>It was a sit-com so your point about where camera crews would be permitted doesn't ring true.

I think we said it tried to be both and succeeded in being neither. It was certainly planned to look like a documentary (and Coogan's in-character appearence on the Clive Anderson show to promote IAP refered to it as a 'fly on the wall' - Partridge adding a half-arsed Spinal Tap-ish 'Yes, I'm very angry about that' quip as a response).

Can't remember if we mention the above in the article. Not been through it for a while (it was written ages ago as part of the original site). The only thing we've changed is the removal of the 'Knowing Knowing Me Knowing You' audio. It was part of the argument - they could have done a proper spoof TV doc in the same style but chose instead to aim lower.

With you on the 'beaten up by children' scene. Always hated that too. But we'd argue that IAP includes scenes of equal irksomeness which comes from the same attitude towards the character. There'll be more on this soon.

Do yourself a favour - get hold of a nice radio KMKY box set.

My unrequested opinions on this subject:

>I think we said it tried to be both and succeeded in being neither. It was certainly planned to look like a documentary (and Coogan's in-character appearence on the Clive Anderson show to promote IAP refered to it as a 'fly on the wall' - Partridge adding a half-arsed Spinal Tap-ish 'Yes, I'm very angry about that' quip as a response).

I don't think it was supposed to seem like a 'fly on the wall' documentary at all, and apart from Coogan's misguided appearance in character on Clive Anderson's show, there was nothing to suggest that it was anything but a sitcom. At first I shared your opinion that they shouldn't have done this, as in the past Partridge was only on TV when in what could really be a TV show, if you see what I mean.

However, after watching a few episodes I changed my mind. I think that, in the hands of a less talented set of writers and cast, the show could have been a travesty. It was not. It was good. Certainly not the classic that 'Knowing Me Knowing You' was, but it was, in my opinion, one of the best sitcoms produced at the time, and it stands up to repeated viewing.

I also agree with Ikomma that KMKY was spoiled by audience laughter, which insulted the audience's intelligence: "See, it's not real! People are laughing! Do you understand?". Though I must admit that I don't think they could've done it any other way... audidence sounds were necessary, and I think that Larry Sanders-style reactions would've grated after a while. But I'm rambling now.

Larry Sanders relied on the fact that it was two shows in one: the chat show (with natural audience laughter) and the backroom stuff (with no audience), which reflected off against each other. If you'd tried to do KMKY with natural audience laughter, I don't think it would have worked at all, it would just have looked like a rubbish chat show.

Of course, that's where Knowing Knowing Me, Knowing You comes into play...

Never did get to hear that. You'd think it'd be on one of the KMKY tapes, wouldn't you? If only the BBC fucking CARED...

>Never did get to hear that. You'd think it'd be on one of the KMKY tapes, wouldn't you? If only the BBC fucking CARED...

Didn't we mention this in the article? It's supposed to be coming out. Sioned William was hunting around for the rushes last we heard. It was going to be coupled with some other bits of yet-unreleased Partridge.

No news yet though.

My unrequested comments:

As far as I recall, IAP was heavily promoted as a "fly-on-the-wall" Alan Partridge programme. I don't think that the "documentary" tag was used or striven for, however.

I think it set its stall our very much as a sitcom, and succeeded as such. I don't think that this was to the detriment of the character, because the AP character needed to evolve by then. It certainly wasn't funny by the time of 'Yule', where the studio audience were laughing at him as a character, rather than as an embarrassing real-life host. I remember distinctly "feeling" the difference in the volume and placing of laughter between the radio/tv series of KMKY and the Christmas special.

For my money, IAP was just a different style of filmed sitcom. I agree, however, that Coogan's appearance on Anderson was a bad judged way of plugging the show, but he does insist on appearing "in character" for interviews, doesn't he?

Cheerio

Steve

Speaking of Coogan appearing as Partridge, isn't he supposed to be singing at the Comedy awards?

I really wanted to add something constructive to this thread, like everyone else, but i couldn't think of anything. Basically IAP is very funny.