Sick of working in a job where you don't get any respect? Tired of the same stupid questions about computers? So are the IT staff at Reynholm Industries. The IT Department is made up of a mere three people, including new recruit Jen, who remain vastly underappreciated for their efforts.
The cast consists of Moss, Roy and Jen, each funny in their own way. Moss is the quintessential nerd; academically gifted, socially unskilled, lives with his mother, terrified of women and interprets everything in the most literal sense. He's also very innocent, moralistic and sweet-natured, all of which contributes to the comic relief he brings to the show. Roy is also nerdy, but not to the same extent. He's more aware of social norms, even if he doesn't fully engage in society, and has more confidence with women, albeit with not much luck.
He's also Irish, with a typical bogger accent (I know 'cause I am one), which is sometimes at the butt of the jokes. Jen is their unlikely relationship manager, clueless about computers, but acts as a bridge between the nerdy and hidden IT Department and the 'normal' staff in nicer parts of the building. She has typical girl issues, which she unsuccessfully tries to explain to the guys, and has a bad habit of lying. Their boss is the director of Reynholm industries, Mr Reynholm himself- an overdramatic, hyper caricature of every employee's worst nightmare, with his nonsensical schemes to improve his staff and self-aggrandizing speeches. The IT Department is out of sight in the grubby, dilapidated basement, while the rest of the building is impressive, bright and clean, with glorious views of London.
In the pilot episode we see how Jen manages to blag her way into management, as she outlines her experience with computers (which includes deleting emails and clicking the mouse). Moss and Roy aren't impressed but discover she has some qualities the IT Department could benefit from. As the series progresses, we see Moss's remarkable ability with computers, but sadly little else, Jen's attempts at flirting with a handsome security man and Roy's stress-inducing behaviour. We eventually meet misunderstood sensitive goth, Richmond, played by Noel Fielding, who's delightful in this role.
The dialogue is rich in witty one-liners, there's quality slapstick moments and quirky characters, all soaked in geeky sentiment for our entertainment. It's sort of an old-school comedy, as it relies on classic comedic methods for humour, as standard for Graham Linehan I suppose, and the actors are well-cast as they have perfect comedic timing.
The IT Crowd parodies common stereotypes, including nerds, as well as corrupt middle management, television advertisements, workplace practices and seminars, and the dating game.
This isn't the first time we've seen Graham Linehan produce a comedy featuring a cranky Irish man, his peculiar misfit friend and quirky self-absorbed woman (see Black Books), but it works in the original setting of a company's IT Department.
The attention to detail is admirable, as it's so absent from most television shows today. You don't have to be a nerd to enjoy this show, but it probably helps. If you look closely at the set, you'll see Linehan's favourite comic books, tributes to retro video games, posters with tech slang on them, and countless other nerd paraphernalia. The detail of the set is lost on me obviously but it's impressive nonetheless.
