*THE IT CROWD* 2x05 Reaction - "Smoke and Mirrors" - like a moth in a bath!

[@OneNoteRiff]

I don't know, If one of my work colleagues who wouldn't normally wear lipstick turned up unknowingly wearing lipstick after a night out then I would have a laugh about it. Not through homophobia or transphobia, just because it was out of the normal for them. The same as if they were unknowingly wearing clown make up or had patch shaved out of their hair, doesn't mean I have a hatred for clowns or bald people. Its far from the best of jokes in any way and they could have wrote Roy into that arc better , but I don't see any malice intended.

[@mana3735]

It's just the same as drawing a silly pic on his forehead.

[@buffalo_7755]

May be reading too much into it. It's on a level of silly humour and no hidden agendas. On saying that, this isn't one of my favourites either. The mix up with Moss at the BBC is based on real event. Worth checking out for context - taxi driver was accidently brought on to a news item to talk as an expert.

[@TheDrugOfTheNation]

@@Ffinity Funny story how that rumour started! It was racism.

[@katec8796]

Roy still trying to sell the bra after it combusts is absolutely hilarious :)

[@andrewjones575]

Moss isn't asexual; he gets little action due to being unappealing to women. He's a standard nerd.

[@moonlitskylight5740]

I think what he meant was Moss is the least sexual character. Whether he wants it or not, most of his humor is not sex related.

[@andrewjones575]

@@moonlitskylight5740 That's true of Denholm as well.

[@AlexPBenton]

@@moonlitskylight5740 Moss is involved in quite a few sexual jokes, it’s just that the joke is usually about his inexperience, ignorance, and panicked reactions to sexual scenarios. He’s the foil to Roy and Reynholm, whose humor comes from their excessive interest in sex (though they both share aspects of Moss’ incompetence in that field)

[@andrewjones575]

@@AlexPBenton Roy doesn't have an excessive interest in sex.

[@gy7694]

Neil obviously knows that. Don't take things so literally.

[@rickardroach9075]

The disabled episode is ok but this one is not? Ok …

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Your brain on identity politics.

[@star_man]

Hello, I’m gay, it’s not barely disguised homophobia, what it is is very funny, I don’t need anyone to get offended on my behalf because there’s nothing to be offended by. Context it everything. Some people are way too ready these days to deliberately read offence into situations in which there isn’t any. See the good in people, see the humour in comedy. It’s not homophobic and you can take that from a gay man.

[@natmanprime4295]

That's the problem, he DOESN'T take it from a gay man, yet he talks on their behalf 😂

[@Nick_CF]

So you represent the entire gay communitty huh? Say hi for me at the next meeting.

[@star_man]

@@Nick_CF ​ I was expressing my view, feel free to express yours. You demonstrate quite clearly my point about other people being way too ready to deliberately misinterpret what's being said so they can take offence and moan perfectly. Well done.

[@lystic9392]

It's more a problem with the current oppressive ideology from the progressives, than a problem with the humor. Everything is now placed under pressure. I choose to ignore the loonies and just enjoy what's there with any of my friends, LGBTQIA+ or cis or whatever they are. Like before the new 'left' started to tell us to judge each other without knowing each other, to treat fiction as education.

[@Br0nto5aurus]

He's not getting offended on your behalf because you are too weak to defend yourself. He has his own code of what's funny and what's offensive, comminly refferred to as a sense of humor. Why does his have to match yours? Why can't he just not be into edgy comedy?

[@wannaseesomestuff]

Ok this is where my viewing of these reactions end. There is nothing that puts me off more than people looking to find offence in everything. Lipstick on a face does not in any way imply homophobia. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. People who find offence everywhere are the problem.

[@captbunnykiller1.0]

I like to believe that Jen and Moss didn't actually hook up but that she simply fell into the next best bed and Moss isn't the type of guy to take advantage of that.

[@bertalach]

How is it possible to satirise attitudes without reflecting those attitudes? If homophobia is the joke not gay people is it okay to be homophobic? Their boss is an absolute monster so his attitudes are regarded as just as monstrous. Also the context of the time needs to be considered

[@mana3735]

Why does lipstick mean homosexuality anyway? It doesn't.

[@bertalach]

@@mana3735 yeah it doesn’t. But Douglas’s reaction is arguably homophobic.

[@sleepyfox8983]

I'm surprised that you're quite so PC about this one... as a gay man living in England, in 2022, I don't think the lipstick gag was homophobic or particularly bad... I agree that this episode definitely isn't as funny some of the others :) look up the Guy Goma BBC interview for the genuine and hilarious context to Moss being interviewed mistakenly - highly recommend but I guess similar things have happened on live TV elsewhere, to rival it... actually that might have happened after this episode was written, which was parodying a different but similar event, my bad.

[@StMargorach]

it's noticable that people that have nothing to do with teh subject are the ones being offended on your or other peoples behalf. ( white people ( who support BLM) arguing with black people who dont, people in my environment being offended that i call my trans friend a tranny or shemale eventhough she calls herself that and told me its perfectly fine, and Neil being upset about these jokes etc etc... )

[@Carstttt55]

Americans have been conditioned to think everything is homophobic and racist, you kind of just have to ignore it when you watch Americans react to shows that are made outside of the USA unfortunately. But you’re right :/

[@booradley8895]

I think he should react to safe shows like the Inbetweeners

[@thatsthat2612]

Americans are very different to us though. They can't move without being cancelled where we are usually far more occupied with the rain and lots of silly politicians.

[@thatsthat2612]

@@booradley8895 funny fucker 🤣🤣🤣

[@almightyshippo1197]

I understand where you're coming from, but if I may throw in my two cents: I think the thing to remember with the lipstick gag is that it wasn't necessarily homophobic, but a joke on the characters perceptions (his perceived masculinity, his perceived reputation with the women around him). Considering his boss seemed to like it, and even copied him at the end, it wasn't seen as bad by those around him. Just a little silly. The overall message wasn't that it was wrong, more that it was out of character for him so it was odd. Joking about the masculinity of the main characters is an ongoing theme, like the Aunt Irma episode. With Jen and the burning bra, it's a continuing joke that the boss is sexist and sexually harasses all the women he meets. He fosters that behaviour around him, and just when someone was praising the fact that there was a female department head she started acting just as bad as the others. It's more about how dysfunctional the place is (especially to an outsider), more than reinforcing any particular stereotypes. I'm sure a lot of things would be changed if the show were made today, although I don't think this was really sexist or homophobic. I understand though, there can sometimes be a fine line between joking about a thing and criticising/attacking a thing. It can be hard to identify that line sometimes.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Since when do gay guys wear lipstick? lol. What a silly analysis.

[@almightyshippo1197]

@@cockoffgewgle4993 A lot of people associate effeminate traits with being gay, and wearing lipstick is typically something women do. It's not much of a stretch, even though I've never personally known any gay men that wear lipstick. That's why I say it's more like a joke against his perceived masculinity. ^_^

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

@@almightyshippo1197 It is a big stretch, I'm afraid. If anything, it's this guy being "homophobic" by making that leap. That effeminate = gay. But then it isn't, of course, because this idea that there are chosen demographics you can't make jokes about or fun of is ridiculous.

[@jspettifer]

I think it is significantly coloured by the creators actions and views afterwards.

[@ennesshay5040]

The 1min 28sec video ''George Carlin on Our Similarities,'' by Ammar Khan puts it ALL into perspective. eg. The transgender issue WAS [ and is being ] blown out of ALL proportion. That's down to the psychologists that are employed BY the Owners of the ...World !!! A real life ''The Adjustment Bureau,'' scenario. Stop thinking and get back to work, ya peasants ! { ps. 6:44 ... that really happened on the beeb. Guy had come for an interview and ended on air commentating on world events. Or was it set up to embarrass the Nationalised beeb ? }

[@thomaseast7699]

oh really.... I really... don't think this hurts anyone.

[@doctordunc]

The BBC interview was based on a real event!

[@alpine_newt]

Oh yes, the cab driver!

[@frankshailes3205]

@@alpine_newt He was there to attend a job interview.

[@adz_b]

Yep, epic TV highlight….his face when he realised 🤣😂👏🏻🇬🇧

[@MrCzerillo]

You laughed. If you are so offended, quit watching.

[@user-EricWatson55]

"It's crazy down here. We've had a call!" That's busy!? 😂

[@andrewjones575]

Every main & supporting character is portrayed negatively. None of them are anything like role models. It's fun & doesn't have an agenda or hidden meaning.

[@Randy_Bentwick]

If you take out that humour about sex and sexuality, you lose so much of what the show actually is. The episode where they went to the theatre, for example - which is widely regarded as one of the best episodes - was centred on a closeted gay man going to a gay play, and then recognising his sexuality in the end. Douglas Reyholm is a character largely driven by sex - more on that is still to come! Most characters in sitcoms are caricatures to some degree, in some aspect of their personality. I think maybe you need to stop thinking so deeply about it and viewing it through a certain lens. Yes, it was made quite a few years ago, but I don't think it has aged badly at all, it's still very funny. I would advise looking at it as a humorous amusement, and stop seeking offence out where there is none, to anyone. If you were watching 'Till Death Us Do Part', or 'Love Thy Neighbour', then yes, I can see where it would be perceived as highly offensive, but this, really? I don't see it, and I can't understand why you seem to be reaching to take umbrage at innocuous jokes.

[@scipioafricanus5871]

NeilTalks don't want to be demonetized.

[@jgreen2015]

How else is he supposed to signal how virtuous he is?

[@muzikkification]

​@@jgreen2015 He doesn't strike me as a virtue signaller. Graham Linehan is a genius but I think his personality shines through on a few episodes, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. I totally get the backlash (although personally I think it's funny throw-away humour) and I'm definitely not a virtue signaller or someone who believes in political correctness. The whole point of a reaction video is to..wait for it.. react. He didn't watch it in his own time and upload a separate video saying how upset he was at the content.

[@jgreen2015]

@@muzikkification IT crowd is literally one of the least offensive mainstream made-for-tv comedies ever made. Ive never heard anyone complain about it. And yet 2 episodes in a row he has looked for and twisted things into being offensive. That's virtue signalling because it's actively looking for and making things problematic. In the same way that a TV presenter can Virtue signal even though it's literally their job to go on TV and voice their opinion so the 'well he's supposed to react' doesn't diminish the fact it is Neil signalling how virtuous he is being finding It problematic. Especially when such vocal virtue signalling is then not backed up or contradicted by actual action. I don't watch Roy chubby brown because I find his comedy really quite vile. Because it actually IS problematic. But Niel continues with this show because... Well.. he knows it's not problematic but has to stick that disclaimer in to cover himself. Hence virtue signally. It comes with zero effort to back up the stance. It's just meaningless words

[@elainecannon24]

Offensive comedy like RCB sets out to offend and it is vile. The IT crowd sets out to be funny and it is absolutely top tier comedy even all these years later. What is happening now is people are looking for offence that was never intended and then virtue signalling about it. This is particularly true of Graham Linehans work now he has been cancelled but that is a quagmire I don't want to get into.

[@andrewjones575]

Neil, you'll hate the next ep - especially Douglas' behaviour. However, he's clearly presented as a bad person, so no-one thinks he's a great guy to look up to or copy.

[@babalonkie]

He is the disturbing "bad guy"... always was.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

I do.

[@drumedorable]

I really suspect he is going to hate some parts of "The Speech" episode, especially in connection to the stuff we know about Graham Linehan now.

[@andrewjones575]

@@drumedorable Yes, but it's a very good & popular ep. As usual, it's Douglas who looks the worst.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

@@drumedorable Indeed. Get the popcorn in for that one.

[@ondrejvasak1054]

Can you please explain how is a situation where someone is wearing lipstick without realizing it homophobic? Because I honestly can't see it. I am not even sure how you made the jump from lipstick to gay. I don't think there is any link between gay men and lipstick, is there? At most you could say they are making fun of transvestites, but even that is not really making sense to me.

[@bookswithike3256]

It's not about Roy wearing lipstick, it's about how people react to him wearing lipstick. He gets dirty looks in the street and Douglas acts scared of him and moves away because he perceives Roy being that close to him as sexual and feels threatened.

[@ondrejvasak1054]

@@bookswithike3256 Interesting interpretation, however my interpretation was quite different. He gets surprised looks, because it's something that people almost never see which makes sense to me. The newspaper guy calls him beautiful, which is a bit patronizing, but definitely not anything that seems like fear (which is what phobia means) or hatred. Also we still have not established that anyone on the street assumes that he is gay in any way. Douglas feels threatened because Roy literally get under the table and asks what needs his expertise. I mean many people would have no idea how to interpret that and feel threatened for a second, you can't really control your actions in the moment. When he regains his composure few seconds later he actually supports Roy for not being afraid to do what he believes in, which is definitely a super weird assumption to make. But nothing at all suggesting that he believes that Roy is gay. In the end credit scene, he even wears lipstick to a party and people around him are fine until he starts asking weird questions and make them uncomfortable. Why did he wear it? Did he become suddenly gay, or does he just think wearing lipstick is some sort of new fashion statement? And Douglas is by far the most inappropriate person in the whole show, and definitely not presented as a role model (but in this case, I don't think he crossed any lines). I am not saying that my interpretation is definitely right and yours is wrong, we don't really know what the though processes of other people are. But automagically assuming the worst does not sit well with me.

[@chester6514]

I have to disagree about your suggestion that this is poorly disguised homophobia or that it is sexist in some way. Gay and trans people and women can laugh at stupid stereotypes about themselves, just like everyone else does. We aren’t all American leftists who find everything offensive and can’t take a joke. British and Australian humour can be very dark and stupid (sophomoric, as you said) but it’s all done in fun and in jest and I for one am not offended by a straight man wearing lipstick as a joke. Especially as he’d just been on a buck’s night. Source: me, a gay man who loves fun, silly humour especially if ‘my group’ is the subject (and not the target).

[@andrewjones575]

Do you feel the same about s2 e1, The Work Outing?

[@chester6514]

@@andrewjones575 Absolutely. It’s one of the funniest episodes in the entire show.

[@nikitam7900]

Fellow gay man here, and I agree. Instead of getting hung up on potential homophobia, we can just see it as the joke it was intended as while also recognising how far we've since come as a society. Also Roy in lipstick is hilarious.

[@antrimlariot2386]

It's British humour - you have to understand that sexual innuendos etc legacy. They've been doing it since the 50s.

[@maximushaughton2404]

You have to realise that in the UK we use comedy to riddicule ideas, the way a some people think about things. In the UK men have been wearing make up, inc lip stick, since the 80's. So for the majoirty of people it is accepted, but there are some that still are replused by the idea of it, the manly man. So comedy makes fun out of the idea of being replused by the idea of it, and it's the reaction that is the funny bit, not the man wearing it. Yes it may offend some people, but if you don't like it, either change your out look or don't watch. And that is why we do not really have cancel culture in the UK, we just let comedians poke fun at it.

[@BerryBabaBear]

I forgot that american takes offense on everything twitter deemed offensive, what a pity..

[@xKynOx]

We did not care about sexuality we acted mature and had real things to cope with.

[@Songfugel]

Wow, pretty incredibly stupid take at the end there. You might want to get your head de-programmed before it gets too deep

[@andrewjones575]

Jen is incompetent at all aspects of her job. She doesn't even know what IT stands for. She often pretends to have abilities & knowledge that she doesn't.

[@miss.laura.m]

Exactly. That’s literally been highlighted in the very first scene in episode 1 she appears in. And no, she doesn’t know what IT stands for, that is canonically true.

[@CupidStunt0001]

I love Jen, bonkers, funny, and a redhead, my perfect woman😉

[@andrewjones575]

@@CupidStunt0001 If she weren't a compulsive liar she'd be perfect!

[@SuperTyrannical1]

Suggesting making fun of Roy in lipstick is homophobic is weird. Borderline homophobic itself. Are you suggesting that homosexuals all wear lipstick and can't have masculine traits? 🤔

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

Matt Berry...Douglas, is great in THE TOAST OF LONDON; WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (hulu)

[@5hanesBoard]

That was a painful reaction to another brilliant episode. You might want to avoid the cancelled episode, which should never have been cancelled!

[@mana3735]

Americans just don't get satire and irony. simple as that.

[@kuhpunkt]

Why do you say that?

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

America is a country where corporations rule and have propagandised the population to be divided over trivial identity issues so they never organise around class issues. And this shit is now colonising the UK.

[@oneminuteman9702]

Nah, you are wrong about that. Just because we have the loony left here In America doesn't mean we do not have people with the opposing view. Every American I have shown the IT Crowd and Red Dwarf has loved it.

[@mana3735]

@@oneminuteman9702 Fair enough.

[@somerandomguy2073]

Bisexual drag queen here. It's not homophobic, it's funny. It's actually far, far, FAR more offensive to be patronised like you did at the end of this video.

[@crookedsouls]

Now you have set the standard for how things should be judged, it's going to make Rick and Morty reviews very interesting going forward.

[@johnboy2562]

Yeah not the best episode, agreed, but I think you've missed the boat a little bit on this; Jen's use of the word tits isn't funny in itself, it's where she's using it that's funny, in front of a panel of her superiors, thus highlighting her social ignorance. The bit where Moss is discussing the war is based on a real incident when a taxi driver was mistakenly called into the studio instead of his fare, some politician. The group Douglas goes to see were a real group, The Ordinary Boys. There are better episodes coming. Be interesting to see if you can get the one that never gets repeated on TV over here in the UK.

[@5hanesBoard]

Niels head might just explode if he watches the cancelled episode.

[@miss.laura.m]

I genuinely had to google which episode your were talking about and I was sad to see it’s the “and this, Jen, is the internet”- episode, since that is one of my favourite bits.

[@elainecannon24]

Shouldn't be cancelled. It is as hilarious as cancellation is ridiculous.

[@estoy1001]

This episode has one of my favourite Roy shirts- The sun is trying to kill me, as well.

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

This isn't my favorite episode either. However, I don't think that this would be real "homophobia" or "transphobia" -- although I can see how some people perceive it that way. When we watched LOST, we heard Sawyer calling Sayid a "terrorist." This isn't the show embracing it. It's the character's honest reaction. I would argue that MOST people today would react humorously to a man having lipstick on him (after he fell asleep at a stag party). My oldest sister's husband was playing with her very effeminate clip-on earrings. He was actually wearing them when she asked him to go to the store and buy some baby products and (yes) feminine hygiene products (among a few other things). This was late at night too. While at the store, he ran into the pharmacist (a family friend) who just kept staring at him. Other shoppers giggled. One woman jokingly blew him a kiss. The funny thing was that he had NO IDEA why people were reacting that way. He just thought that he was really on his people-person A game. It is certainly sophomoric humor. However, it is also (still) very much the norm in most Western societies -- no matter how PC they might profess to be. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some groups here are very loud and proud -- but I almost never see a man wearing lip stick (especially any that I know). It's funny because we know the character and the character is caught in an awkward situation.

[@560smr4]

Carm down with the homophobic slur.. This was made back in 2006. Humour was different back then. IT WAS FUNNY..

[@Dave-pq6pm]

I’m gay and i don’t feel offended by it. It’s just a light hearted sitcom that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I think you are reading too much in to it because of graham linehan, which I think has been blown out of proportion

[@brianbritton3693]

On another note Neil. Quiz night is back on BBC new Just Connect and Uni challenge. Vicky needsyou to laugh at her jokes

[@frankshailes3205]

Ooh good! I didn't know. Something to tune in to iPlayer for!

[@crojonphoenix]

im disappointed that you didn't like it but appreciate your honesty. i think that is an important part of your reactions. i think you might have overthought it a bit but if that's your first feeling then that's fine. i respect you didnt pander and hide your opinion :D one of my favourite episodes is next seasons and i really hope you like that.

[@bobbyboko6317]

We never blinked an eye at this stuff in the day , yes way too PC . I suppose I'm a dinosaur because if you hadn't pointed these things out I wouldn't have even have really noticed , awaiting the hate .

[@PS1-Hagrid]

Oh boy, if a gag about a man in lipstick offends you you're in for a wild ride with "The Speech". American pc culture is killing comedy.

[@Ananananan775]

To be fair American comedy’s were never funny, watching Americans reacts to none American shows has taught me why…

[@thatsthat2612]

Someone told him to watch the mighty boosh...I told them he wasn't ready. I'm not being a dick it's just i don't think he'll get it

[@miss.laura.m]

@@thatsthat2612 Sad but true.

[@elainecannon24]

There us a difference between American and UK comedy you only have to compare the UK and US Inbetweeners or IT crowd to see that it doesn't always translate I disagree that US sitcoms aren't funny Seinfeld was huge influence on IT crowd and the US Office is better than UK one imo.

[@Randy_Bentwick]

@@elainecannon24 Seinfeld was about as funny as a burning orphanage, and whilst the US Office wasn't *bad* as such, the UK version is far, far superior.

[@anomalysakawendy5096]

Comedy is subjective. We all take different things from it based on our perspectives. If there should be no limits in comedy (which is far from true, there are limits), then there should also be no limits in the ways we receive it. Personally, I think we can enjoy The IT Crowd, laugh, appreciate it, *and* point out anything that may trouble us. Is The IT Crowd without flaws? Is it above reflection? My favorite show of all time is Lost... I love it beyond measure... but that doesn't mean I think it's beyond criticism or other points of view. I enjoy Neil's thoughtful and open reflections... from humor to mystery and everything in-between.

[@elainecannon24]

That final season of Lost spoiled it for me. I haven't watched it since

[@anomalysakawendy5096]

I know S6 can make or break a Lost fan. It has definite missteps, but I like S6 a lot more in rewatches.

[@Felix-Sited]

British humour, prudish Americans hate it.

[@actionmark7213]

Very strange wasn’t expecting that at the end. I personally don’t think it was disguised homophobia. Just silly jokes about a stag gone wrong. Many stories like that growing up for me. Also the boss ended up supporting him after the initial surprise. Then wore it himself? That seems nice and accepting to me. Just my opinion. Too many people looking to pick things apart in todays crazy bizarre standards.

[@harrylime22]

Regarding what you said, Some of the actors have expressed regret about some of the humour. Mainly the episode where there is a sex change. I love the program though.

[@Zombie_Trooper]

I just subscribed and unfortunately I have to unsub almost immediately. I'm not offended by your honesty or opinions, but it's disappointing that you're approaching it from a very narrow viewpoint. This humor can exist without being overtly hateful or discriminatory. Sure it's sophomoric and low brow, but to say that sort of comedy is just out of touch and can't work today is just very silly to me. I know plenty of people who check off those boxes and love this humor and this show, heck a gay friend is the one who introduced it to me. If it's not your bag, by all means, my friend, but I assure you it's not some deep rooted phobias and patriarchal scheming that resulted in these decisions, it's situational humor and part of life is sexuality, gender, and politics, so it stands to reason they would be used for comedic effect like everything else.

[@TombstoneUK]

Neil I would say that you are falling into a trap here, at the end of the 2nd episode of season 1, you said "this isnt a show for analysis its just a show for enjoyment" , at the end of the 3rd episode in reference of the incel aspects you said "its also just a comedy and I dont think we need to over analyse the socio political subtones" , yet you are now doing just that. My suggestion would be to stop doing those things and remember those words above and return to just enjoying the comedy for the comedy

[@DrDaveW]

It’s meant to provoke. It’s on a channel (C4) watched by people whom think.

[@AlexPBenton]

Btw, don’t use ‘whom’ just to sound smarter. Nobody cares if you say ‘who’ when you should technically say ‘whom’, but the other way around just shows that you’re showing off - and failing

[@DrDaveW]

Wouldn’t usually use it. It was in context with my reply. Just a small joke.

[@AlexPBenton]

@@DrDaveW Okay, fair enough

[@Geneva742]

You won’t be able to laugh at anything or say anything soon in case you think someone will be offended. Comedy sitcoms will go the way it is in the USA, insipid, bland and unfunny, all because the writers are walking on PC egg shells.

[@kuhpunkt]

That's just nonsense and you know it.

[@jaccilowe3842]

Don't get all snowflaky on us. Just enjoy it for what it is.

[@kuhpunkt]

Maybe it's you who is snowflaky when you can't let him have his own opinion?

[@iamiancognito]

@@kuhpunkt Funny how you support people having their own opinion: until someone disagrees with your agenda of course !

[@kuhpunkt]

@@iamiancognito What agenda is it that I'm having? And I'm not the one attacking/insulting another person for having an opinion.

[@iamiancognito]

@@kuhpunkt Really? What about Graham Linehan's opinions? Gotcha! lol

[@kuhpunkt]

@@iamiancognito What are you on about?

[@j24601valjean]

Woke priggishness will be the death of comedy... if we let it. R.I.P. Patrice O'Neal, you are sorely missed.

[@BARRAULT]

Men you lost me on your PC wokess point of view, When did America and Canada become the new Soviet Union?

[@clownafra6088]

I was with you until this episode. I loved this show and I'm probably older than you, but no, you can't judge it by today's standards because this isn't by today's standards. If it was it would have been canceled at the end of the first season. Go woke go broke. Watch something else then if you don't like the type of humor. If you felt that way and stopped watching I would have supported you. But you kept watching like the show would just change. That's like being ok with using a slave as long as you don't own them.

[@tuco1]

Oh dear, well that backfired haha. Hopefully just a really poor misreading rather than an oh so tired attempt to be offended by something that isn't even there. I guess we will see...

[@D-Cameron]

It's amazing how radically moral sensibilities have changed in such a short time. it might have irritated certain groups at the time, but today it would result in on-line campaigns for cancellation.

[@StMargorach]

people are overly sensitive

[@TheycallmeMrWonka]

Intro gets me every time. I'm expecting a "Neil to Enterprise" after that chest tap.

[@michaelsmith1262]

You're right, it wouldn't be made the same way today. It also wouldn't be funny. Woke is the death of comedy and any kind of levity or fun.

[@kuhpunkt]

Using "woke" unironically is the joke.

[@michaelsmith1262]

@@kuhpunkt Why? The left came up with the term to describe people who were aware of social ills and agreed with their remedies. But when others started using it to show how far they took that, now they are the joke? Ok.

[@BG_Andy]

If the show would be made today it wouldn't be that funny. It's as easy as that. I don't see any homophobia here and I am quite sure there wasn't any intention in that way. Prepare yourself for some more of those triggers.

[@PaulHipToBeSquareAllen]

People are so soft these days. It’s going to be a major problem in the future.

[@iulia.bianca.b]

Nope. This ain't it, dude. I watched this far, but virtue signaling and getting offended on gay people's behalf (wearing lipstick is not gay 🙄 it's trans or cross dressing at most) is not it. Nope. EVERYTHING is offensive to anyone these days. Can I breathe? Am I offending people with asthma? Can I watch KZbin? Oh no, I'm offending visually impaired people by doing so, right? It's too much. The internet is full of people offended on other people's behalf. They should flag videos for "offensive" content so I could strictly watch those.

[@AndyRossism]

Aspects of it are kinda dated in quite a short space of time, in my view anyway, I think it's ok to have mixed feelings sometimes. A big aspect of an upcoming storyline is very dated now, and not helped by knowledge of the writers present ..way of expressing his views shall I say.. I agree re Moss, you could write him like this now with no issue. I think the lipstick thing was more about not knowing it was there, it could have been a weird mark or something, have we had the one where he has chocolate on his face? I see it like that. And it does make Renholm briefly show quite a nice side when he gives some respect to Roy. Its funny, how some things can date and some not, it not always about the amount of time passed but general social attitudes. If you just go by the media and online arguments, its easy to think people are way more divided and extreme on either sides than they actually are. I'm a fella who likes to rock a skirt a fair bit, I stand out bigtime, and for the vast majority of the time, whatever someone might be thinking, no one gives me any bother. And it can be surprising, like Renholm and Roy, where positive comments/reactions can come from. Anyway Ill stop boring now!

[@andrewjones575]

Katherine Parkinson is also great in Spreadsheet.

[@j9lorna]

That mistaken interview actually happened. It was a security guard coming in for an interview who was dragged in for a bbc news report and it was very funny. Dunno if he got the job though.

[@AerialEmber]

the virtue signal is strong with this reaction. Comedy is dead.

[@mccorama]

It was the time...read some contemporary Graham Linehan

[@mccorama]

Fr Ted is still amazing

[@nutter170]

Yeah you lost a watcher for taking offense to the lipstick. Your wrong in everything you said.

[@OfflineSetup]

My view is you have been tipped off about the "trans episode" and are getting the "OMG how could they do this!!!" response in now, so you cant be seen to be laughing at something that is highly offensive to some. There is nothing homophobic in this episode.

[@kuhpunkt]

He said a few episodes ago that he's aware that the writers has been criticized... fun accusations.

[@leftofpunk]

Yes, we will be ignoring it.

[@ruprecht3360]

It's funny then it's funny now get a grip of yourself

[@rafapopawski2559]

I appreciate your honesty, but dislike the view you presented. You can have that opinion, I just disagree with it.

[@davidnorman4786]

I really didn't expect you to be so woke cringy. Unsubrscribe.

[@psycomatrix]

I'd like to se a reaction to episod 1 of Garth Marengi's Dark Place. It also stars Richard Ayoade.

[@mcpa2991]

I do get where you are coming from, but the lead characters are supposed to be absurd and unreconstructed. Brit comedy almost always aims at itself rather than outwards. I think perhaps there is an interesting cultural difference (time and place) to be explored?

[@thesimpsons17]

You really enjoyed the Gay musical called Gay.... but noooo this is too far. Neil does this all the time where he gets so fixated on one thing and refuses to let go. Made Lost Reactions a tough slog sometimes. I know you're smarter than everyone so you'll know best but it's just jokes shhh

[@bookswithike3256]

The jokes in The Work Outing aren't at the expense of gay people. The joke is on Roy for his small-minded casual homophobia, and Jen for that, as well as dating a man in the closet. None of the episode is focused on making fun of gay people. In this the joke is that Roy is seen as weird for wearing lipstick, and Douglas is uncomfortable being close to him because he perceives him as a sexual threat. You'd think the difference would be obvious, but I guess not.

[@frankshailes3205]

@@bookswithike3256 Wearing lipstick has nothing to do with being gay though. If Roy was dressed as Boy George people might've found it easier to reconcile. It's that he acts like a crass sexist boor which doesn't jive with the look and people find that off-putting.

[@bookswithike3256]

@@frankshailes3205 Um, no, because random people in the street who he doesn't know also react negatively to him.

[@frankshailes3205]

@@bookswithike3256 Because he's a scruffy laddish figure otherwise. Unshaven, unkempt, badly-dressed and with unwashed hair. So it's clearly incongruous what's going on with his lips. He's no Boy George or Eddie Izzard.

[@derianjones1730]

Bye.

[@mrmoran0077]

Man I like your reviews but fuck me you guys really love to over analyse everything, just enjoy it for the comedy that it is for goodness sake 🙂

[@Somerandomnobodyonyoutube]

Yeah Americans just arnt ready for our humour

[@oneminuteman9702]

Don't group all Americans with this guy. At least half of the Americans are not into that woke crap. I shown 7 Americans this show and they all love it.

[@Somerandomnobodyonyoutube]

@@oneminuteman9702 I didn't nessiserily mean it as a bad thing, only that our humour seems to catch some Americans off gaurd, we get good reactions

[@fieryjack9243]

i agree with some of the comments , you are reading to much into it, at the end of the day its just comedy , take a chill pill and just enjoy it for what it is , pc culture has made todays comedians very unfunny. disappointed at your reaction.

[@Nick_CF]

I also find this to be the weakest episode of the series. Moss is the best for the same reasons for me that you stated.

[@iamiancognito]

Wow.....you started this video promising not to go on another woke rant....... then you do exactly that again! People come here for the comedy, not for political preaching. I used to really enjoy your reactions: now, not so much. If you carry on virtue signalling like this you're probably going to lose quite a few subscribers. I'm going to take a wild guess that you probably voted for Trudeau....... and you don't like Monty Python's Lumberjack sketch either :)

[@kuhpunkt]

I'm sure he won't be sad if you leave... who would like to have an audience like that?

[@MrGrungeboy97]

Stop trying to be offended for other people…

[@kuhpunkt]

Maybe Neil is just trying to be a decent person and doesn't think that every joke is funny. Consider that.

[@MrGrungeboy97]

@@kuhpunkt Na… he’s overly sensitive in a modern culture that cancels and ostracises people for either speaking or making jokes about certain topics. How can we satirise or mock taboo topics without using the negative examples or situations of SAID taboo topics? Blazing saddles for example or the Lethal Weapon episodes from IASIP… The show/film isn’t promoting racism, it’s mocking it, but to mock it, you actually need to have racists or characters that deem it to be socially acceptable in the first place, same goes for homophobia and sexism. So yet again, he needs to stop being offended for other people.

[@garethmcrory5481]

A bit woke Neil. I think you'd hate the show 'The Inberweeners.' I know you've said that... for you ,some of the humour was maybe too old school and i get that but i never thought of Lenihan in general as old chool at all or having an agenda ( i know yo didn't actually imply that!). I think that Jen , the bra, and the boardroom scene was indeed a slight comic nod to feminisim ..but i think the only reason that any show does this is because thats where the actual humour lies. ...bringing a slighly taboo subject into the realm and having a joke about it. The shows main comic dig in every episode is at the percieved absurdity of nerds. Lenihan himself is a self confessed nerd.

[@frankshailes3205]

Where the Inbetweeners succeeds is the actors are all really good. And the observational humour although rude is better than, say, American Pie because we get genuine moments many people went through in their teens, like Jay being emotionally abused by his dad and not having a comeback, so it feels real.

[@andrewjones575]

If this were made now, the gay, trans & disabled jokes would have to be omitted.

[@danieln6700]

Legs disabled

[@jockster247]

I really enjoyed your reactions until tonight. I’ll now unsubscribe… Don’t worry, I won’t let the door slam on my way out… Yadayadayada.

[@wozzywick]

Please don’t give up on the show, there’s some great episodes you haven’t seen yet.

[@jadehunter1027]

apology accepted but kinda yeah its a comedy and hardly the lowest common denominator comedy wise, its not dumb comedy, its thought out and imo you are getting too hung up on the modern day look of/at things, i see nothing offensive about this and actually annoyed by the rant at the end but i'l still watch your reactions, its not meant to offend, its not real or a dramatisation its overblown silly character reactions for comedys sake, it wouldnt be funny if you took that away, like the american version of the show

[@ledzep331]

In 15 years time your ease at social awkwardness been used for easy laughs will be viewed very differently. I'm sure we will all be able to identify with being somewhere on the SOAWK scale by then, without it being mocked. 😉

[@misstrussteLgbTq]

The lipstick bit only becomes worse of who Graham Lineham turned out to really be. It’s definitely not the best joke, it’s cheap humour but it is very lads on a stag do. I don’t remember the episode that well so only have the clips included to go off but I think it’s mostly harmless if not quite easy comedy admittedly. Definitely worse directions it could have gone.

[@BarrySlisk]

Nothing wrong with that episode. Or Graham from what I just read on Wiki (don't know the guy).

[@xphiler0656]

I see you getting a lot of "anti-woke" pushback but I appreciate (and agree with) your comments on this episode and in general. I do think nostalgia and people hating seeing what they love criticized plays into it common defense of the shows weaker aspects. Times change and humor is subjective, and without the coating of nostalgia, much of this season's humor feels a lot lazier and uninspired to me than it might have back in the day, or when I was younger. Criticizing elements of an episode doesn't mean it's all bad, and you're right when you say it's not the best of the season. (Sadly, it's also not the worst.)

[@MichaelFitz98]

Neil, you have summarised the IT Crowd for me. I was gutted that you went for the IT Crowd over Father Ted. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the IT Crowd but as a 2022 viewer there is a lot of it that just makes for uncomfortable viewing whereas Father Ted aged a lot better because it avoided a lot of the uncomfortable stuff. I highly recommend you visit Craggy Island next! It was a much more consistently funny show with much less discomfort through modern day eyes.

[@BarrySlisk]

Run for your safe space !!!

[@BarrySlisk]

So Father Ted was not racist? Remember when he put on a lamp for a hat and made "funny" eyes like he was Chinese?

[@MichaelFitz98]

@@BarrySlisk did I say it was totally free of uncomfortable viewing? It was a product of its time. I don’t think I did. I just feel Father Ted has aged a lot better generally than the IT Crowd. No need to jump down my throat, I’m just sharing an opinion.

[@BarrySlisk]

@@MichaelFitz98 All this PC shit pisses me off!

[@MichaelFitz98]

@@BarrySliskand intolerance pisses me off. I guess some of us are more enlightened. I’m up for any kind of humour. I’m a big fan of many British sitcoms. Some of them do not handle some subjects in a remotely respectful way. I can still enjoy them by watching through the lense of the period. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with the way things are handled. I enjoy the IT Crowd, I don’t agree with the way this episode is handled.

[@michw3755]

I think you need to chill, there's a sense of the ridiculous in everything and if you can't get with that maybe British comedy is not for you

[@MrChiddler]

Wow - stop watching this. Really. Your understanding of it is so twisted by your desire to be seen to be liberal that it utterly misses the point of almost every joke.

[@kuhpunkt]

How about not being a dick?

[@jeremyodwyer9232]

Some fair criticisms there. While being incredibly funny, it is also, in many ways, a show 'of it's time' when I don't think there was as much reflection and mainstream critique of some of those elements. I didn't have much of an issue with the elements you mentioned in this episode myself, but I do see how people might take offense. 99% of the time I never got the impression that the show was going out of it's way to be mean but there is, unfortunately, an upcoming episode called The Speech that's kind of ruined by some pretty disgusting transphobia. It's a real shame because it takes up a lot of what is otherwise a very funny episode.

[@okidoke2473]

Neil talks...himself out of a subscription, well almost. Although your usual 'after episode' deconstructs can sometimes be quite entertaining, this time...not so much. What's the deal with the over explanatory PC? The IT Crowd was as funny 15 years ago as it is today because, even back then, political correctness was left at the door and the series thrived because of it. Not sure why you've taken offence to this episode when you didn't apply the same PC views to the gay/disability episode? Sometimes funny is just that, funny, without the need for any deconstruction as to why its funny. Please leave your own PC at the door next time.

[@Arbrax]

this and another episode have especially not aged well due to what's happened with Graham Linehan but I find it best to just focus on the nicer jokes

[@BarrySlisk]

Just read about Graham Linehan on Wiki. Sounds like a patriot to me. I think the episodes have aged fine. But I don't eat soy.

[@catdavies89]

I think you're being too PC. I can accept a lot of things but lately I just cannot fathom people going too far... I miss comedy that offends people!

[@alnsubuga]

Really enjoy watching your reactions but I need to stop reading the comments. Why can’t people just accept that you have your own views on the show?

[@kuhpunkt]

Because people can't accept other views for some reason. It's just shameful. It's them or nothing.

[@fieryjack9243]

are the comments not supposed to be for people to view their own opinion? if we are not supposed to express our opinion then he should turn comments off

[@kuhpunkt]

@@fieryjack9243 People can and should have their own opinion... but plenty of people told Neil that his opinion is wrong and insulted him. Pretty ironic.

[@frozengamer3030]

I agree this episode was weak.

[@travelwell6049]

Hey, I thought you were just going to enjoy the episode and not critique it too seriously. 😂 I found the boobs on fire scene quite uncomfortable, and when Jen says she had two black rings and gestures to where they are; I found it really unnecessarily sexualised. The bit Moss fainting was fun though because I (a woman) have worked in plenty of male environments when I can talk about women things. I’ve been in so much period pain before and asked to go home and get a hot water bottle in my lunch break, and everyone looks like they’re going to sink into the ground because I said ‘period’. Never mind that I was in such unbearable pain.

[@BarrySlisk]

Jesus you are sensitive...

[@jasonburnstike]

It’s difficult to see this show in the same way once you know the modern views of its writer. Good for you for sticking by your instincts. I genuinely think Father Ted is the better show - much sillier but thankfully less offensive.

[@BarrySlisk]

Graham was right. Don't give gender altering drugs to kids.