The IT Crowd - 12/12/08

[Chess Piece Face]

Great episode. The boss guy still had too much screen time at the expense of Roy, Moss and Jen but at least he was actually somewhat funny in this one, possibly because his story tied into their story at the end.

The thing is, this show is funny when it is doing stuff like "the internet doesn't weigh anything" and Jen speaking to the group. The show is just lame when it is doing "weird boss guy putting on bravado around women, again."

 

[Tulin]

FINALLY a voice of reason.

Obviously SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE decided this fat guy was funny(he isn't)and/or he has photos of someone in power doing something they shouldn't. His voice is just BIZARRE and his presence on screen is annoying. I agree, however, that this week his story was actually funny, although in a previous season it would have been given to Roy, which would have made it even more hilarious.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

Part of the thing about his voice is his style of acting. He is doing what Ben Stiller does when he plays a character. Not when Ben Stiller is a regular guy character, but when he is someone like the guy he played in Dodgeball. It is way over the top and even though everyone else is speaking and reacting subtly as if they are on camera, he is acting super broadly, as if he is on stage. That is what the boss guy does.

Think about Roy, Jen and Moss, how when they act, they keep their characters grounded in reality. Yes, even Moss does this. Then along comes the boss guy and he is so over the top. It is just a different kind of comedy. That guy is incapable of being in a scene with anyone else and not being the focus.

It is especially evident if you have ever seen him in Garth Merengi's Dark Place. In that series, everything is over the top and cheesy, like a bad b-movie from the 70's or something. Well, his acting in that "bad on purpose" show is seriously like 90% the same as his acting in the IT Crowd universe and it does not fit.

And when you say his storyline with the transgender person would have been given to Roy in the past...just think about how much FUNNIER that would have been!

 

[Frodo Lives]

While I could see Roy getting into that situation, there's no way it would have resulted in the knock-down, fantastically over the top fight at the end of the episode the way it did with Douglas. Add to that the way he initially reacted just wouldn't fit with Roy because it was so low key, making it even more amusing because the character clearly isn't that.

And I guess we'll just have to disagree on whether Douglas is a good character or not, because frankly the incredibly over the top boss has been a staple of the show since Day One and I think Matt Berry's acting is perfect for the role.

 

[Idoliside]

While I could see Roy getting into that situation, there's no way it would have resulted in the knock-down, fantastically over the top fight at the end of the episode the way it did with Douglas. Add to that the way he initially reacted just wouldn't fit with Roy because it was so low key, making it even more amusing because the character clearly isn't that.

And I guess we'll just have to disagree on whether Douglas is a good character or not, because frankly the incredibly over the top boss has been a staple of the show since Day One and I think Matt Berry's acting is perfect for the role.

Agreed. Chris Morris was no different in his acting really, father portrays the son i suppose.
Oh and the fight was brilliant, reminded me of Bottom.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

While I could see Roy getting into that situation, there's no way it would have resulted in the knock-down, fantastically over the top fight at the end of the episode the way it did with Douglas. Add to that the way he initially reacted just wouldn't fit with Roy because it was so low key, making it even more amusing because the character clearly isn't that.

And I guess we'll just have to disagree on whether Douglas is a good character or not, because frankly the incredibly over the top boss has been a staple of the show since Day One and I think Matt Berry's acting is perfect for the role.

Don't get me wrong...I think Matt Berry is funny (I think I said in another thread that I love his sketch online where he is chivalrous to women until he finds out they have boyfriends). And I agree that the boss has been over the top since day one but you know what? I thought the other boss was out of place as well. And, with the other boss it was not as much, he had less screen time. Also, he did not take over every scene he was in. For example, look at his scene where he is declaring war on stress - that's over the top but the focus can still be on Jen trying to escape to buy her shoes.

It's just not so the way that Matt Berry acts and the way they write him. When it's a scene with him in it, it's all him.

Now, I also agree that the fight maybe wouldn't have occured the same way but I still believe that if Roy had been given that part it would have turned out funny in some way.

If you like the boss character, that's great. I'm not trying to take that away from you. I'm just saying for me, they need to dial him back a bit and let us enjoy Roy, Moss and Jen more.