THEY'RE `THICK' WITH INEPTITUDE.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic Hugh Abbot (Chris Langham Christopher Langham (born 14 April 1949) is a British writer, actor, comedian and as such is most famous for playing MP Hugh Abbot in BBC Four sitcom The Thick of It and as presenter Roy Mallard in People Like Us ), England's Secretary of State for Social Affairs, is described in one newspaper article as being ``disconnected to the point of autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. ,'' and even that may be too kind. He's so politically tone deaf that he declares to the media that he has assembled them to ``announce that there's no big announcement.'' He requires a precis drawn up for him on every policy, even one explaining popular culture. Adrift and agenda-free, Abbot is the, uh, hero in BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. America's hilarious political satire Political satire is a subgenre of general satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics, politicians, and public affairs. It has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political , ``The Thick of It,'' which last weekend won the BAFTA Baf´ta n. 1. A coarse stuff, usually of cotton, originally made in India. Also, an imitation of this fabric made for export. (the British equivalent of the Emmy) for Best Comedy Series. (Likewise, Langham was named Best Actor.) Set in the dizzyingly absurd world of British politics, which makes ``Catch-22'' seem a landscape of lockstep lock·step n. 1. A way of marching in which the marchers follow each other as closely as possible. 2. A standardized procedure that is closely, often mindlessly followed. Noun 1. logic, ``The Thick of It'' has the sort of documentary-style ambience that was perfected by the British version of ``The Office.'' It captures the ordinary madness of the workplace - albeit here one that affects (or, perhaps more accurately, wrecks) millions of lives - with wry, deadpan precision and anarchic wit. Here's a world where much more energy is expended on spinning gaffes and molding sound bites than creating sound policy. The only person who seems to get anything done is policy wonk/political adviser Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and all he accomplishes is, essentially, bullying everyone into a state of panicked inertia. (An obvious comparison would be to Karl Rove, but Rove actually gets results.) Abbot's staff is typically befuddled, but likely less so than he. Episodes harpoon harpoon (härp  n`), weapon used for spearing whales and large fish. The early type was a flat triangular piece of metal with barbed edges and a socket for attaching a wooden handle, to the the notions of focus groups, impotent yet endless department reshuffling, lame-brained opposition party strategizing and other time-wasters that prevent genuine governance from occurring. When Abbot's office is moved into a new, sterile government building, the best a staffer can say about the place, taking in its tall, open spaces, is, ``Good place for a suicide, this -- good, long jump; appreciative audience.'' Abbot manages to gut programs he, with a small measure of idealism, wishes to champion, such as the Health Service and schools for special-needs students. The British version of the show's language is as harsh as its view of politics, so expect large gaps to get bleeped out. If all politics is local, then American viewers currently disillusioned dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. by the state of their own government will feel right at home in this keen evisceration evisceration /evis·cer·a·tion/ (e-vis?er-a´shun) 1. removal of the abdominal viscera. 2. removal of the contents of the eyeball, leaving the sclera. e·vis·cer·a·tion n. of those who have devoted their lives to remaining on the public dole by complaining about those on the public dole. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com THE THICK OF IT - Four stars What: Political satire in the mold of ``The Office'' about a hopelessly mediocre British government civil servant. Where: BBC America. When: 10 tonight; Fridays through June 16. In a nutshell: Dizzyingly absurd. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Chris Langham stars in BBC America's political comedy ``The Thick of It,'' airing Friday nights through June 16. |
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