The Thick Of It: Furiously Funny Political Machinations

Over the past few months, BBC America has been airing Series 3 of The Thick of It, a political satire that started airing on the BBC in 2005. Even though I hadn't seen the previous series, I had no difficulty diving right into this maelstrom of British politics and government buffoonery, all set to the most colorful language to ever assail your ears.

The show revolves around the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship (DoSAC) and the hapless politicians and flunkies trying to get things done without causing a media firestorm. Created by the brilliant Armando Iannucci, it's meant to be an updated version of the fantastic 80s sitcom Yes Minister, but with far more profanity. And the character responsible for most of that profanity is Malcolm Tucker (played with insane aplomb by Peter Capaldi), the government's Director of Communications, i.e. the much-feared spin doctor. His sole mission is life is to descend upon DoSAC like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse  and let loose a tirade of scatological rantings and ravings. The people subjected to these tirades almost express a reluctant admiration for his fiercely inventive language, but they're too busy trying to avoid getting fired. He concurrently tries to manipulate the media, treating the press to treacly smiles that are almost more chilling than when he's yelling at people with veins bursting out of his head. His machinations are largely effective, albeit exhausting and resulting in a perpetually hoarse voice.

In Series 3, Rebecca Front plays Nicola Murray, the new MP who is unceremoniously shuttled in to take control of DoSAC. From Day One, she has to deal with Malcolm's abuse and a staff of hyper incompetent staffers who make you wonder how British government manages to get anything done at all. If this all sounds a bit familiar, it might be because you just got done watching the first season of Veep, the HBO series that features similar incompetence, except this time in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. Veep was also created by Armando Iannucci and is essentially the American version of The Thick of It, so you will find very similar characters, although no one quite so volatile and psychotic as Malcolm Tucker.

Iannucci and his team of writers make every episode explode with elaborate set-ups and relentless laughs and The Thick of It is a must-see show for anyone seeking truly excellent political satire. If you don't want to commit to a series, you can also watch the 2009 movie In the Loop (nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar) which is based on the series but with only a few of the central characters (including Malcolm Tucker) and more of a transatlantic sensibility. So check out this comedy goldmine and enjoy the discovery that politicians are just as absurd across the Atlantic as they are over here.