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Sitcom set in a computer support department. The staff are IT geeks Roy and Moss, and their boss Jen, who knows nothing about computers
Broadcast:
2006 - 2010 (Channel 4)
Starring:
Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Chris Morris, Matt Berry
Production:
TalkbackThames
The IT Crowd centres on Roy, Moss and Jen. They make up the I.T. department of Reynholm Industries. However, while their social betters work upstairs in fantastic surroundings, Roy, Moss and Jen work in a horrible dark basement underneath it all. Jen knows nothing about computers whilst Roy and Moss are total geeks.
Series 4: Jen is looking for new challenges and applies to be the Entertainment Officer, Moss beats all records on a popular spelling show and Roy spends a disproportionate amount of time trying to convince an old friend that he is not a window cleaner. Inevitably, there's naked aerobics, bunking off work, marriages and divorces.
Our Review: The IT Crowd is a sitcom which divides opinion, both amongst comedy enthusiasts and normal viewers. Some see it as sillyness that doesn't quite work, whilst others hail it as a modern classic. In our opinion, it's closer to the latter... but not quite there as inconsistent writing has delivered some dud episodes amongst the good ones.
A second watch of the earlier series has converted many a viewer from an apathetic disinterested soul into a fan, proving that there must be some magic lying around Reynholm Industries. However, even the fans admit to being disappointed by some episodes, as Linehan continues to struggle to get the balance of the show right.
Don't expect high-brow, boundary-pushing comedy from The IT Crowd, but don't sit back and wait for After You've Gone-esque family fayre; it's just unashamedly, ridiculously fun.
In-house reception to the fourth series has been so positive that Channel 4 have already ordered a fifth series for broadcast in 2011. Creator Graham Linehan has announced that he'll be looking for other writers to help pen it, and the reception given to Series 4 on our message board certainly suggests that his decision to bow out is at least one series overdue; 'disappointing' and 'lacklustre' are words that have been employed not infrequently in reaction to 4 of the 6 episodes.
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