The IT Crowd

The IT Crowd Overview

  • The IT Crowd is a successful British sitcom created by Graham Linehan and produced by Ash Atalla.

  • It originally aired from 2006 to 2013.

  • The main characters are Roy, Moss, and Jen who work in the IT department of the fictional Reynholm Industries.

  • The show is filmed in front of a live studio audience; a traditional convention of sitcom genre.

Setting, Theme, and Tone

  • The series predominantly takes place the basement of the high rise Reynholm Industries building.

  • Other locations featured in the series include the offices of the ‘non-IT’ staff and various external locations.

  • One of the central themes of The IT Crowd is the social incompetence and awkwardness of the IT department, often used for comedic effect.

  • The series uses elements of farce and slapstick comedy, along with sitcom conventions such as awkward social situations and character-based humour.

Characterisation in The IT Crowd

  • Roy Trenneman, played by Chris O’Dowd, is a laid-back IT support technician who often gets caught up in ridiculous situations.

  • Maurice Moss, played by Richard Ayoade, is a highly intelligent but socially inept IT technician.

  • Jen Barber, played by Katherine Parkinson, is the head of the IT department who knows very little about IT.

  • Each character provides a unique comedic element to the show, which helps to keep the comedy fresh and engaging.

Audience Reception and Impact

  • The IT Crowd was well received by audiences, consistently gaining high ratings and positive reviews.

  • The series was praised for its clever writing and the performances of the main cast.

  • The show has also been recognised for its ability to make ‘nerd culture’ accessible and fun, with the IT department often seen as the underdogs.

  • Despite ending in 2013, The IT Crowd maintains a strong ‘cult following’.

Media Language

  • The IT Crowd makes use of mise-en-scene to portray the chaotic and technologically cluttered world of the IT department.

  • The humour in the show often relies on the use of irony and the ‘clash of cultures’ between the IT department and the rest of Reynholm Industries.

  • Camera techniques such as close-ups are used to exaggerate characters’ expressions for comedic effect.

  • Sound cues, such as the laughter track, instruct the audience when to laugh.

  • The series utilises intertextuality by referencing other media texts within its narrative and characters.

Influence of ICT in The IT Crowd

  • Depicts the ubiquity and pervasiveness of IT in a humorous manner, bringing the common misconceptions and woes related to technology to the forefront.

  • Captures the way technology has influenced our professional lives and the struggle of some to adapt to the shifting digital landscape.

  • Illustrates the cultural and psychological detachment between technical staff and non-technical staff, reflecting real-world dynamics.

  • Explores the social implications of a digital divide, with Jen entirely devoid of any technical knowledge despite her position in an IT department.