The IT Crowd
The Complete Season One
Written and Directed by Graham Linehan
Starring Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Chris Morris
MPI Home Video
Available now

“˜That’s the sort of place this is, Jen. A lot of sexy people not doing much work and having affairs.’

At the high-rise headquarters of Reynholm Industries beautiful people go about their work in clean, bright office areas. On the 34th floor everyone is friendly and smiling and happy. The man in charge, Denholm Reynholm (Chris Morris), hires pretty, red-haired Jen (Katherine Parkinson) as a new head of department after being impressed with her glowing CV. Jen falls in love with her new workplace, adoring the stunning London views and fawning at the sight of unisex toilets “˜like Ally McBeal!’

But this is not where Jen will be working. The department she will be heading is not on the stunning, sunny 34th floor. She will be riding the elevator down to the depths of the building to become a part of The IT Crowd.

In this surreal sitcom world, the basement is the domain of Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade), Reynholm Industries’ resident computer nerds. As typical of such men, their work area is a mess, crammed with geeky paraphernalia. It is obvious that Roy and Moss are vital to this company as Jen, and everyone else, knows nothing about computers. Every time Roy answers the phone his first question is “˜have you tried turning it off and on again?’ as the solve-all computer treatment. Followed by “˜are you sure it’s plugged in?’