Look Around You: Season One

Debuting in 2002, this British cult comedy series offers a demented parody of 1970s educational programming, packed with misinformation (“Germs originated in Germany and then spread around the world”), nonsense facts (“The biggest number that you can think of is 45,000,000, though scientists believe there may yet be bigger numbers”), absurd experiments (find out why a ghost can't whistle), and meaningless quizzes, all presented with the deadpan approach of dated science documentaries shown in school. The result is like seeing the “University of the Air” curriculum as taught by Monty Python, with graphics, music, scratchy 16mm film clips, and an unflappable voice of authority (Nigel Lambert) that are all dead-on. Compiling all eight segments (roughly 10 minutes each) from the first season, DVD extras include a bonus advanced “Calcium” module,” a pop-up video, play-at-home quiz pages, and audio commentary on each episode by creators Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, who are joined by tag-team guest commentators including Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Recommended, especially for fans of absurdist British humor. (S. Axmaker)