Review: How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) – Unparalleled Hilarious Instants on TV

Once again, Alan Partridge faces turmoil! Yet, who isn’t struggling nowadays? When we last saw him on screen, Alan suffered a public collapse while hosting the light magazine show This Time, wrapping up with him excluded of the BBC. As his latest self-made endeavor begins, the non-fiction piece How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Alan discloses he’s experienced another setback by fainting into the lap of a female interviewee at an industry gathering for an agricultural firm. Hard moments, but such characters rebound: connect struggles with societal themes and attempt to turn it into a show.

Delving into Stress and Loneliness

How Are You? features Coogan’s timeless character in roving factual mode, looking into an epidemic of anxiety, stress and loneliness that he believes is intensifying: “To put it simply, it’s become insane!” He tries out spiritual practices, meet up with former classmates, and enjoy therapeutic hikes, alongside facing his history. Episode one builds towards a hostile but cathartic reunion with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), an ex-co-worker from broadcasting days, and as this new series goes on, we’re shown unseen clips from Alan’s stints.

Alongside his co-writers and directors, How Are You? marks a change of pace. In contrast to earlier innovations, How Are You? frequently revisits old themes: in addition to resurrecting classic structures, it mirrors earlier faux-documentaries in recent years. And, as Alan’s private life bleeds into his investigations, viewers will think of his podcast work.

The Two Sides of Alan Partridge

It creates a slight challenge. There are two Alans: Winning Alan (currently has a big paid presenting gig) and Struggling Alan (without work), and although Wilderness Alan was the star of the faultless TV sitcom I’m Alan Partridge back in 1997, a nostalgic take has developed in books and audio projects. How Are You? brings us into his space and casts Katherine Kelly as Katrina, Alan’s wildly unsuitable paramour from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – he refuses to accept her betrayal with a pal and business owner – might have worked best in audio form, allowing audience creativity to enhance humor. Without visuals, he seems more free: modern TV excels at pressuring the successful Alan and watching him implode, as happened on previous shows.

The Genius of Sloppy Errors

These, however, are quibbles in the face of one large, undeniable fact: across all platforms, he delivers the most laughs in Britain, and even placeholder Partridge has more laughs-out-loud per half-hour than other TV programs. How Are You? has Alan in multiple creative roles, which opens up his genius for sloppy errors and poor editorial decisions. If explosive fruit edits symbolize struggles, viewers will see it, and there’s nobody to tell him that he’s accidentally used the word “tastistics” or similar gaffes in narration. The slight grimace we regularly catch as he strides out of shot sensing the scene went poorly always delights, and nor do the idents he’s made to fit between segments, highlighted by his awkward, caring expressions while simultaneously swallowing a mouthful of humble British tea.

Memorable Scenes and Sentiments

Is there anything more joyous than Alan grunting as he squats down next to a skip? Surely not. His appearance is equally entertaining, with a poorly chosen hair shade, and his attire including bright trousers, black-and-white pundit pumps, multiple gilets and over-the-top joy about style revivals.

Plus, the subject matter here allows for the glimpses into Alan’s soul that emerged with the current writers. Repeatedly, the show achieves emotional depth, where his blindness exposes pain that nearly brings viewers to tears, until humor takes over and giggles follow. That can happen because we’ve loved him for so long: every appearance is appreciated.