*The IT Crowd* Reaction 1x01 - "Yesterday's Jam" - this could be fun...

[@PHDarren]

Not a laugh track a studio audience, if you check out the bloopers they interact with the audience when they screw up.

[@kateshelton8322]

I can attest to that, I went to see a taping of a season 2 episode (the one with the German cannibal) and everything in the studio is filmed live (sometimes many times if they are making each other laugh which absolutely happened) and they show any clips of previously filmed out of studio pieces at the appropriate time so the story arc makes sense and they can use the audience laughter for those bits too.

[@jeffrey44]

@@kateshelton8322When you watch that episode, do you hear yourself laughing?

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@jeffrey44 Probably not... unless she's a female Jimmy Carr ! 😂

[@oljefri]

Was watching this on my TV and came here on the phone just to inform him that it wasn't a laugh track, but you already had it covered 👍

[@lisahenry20]

If you listen to the writer's commentary (which I definitely recommend if you like It crowd), the writer talks about the difficulties they faced with filming in front of a live audience.

[@paulbarlow9981]

Some of it is shot in a studio in front of a live audience, so the laughter is genuine. The location shots are then screened to a live audience and their laughter is then recorded and used in the final edit, so it's all organic and dynamic, no canned laughter. It's a great series and worthy of your attention.

[@Robalogot]

I know that you're probably a big fan of the show, but that's not how it works. When they shoot in front of a live audience the laughter is recorded, but it's still is manipulated as the length and intencity often don't match the rhythm of the edit. It's real laughter recorded from the studio, but not necessarily the laughter that happened in that scene.

[@paulbarlow9981]

@@Robalogot I didn't know that, thanks.

[@shaneord7527]

Also, comedy is a group activity. People laugh more in the company of others, essentially conveying they get the joke so it may sound like canned laughter but could be genuine. Oh and when you've delivered a punch line a dozen times they may just pick the best laughter track.

[@Xanderj89]

I never mind it when it's done like that, because it gives the jokes a more panto or play like timing, instead of having to be super quick witted and never letting there be a digestion period between snappy lines etc.

[@eolsunder]

like most shows, you have different things. You have the regular live audience, you have laugh tracks for certain shots, reshoots, certain scenes. You once in a while have a life audience reaction to a previous shot scene which is the 3rd option.

[@ThobyWan]

this show is a gem, please do continue with it.

[@YTBCONE]

It actually gets better as the series continues.

[@marcushertz4434]

S2E1 "Work Outing" is the undeniable peak, though. Probably the funniest half hour of my life.

[@shaneroberts9117]

It's definitely a really consistent show.. and it has well rounded end tbh .. hope Neil carries on with IT crowd 🙏

[@rixh9696]

"Willies, Willies. I like Willies"

[@chuchoschultz5609]

@@rixh9696 It's "I LOVE Willies"

[@rixh9696]

😂😂💕

[@deano2506]

you've just struck gold, one of the funniest sitcoms the UK has produced

[@lewilewis3944]

I used to work in IT front line support. This is an accurate documentary.

[@more-reasons6655]

this show just gets better and better, season 2 is just banger after banger with great memorable episodes and lines I still quote almost daily

[@imafraidicantdothat.9203]

“Aren’t all musicals gay?” “@filepeter” “Did you see those ludicrous moves?” “I thought you said you were from Iran”

[@miff227]

I dunno, I remember it all ending in a damp squid.

[@ringod123]

@@miff227 squib

[@tarekmoneimsaid]

Season 1 has some bangers of its own. Calamity Jen, The Red Door and especially The Haunting of Bill Crouse had me in stitches :D

[@wozzywick]

The IT Crowd doesn’t have a laugh track, it’s a live studio audience

[@jeffrey44]

Why don't we hear them coughing or chatting or even laughing in the wrong places? Why don't we hear someone with a Jimmy Carr style laugh? Why don't we hear jokes fall flat? Watch a sitcom from the 1970s to hear what a real studio audience sounds like. Modern sitcoms may use real laughter from a real audience watching the same show as we are seeing but the producers put the laughter where they want it, not necessarily where it occurred naturally.

[@jeffrey44]

@@smiles4miles825 Why would they spend time and money redoing a scene when they could just turn down the audience and/or use laughter from another scene?

[@wozzywick]

@@jeffrey44 There is a separate audience microphone which can be cut if necessary (coughing etc). If needed, they can do another take.

[@MrNikolidas]

@@jeffrey44 There are outtakes with the cast sometimes interacting with the audience.

[@adam.f89]

the live studio audience is recorded onto.... a laugh track. There is definitely a laugh track, otherwise you literally wouldn't hear any laughter

[@Kari_B61ex]

Love it - It definitely gets better (if it can) as the seasons progress.

[@jasonbryant6202]

This is one of my top favorite shows, it gets funnier and funnier as it goes, I feel it never lets up, I've watched the whole series probably about ten times in the past 2 years and it never gets old.

[@neil_9000]

To your questiopn of if it starts of strong and fades, quite the opposite actually it only gets better, and there are some absolutely hilarious episodes to come.

[@mrkelso]

"IT Crowd" def gets better, rather quickly as you get comfortable with the characters, and then overall as the writing gets intermittently brilliant. I binged it a few years back and remember it quite fondly.

[@markjones127]

There's a really good making of program which shows how it was filmed in front of a live audience, I think this has to be my favourite sitcom ever

[@oisquidyx]

Season 2 episode 1 is one of the most perfect episodes of tv ever

[@peterd788]

It doesn't matter how many times I watch it but it's always hilarious.

[@peterd788]

The IT crowd is legendary. The first episode of the second season is, quite frankly, one of the funniest episodes of TV ever made.

[@theboogeyman2590]

Im so happy you’re getting to see this wonderful show! I loved it every time I watched it, I’m happy more ppl are seeing it.

[@JR-bm8dl]

This is the show I turn to when I have a bad day. It ALWAYS makes me laugh, even after repeated viewings.

[@lemmingsplat5279]

First ep of series 2 has me bent double with laughter every time. One of the greatest single episodes of anything ever....

[@PaulAnom2dogs]

Friends didn't have a laughter track, it was shot in front of a live studio audience.

[@mojomegaman]

One of the best series ever. PLEASE continue.

[@johnnyenglish5976]

One of my all-time favourites! It gets better as it goes on, hoping you stick with it.

[@Wiley_Coyote]

Now you see the root of why a lot of us have driven you towards Richard Ayoade content. And O'Dowd is brilliant, of course.

[@jamieosborn]

The IT Crowd definitely gets better and better. You'll love the Countdown episode.

[@AmberFromVancouver]

Oh this has made me want to rewatch the whole show all over again. It’s so weird and funny 🤣 You deffo should watch the whole thing

[@georginadevonshire9556]

IT Crowd gets better and better. You just end up loving the characters. You should try Black Books or Spaced.

[@chanceneck8072]

Or Coupling (the British version)

[@psychokitty9325]

Absolutely love Black Books! 😂 👍

[@MyratheDunmer]

I second Black Books

[@sparkysjoint1616]

Black Books is underrated, and it is criminal nobody knows about it here in the states.

[@georginadevonshire9556]

@@sparkysjoint1616 that's a shame. I think I have watched it a 100 times along side Spaced

[@CharmingNewSociety]

I would absolutely LOVE to see you react to this whole series. And the pilot doesn't even do justice to how much better it gets.

[@Mister_Rosco_to_you]

Stick with it, it's a brilliant show and probably right up your alley. You'll love it, and we'll love your reactions to it.

[@meronr74]

So many favourite episodes. It definitely gets stronger and stays strong. Thd work outing to the theatre has to be the best episode

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

ps - How could I forget Ghosts - Quite subtle in lots of ways. Very funny in every way. Completely charming. The kind of series you could well watch a few times and pick up on new stuff every time.

[@maximushaughton2404]

There is an American version of Ghosts.

[@jaccilowe3842]

It just gets funnier and funnier as the Series continue. They are all big stars now. Please continue!

[@DannyTheManInBlack]

This is one to continue with for sure

[@crojonphoenix]

one of my favourite shows with many great moments. defo worth watching, i think it gets better as it goes.

[@RavenZahadoom]

Every episode gets better... every season is better than the last. It's one of the few shows that actually went out on a high, never had a chance to fall off. It's one of the most beloved comedy series here in the UK, and most people that watch it end up loving it. Wait till you meet Richmind. Ohh and the son of the boss. Man sooooo many great episodes you can see for the first time, your a luck man if you carry on watching.

[@loubea8408]

One of my favourite ever comedies. Good choice.

[@taniaPBear]

No laugh track, it was filmed in front of an audience, real laughter. This is such a great show and it just gets better as it goes on. As with a lot of great British shows, they don't drag it out forever, they finish on a high after a few short seasons, long before it could ever get boring. I really hope you watch it.

[@bucklberryreturns]

IT Crowd, Father Ted and Black Books are all fantastic sitcoms written by Graham Linehan (a now quite unpopular figure in more progressive circles). Ayoade is also an absolute icon. His period presenting The Travel Man is immense.

[@neil_9000]

He also co wrote the excellent sketch show Big Train.

[@miff227]

Being unpopular in progressive circles is often a sure sign of talent, competence, integrity and wisdom. Graham hasn't actually learned the lessons of his downfall yet though.

[@Ophelia771]

Linehan was only involve in the first series of Black Books, it was Dylan's baby. Linehan attached to it probably opened doors at the time.

[@stevebills5716]

One of my favourites. Like a lot of sitcoms it does get even better as the series progress.

[@promisemochi]

okay promise i won't write an entire essay here like idid for your IASIP reaction lmao but this show is severely underrated and has some of the best episodes and writing i've ever seen. you've got to get to "work outing." it is some of the funniest bit of television i've ever seen.

[@mikedevaney6370]

IT Crowd is one of my faves, I work in IT and used to have a manager who knew as much about IT as Jen did. The "sending email, receiving email, deleting email" line got used a lot when talking about him.

[@peterjf7723]

Hi Niel, just had a thought for another comedian I would like to see you react to; Dave Gorman. I first heard of him in 2000 when he had his 'Are You Dave Gorman' show, which was his response to a bet to find as many other people with the name Dave Gorman. He found and met 54 other Dave Gormans around the world. There are many full episodes of his show Modern Life is Goodish on KZbin.

[@richardnorbron4969]

Stick with it. It's a fantastic series.

[@adz_b]

So pleased you reacted to this amazing series, hope you can keep going with it - thanks 🤣😂😁👏🏻👏🏻👍🇬🇧😆

[@fenixquinnmusic]

Love this show, love your reactions! Hope this is one of the shows you continue to react to.

[@valerieh84]

Yes, yes, yes to the IT Crowd! I haven’t even watched your reaction Neil but this is already my favourite of your 14 pilots. Just because it is the funniest sitcom ever. Period.

[@Glenner7]

Love this show, from back to front. Some absolutely hilarious moments...

[@sally-annmannering]

It’s an Institution - it’s brilliant. The A-team references you said he’d got wrong were referencing an old UK series where Bodie and Doyle were ‘ The Professionals’ a British cop show in the ‘70’s

[@sleepyfox8983]

Really glad you enjoyed a sitcom so close to my heart. I work in IT and so much of this is so damn relatable :) would be ecstatic if you decided to watch the rest of the episodes... there are some absolute gems later on. Much love from England

[@ringod123]

You could watch any 3 episodes of this show and then you will have basically seen the whole show.

[@sambeesley1]

Loving the idea of pilot week! Was pleased to vote in the polls.

[@Mike_TheGrim0ne]

Gets better and better ,Matt Berry brings so much awesomeness to this series when he joins the cast .

[@davidjb-750]

“FATHEEERRRRR!!!” 😫✊🏼

[@MrHerpeace]

Matt Berry is f*cking amazing, such a good actor, he's nothing like that IRL.

[@stukay2803]

Yeah Matt Berry and Noel Fielding made it kind of weird special. Rachel Riley has a cameo as herself

[@rhettboy1]

Oh yeah IT Crowd is great fun. You should definitely continue to watch it

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

Some of the funniest TV that I have ever watched was from episodes of THE IT CROWD. Episodes like "The Final Countdown," "The Work Outing" and "The Speech" are funnier than anything that I've seen on SEINFELD, FRASIER, etc.

[@michaeltunnicliffe4935]

IT Crowd is without a doubt my favourite 00's British Comedy. And I promise that this first episode is actually a slow start for the show. It really does get so much better.

[@Nick_CF]

This show is legit the funniest show in existence....it only gets better and better as it goes on

[@caspienjames]

I love this series! It’s great to binge because the seasons are so short.

[@mrfomo217]

Absolutely love this show. It starts off quite strong, and gets even better as they get more comfortable in their roles. Especially S02E01 is a must see. Ridiculously funny.

[@joseph.westbury]

The IT crowd is so good!!!

[@KingTofa]

One of the best comedy shows to come out of the UK, so underrated and not enough people know about it. The quality of this show only goes up, and on the off chance it's not well received, it has such a short run that it won't be on the channel for months on end. +1 to keep this one going.

[@DannyDenay]

This show is never a bad watch, often hilarious; some episodes (The Work Outing) are golden!

[@jeffrey44]

What!? That episode is homophobic now. You've just done a hate crime.

[@cazfloss1990]

That one is bloody hilarious

[@DannyDenay]

@@jeffrey44 a hate crime against my own community.. that'll be a fun day in court ;)

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

@@DannyDenay - Maybe Jeffrey44 is....wait for it...disabled?

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

^^^ Reference to the aforementioned episode...and not a slur against anyone who has special needs. ^^^

[@fairytoffee3159]

this show is one of the fix points in my life, hope you like it - even if you only watch it on your own time. its one of my comfort shows :D

[@Xanderj89]

I think it just gets better and better once the characters are established, it's a special one. Curious what the other pilots will be but I would love to follow along to this one.

[@hectorlagos8937]

Keep it with the IT Crowd, it's hilarious

[@leecannon3581]

This is one of the greatest british comedies

[@ym10up]

Don't give up on this one. Honestly this show is so good. Also I think it's a studio audience. Maybe also consider Black Books down the road. This brought back so much good memory. That summer of watching so many good British shows.

[@seancarletonzero]

I love The IT Crowd and your reactions, Neil!

[@dannydangerfield]

I remember IT crowd being announced. Multicam with audience was already considered old-fashioned in UK comedy by then (2006). Sitcoms like the "The Royle Family" (1998) and "The office" (2001) had killed the traditional sitcom in many peoples eyes. So when Graham Linehan (Black Books/Father Ted) was making a new old-style sitcom and it was going to star Richard Ayoade (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace/Mighty Boosh) and Chris Morris (Brass Eye/The Day Today) I was hugeley excited. The first episode actually disappointed me at first as I was expecting so much. In retrospect it is a good episode, but the show went on to become what I would consider second only to Peep Show in terms of 21st century sitcoms.

[@chewiebaron1929]

Also, for a third Graham Linehan written sitcom, check out Black Books. It is so funny! It’s very surreal too. It it is so fecking funny!

[@EvelyntMild]

Love this show! It's totally worth it all the way through.

[@lucieudem]

Working in IT right now... and this show is spot on on so many levels lol it's a keeper!

[@JustATourist]

As a member of a real life IT Crowd I can totally relate to the show and I loved it! "This seems to be the number of..." - "Oh dear. Who's turn is it to answer the call?"

[@davidjb-750]

I only discovered it a few years ago during covid and it really is superb…. Series 2 episode 1 ‘Work Outing’ is quite possibly the funniest thing I have watched on TV… Those who know know

[@iwasinnamuknow]

I can 't honestly say every episode of IT Crowd is going to be amazing, but the good ones....oh dear lord. There are some EPs that will go down in history.

[@Panguin14]

This is one of my all time favorites.

[@AishaIsFabulous-x-]

Yaaasss! Please continue with The IT Crowd. Also, it's not canned laughter, it's a live audience 💜 -x-

[@Cobalt-Jester]

Honestly, Neil. You are going to have to push through the first few episodes. It is well worth it. Some of the funniest stuff to grace a tv screen happens a bit later. You might not know it but you will see or hear things and your brain will say "hey, I know that meme". Like every show, the first 2 or 3 episodes are hit and miss until it finally gets dialed in ... But you will want to keep at it. Don't give up, give it a chance. The episode with the Internet, or the stress test machine, or the one with some shit on Roy's forehead. The one where Moss answers an online advert by a German cannibal. Maybe the one where Jen get's a new boyfriend called Peter File... But the one where they go to the theatre is in my top 10 funniest TV moments of all time.

[@alnsubuga]

That theatre episode is my absolute favourite. Each time I think I’ve laughed the loudest I could have expected at something, they throw in something else. I was finished when it got to the bar scene 🤣💀 That episode is beautifully written, acted and directed.

[@zpitzer]

Yes the Internet episode is so great.

[@agustinmarinangeli]

Episode 2 is the one with the stress machine! It's hilarious. But yes, the theatre one is probably the best episode of the show.

[@promisemochi]

omg work outing!! i've seen that episode probably ten times. and every time i think i can't possibly laugh out loud at this again, i always, always do.

[@chanceneck8072]

"Jen Is Dead" was pure comedy gold imo. I´m so glad, I pushed through the whole series, I never even smiled once watching this first episode.

[@Rancorous_Ryan]

Happy to see this, it's a great show!

[@snefru__]

It just keeps getting better and better.

[@JeccaJ]

The majority of UK sitcoms are (or at least were pre-covid) filmed with a live tv audience, as there's a large element of improv or rewriting if it doesn't land. I'd definitely recommend continuing with this show as it's a nice combo of light comedy and dark humour, with nerdy references thrown in.

[@gregoreuo1]

To be honest majority of the USA (laugh track) sitcoms are also shot in front of a live studio audience, everything from Friends to the Big Bang Theory etc... I think there is a misconception about U.S sitcoms.

[@JeccaJ]

@@gregoreuo1 I was aware some of them were but it's nice to see the tradition of a live studio audience being upheld!

[@casinoclown5502]

Laugh track 😂 I hope you continue with this.. It gets stronger and stronger

[@dsinanan1]

Great show. One of my favs. Season 2 and 3 are all classics

[@cazfloss1990]

I love this show. The theatre trip is hilarious!

[@rpg7287]

My absolute favorite episode.

[@peterd788]

@@rpg7287 it's crazily funny. I'm pretty sure I know the whole script.

[@xAnescox]

There are some episodes that are amazing. AMAZING.

[@ChristopherStendeck]

This is one of the very best sitcoms of the 21st century and a rare one that only gets better with each season. I strongly recommend you make it a regular watch.

[@makaveliuk86]

Now this show's an absolute must,it's a classic show that only gets better👌💜 And as people have said, that's genuine laughter👀👌

[@chrisofnottingham]

Yes, just to confirm it is actually a Friends style studio audience - this becomes apparent in the bloopers :-)

[@ninagray4441]

Toast of London, followed by Toast of Tinseltown is an absolute must.

[@chipsthedog1]

This show gets my vote it has some great moments, the work outing being my favourite

[@stackels97]

It doesn't go for many seasons, so it's an easy watch and 100% worth it.

[@GoodKingMort]

This is an all time classic.

[@pauladams1631]

Definitely gets better, one of the best comedies ever.

[@Uatu-the-Watcher]

I sure hope this series makes the list. LOVE this show. :-)

[@Wither81]

This show is fantastic. You must continue this journey.

[@happyapple78]

This show has some absolutely stellar episodes.

[@wfly81]

Chris O'Dowd played Kristen Wiig's live interest in Bridesmaids. You might recognize him from that. He also had a small scene in Thor: The Dark World.

[@doctordunc]

There was a trend for recording sitcoms in front of a live audience. House of Fools is another (definitely worth checking out!) So it is real laughter rather than canned or whatever. Indeed there are occasional interactions with the audience... IT Crowd kept getting better over the first few seasons.

[@jackdavids2723]

it gets better, the first episode was always somewhat weaker in my eyes, the show is admittedly a bit too silly for some people's taste so I would embrace the silliness in order to appreciate the really funny moments, which there are a lot of.

[@chewiebaron1929]

Hi Neil! Please stick with this! It is HILARIOUS!!!!! Also, here’s one for you, Check out Blackadder. Especially from Season 2 onwards.

[@CBGB_1977]

This show is so funny!! We have the DVD set and we have it on iTunes. It’s one of those people can watch and laugh every time!

[@daveofyorkshire301]

The IT crowd was 2006-2013 so it's only a few years after Seinfeld - I think? But wasn't the IT Crowd a live studio audience?

[@jamiethevis7356]

Please continue the series. This show was brilliant.