The New Statesman: The Complete Series

Compiling all 26 episodes from 1987 to 1992 of this famed British series, The New Statesman features some very topical references that date the show and some very pointed cultural asides that may elude contemporary American viewers, but remains overall a vicious, blacker-than-black satire of ultraconservative political philosophy. Brilliant comic actor Rik Mayall stars as Alan B'Stard, who was—at least in the Thatcher/Reagan era—an outrageous caricature of a Tory Member of Parliament: avowedly greedy (B'Stard blackmails for fun, not money—he's already a millionaire); gleefully cruel (his proposal for eliminating poverty is to simply kill the poor), and lecherous and sadistic (he maintains a hate-filled marriage of convenience while abusing all manner of mistresses and prostitutes). The writing is razor sharp, while Mayall is a force of comedic brutality, latching like a bulldog onto B'Stard's essential malevolence. DVD extras include the feature-length special “Who Shot Alan B'Stard?”. Highly recommended. (M. Johanson)