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Synopsis
Stephen Fry and John Bird star as spin doctors Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe as they bring the popular and satirical Radio 4 comedy Absolute Power to DVD. Machiavelli has nothing on these two. Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe run a blue-chip London PR firm, heading up a team of ambitious young agents who work in the dark art of repackaging black as white. Whether defending a comedian caught beating up his girlfriend in the Ikea car park, or deflecting attention from a TV historian accused of faking his evidence, the company's mantra is that the public will swallow anything, just as long as it's made palatable. Exposing the inextricable collusion between press and PR, while holding a mirror up to our celebrity-obsessed times, this is a witty and satirical comedy about a world in which style triumphs over substance, tabloids are the new judge and jury, and where five minutes of fame is considered a long-term career. Features the six episodes from the first series of the television comedy. In "History Man" Charles strives to dig up a story on historian Nigel Harting which is suitable for a tabloid audience. Also features: "Pope Idol", "Tory Woman", "Mr Fox", "Country Life" and "Crash And Burn".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For years I've been of the opinion that the best comedy is to be found on the radio and more specifically Radio 4. A great deal of that comedy crosses over to the TV and becomes the best comedy on TV. Absolute Power is another in a long line of those crossovers and in my opinion it is even better on the TV than it was on the radio.
It centres around a PR company, Prentiss McCabe and each episode looks at the current client they are working with and the problems they are trying to turn to their advantage. PR has become such a big thing in recent years that it is extremely topical and you can't help but think that it is true to life.
The cast are all excellent, lead by Stephen Fry who plays Charles Prentiss, an excellent comedy character with no morals at all. You really will be stunned by the depths he will sink to. John Bird is the other lead playing Marin McCabe who like Charles is a master of spin, though he provides the occasional moral input to the partnership.
The supporting cast are all strong, with the two main secondary stars being James Lance and Zoe Telford, two junior PR executives, with Lance playing a devious schemer and Telford a slightly more naive though hard working character. They are excellent and valuable members of the cast. There are two other junors in the office who to be honest are of little importance and in my opinion could have been left out.
There are some brilliant one off parts with the most notable being Geoffrey Palmer playing an absoulutely brilliant part as a country gent who turns out to be trying to be a Nazi supporter (anything that can make that funny is clearly well written humour!)
Each episode contains many laugh out loud moments and there is not really any weak material in there. If you enjoy intelligent humour, look no further than this.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Absolute Power is a true comedy gem featuring Stephen Fry at his majestic best. Savagely funny & darkly cynical it is a must have. Spookily, although written as an over the top celebrity /PR expose in 2005, just 2 years later it is uncanny how much seems very plausible. Don't deliberate - buy.
Finally a plea for series 2 - Don't keep us waiting any longer.
Finally a plea for series 2 - Don't keep us waiting any longer.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I adore this programme - anything that can produce the line "what she really married Nigel for is his impressive collection of modern money" or the TV concept to chose the Archbishop of Canterbury "Pope Idol" has to be wonderful. Stephen Fry and John Bird are utterly priceless. The TV series never quite reaches the heights of the radio version, but then the radio version was so unbelievably funny, that's probably only to be expected.
Where is the 2nd series on DVD? Or indeed the radio series on CD???
Where is the 2nd series on DVD? Or indeed the radio series on CD???
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very funny and a genuine eye-opener
This is a clever and slightly satirical modern comedy based around a PR firm "Prentiss McCabe". The best way to think of it is Jeeves crossed (slightly) with General Melchett,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by E. Wallace
Absolute Class
This series is a fab fun look at PR - a fantastic show - great perfomances by Fry & Bird et al.
Published 8 months ago by Donwan
Well acted and written
This is the sort of television series that just keeps you laughing and thinking all of the time.
Published 21 months ago by Kevin Bransbury-jones
relative power
Although lacking the quality of writing and the superb plotting of Mark Tavener this is streets ahead of most TV comedy in its scope, pace and wit. Read more
Published 22 months ago by barbicandy
Classic and very clever comedy
Comedy to many is just a question of taste and opinion. This is of a very high quality and gives a very interesting and humourous insight on how much spin doctors and P.R. Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by Red Rose
Fantastic - quick, timeless comedy
May be a few years old, but the quick-paced, well-written comedy is timeless - as others have pointed out, there are some great quotes and situations in it, and whilst it's not... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by R. Carter
the sharpest writing
this is some of the best and smartest comedy I have seen in ages. Series 2 is available in australia (region 4). Come BBC make availble in the UK.
Published on 27 Nov 2008 by D. C. BROWN
Disappointing
Having listened to the wonderful radio series of Absolute Power, which is sharp, intelligent and funny, i bought this on the strength of that and i must admit to being very... Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by J. Hope
Biting observational comedy at its best
Stephen Fry and John Bird are at the top of their comedic game in the well-written series. The ironies of spin are magnified for our hilarious pleasure. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by Shotokan apprentice
Please distribute this in the U.S.
Howdy from the Left Coast of the United States. I caught this fun program on KNME in Albuquerque, New Mexico while I was visiting and got hooked. Read more
Published on 29 July 2007 by C Ruiz-Esparza
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