The IT Crowd - Oh no no no no no
Posted on February 5, 2006, by Conor O'Neill, under Humour, Reviews.
If I told you that the title of the programme should have the letters “Sh” at the start, you’d probably think I wasn’t very funny. Well that’s how funny “The IT Crowd” is. I wanted to give up after ten minutes but lasted to the end for the same reason people rubber-neck car crashes.
My six year old son reads me funnier knock-knock jokes from his “My first book of knock-knock jokes” than Graham Linehan came up with for this embarassment of a comedy. I watched some of the set-ups with my jaw on the floor “he is not seriously going to do the ‘person talking into the telephone that isn’t connected’ routine is he?” - oh god he just did. Not only that but five minutes later “no, no way, he cannot now be following this with the ‘person typing on the computer that isn’t plugged in’ routine, can he”, you betcha!
The acting is pretty dreadful but not as bad as the writing. We have the annoying mucker from “The Clinic” hamming it up and desperately over-acting in an attempt to make the thing funny. And we have someone else trying to do his version of a variety of “Fast Show” characters. They even attempted some slap-stick humour. At this point I nearly switched over to a documentary on the hibernation habits of the Greenland lesser spotted egret. I can see this show getting punted to 11pm very very quickly.
They also roped Chris Morris into a small role on it. But that’s hardly surprising as he hasn’t been in anything remotely funny since Brass Eye (Jam or Nathan Barley anyone? No I didn’t think so). I nearly forgot to mention the canned laughter. Oh dear god, the canned laughter. Imagine the laughter track from worst 1970’s sitcom possible but now imagine it with a deaf and blind person deciding when to insert the laughter. Who did they use for this? “Discount Eddie’s Quick Lube and Sound Studio”?
This is not a rant from a techie who cringed about the RTFM t-shirt or the ZX81 reference in the programme. This is a rant from someone who loves great TV comedy. Graham Linehan was responsible for one classic TV series - “Father Ted”, one good TV Series - “Black Books” and a pair of awful ones - “Big Train”, “Paris”. Did they just throw a bunch of money at him to make “The IT Crowd” and he sent this in for a bet? Maybe doing his own version of “The Producers”? Or maybe he was the writer in “Father Ted” who, when they could have come up with something witty to say in many of the scenes, said, “nah, let’s just insert a few feck, drink, girls, lines instead”.
When the US is giving us fabulous comedy writing in “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, “Arrested Development”, “My Name is Earl” and even a great re-write in the American “Office” (’Blue-Collar, White-Collar, I’m collar-blind’. Genius!), is this really the best that Channel 4 can drag out of the swamp?
Technorati Tags: The IT Crowd, Graham Linehan, Father Ted, Black Books, Paris, Channel 4, Chris Morris, Curb Your Enthusiasm
28 Replies to "The IT Crowd - Oh no no no no no"
conor on March 5, 2006
I do indeed have a bias - a bias against badly written rubbish being hyped.
Good catch on the opening line - we colonials really should try to learn the proper usage of the Queen’s English.
Of course it is childish, that’s the whole point.
Podchef on March 7, 2006
For some reason I missed this when it got posted. Having seen the whole series at this point–it’s no Fr.Ted. But it’s pretty damn funny–if only because its a train wreck of predictability. The canned laughter can go though.
As for American “comedy” you’ve hit on three mediocre shows in a vast sea of swill. The opening series of Fraiser was really the last funny stuff on American TV in a long while.
And never underestimate the tension, drama and comic factor in egret documentaries–there is always the possability they’d shit on the cameraman.
Sean Nicholls on September 19, 2006
I cant agree more with this post.
The ‘IT Crowd’ is either an underhanded way to insult anyone who works in the IT field, or just a resulting train wreck of the worst script writers on tv.
I actually cant make it all the way through one episode without at least a cursary glance at national geographic just to remind myself that the world really isnt like this tripe.
I could explain all the reasons why I hate it, but I think it’s enough to say that I feel personally insulted as a human being watching the ‘thing’ that is the IT Crowd.
CJ on December 22, 2006
Gramham Linnehan should be voted worst comedy writer of ALL time - anyone aree with me??
Sean Nicholls on December 22, 2006
He’s got my vote!
Brian on January 16, 2007
It’s been a long time since I’ve read such utter swill. The IT crowd was a great show, albeit not the best but still certainly worth watching. Chris Morris’ character while a small part as you say was still fucking hilarious, and Chris O Dowd was extremely likeable.
For the posters above me who said Linehan is the worst comedy writer of all time, try watching Black Books, or something called Father Ted you fucking spastics.
And Jam not funny? Christ you are retarded aren’t you?
Brian on January 16, 2007
I also just noticed your blacklisting of the series was 2 days after episode 1. Good spa.
conor on January 16, 2007
Ah nice to see one of the show’s writers commenting with the same quality they used on the script.
I blacklist any show that uses jokes in its pilot episode that Russ Abbot would have been embarrassed to try.
CJ on January 16, 2007
In reply to Brian - do you defend criticism to everything you like by labeling people with childish terms that wouldn’t be out of place in a school playground?
“good spa” - grow up you little child
conor on January 16, 2007
I think we can safely assume an age of about 15 with raging hormones causing all this anger over a silly little TV programme. Soon he’ll discover girls.
Brian on January 16, 2007
No sorry to disappoint you lads but well into my twenties and a career in the IT industry. Using childish insults because I honestly don’t respect you enough to seriously bother. Blacklisting TV shows after one episode? Get real for Christs sake. The anger stems from disgracefully uninformed reviews and opinions and the collective idiocy that agree with them.
The Lost Biffo on January 22, 2007
I’d read that as disgracefully uniformed reviews, and was thinking Conor’s normally well turned out.
In his 20’s, in IT, sure he wont find girls unless he googles for them.
Brian on January 24, 2007
Oh for fucks sake. Yes, I have actually heard of these “girls” being whispered about in hushed tones by my colleagues but as of yet have not risked the hallowed halls of google to further explore the mystery of sexuality.
Basically this boils down to someone writing a shit review and his brainless sycophants trying to pick apart an opinion that wasn’t made by their master with stultifyingly pointless logic. Best of luck next time.
conor on January 24, 2007
Brian, knock yourself out and quote us some great lines from The IT Crowd. Throwing insults does not make an argument, facts do, just like in the original review.
I have not read one good review anywhere of that pile of stinking crap. You love it, fine, write your own review somewhere else describing exactly why it is funny.
Gosh, I now have sycophants. That must make me an A-Lister.
Oh, and next Sunday when you read reviews of new TV shows in the newspaper, check how long they waited before they wrote theirs.
Facts, they’re great, I recommend you try some sometime.
Brian on January 24, 2007
I was merely saying that the original review was flawed and I stated why, albeit in a rather angrier way than perhaps I should have.
Usually when I read a review of a the first episode of a show they state that that’s exactly what it is, comment on the first episode and then state whether they have high hopes for the rest of the series or merely hope it improves. But unfortunately you black listed it straight away.
Just to point out, the main reason I began using insults is that someone actually said Linehan should be crowned worst writer of all time, something that ridiculous should get any sane persons blood boiling.
conor on January 24, 2007
Brian you are the one who came up with the term blacklisted, not me. I reviewed an episode of a programme and hated it. End of story. Mof Gimmers over at TV Scoop has mentioned The IT Crowd several times since the pilot and strains to find anything positive to say about it.
The pilot episode of a show needs to nail it, if not they find it very hard to recover an audience.
Look at the pilot for Seinfeld - rough as hell but still extremely funny. No hammy acting (welllll maybe some), no awful laughter track, no cack-handed attempts to invent a catchphrase and not a re-used old joke in sight.
I said the show is badly written and then gave examples. You coming back with “no it isn’t” really doesn’t add to the conversation.
I’d genuinely love to hear some good one liners from the show. And if you quote “have you tried turning it….”, I’ll be forced to ban you 
Wait a sec, I’ve just realised what Andy’s sitcom within “Extras” is based on.
Jane on February 6, 2007
Hmmm ok you didn’t like it, what a shame. You make some valid points but I guess the show was really designed as a cheap laugh comedy and not meant to be taken so seriously. I’ll sometimes put it on after getting home from work (as a software engineer mind you) to relax - I guess you need to be a nerd to appreciate it’s finer details? The characters, especially Denholm, are fantastic and well developed (although not entirely original) and most of the stories are directly related to IT foibles (e.g. the server room) which can be amusing to both IT and non-IT related viewers. Anyway, you didn’t like it, I did. If you don’t want readers to disagree with you then maybe you shouldn’t open your blog to comments 
conor on February 6, 2007
Well said Jane except for the last bit - the comments are there to start a conversation which is exactly what we’re having. If people just agreed with me all the time it’d all be very boring. When they disagree, I disagree back with a bit of give and take. It’s why I love blogging.
Oh, wrote my first Z80 assembler game at the age of 16 and have spent 15 years in software development. Just call me Nerdmeister
Sean Nicholls on February 15, 2007
sadly most of these comments only go to prove the premise of the show.
I still hold my opinion however, that its utter rubbish. I honestly dont care what a person or writer has done before or will do in the future, I judge the work for what it is…
and we all know the quality of the IT crowd. dont we.
conor on February 15, 2007
I hope I don’t fall into the same trap I did earlier this week with Gillian Keith. I never watch her programme but the hatred expressed towards her recently was so pronounced I ended up watching to see how bad it was. So now I’ve upped her viewing figures, damn.
Paul B on November 24, 2008
…looking for reviews of the 1st episode of series 3 and came across this article, I wonder if Brian still agrees with his original assessment of the show? It has proven to have had plenty of quotable lines, memorable moments and built up quite a following. It is actually shot in front of a live audience - absolutely no canned laughter at all was ever used.
January on November 30, 2008
I dunno how Conor feels about the third series, but as someone who hated the first episode as much as he did, I’m happy to report that series 3 episode 2 was just as terrible. I don’t understand the adulation given to this show at all; this is the only negative review I’ve seen. Must look harder.
Sean on November 30, 2008
I havent seen a entire episode start-to-finish of the show since this review; and have actively avoided it at every turn.
Quotable or not, the IT crowd still caters to the lowest common denominator humour in my book: take a ‘fringe’ counter-culter (IT people I suppose) and point out their many stereotyped flaws in repetetive and predictable ways.
This would be no different than making a show about the HR department or Legal etc.
I imagine the IT crowd is a good laugh for people who have to deal with IT departments, and dont apreciate the perceived power the sometimes meek often socially inept people posess. So yeah… im sure it appeals to some, just not me. nor any person I’ve ever asked.
Its like that CNN video where the reporter acted like a jerk to the people lining up for the iPhone. Asking if any of them had ever seen a girl naked.
toot on December 2, 2008
So Sean you’ve never seen an entire episode and you avoid it because this gobshite says he doesn’t like it, would you smoke his cock if he said he liked that?
I guess the fact that the IT crowd is in it’s 3rd season means anyone who doesn’t like it should watch something else (apparently there are other channels) and leave it to the vast majority who do.
It must be a sad life looking for things to complain about rather than enjoy
Oh and Connor, I doubt your 6 year old is funny even when he shits his bed.
You tit, LOL
Conor O'Neill on December 2, 2008
Toot, thanks for stopping by and highlighting the demographic that watches the IT Crowd. They should hire you as a writer.
toot on December 3, 2008
yes they should 
A.Maneras on December 16, 2008
Please, stop this childish discussion or I will write “google” in Google and the whole Internet will crash.
Dr Langton on March 5, 2006
This show is actually highly amusing. Your personal opinions are valid but you seem to have a strong bias. Also please learn the english language and correct your opening comment. If we follow your instructions and put ’sh’ at the start of the title we would have ’shthe IT Crowd’ and unless we are speaking in Thai shthe is not a word…
Identifying a TV series as the SHIT crowd seams rather childish…