The Work Outing

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 enjoy Linehan's humour - Father Ted, The Fast Show, Black Books, even Hippies - and I've watched the "If you type google into google" clip lots of times. But this show passed me by.

The second half of this episode is the best ten minutes of sitcom. Ever. Not even Seinfeld, including Do The Opposite. I was wiping away tears, but no recovery time before the next laugh, and so on until the credits rolled.

Brilliant example of laying pipe - what they set up early on made the later execution simple and rhythmic. Add in the weird-is-normal humour and you get exponential laughter.

Simply the funniest sitcom episode ever broadcast.

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.

Whoa, I just had to write this review, I am in the middle of this episode as I'm writing because I just couldn't continue watching this episode and breathe at the same time.

I'd just recently started watching this series and to say that I was impressed would be putting i mildly. I have seen the complete first season but not one episode of the six is as funny as the "After party" scene. This whole episode is a laughter riot but the scene that I mentioned is the peak. Honestly, I think that the whole comedy genre might have jumped the shark.

Any comedy fans out there I beg you to see this episode as I'm sure it won't let you down and as for the people who have just started watching IT crowd and are yet to see this episode... I envy you.

Now that I've regained my composure and I'm going back to watch this episode.