As the weeks go by it is clear Abbot, the Minister for Social Affairs, is unsuited for the job. And this is endorsed by a scurrilous news article by Simon Hewett suggesting that Abbot is more or less out of touch with popular culture and the needs of ordinary people.
Abbot confesses to Tucker that he is overwhelmed with his workload and is tired of trying to play catchup with demands of being a Secretary of State.
Malcolm Tucker, the government's Director of Communications, wades in trying to defend Abbot and belittle Hewitt. He insists that Abbot should get fully versed in pop culture via watching a Zeitgeist tape and also listen to some Middle England focus groups for their advice and opinion.
Senior special advisor, Glen Cullen, is not keen on the idea of using focus groups, but is overruled by Tucker and a sycophantic Ollie Reeder. However, as it turns out the focus group idea blows up in both Abbot's and Tucker's faces as Hewitt intends to write another damning piece on Abbot's desperate need to get approval from those very same focus groups.
Just to add to Abbot's woes he notices while watching the tape that the leader of one of the focus groups he had a one-to-one with, is in fact an actress and just pretended to be a representative of a Middle England housewife for the focus group, which again the press could have a field day with if it ever came to light via a leak.
So yet again Tucker, Reeder and Cullen have to do damage control and get Abbot out of yet another political/public disaster!
A slightly more confident episode from the pilot with marginally less irritating "shakicam" and more focus on the characters and their particular flaws, dominated of course by the fiery and unforgiving Tucker.
The performances from all the lead character are quite excellent and totally believable, especially that of the tired and confused Abbot played by Chris Langham. Even his facial expressions and the way he walks suggests of a man with the world on his shoulders as he blunders from one mess to another.
Again the humour is subtle rather than simple wisecrack gags, and may go of over the heads of some viewers. But of course it does beg the question if this political satire of a fictitious government department bares any resemblance to how a genuine department is managed. And my guess it probably is!
Abbot confesses to Tucker that he is overwhelmed with his workload and is tired of trying to play catchup with demands of being a Secretary of State.
Malcolm Tucker, the government's Director of Communications, wades in trying to defend Abbot and belittle Hewitt. He insists that Abbot should get fully versed in pop culture via watching a Zeitgeist tape and also listen to some Middle England focus groups for their advice and opinion.
Senior special advisor, Glen Cullen, is not keen on the idea of using focus groups, but is overruled by Tucker and a sycophantic Ollie Reeder. However, as it turns out the focus group idea blows up in both Abbot's and Tucker's faces as Hewitt intends to write another damning piece on Abbot's desperate need to get approval from those very same focus groups.
Just to add to Abbot's woes he notices while watching the tape that the leader of one of the focus groups he had a one-to-one with, is in fact an actress and just pretended to be a representative of a Middle England housewife for the focus group, which again the press could have a field day with if it ever came to light via a leak.
So yet again Tucker, Reeder and Cullen have to do damage control and get Abbot out of yet another political/public disaster!
A slightly more confident episode from the pilot with marginally less irritating "shakicam" and more focus on the characters and their particular flaws, dominated of course by the fiery and unforgiving Tucker.
The performances from all the lead character are quite excellent and totally believable, especially that of the tired and confused Abbot played by Chris Langham. Even his facial expressions and the way he walks suggests of a man with the world on his shoulders as he blunders from one mess to another.
Again the humour is subtle rather than simple wisecrack gags, and may go of over the heads of some viewers. But of course it does beg the question if this political satire of a fictitious government department bares any resemblance to how a genuine department is managed. And my guess it probably is!
