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The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

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Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#81

Post by tlokas »

physhster wrote: post #63
dotBen wrote: post #8

I'm pretty sure this pilot is the same script as episode 1 of the original UK series. Clearly someone felt the need to recast and reshoot the series with US actors (plus Richard Ayoade), like they did the US Office. I wonder if that's old thinking (or wasn't actually needed) - the amount of UK TV that's now on Netflix and other OTT platforms seems to suggest that US audiences are open to enjoying original UK series w…

It's exactly the same script.

Some parts are different. One thing that put me off was that the boss wasn't an insane lunatic that did random things. The boss is the US version was a more collected, planning and evil character.

Like the scene where he called back after firing an entire department to say "I was just keeping the IT-department in line", suggesting that he knew what they where up to all along.

The UK boss wouldn't do that. He would keep doing things that only made sense to his insane brain, until something went down hill enough that he just jumped out of a window in the middle of a meeting.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#82

Post by colordrops »

LAC-Tech wrote: post #75
Longlius wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of it is simply different television formats. The Office UK specifically aired on BBC One without commercials which meant that it had to be cut down to fit on a major network's timeslot of 20-24 min. Shows like that typically have to go to special TV stations like PBS or BBC America in order to get a commercial-free timeslot or (in BBC America's case) finagled into a less common time slot with weird commercial b…

Let's face it, the US office was a more engaging show cast with funnier & better looking actors. That's really the secret to its success - it was just really good, end season slump not withstanding.

It's subjective - I found the UK office to be more funny and authentic. I couldn't watch the US version without cringing at the unnatural sitcom-iness of it.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#83

Post by LAC-Tech »

colordrops wrote: post #82
LAC-Tech wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's face it, the US office was a more engaging show cast with funnier & better looking actors. That's really the secret to its success - it was just really good, end season slump not withstanding.

It's subjective - I found the UK office to be more funny and authentic. I couldn't watch the US version without cringing at the unnatural sitcom-iness of it.

I think my issue with the UK office is that it was just too bleak and dull to be funny. I got the jokes, but it didn't make laugh, just made me kind of feel worse about life.

This is not a "UK comedy is has more flawed characters" thing either, IT Crowd, Peep Show were full of terrible, flawed, miserable human beings but there were still some drama & larger than life aspects to those shows that gave it some element of "relief". UK office has no relief, it's just pure misery.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#85

Post by ehnto »

LAC-Tech wrote: post #83
colordrops wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's subjective - I found the UK office to be more funny and authentic. I couldn't watch the US version without cringing at the unnatural sitcom-iness of it.

I think my issue with the UK office is that it was just too bleak and dull to be funny. I got the jokes, but it didn't make laugh, just made me kind of feel worse about life. This is not a "UK comedy is has more flawed characters" thing either, IT Crowd, Peep Show were full of terrible, flawed, miserable human beings but there were still some drama & larger than life aspects to those shows that gave it some element o…

I can't watch any show set in an office. They are relatable, but not in a pleasant way.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#86

Post by jonathankoren »

dotBen wrote: post #8

I'm pretty sure this pilot is the same script as episode 1 of the original UK series. Clearly someone felt the need to recast and reshoot the series with US actors (plus Richard Ayoade), like they did the US Office. I wonder if that's old thinking (or wasn't actually needed) - the amount of UK TV that's now on Netflix and other OTT platforms seems to suggest that US audiences are open to enjoying original UK series w…

The UK show has like 6 episodes in a season, while an American show needs at least 22.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#87

Post by TulliusCicero »

LAC-Tech wrote: post #78

It's really hard for me to imagine any alternate scenario where the IT crowd could be improved upon. It was kind of a perfect storm - Richard Ayoade during the only time he ever was or ever will be likable or funny, Christopher Morris back when was one of the funniest people on earth, Matt Berry just being absolutely brilliant and completely stealing the show, the cultural "geek" zeitgest of the time, etc etc. It's n…

He's quite good as Professor Marmalade in The Bad Guys, which is the most stylish kids' movie I've ever seen.

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#88

Post by djmips »

dkarras wrote: post #72
PedroBatista wrote: post #3

This is one of those things like an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War II or some fever dream. Thank God it wasn't picked up. I know it's a pilot, but the American actors are even mimicking the UK character's mannerisms.

The guy playing Moss did okay.

haha

Re: The IT Crowd US Pilot (2007) [video]

#90

Post by ImpressiveWebs »

radley wrote: post #77

I feel like I'm watching a Community dream sequence (with Ayoade as guest star) in which Jeff Winger has to take a computer class to graduate, so he's freaking out.

I thought it was good, but Joel McHale as Roy doesn’t work. Dude is too chiseled for that role, even though he does a decent job with the acting.
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