The big difference between this series of AP and all the previous series is that, in the past, Alan occupied a relatively powerful and respected position in the world portrayed in the shows.
We've seen him as the star of his own TV chat show, we've seen him as the star of his own radio show and we've seen him living in a motel and enjoying the respect of his personal assistant, the hotel handyman and (on the face of it, at least) the rest of the hotel staff. In all those situations, there have been people who clearly thought him a dickhead but for all intents and purposes, he's been the king of his own little castle.
This time (see what I did there?), things are different: he is co-hosting a TV show with another presenter who is infinitely better at the job than he is and he appears to be respected by nobody. Everybody around him knows he's a dickhead and treats him accordingly and where is the comedy value in that? There isn't any.