The IT Crowd

[withahip]

Aside form the fact that it isn't very funny, the laugh track destroyed any redeeming comedic value.

[Scouser]

I think it's very funny.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

To quote the Reverend Johnson: "Son, you're on your own".

Funny show and popular in the UK - not as good as Father Ted, which was co-written by Graham Linehan. I still wee my pants everytime I watch a re-run of the episodes The Haunting of Bill Crouse and The Work Outing. Admittedly, the last series was a bit shit though.

[withahip]

So I should go past the first episode where the guy makes a production of licking his fingers before he answers the phone?

Slapstick is still popular over there?

[withahip]

While on the topic of shows I seem to be the only one to find boring are there any fans of Always Sunny In Philadelphia? There's another one that is boredom central.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

So I should go past the first episode where the guy makes a production of licking his fingers before he answers the phone?

Slapstick is still popular over there?

Are you on the most recent series (series 4)? If so, no I wouldn't bother. I gave up after several episodes as it wasn't up to its usual standards. It was pretty shit.

It's not slapstick in terms of Benny Hill. The IT Crowd is niche comedy that usually fits in with stuff like Father Ted, Black Books, the Green Wing and Spaced. Kind of stupid sitcoms picking on everyday life and probably people we know of (other than priests, unless you are Irish) filled with toilet humour rather than the kind of 70s oo-er missus, the milkman is round with your big breasted wife wink, wink type comedy. Like most TV comedy series, not every episode is going to a rollercoaster of pant-pissing tummy-splitting comedy, just the odd moment in an episode, but the last series I was able to watch hardly drawing a smile and with very dry underpants.

[withahip]

What kills it for me is the laugh track. The opening scene of the first episode where the boss is sitting in front of an identical pic of himself - I kind of laughed and then the laugh track comes blaring in and I say to myself it is funny but not that funny. What makes it worse is I am certain that same laugh track was used on The Brady Bunch in the 70s.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

What kills it for me is the laugh track. The opening scene of the first episode where the boss is sitting in front of an identical pic of himself - I kind of laughed and then the laugh track comes blaring in and I say to myself it is funny but not that funny. What makes it worse is I am certain that same laugh track was used on The Brady Bunch in the 70s.

I never get canned laughter. If it's funny - why need to be told that it is funny. I do miss the "filmed in front of a live studio audience" on some of the naff 70s sitcoms. The comedy was shit but you'd actually smirk listening to the woman in the audience with a weird orgasimic laugh. Sometimes though it doesn't matter whether it has canned laughter or no canned laughter. If it ain't funny, it ain't funny.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLvB_ybcKt0&feature=related[/youtube]

[withahip]

Actually, those are real people in the studio audience on the American sit-coms. I am not saying that they don't turn up or off the mics or juice it up.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

There used to be real studio audiences in the UK as well. They are still know to hold up boards with clap, cheer and laugh to prompt the audiences rather than being done on the spot, which understandably probably wouldn't work. Perhaps that's why we got so many sarcastic it ain't funny so I'll laugh like a hyena on heat in 70s sitcoms.

[withahip]

Does anyone like or know anyone who liked Friends? I answer no for both yet it was a really big deal in the 90s I take it.

[JackT]

There were some very funny Friends episodes, btw.

[withahip]

I guess missed all those.

[fat cherry]

There were some very funny Friends episodes, btw.

the ones where joey says 'how you doin?' are always worth it. Been subjected to loads of this over the years thanks to my kids who love it. 'the one with the routine' might possibly be my favourite, or the one with rachels other sister. see i even know the titles. And on a more basic level its worth watching just for jennifer annistons nipples which always seem to be pokiing out. Works for me anyway.

As for the IT Crowd. Love the first three series but fourth not nearly so good as ghostie points out. And yes, slapstick seems as popular as ever. Caught an episode of Bottom the other night whilst scanning the channels. Almost entirely slapstick, and much funnier than the shite comedy ade edmondson came out with a couple of years ago.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

And on a more basic level its worth watching just for jennifer annistons nipples which always seem to be pokiing out. Works for me anyway.

At least they were real. I heard about these Jennifer Aniston "sex tapes" over the weekend so went looking around in the usual places on the interweb. As it was, it was bitterly disappointing. Friggin water.