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The It Crowd

post #1 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 
Friend of mine told me this was better than Spaced. He's now decomposing in a shallow grave. It was for the best.

This show's like Spaced in that it was made in England, and it's about dorks. That's about it. The first episode is amusing, but then when you start watching the rest you'll notice how boring and formulaic the whole thing is. The characters are one note jokes, the script was apparently written by people who never met an IT guy in their life, and, worst of all, there's a motherfucking laugh track. So it's nothing but the usual punch line/stand still, wait for laugh setup, over and over again. And they're such dorks! Comics! hahaha! And look, he's got shit on his head! Edgy!

Can't believe how fast I went from enjoying the first episode to having absolutely seething hatred for the show. The first two seasons are on netflix instant if you're curious.
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post #2 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:11pm
Your first tip-off should have been your own unshakable knowledge that nothing is better than Spaced.
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post #3 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:14pm
I enjoy it if only for the fact that they did get how IT can be. The "did you turn it off or on" and "is it plugged in" was uttered by me way too many times. And my office looked pretty much like the one in the show. But yeah, better than Spaced? Not even close. But I was amused.
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post #4 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:15pm
I watched the first season on DVD - and will be getting around to writing a CHUD review in spite of lethargy. It's fine, but I was shocked because I had heard great things. Moss and his wildly inconsistent characterization hurt me the most, but I will say that he seemed to be improving, and if he kept improving for long enough then it may have been worth it.
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post #5 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob View Post
I enjoy it if only for the fact that they did get how IT can be. The "did you turn it off or on" and "is it plugged in" was uttered by me way too many times. And my office looked pretty much like the one in the show. But yeah, better than Spaced? Not even close. But I was amused.
They might get how it can be (I know the cluttered office, the not answering the phone, the computer-stupid employees) but it doesn't do anything but poke lame jokes at their expense. It doesn't even seem to like its characters very much. Also, do we need to hear the "did you turn it on and off" joke multiple times in every episode?
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post #6 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:20pm
IT Crowd is fucking awesome. No, it's not as good as Spaced, but who cares? There's enough room in the world for both. Also, these are completely different kinds of shows.
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post #7 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:25pm
I am going to watch through these episodes again before writing my DVD review. The show is rarely painful, but I'm baffled at the love, which I've seen in many threads, from otherwise reasonable men.
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post #8 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:28pm
The entire series is worth watching for two people: Chris Morris and Matt Berry.

I love the show but whoever compared it to Spaced was really off their meds, and they did it a major disservice by setting it up for such obvious failure.
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post #9 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello View Post
Can't believe how fast I went from enjoying the first episode to having absolutely seething hatred for the show. The first two seasons are on netflix instant if you're curious.
I totally agree with you. I saw the first half of the first season, and never want to see it again. Fuck this show. It's terrible, the humor sucks, and the characters are unlikable. I don't understand how I know SO many people who love it.
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post #10 of 29
7/16/09 at 2:31pm
I saw a bit of an episode, where a guy is walking around without a shirt, people keep dragging him into stuff, and then he interrupts a moment of silence which cued laughter.

I don't know, figured it was British humour, and would be much more funny to Brits.
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post #11 of 29
7/16/09 at 3:09pm
I've said it before, but the first episode of season 2, "The Work Outing", really turned me around on this.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weasels Rip My Flesh View Post
The entire series is worth watching for two people: Chris Morris and Matt Berry.
Both are, indeed, outstanding.
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post #12 of 29
7/16/09 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
The thing that bugs me most is that the humor is all so... common. Geeks have no social skills! Women like shoes! Goths don't like sunlight!
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post #13 of 29
7/16/09 at 4:19pm
I really think the show takes off with the introduction of Matt Berry's character at the funeral.

*Kicks door open*
*strikes dramatic pose*
"Faaaaaaaaaaaatheeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!!"
*holds pose*
*strides into the room, runs up to the alter, and knocks over coffin*


And then later when he finds his fathers revolver and instructions.

"Son, this is my old service revolver. If anyone comes around asking after the pension fund, I want you to do the right thing and take the man's way out."

"I wonder if its loaded?"
*puts gun in mouth*
*pulls trigger repeatedly*
"Nope!"

Or the whole subplot with electro-shock pants.

"God damn these electric sex pants!" is probably one of my favorite things to randomly exclaim.
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post #14 of 29
7/16/09 at 4:52pm
I watched the first ep. on Instant View. It was ok. Seemed really really really REALLY broad. I figure when it's 3 in the morning and I don't have anything else to do, I'll watch another episode.

It is like Spaced in as much as they are both present on this plane of existence. That is it. Any fool tells you different, you just follow Alex's lead...
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post #15 of 29
7/16/09 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello View Post
The thing that bugs me most is that the humor is all so... common. Geeks have no social skills! Women like shoes! Goths don't like sunlight!
I watched an interview with Graham Linehan a while back and, from what I remember, the "common" aspects of the humour (tropes, etc.) are all elements he likes about it. Anyone familiar with the seminal Father Ted will likely not be surprised by this.
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post #16 of 29
7/16/09 at 5:28pm
I tried watching this way back when everyone was talking about how funny it was. It was kind of dumb and that bummed me out.. made it through about 3 episodes and forgot about it. I remember lots of hollering and obvious laugh track pausing which was pretty awkward.

Seems like I hear about an American remake every year. I wonder if that's ever going to air.
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post #17 of 29
7/16/09 at 7:44pm
Examples of why I like The IT Crowd:

Moss Reboots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhMVDoCBx9Q

Friendface

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pebihz0FJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJCzyAP6els
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIloa5tTE8g

Movie Piracy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wRxfz_6E7o

Wii Play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwHzyLhEGKw

Post-Op Break-Up Brawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3BY72RF8vc

Cooking With Moss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUobuGaY7U

Happy Deathday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON8cTi5NSMc

Out The Window

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww4wuQSLimA

Firewalls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTvrWnEWK8

Is It Loaded?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KonmpyMESp0

New Emergency Services Number

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWc3WY3fuZU
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post #18 of 29
7/16/09 at 9:26pm
I thought the show had a Seinfeld vibe, more obvious in some eps than in others.
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post #19 of 29
7/16/09 at 10:17pm
Watching those clips just reminds me how much I love Matt Berry. If you haven't seen it you should check out his show Snuff Box, and his music albums Opium and Witchazel.
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post #20 of 29
7/17/09 at 12:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry Woodward View Post
Best moment in the entire series.
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post #21 of 29
7/17/09 at 12:30am
Huh, that perfectly illustrates Alex's 'obvious' complaint.
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post #22 of 29
7/17/09 at 1:19am
The only show that I think is comparable to Spaced would be Black Books. You really should have known the guy was bullshitting you when he said it was better than Spaced Alex.
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post #23 of 29
7/17/09 at 1:27am
Thread Starter 
To be honest I brushed that off as nonsense and tried to see the show on its own merits, and only got mad afterwards that the two were even mentioned in the same sentence.

Bobby Bear- I tried checking out the second season to see if it picked up and actually, it has. But it's still only ranging a couple of chuckles per episode. Being that there's only 6 episodes per season (God, I love British "series" lengths) I'll probably watch the rest, just because. But I find myself calling every punchline before it happens.

Take for example that "Out The Window" clip. Watch it and tell me you don't see what's going to happen from the first few seconds. (er, nevermind the name, of course)
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post #24 of 29
7/17/09 at 1:55am
So with all the talk about this series, I decided to give it a go, and I really cannot believe how bad it is. I'm only three episodes in, and it's just painful. It's like a British version of "Big Bang Theory," and no, that's not a good thing. Hell, it's sub-Big Bang Theory shit. I will grant you that it's slightly better than Two and Half Men, but that's about it.
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post #25 of 29
7/17/09 at 11:10am
I didn't much like the first series either. It is a bit obvious, but my bro was given the 3 series boxset as a gift and I got into more.

I think series 2 is better than the first by a long way and series 3 continues this.

They obviously ran out of the obvious "geek" jokes in the first series and its opened up a bit more. The series 3 episode were they make friends with the proper "men" is hilarious.

It also helps that Moss and Roy have really good chemistry together and Chris O'Dowd's face just looks funny without him having to say anything.
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post #26 of 29
7/17/09 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello View Post
To be honest I brushed that off as nonsense and tried to see the show on its own merits, and only got mad afterwards that the two were even mentioned in the same sentence.

Bobby Bear- I tried checking out the second season to see if it picked up and actually, it has. But it's still only ranging a couple of chuckles per episode.
I had exactly the same reaction to season two, Alex. It got a few laughs, instead of none (or a negligible amount.) When it got me, though, it got me. That's why I was (and am) willing to give the show a by-ball, despite its shortcomings.
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post #27 of 29
7/20/09 at 12:35am
double post
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post #28 of 29
7/20/09 at 12:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry Woodward View Post
Examples of why I like The IT Crowd:

Moss Reboots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhMVDoCBx9Q]
Pfft. Everyone knows a true nerd doesn't use Windows
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post #29 of 29
7/20/09 at 7:44am
I love this show and I cannot believe that you missed the best two clips from when the guys let Jen borrow the internet.


The internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbyYGrswtg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTBsm0LzSP0

Break the internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrQUWUfmR_I

Heaven and Hitler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L203I2zDFFs
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