--- title: "The IT Crowd: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-it-crowd/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-it-crowd" critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The IT Crowd (2006): what the critics said Critics' score 67 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics take to it. The praise clusters on Graham Linehan’s writing, which several reviewers say lifts a standard workplace sitcom into full-blown farce, with the ‘Work Outing’ episode named as the peak. The three leads are singled out repeatedly, Moss in particular, and more than one review approves of the show for leaning into the studio-audience format rather than apologising for it. The comparison with Father Ted comes up: geeks get the treatment the clergy once did. The final special is judged a well-balanced send-off. The spread is wide. Empire, reviewing in 2006, finds the comedy limp and lazy, with few proper laughs and characters that never feel real. Variety, two years later, likes the concept but finds the loopy execution only occasionally delivers. Radio Times notes, more gently, that the series did not set the world alight at first and is best understood as a grower. ## The Telegraph — Michael Hogan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The final special is a confident, well-judged blend of humour, callbacks and poignancy that lets the series bow out on a high. It balances mawkishness and mirth perfectly while delivering great gags and a fittingly silly, excellent conclusion to this cult hit. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10339631/The-IT-Crowd-Channel-4-review.html) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating B+. 8 April 2009. The critic praises the show for transcending its standard workplace sitcom tropes through snappy writing and great performances, noting it builds to hilarious farce. They single out the strong cast and the way it embraces its studio audience format. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-it-crowd-the-complete-first-season-1798205988) ## The i Paper — Alex Nelson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 August 2017. The critic praises the series as a classic sitcom thanks to Graham Linehan’s sharp writing blending surreal elements with relatable situations and a cast of funny, interesting characters. They single out the ‘Work Outing’ episode as the finest farce in British sitcom history for its masterful interweaving plots, ridiculous scenarios and escalating absurdity. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-it-crowd-work-outing-episode-comedys-greatest-farce-86510) ## Radio Times — Alison Graham Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The critic notes that the series was an oddity when first broadcast in 2006 and did not set the world alight. It is described as a classic grower that audiences come to appreciate over time. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-posgxc/the-it-crowd-season-1/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2013. The series turns technical support into fresh, funny comedy by tackling geek stereotypes head-on in silly situations, much like Linehan's Father Ted did for the clergy. It succeeds as a traditional studio-audience sitcom through its embrace of tech language and geek culture, with standout characters like the memorable Moss holding it together across the seasons. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/may/16/it-crowd-box-set-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 September 2008. The critic notes that Graham Linehan captures some of the geek mystique in a series that proved popular in the UK, with surprise comic twists often the best parts. The three leads are terrific as employees who want only to keep their jobs but not let them interfere with their personal lives. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/crowd-126052/) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2008. The critic finds the concept extremely clever and simple but says the broad, loopy execution only sporadically fulfills that promise. The program could use a little debugging despite acclaim overseas. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/tv/reviews/the-it-crowd-1200470225/) ## Empire — Danny Graydon Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2006. The critic finds the comedy limp and lazy despite its strong pedigree, settling for first-base gags and characters that do not feel real. Proper laughs are few and far between. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/crowd-review-2/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-it-crowd.md