Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 3 2010, 1:52 PM BSTBut, personally, I've never thought it was about IT, it's about geeks.
Same thing isn't it?
The IT Crowd 4.0 Page 12
Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 3 2010, 1:35 PM BSTIt was a dreadful groaner for sure, though I'm certain that was on purpose. It was just a big, fun, bright, silly half hour. People seem to dig at it a lot, possibly because of Linehan's past record of shows. Take it as it is, and every couple of episodes it delivers a fun, jolly, colouful half hour.
I wish it was. I love fun jolly colourful half hours. But to me so far we've had two "meh" half hours, with none of the spark of earlier series. It's at times like these I honestly wish I owned a pair of Stott Tinted Spectacles!
Quote: chipolata @ July 3 2010, 2:04 PM BSTI wish it was. I love fun jolly colourful half hours. But to me so far we've had two "meh" half hours, with none of the spark of earlier series. It's at times like these I honestly wish I owned a pair of Stott Tinted Spectacles!
I'm not looking at it through Stott tinted spectacles, I thought it was a great episode, and a step up from last week, it was extremely fun.
And just to prove that I'm not an insane lone voice:
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/527388/the_it_crowd_series_4_episode_2_review_1.html
There's at least two of us who really enjoyed it.
Quote: billwill @ July 3 2010, 1:44 PM BSTI suspect that one of the problems is that Lineham does not know enough about IT to write a series called "The IT Crowd".
Whereas I am sure he is an expert on Catholic doctrine.
Quote: Timbo @ July 3 2010, 2:52 PM BSTWhereas I am sure he is an expert on Catholic doctrine.
I'm sure he isn't but clearly he didn't need to be. There isn't a single episode of Father Ted that does not seamlessly integrate aspects of religious life and Catholic worship.
If you're going to be so sour and pointlessly sarcastic you might consider that BillWill did not say that Linehan wasn't an expert on IT, rather that he didn't know enough about IT to write a comedy based on it.
This seems so obvious that it surely doesn't need restating and defending - even the apologists and fans of the show claim that it isn't about IT rather than try to shore up Linehan's limited use of IT. Linehan clearly knows next to nothing about IT, the IT support industry and computers in general.
Over the course of four series it has become clear that he knows more about console gaming than computers, and this was possibly his starting point with the idea. This needn't be a problem - as I'm sure he can't make-up the cast or design their costumes either, but without someone advising him on IT the show lacks a believable concrete base to jump surreally away from, which is why so many people are a bit iffy about it. As I said in an earlier post - even vince and Howard fed the animals in the zoo.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 3 2010, 3:49 PM BSTThis seems so obvious that it surely doesn't need restating and defending - even the apologists and fans of the show
Apologists! 
Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 3 2010, 1:52 PM BSTBut, personally, I've never thought it was about IT, it's about geeks.
Nope, I haven't seen a single chicken head being bitten off.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 3 2010, 3:49 PM BSTI'm sure he isn't but clearly he didn't need to be. There isn't a single episode of Father Ted that does not seamlessly integrate aspects of religious life and Catholic worship.
If you're going to be so sour and pointlessly sarcastic you might consider that BillWill did not say that Linehan wasn't an expert on IT, rather that he didn't know enough about IT to write a comedy based on it.
This seems so obvious that it surely doesn't need restating and defending - even the apologists and fans of the show claim that it isn't about IT rather than try to shore up Linehan's limited use of IT. Linehan clearly knows next to nothing about IT, the IT support industry and computers in general.
Over the course of four series it has become clear that he knows more about console gaming than computers, and this was possibly his starting point with the idea. This needn't be a problem - as I'm sure he can't make-up the cast or design their costumes either, but without someone advising him on IT the show lacks a believable concrete base to jump surreally away from, which is why so many people are a bit iffy about it. As I said in an earlier post - even vince and Howard fed the animals in the zoo.
Knowing f**k all about both Catholicism and IT I find myself able to enjoy both programmes equally.
It's not just Catholicism and IT, though Timbo, is it?
I get a bit confused by the demand for IT jokes. Don't you think that would be a bit too niche? Or are you looking for just a sprinkling of them (which I think would be fair)?
Somebody once said something about some comedy that went a bit like this:
"The first series is where the show is finding itself, the second series is sure of itself, the third is all-guns blazing and the fourth is where it parodies itself"
(Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about? Did I dream this??)
Anyway...it seems kind of relevant to The IT Crowd. Sort of.
Quote: Jinky @ July 3 2010, 6:09 PM BSTSomebody once said something about some comedy that went a bit like this:
"The first series is where the show is finding itself, the second series is sure of itself, the third is all-guns blazing and the fourth is where it parodies itself"
(Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about? Did I dream this??)
Anyway...it seems kind of relevant to The IT Crowd. Sort of.
Not sure, Jinky. I wouldn't say series 3 was all guns blazing, myself.
Quote: Ben @ July 3 2010, 6:02 PM BSTI get a bit confused by the demand for IT jokes. Don't you think that would be a bit too niche? Or are you looking for just a sprinkling of them (which I think would be fair)?
As I understand it people just want some IT activity each episode not techie jokes about C++ and MySQL. Just to give the comedy some focus. The programme after all is set in an IT support department.
The weird thing is this is actually a huge potential source of comedy since it enables the characters to travel all over the building and interact with lots of new people. Linehan used it effectively in the first series when he had Roy trapped under a desk and Jen and Moss having to rescue him.
A further problem is that Linehan also avoids any mention of what Reynolm Industries actually does as well, presumably because he isn't interested in business either. I'm sure Matt Stott thinks it doesn't matter, but I think it does - It's why you see Mainwaring, Jones and Wilson assemble in their uniforms in the church hall, Tom and Barbara feeding Chickens and Fletcher playing draughts with McClaren in association hour. Porridge is actually a good example - when Fletcher was taken out of the prison context - in going straight, the show faltered.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 3 2010, 6:54 PM BSTI'm sure Matt Stott thinks it doesn't matter,
Ah, lovely.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 3 2010, 6:54 PM BSTLinehan used it effectively in the first series when he had Roy trapped under a desk and Jen and Moss having to rescue him.
I thought that might be what people mean. It makes sense I suppose. We should get him on the BCG and interview him.