The IT Crowd, Friday 9.30pm, Channel 4
Posted by Will Parkhouse
Our rating:
Any IT Crowd newcomers who saw last week's series opener might have been a bit bemused, and understandably so. Why? For a start, it wasn't set in the office - instead the geeky computer department trio went on a farcical trip to the theatre. Oh, also: there weren't any laughs.
Luckily tonight's episode takes things back to base, as well as bringing a decent amount of funny. This has a lot to do with a pantomime-like turn from satire king Chris Morris as company boss Denholm, who starts the episode by proclaiming, brilliantly: "When I first started Reynholm Industries I had just two things: a dream, and six million pounds. Today I have a business empire the like of which the world has never seen the like of which."
Sadly, Morris's character dies shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, Moss works out Roy's"deathdate", using a website. Roy's not too happy about this - see the clip below.
Mayhem ensues, natch. It's an odd show - as if everyone involved has been told to exaggerate everything they do until it all becomes confusingly surreal. I still can't decide whether Richard Ayoade as Moss is absolutely dire or completely brilliant - his performance is so utterly wooden, it's like he's parodying acting itself. Ah well, Friday night - perhaps it's best just to get drunk and let it wash over you like a weird dream.
i did watch it, but i did not enjoy it to be honest, i would rather watch the fonejacker http://www.fonejacker.eu
now your talking funny television. lol
Posted by: laura | 22 November 2007 at 18:28
I did watch it. I didn't laugh. Would you rather I lied, Gordon?!
Posted by: Will | 06 September 2007 at 17:02
What show were you watching the other week? No laughs in the first episode!!! It was fantastic - any show that I and my 16-year-old hormonal son can watch and nearly pee ourselves laughing has got to be special. Very silly and very funny and all posters so far don't agree with you.
Please watch the episode you are reviewing...
Posted by: gordon smith | 06 September 2007 at 12:24
The first two episodes, have been a blast to watch.It's been a while since Black Books ended, and nothing on TV has really taken the shows place.The political incorrectness is brilliant, and the first episode made my wife and myself laugh for nearly the whole half hour, and the second episode the same.lets hope the quality does not nosedive later in the series.I'm sure it will not.
Posted by: Woolyogre | 04 September 2007 at 06:38
moss is brill!! love the show!
Posted by: vix | 03 September 2007 at 14:03
The first episode was brilliant, I had tears rolling down my face , with the whole disabled thing and Moss having to become 'Staff' just because they couldn't pee in front of the 'toilet person', inspired. I also love seeing more of Richmond. Excellent series so far, I'm loving it.
Posted by: flakey | 03 September 2007 at 08:22
im disabled lol very funny, just as funnyer if not better than first season
Posted by: bo bo | 01 September 2007 at 15:21
i was disapointed with the openning of the series, the office was full of laughs in the 1st series and taking it out of such an odd place you cant help but think they're losing a well needed part of the show.
i think the acting is just hilarious - especially moss but 1st series was so much better due to the amount of querky little lines and substories that this new series has not yet yielded.
also, richmond was a funny character in the 1st series because of his random entrances - so far hes been in both episodes and he is quickly getting to be and old laugh
to sum it up, take it back to the office! put in more nerdy computer references! and lock richmond away for a while and let him stew up some new ways to make us all laugh!
Posted by: Blackout | 31 August 2007 at 22:10
A bit like Scrubs? I hope they're not going to go all Ally McBeal on us.
Posted by: pod | 31 August 2007 at 17:12