03/02/2006

IT Crowd

entry posted by Inquisitor at 22:55 (permalink).
categories: Funny , Microcode , TV

Looks really awful from the trailers, mainly because of Richard Ayoade. So, how's the programme itself?

It's actually pretty good. It's a trad sitcom, shot on video with a laugh track, which is also really good news - I loathe the Green-Wing/Nighty-Night/Office style sitcoms that feel that just because they're 'modern' means they don't have to be funny and seem to be absolutely everywhere on TV right now. The writing, as we would expect from Graham Linehan, is very sparky; Richard Ayoade is still awful, but looks like he may well become more funny as the series goes on (certainly, he seems to improve between episode 1, where he's tooth-grindingly bad, and episode 2, where at least one of his lines works). The set designers have done their homework (EFF stickers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre poster, RTFM T-shirt), and the attention to detail is really quite likeable. And, most importantly, it's funny.

The second episode is much better than the first, by the way, so do stick with it. If you don't, Channel Four will recommission 'Balls of Steel'. Please, think of your sanity.

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