encourage a classier clientele, and "Gourmet Night," in which there's trouble when the chef gets drunk and Basil goes in search of a replacement duck for dinner.
EXTRAS: Director's commentary, new and archival interviews with cast members and a "guest ledger" of cameo appearances.
FUN FACT: Fawlty was based on a real innkeeper, Donald Sinclair, whom Cleese encountered when he and the Monty Python gang stayed at an inn in Torquay. Sinclair, among other things, threw Eric Idle's briefcase out the window and complained about Terry Gilliam's table manners.
- Ann Wicker
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
WHO AND WHEN: Starring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks. Originally broadcast 1992-2004.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Entire series, in individual seasons or in a mega-set.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: In this over-the-top romp, Edina Monsoon (Eddy) and her best friend, Patsy Stone (Pats) careen through life sampling everything in the way of fads and trends, not to mention drugs, sex and rock & roll. In contrast, Eddy's daughter, the long-suffering Saffron (Saffy) is conservative, brilliant and stuffy. Often rude and sometimes screamingly funny, Eddy runs her own PR/fashion business while former model turned fashion mag editor Pats (statuesque Joanna Lumley in a brilliant turn) smokes constantly, drinks vodka and champagne, and sleeps around. The show broke all the PC taboos of the 1990s.
BEST SEASON: Season 5, because of the episode "Schmoozin'" which involves Eddy and her childhood sweetheart and some "lost" Beatle tapes.
EXTRAS: The "Complete Absolutely Fabulous" has 18 episodes on three discs and a disc of extras including commentary by Saunders, interviews, hilarious outtakes, and the original sketch the series is based on.
FUN FACT: Roseanne acquired the American adaptation rights but never got a network interested. Patsy and Eddy appeared on her show for a Halloween special in 1996.
- Ann Wicker
THE OFFICE
WHO AND WHEN: Starring Ricky Gervais, Mackenzie Crook, Martin Freeman. Originally broadcast on BBC 2001-2003.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: Both seasons, individually or together, and one with both seasons plus a special.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: A faux-documentary "comedy" set in a paper factory (no, wait! It gets better!) The Office contains no real punch lines and no laugh tracks, but it takes raw awkwardness to as-yet-unimagined heights. Ricky Gervais' David Brent is an office manager who's desperate to be loved, mugging for the cameras knowingly throughout the series, convinced that it's his ticket out of his dreary little English burg. Meanwhile, his turf at the paper company is soon invaded by Neil, a rival manager with the looks and business acumen Brent only thinks he has. The sub-story of unrequited love between office drone Tim and receptionist Dawn finally comes to a head in the Christmas special, which closes a few plot doors but leaves room for speculation. David Letterman once called it the greatest television show ever. That's debatable, but for two short years, no one could touch it.