Hi guys, I think some of the replies to Dave H's posts were a bit unfair as they were suggesting he didn't understand the show, the audience etc. I think he made some valid points about why he didn't like it. We've all got different tastes and that's why we can never unanimously declare a show funny or not because you'll always find supporters of each argument. The ratings are as close as you'll get and they are good (from what I've read here).

Its a different type of sitcom to others as its heavily gag-based. Something like Lead Balloon is more character/story based. I don't think you can compare IT Crowd and NGO as IT Crowd has almost no one-liners and the jokes ratio is probably less.

Like I've said before I prefer sitcoms with more drama/story and less one-liners but that isn't a critic of NGO as its not trying to be that. Its kept true to its format which works with the ratings and people here, so you can only admire it. People have been complaining on Linehan's blog that IT Crowd isn't as good as Seinfield. How unfair and irrelevant is that?

BTW I really appreciate the fact that Andrew and Graham spend time discussing their work with us. I hope they get something out of it too.
 

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Some people may call me a genius but I haven't met any yet.
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People weren't saying The IT Crowd isn't as good as Seinfeld they were saying The IT Crowd blatantly lifted Seinfeld storylines/gags in one specific episode.
 

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www.myspace.com/themartinholmes
 

I'm out!
 

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In my face! I mean your Face!
 

Quote: Martin Holmes @ October 2, 2007, 4:17 PM

People weren't saying The IT Crowd isn't as good as Seinfeld they were saying The IT Crowd blatantly lifted Seinfeld storylines/gags in one specific episode.

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Actually, there were some people just comparing it to Seinfield and, yes, anlot of people were saying stuff was lifted - making some tenuous links to say the least.
 

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Some people may call me a genius but I haven't met any yet.
http://containsnuts.wordpress.com/
 

Quote: Andrew Collins @ October 2, 2007, 11:05 AM

You're mistaking us for an American sitcom! We don't have a "staff". If only.

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If I can't help write your sitcom, you're more than welcome to help me write mine!!!

Speaking of American sitcoms, turning British sitcoms into American ones seems to be the 'in' thing to do at the moment. Do you think there will be an American version of this show popping up one day? Not that I want one.

 

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I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.
 

Quote: ContainsNuts @ October 2, 2007, 4:55 PM

Actually, there were some people just comparing it to Seinfield and, yes, anlot of people were saying stuff was lifted - making some tenuous links to say the least.

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Okay those comparing it to Seinfeld for no real reason may have been unfair, but as Grahame has stated many times he is trying to make a show like Seinfeld, I don't think classing the two together is a bad thing.

The Seinfeld lifts in one particular episode were blindingly obvious, especially the one where Roy is trying to work out if the woman with the bandaged face is still attractive which was almost exactly like Elaine trying to work out if her boyfriend with a bandaged up face is still attractive. I doubt he purposely lifted the ideas, it was most likely subconciously done but still the fact is it's blatantly obvious to a fan of sitcoms.
 

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anyone watch this last night?
i enjoyed it again. good show. not quite as funny as last week's.
suddenly guy seemed to hate lee. not sure where this came from. i can't remember him hating lee before.
 

I really liked this one My second favourite of the run.
 

Quote: Martin Holmes @ October 3, 2007, 6:17 PM

Okay those comparing it to Seinfeld for no real reason may have been unfair, but as Grahame has stated many times he is trying to make a show like Seinfeld, I don't think classing the two together is a bad thing.

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Yeah, but he's not trying to make Seinfield and it is a lot different in my view. The characters in IT crowd are a lot more farcical and so are some of the plots. Also Seinfield is so many peoples top sitcom, you shouldn't be criticised for not being as good. Its still good comedy.

 

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Some people may call me a genius but I haven't met any yet.
http://containsnuts.wordpress.com/
 

Wrong thread?

Enjoyed last night's. Guy has very good delivery. Take 25 jokes out, add more character and it could be brilliant.
 

Thought that the episode was ok but predictable at times. I guess that's kind of the intention with the cleaner character but she just doesn't make me laugh ever and I don't think that the writers are particularly good at writing visual gags.

I would also say that Tim Vine was criminally underused again and only appeared in 3 scenes I think.
 

Was there a sudden jump in Lee and Lucy's relationship or was that just a bit of silly bollocks to do a whole "will they, wont they?"

I wasn't keen on Guy's rhyming slang joke.
 

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In my face! I mean your Face!
 

Not very impressed with this episode unfortunately.

Not enough Tim!!! (Tim - Lee are the best thing about the series)

A hackneyed old plot, and no new twist (unlike the baby episode which took a hackneyed old plot and went further with it than thought possible outside of dark alternative comedies).

Uninteresting guest characters, who were completely one-note. By the way, was the bald American guy the same actor who played Robert Bathurst's penis in season 2, episode 5 of Joking Apart?

And most glaringly of all: Guy and Lucy Do Not Work. Suddenly Guy loathes Lee (while previously he didn't care enough about him to loathe him). There's zero chemistry between Lee and Lucy, and between Lucy and Guy. I do not understand why Guy puts up with this shallow, not spectacularly attractive airhead. Nor is there more to the Lee-Lucy relationship than 'they're opposite sexes, they're young(ish), so put them in the same living space and they'll want to shag eventually'. This is really the weakest part of this season and it gets worse instead of better. The character of Lucy is just not well-developed enough to care about her (or find her amusing), and Guy is also just a walking cliché. If only he'd been an active bisexual, at least that would have made episode two make sense and give his character a novel twist.

Didn't think much of Miranda either, this episode, and generally I've been more pleased with her than many others on this forum.

Ah well, better luck next week...

Some
 

I enjoyed it but found myself losing interest at times, which I thought I never would. My least favourite episode I would say, although perhaps I just enjoyed last weeks so much that this felt like a let down.

I agree with those who have commented on the sudden dislike Guy has for Lee. It felt strange as it happened over night and although the tension in their relationship could prove to work well, the fact that it has happened without reason made it hard to swallow. Although, speaking of swallowing, Lee did let Guy's grandson swallow a subbuteo player in the last episode so perhaps we're expected to link the two together. Or maybe im just analysing it too much!

I also agree with the comments about not enough Tim Vine. It really does make a huge difference to the episode. My favouite episodes of this series so far (Gay and Baby) have been centred around Lee and Tim and focused on them spending time together and getting into, in my opinion, comical situations. This is what I like about Not Going Out and felt it wasnt really there this week-shame!

Still my favourite sitcom though! :-)
 

I just took it as Lee pissing off Guy right at the start, not that he actually came in hating him or whatever. No?
 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
Half man, half Internet, half TV.
(Loyal follower of The Magical Aura of Laura.)