S1.E4

Basic Alan

Name: Basic Alan
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1997-11-24
Duration: 29 min
Rating: 8.5
Cast: Steve Coogan, Phil Cornwell, Barbara Durkin

Episode aired Nov 24, 1997
TV-PGTV-PG
29m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

285

YOUR RATING

Steve Coogan in I'm Alan Partridge (1997)

Comedy

With the Linton Travel Tavern closed for redecoration, Alan is the only guest. Bored out of his brain, he tries to find ways to occupy himself, including buying tungsten-headed screws he has... Read allWith the Linton Travel Tavern closed for redecoration, Alan is the only guest. Bored out of his brain, he tries to find ways to occupy himself, including buying tungsten-headed screws he has no intention of using, walking along the dual carriageway to buy windscreen washer fluid ... Read allWith the Linton Travel Tavern closed for redecoration, Alan is the only guest. Bored out of his brain, he tries to find ways to occupy himself, including buying tungsten-headed screws he has no intention of using, walking along the dual carriageway to buy windscreen washer fluid from a petrol station and dismantling the trouser press in his hotel room.

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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2User reviews

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Photos6

Steve Coogan and Barbara Durkin in I'm Alan Partridge (1997)

Storyline

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Trivia
Simon Greenall who plays Michael, also supplies the voice of the (non-Geordie) petrol station attendant whom Alan invites for a drink. Michael works in a petrol station in the second series.

Quotes
Alan Partridge: [on the phone to his son] Fernando, you're 22 years old and you're spending your Saturday afternoon in bed with a girl, you're wasting your life. It's a beautiful day. Take her out to a local fort or a Victorian folly. Yes, of course but... Look, your mum and I, believe me, we did it everywhere. You know, in the lounge, in the hall... Behind a large boulder on Helvellyn for my birthday. Actually, that is where you were conceived. We just didn't take precautions. No, no, we were delighted. I mean, at first I was mortified, but then you were born and we grew to like you.

Connections
Featured in Diminishing Returns: Podcast of Horror III: Re-Animator (2018)

Soundtracks
Tainted Love
(uncredited)
Written by Ed Cobb
Performed by Soft Cell

User reviews2

Review

Top review

9/10

Very funny episode with boredom bringing out the best in Alan

Loneliness and boredom drives Alan to some ridiculous behaviour.

This is a very funny but also relatively sad episode that conveys how lonely a person Alan is and also, judging by some of his hideous attempts to interact with people, we also see why.

Alan has a number of spontaneous ideas that are seemingly good at the time but produce unintentionally hilarious results. The highlights for me are his attempt at a practical joke on the hotel staff and his conversation with Fernando.

As always the dialogue and sight gags are very funny and Steve Coogan excellent, along with the supporting cast.

For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.

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