The IT Crowd

January 29th, 2006 - 13:22 | 4 comments

I watched Channel 4’s The IT Crowd yesterday. It’s from Graham Linehan, the writer of Black Books and Father Ted, and I thought it was pretty funny. Interestingly, they’ve released it online before showing it on TV.

Man 1: Did you and this girl, you know, hit it off?
Man 2: [grins]…Well, define ‘hit it off’
Man 1: Did she carry on talking to you once you’d fixed her computer?
Man 2: …No.

It’s a sitcom set in the IT department of a large firm, and I was impressed with the approach. The computer geeks were human and the idea was to laugh along with them than actually at them. It’s like Galaxy Quest was to Star Trek - making fun, but gently and without malice.

A surprise was the appearance of Christopher Morris as the company boss. As far as I know he hasn’t been seen on television since the fracas a few years ago. He made a spoof documentary satirising the hysterical reactions of the public and media to any mention of paedophilia, and was met with a hysterical media and public. He proved his point completely, but it didn’t do much for his career. It’s good to see him returning to comedy.

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4 Responses to “The IT Crowd”

1 Lauren Jan 29th, 2006 at 6:41 pm

…

Wow. That’s just like a real IT department. I know, because I work in one. **dies**

Also, I liked the Flying Spaghetti Monster poster on the wall in the basement. Woo!
2 skuds Jan 29th, 2006 at 8:18 pm

Has this started on TV yet or did you watch the online preview?

As an ex-IT person myself (and Father Ted fan) I have been looking forward to this and would hate to think I missed the start.
3 Krypto Jan 29th, 2006 at 9:04 pm

I hadn’t spotted the FSM! How on earth did I miss Him? That is indeed very cool
The only IT department I’ve ever worked in consisted of just me, but ‘have you tried turning it off and on again?’ was almost always the first thing I said on the phone
I watched the online preview - I don’t think it starts on c4 until next Friday.
4 skuds Jan 29th, 2006 at 9:20 pm

Most of the time it works. If that doesn’t work, “have you checked all the cables are plugged in properly” fixes 90% of what is left over.

I try to always do both before ever calling a help desk.

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