Suave Moss! *THE IT CROWD* 3x05 Reaction - "Friendface"

[@andrewjones575]

I disagree that this is niche viewing. It's mainstream & has had a fairly wide audience for over 16 years.

[@markmager1669]

Moss’s mums mood being sensual made me spit coffee over myself 😂

[@andrewjones575]

We're laughing at all the characters - how they think, act & interact.

[@andrewjones575]

Repeated failure is a common theme in UK sitcoms.

[@avidgardener7859]

Richard Ayoade presented a show called Travel Man and Chris O'Dowd was one of his guests, if you can find the episode you can see more of their irl interractions, the incident with the snowglobe is very funny 😁 Noel was also a guest (in another episode) and Katherine was with Joe Lycett.

[@SaintDomingo1]

Chris O'Dowd on Graham Norton and the fly incident is hilarious also. He is so like his character hahaha.

[@teresacarosella7624]

I've heard this show referred to as a " parody of a sitcom" which makes sense to me. But for me, I just think it is hilarious, made so especially by Richard ayoade and Chris O'Dowd and how they interact. It is their comedic chemistry that keeps me coming back again and again

[@davidjb-750]

Well that’s brought the mood down 😊

[@greeneagle1919]

I think it's just a very "British/Irish" thing for sitcom characters to have vulgar or disrespectful views, but not deliver them in a malicious or overly hurtful way. The Douglas character is made to look so pathetic, unintelligent and unqualified for his position within the company that we're able to laugh off his comments and views as they hold no weight or significance. You can find a character funny without agreeing with what they're saying. Personally though, I think all that is happening here is that you don't find the character funny. There's nothing wrong with that. Comedy is subjective and if it's provoking discussion then it's done its job.

[@danieln6700]

Douglas is great. Imagine being a snowflake and not finding him funny lol

[@bigbad123321]

I think you're too much of a delicate flower for this show. Probably any comedy show actually

[@wurble]

If he finds this show "problematic" then he's going to struggle finding any British comedy that's not "offensive" in some way or another. Imagine the outrage if he saw Frankie Boyle or even The Inbetweeners (which always brings in lots of viewers and subscribers for reaction channels). He's probably best sticking to safe American comedy.

[@jetjazz05]

Satire and dark comedy aren't problematic, they're a massively important part in teaching the masses of social shortcomings. This show is, make zero mistake about it, a dark comedy satire. NO ONE including homophobic writers of the show wrote Douglas' character thinking a nepotous boss that has many sexual harassment suites under his belt is a fine upstanding citizen... that's the entiiiiiire pooointttt of Douglas. He's SATIRE.

[@masonc19761976]

Should try the Disney channel

[@travelwell6049]

I liked that episode and nothing offended me this time 😂 I love when Moss gets to play a character. He’s so good at it.

[@francofoohs2667]

You should watch What we do in the shadows to see Matt Berry in a role where he can be funny without being cringey.

[@timholder6825]

Mean spirited, sarcastic, ironic and dark is how British humour is. Have you never seen The Inbetweeners? That's about as close to the spirit of true as you can get regarding us and our sense of humour.

[@ianalsop5080]

It's a comedy for God sake man! 🤣 Still love your reactions.

[@samhilton4173]

I have no idea why you don't find matt Berry funny.

[@jacklinton4885]

I love him as an actor but have to admit that this show is probably my least favourite of his performances - despite also loving this show generally

[@andrewjones575]

He's a comedy genius - best in Toast of London.

[@SaintDomingo1]

He is pandering to the 'woke'.

[@Will-nn6ux]

I find him hilarious in other things, just not this. This the first show I saw him in and it wasn't a good first impression, but other things made me a fan of him.

[@andrewjones575]

@@SaintDomingo1 Or he's being honest.

[@mikegloady]

It's referencing Facebook and MySpace. Friendster wasn't really a thing in the UK.

[@frozengamer3030]

Moss and Roy are so great together.

[@VFC13017]

When watching this show you just have to embrace the ridiculousness.

[@worland102688]

You don't have to apologize for being an empathetic person and one that cares about how others are treated.

[@jogem1038]

FFS it's a comedy.

[@worland102688]

@@jogem1038 congratulations on knowing what genre the show is? There are parts of the show that are hilarious, and parts of the show that in hindsight, aren't as funny anymore. But what is funny and what isn't funny is a personal thing. So while you find some of the mean spirited jokes funny still. I do not. *Shrugs* never said you shouldn't enjoy them. You can laugh at whatever you want and others can react to that as they see fit. I love how me responding to something the reactor said, has somehow frustrated your snowflakey little heart. 💜

[@Crumpets_2]

@@worland102688 Triggered?

[@worland102688]

@@Crumpets_2 x) nope, but it's hilarious that my comment, while directed at no one but the reactor, has at least one person worked up and another acting like the typical idiots who get upset when people judge them for being mean to people. I'm sorry you have to deal with the lead poisoning. X)

[@MrChiddler]

Except there are no real people involved and that's a VERY important difference that people need to be able to process. Don't waste your empathy on people that don't exist.

[@AzimovTube]

Jen's friend is another perfect bit of casting.

[@TombstoneUK]

Maybe "mean spirited" was merely a bad choice of words, its difficult to see at times where you draw the line as an individual. I've watched you laugh out loudly at comedic scenes in earlier episodes of IT Crowd and in QI and in Rick and Morty , which could be deemed far FAR more mean spirited than the joker gag in this, so I'm not really sure where the boundaries lie for you between what constitutes mean spiritedness and not. Personally I didnt find this episode a particularly funny one not because any of it was mean spirited though, just because the jokes weren't particularly good.

[@apo11ocat]

i always thought it was facebook and not friendster? maybe its both

[@tamil333]

Love the channel Neil! Could you please watch Peep Show? David Mitchell at his absolute best!

[@andrewjones575]

Yes, PS is great & is DM's best work.

[@makaveliuk86]

"Message for me"! 👏😂😂💜

[@iamiancognito]

(Sigh).....There are no negative bits in this show. It's a comedy: it comes as a complete package, you either like it or you don't. Perhaps you'd prefer it if they produced censored episodes of the show, with all the "problematic" bits edited out? Then they could just wipe all the original versions, like they never existed, and we'd all live in a better world. Btw....great news about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter isn't it? :)

[@sonofliberty1]

Totally agree that the b-plots/minor arcs often detract from the main through line. Mos as Jens' husband was stellar.

[@Will-nn6ux]

By the way, some commenters seem to be trying to paint this as an example of British humour being fundamentally different, but I don't think that's right. I think it's just that some people's attitudes to things like gender identity have shifted a bit in the last fourteen years, and some people's attitudes haven't. On both sides of the Atlantic. It's not like there's a shortage of 'anti-woke' comedians in North America, is there? 'Woke' being a term that's pretty much only used as an insult these days.

[@SeanS102]

Definitely, but I think some of the commenters vehemently defending the show might be giving him that impression

[@danieln6700]

This ep is great. Ppl need to lighten up wtf

[@andrewjones575]

The seeded conversation is hilarious. Moss pretends to be a professional player of a sport he clearly knows virtually nothing about.

[@jeremyodwyer9232]

I don't agree with all your criticisms but I think your problems with the show are completely reasonable.

[@carlwilson6235]

I'm mostly with you on the "Joker" bit being too one-dimensional (the best part of it is Jen giving Roy contradictory advice on different days), but this is a great Moss episode, and I think the climactic scene at the reunion is fun in a screwball comedy way. Don't worry about the people slagging you in the comments, I'm glad to hear your honest opinion.

[@andrewjones575]

You'll likely appreciate the cast more if you watch them in other shows. For example, Matt Berry in Toast of London & Katherine Parkinson in Spreadsheet.

[@jessbelen]

Darkplace

[@SilverEye91]

Matt Berry is the best in Darkplace and What we do in the shadows imo

[@McRino1]

@@SilverEye91 WWDITS is perfect ensemble, and allows him to do his thing, without overpowering the audience

[@andrewjones575]

@@McRino1 Are you saying that he overpowers his audience in some of his shows?

[@jessbelen]

@@SilverEye91 have you ever heard about superstar actor Steven Toast?

[@jetjazz05]

satire - the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Would you not say it's distinctly possible that the jokes about gender roles and orientation could perhaps be a use of satire, dry comedy, and dark humor to point out the "common man's shortcomings in the understanding of said issues"? I've always taken it that way. I see you not enjoying a lot of these episodes and I find it bewildering, I have always viewed this show as a dark comedy with lots of satire. The entire point of satire is, like in Douglas' case making jokes like "i know my way around a sexual harassment suit" etc. It's disgusting, that's the joke...

[@killodaz]

exactly, at some point the people who act like douglas should be pointed and laughed at

[@redoctober00]

I thought 'the joker' was hilarious :)

[@chrisofnottingham]

It is bizarre for me to know there are people today for whom the internet and social media has always existed

[@garethmcrory5481]

Haven't subscribed to the channel yet as i have never watched shows like Grandmaster , QI or Rick and morty in their heyday and feel its too late for me to relly get into them now . Every monday this reacton comes up on my feed and i sometimes give it a view i'm not surprised that Douglas as a character doesn't travel well across the pond. Love the character myself though. What has amused me in a few of them though is the look of concern and visable distatse and bewildermnt on Neil's face when he appears ..ha ha. Everyone is different for eg i force fed myself 4 episodes of curb your enthusiam ...hated it ..i just can't...yet most people i know love it.

[@kurtellis5233]

Watch What We do in the Shadows. Another show Matt Barry which you would enjoy more.

[@juankusoff]

Check out “Mickey Flanagan - Americans just don’t get it”. It relates to your feeling about the Joker storyline being mean spirited

[@andrewjones575]

Micky Flanagan is one of the best stand-up comedians.

[@McRino1]

@@andrewjones575 hes alright, his comedy is very mainstream and nothing that hasnt said before but he does deliver it well and with conviction, but hes not in the top list. also Neil is Canadian...

[@andrewjones575]

@@McRino1 It's the OP who implied Neil to be American.

[@McRino1]

@@andrewjones575 yes it was just an add on

[@more-reasons6655]

Exactly what I was thinking, Micky Flanagan just puts it into words so well How scathing

[@STEVEBINNION1]

It's a shame you don't get IT 🌈

[@matthale6563]

I really think it's time for you to quit watching this show. I watch and enjoy all of your reactions - apart from The IT Crowd. If it touches ideas or themes that cause you to feel emotionally damaged, stop watching. Episodes that are strong and probably the best they have, have fallen short for you for whatever reason. I can now see your face change when Douglas walk in. It doesn't make for good viewing. Your Rick and Morty stuff is massively better.

[@Daniel-wj8uf]

I'm actually going to stop watching any of his reactions after hearing his whining. Hilarious comedy show seems like a documentary on starving children in his commentary. When hearing this I understood that I just don't like this sad man, so why watch his reactions to anything?

[@5hanesBoard]

This show reminds me of a time when sanity reigned.

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

I hate facebook!! Deleted my account!!😁

[@jspettifer]

I suspect you’d find Father Ted more to your liking. Personally, I have the same view that the IT crowd has some fantastic episodes and moments - the gay musical episode is one of my favourite comedy episodes of all time - but there are the elements (largely Matt Berry) which just don’t do it for me.

[@McRino1]

its such a waste of what matt berry can do. in Toast and WWDITS hes brilliantly used. This show was always a miss for me... i only watched it because Lineham coming from Fr Ted and after watching it i just didnt get the overall appeal. Ayoade is great as is Chris and some episodes are stellar, but theres more misses that hits for me whereas i cant pick a single ep of Fr ted i dont enjoy...

[@nigelturner3251]

It’s just comedy.

[@louiswillard407]

Totally agree with your comments Neil, as soon as they brought in Denham son, the whole show went down hill with crude humor. Could only watch series 1 and didn't bother with season 2 after the previous episode.

[@DaftMikey]

I love your reactions to Rick & Morty and Taskmaster but I think it's time you stop with IT Crowd. It makes for a very uncomfortable watch when it's clear you can't stand 50% of what's happening, even though I think it's hilarious.

[@jetjazz05]

IT Crowd was one of my favorite satirical dark comedies, but after watching this and seeing him say so many episodes are "problematic" it's draining my love of the show. I can't watch anymore of his IT crowd videos, the lack of appreciation and understanding for how the comedy is presenting issues and taking them at face value, that Douglas is somehow the creators praising sexual predators etc is just too much. It makes me sad that such a hilarious comedy could be so misinterpreted.

[@beebeefoke1205]

I watch a bunch of your reaction but I really think you are overthinking a lot of stuff (the trans identity, the letter of Reynholm, etc)... I know it's a very american thing to be offended by everything everytime but you are forgetting it's british comedy and a big part of it is about laughing of everybody with everybody. April's trans identity was not a problem or anything. Actually it was very well played, not a hidden thing to say means stuff about it. She has to face the desillusion of meeting a man that accept her as she is, then he realises what she really is and even if he loses her, he still think of her. Because, let's face it, she was a perfect match for Douglas. She was only in this one episode and I really thing they did her well.

[@miff227]

Laughs at nerds and nerd behaviour for 12 hours Also can't laugh at other things that TODAY have been deemed offensive even though it's just as offensive to laugh at nerds as to laugh at bad makeup or gay antics or trans situations etc. There's literally no difference morally between the stuff Neil likes and the stuff he doesn't like, and he doesn't like it on moral grounds. I have a dream....that one day....Neil will see how his current thinking is the death of all comedy and snaps out of it.

[@laurensb1b]

When it comes to satire and comedy I think Trey Parker (creator of south park) said it best, "Either it’s all okay, or none of it is".

[@anoctoberdaybreak3365]

Snowflake (and I mean you)

[@rickardroach9075]

12:55 So do we. 🙄

[@anoctoberdaybreak3365]

Snowflake

[@rickardroach9075]

@@anoctoberdaybreak3365 I do not think it means what you think it means.

[@natmanprime4295]

"mean spirited"? FFS...🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@Ab3ndcgi]

You know the phrase "it's funny cause it's true"? There's a big gap into what is typically accepted in cultural creation or social media, and what keeps going on in the world. Even with a series as old as this. It is uncomfortable, it is exagerated, but it's not the same cringe you get from old westerns or racist shows that have gotten out of style.

[@chrisofnottingham]

Dude, I'm of an age where I can take these shows as they were enjoyed at time they came out, so it is a bit of a shame that the SJW aspect gets in the way a bit for you. But!!!!! what I do appreciate about your reaction is that it is honest and not pandering to your audience. And that allows me to relax into your other reactions and believe in them, when quite a lot of channels just seem to be a drop jaw title pic followed by "that is amazing!". Every time.

[@jamespicksley5781]

comedy is subjective, if bits arent for you, they arent for you. theres been some bits youve disliked that I also wasnt a fan of, others that I didnt mind either.

[@vanburger]

How are you supposed to portray a predatory monster boss in a comedy show then. I agree with the guy who suggests you watch micky flannigan. British humour isn't the sanitised rubbish that comes out of the states.

[@McRino1]

For one, Canada is not in the USA, and i can list off plenty of awful UK comedies. There's no point being a comedy racist or saying an entire country doesn't get it. I would rather watch Arrested Development, Its always Sunny in Philly, Curb your enthusiasm, Parks and Recs than Miranda, not going out, gavin and stacey or Mrs Browns Boys. Equally id rather watch Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Toast of London, Peep Show, Spaced, Thick of it, over Friends, Frasier, Big bang theory or how i met your mother. Theres awful pandering to the masses crap on both sides of the pond as there is great shows from both sides too. Unfortunately, IT crowd falls closer to the pandering side than the brilliant unique side that Fr Ted was an incredible example of, and to cap it off comedy does change taste per person... Ive seen people laugh at stuff i think is awful and rather than get moody over it just move on!

[@andrewjones575]

@@McRino1 Curb is brilliant. How does The IT Crowd pander to the masses?

[@McRino1]

@@andrewjones575 a generic office workplace setting, use of "Easy" target with the mockery the IT computer nerd type, use of a studio audience telling viewers when to laugh and what is funny, big unrealistic exaggerations of stereotypes. The IT crowd audience will be closer to the audience of Miranda than it will mighty boosh or father Ted, and any overlap would only be thanks to existing actors or writers as opposed to comedic appeal As I mentioned in the comment your replying to, It isn't completely in that generic sitcom boat because some of the scenarios the characters get into, but it is closer to that than a unique or interesting comedy.

[@andrewjones575]

@@McRino1 Is there a better nerd sitcom?

[@laurensb1b]

@@andrewjones575 not better but Silicon Valley is pretty good

[@MrCzerillo]

You came across as the transphobe in that reaction. The trans person was never the butt of any jokes. And even Douglas proved not to be one in the end. You were the one that was uncomfortable simply with the presence of a trans person.

[@michw3755]

I've come to the conclusion that you're just too pc for this show, you can laugh at Moss & Roy's nerdy ineptitude but say everything else is not OK, you seem to understand their parody of a type but everything else depends on your sensibilities & predjudices, each to their own I guess.

[@SilverEye91]

Grow up.

[@michw3755]

@@SilverEye91 how articulate & insightful, thanks for the advice but if it means having a stick up your ar*e I'll pass

[@SeanS102]

I'm sorry some of the comments here are so unpleasant, you're not wrong about the way aspects of this show have aged badly, but some people have a hard time accepting that kind of discussion, and so have to fall back on complaining about you being too pc or whatever, especially given you clearly like things about this show. Hope this all doesn't generate too much of a bad taste for you!

[@timholder6825]

It is a shame, your hamstringing yourself. Do you know what, suspending your disbelief, is? There's some sort of metaphor there for what you need to do and you'll find the show much more enjoyable and without compromise or contradictions (sic.).

[@jogem1038]

Unbearable nauseating woke verbal diarrhea at the end is pointless virtue signalling, it's almost a parody, nobody is that woke.

[@jantekjantek]

You people here think about political corectness all the time, dont you?..... Go out, switch off wi-fi. Its pathetic.

[@multiplemiggs5189]

Strongly disagree that last episode was transphobic

[@BobGnarley.]

1st

[@rakuengrowlithe4654]

Skipped the last one cause I just can't deal with more woke nonsense these days. Let's move on and hopefully enjoy another good episode.

[@SilverEye91]

You sound like a real snowflake.

[@anoctoberdaybreak3365]

Snowflake.

[@stephenmarley7281]

Fantastic series, of course, but I wonder if this reactor will ever grow up.

[@SilverEye91]

This is a sad comment Stephen... You're the one that needs to grow up.

[@McRino1]

the show is average, mid tier pandering to the masses comedy with a few stellar episodes. Fr Ted is much, much better and a much more cohesive execution of the criticism of its subject from Lineham.

[@andrewjones575]

@@McRino1 How could The IT Crowd be improved?

[@McRino1]

@@andrewjones575 that's not my job. I just know what I like and what I don't like. If I were to change anything from a personal point of view, I'd lose the weak angle the IT workers are all awkward inept with women. Noel Fielding is a goth in a closet is awful, Catherine Parkinson I just don't find her funny at all. I'd replace her with a comedy actress who's better fit for the role. Always remove the studio audience. It's the one thing about father Ted I cannot stand. I'd recast Matt berry with Matt berry, but from the future where he's really honed his acting ability and not having him be such a loose and shitty version of himself.. either remove all of the homophobic, Sexist rapist angle entirely from the show or lean more heavily into it, but do it with some nuance

[@SeanS102]

bit mean.

[@daveross1638]

it must suck to be you and get angry at things that most people find hilarious.