The Work Outing

Simply the funniest sitcom episode ever broadcast.

Besides being the best IT CROWD episode of the series, I think that "The Work Outing" stands alongside some of the best sitcom half-hours of TV history.

The first series had established the groundwork of the three main characters, but had confined them to their workspace. But writer/director Graham Linehan opens up this season two premiere by "opening up" the physical space and taking his team to a theatre for the performance of "Gay: The Musical." The bits of the musical that we're allowed to see contain the wackiest songs since "Elephant!" (from "The Tall Guy") or "Springtime for Hitler" (from "The Producers"), but what's even funnier are the situations that Jen, Moss and Roy get involved in while on their "outing." The comic timing of this episode, and the clever way that Linehan builds the pay-offs to his gags, are priceless.

You might also want to pause your DVD on the theatre poster, where you'll see the names of many of the crew listed as part of the cast.

It's a bit more like "Seinfeld" than "The IT Crowd," but it's consistent with what we already know about the characters. I've watched this episode several times and never tire of it.

I don't know anyone who didn't like 'the IT crowd; it strikes a chord with anybody who ever worked in an office situation and who had to deal with the geeks who seemed to be in control of some kind of sorcery in the computer department. This is the funniest of all the funny IT Crowd episodes; it will have tears running down your face. The episode centres on the work colleagues having a night out at the theatre, where a series of comic mix-ups get them into very funny situations indeed. The very last scene has Chris O'Dowd at his deadpan most hilarious. I loved the IT crowd, but this episode stands out as one of the funniest pieces of TV ever. This episode is up there with Fawlty Towers 'don't mention the war' and the 'Fools and Horses' chandelier scene. Achingly funny and a real classic!

This could possibly be the quintessential example of Sit-com perfection. The jokes, while predictable at times, lose nothing as the rythm, delivery and timing are perfect. The facial expressions at to the humor and relatability. I've watched this episode dozens of times and I still can't stop laughing from beginning to end.

An absolutely hysterical episode. Jen has found yet another prospective boyfriend, and he asks her to go to the theater with him. When Moss and Roy invite themselves along, both manage to get into trouble, and hilarity ensues! It's true that this episode doesn't incorporate as many geek jokes as usual or take place in the typical work setting. Instead, the episode follows a far more daring path: it puts established characters into a new situation. This time, the humor revolves around the personalities of Moss, Roy, and Jen, not just references to geek culture. But don't worry, the episode still has plenty of The IT Crowd's trademark hilarious one-liners. Don't miss it!