They're back ... and they're still geeky!
The IT Crowd
Series 4 Episode 1, Jen the Fredo
Channel 4, Friday June 25th, 10pm
Rating: 
So, Graham Linehan trusted his instincts and went for a classic sit-com set-up and here we are, it’s series four, BAFTAs and EMMYs are all over the shop, but most importantly, Jen, Moss and Roy are back on our screens.
Over at Reynholm Industries, Roy has a broken heart, Jen is looking to expand her horizons with another job and Moss … well he’s just being slightly weird and nerdy, but you get the feeling that somehow he’ll sort everything out (whether on purpose or not) in the end.
As series openers go, this is a masterpiece in writing. Within minutes of the pixelated titles clearing the screen you’re bang on the money, you know what’s been going on and most importantly the clever exposition doesn’t come at the expense of jokes, it comes in the form of jokes.
Is that you Jen?
Roy’s break-up has resulted in a Stalin-esque purge of his ex from his photo collection, it is as if she had never existed. Moss tries his best to console him with ‘manly’ chat, it fails because Roy doesn’t think he has the experience with women to advise.
“I do alright” Moss protests “I met a girl on holiday”.
“There always on holiday” Roy mutters – and we’re in business.
It’s funny because it’s true. I used the same line every September when I returned to school, oh the girls I’d snogged in France, I just never managed to get a photo. It’s these remarkably well observed truisms interwoven throughout the programme that makes it so thoroughly watchable, no line is wasted, there’s no fat on this script … just 100 per cent prime comedy beef.
Much of the episode is centred around Jen’s attempt to make it as Entertainment Officer for the company which sees her engage in some frustrating interplay with the boss Douglas Reynholm. Despite everyone (including Reynholm) telling her “it’s not for you” she manages to keep talking until she gets the position … a poisoned chalice it would seem.
Ignoring Roy’s warning that she has become a pimp, the likes of Fredo from The Godfather (not Frodo as Moss mishears) Jen embarks on the unenviable task of entertaining “an old friend of mine, Phil, and two men called John” Although the characters are ridiculously over the top portrayals of bawdy businessmen, it’s so well executed, it works.
One of the businessmen is concerned that the performance they’re off to see might have subtitles because “”I can’t read things whilst I’m trying to see things”, thankfully it doesn’t, but Jen’s choice of the Vagina Monologues in the West End still leaves Phil disgruntled, “Next time you take us to something about talking fannies … it better be about talking fannies.”
Cascading like a warm drizzle of honey across a humorous crumpet, the story lines move from the sublime to the ridiculous as they meld into a gloriously silly finale.
Linehan and some Post-It notes
Only Linehan’s pen could make believe in a bawdy fantasy adventure role play game which has so many twists and turns it might just release the inner demons that Roy has been harbouring, with a little help from a 20 sided dice and Moss’s soothing tones.
Has Jen become the thing she hates most and is someone trying to kill her? Has Moss converted another group of people to be goons? Will Roy ever be the same again and can Reynholm ever become a modern man?
All will be revealed, with laughs (I promise) as the IT Crowd juggernaut rumbles on.
This is a show that seems to just keep getting better … that’s why I’ve reserved a star (just in case) for series five which I’m told is in the pipeline (which rumour has it will be written by a team.) It’s hard to see how more cooks could do anything but spoil this wonderful broth of mirth … but they said the three camera sitcom was dead … if anyone can do it, it’s Graham Linehan.
