NBC is making a US version of smash British sitcom The IT Crowd, again

[midian182]

When it comes to comedies set in the world of information technology, few can surpass HBO’s Silicon Valley. Not only is it hilarious, but its portrayal of San Francisco’s tech scene has been described as so accurate it verges on a documentary.

Although it’s certainly a lot sillier, British sitcom ‘The IT Crowd’ definitely has Silicon Valley beat when it comes to laughs per minute. The series, which ran for five seasons between 2006 and 2013 in the UK, followed a group of technical support workers within a large corporation. Now, a third effort is being made to adapt the comedy for American audiences.

Back in 2007, NBC created an unsuccessful pilot for the US version of the show, which starred Community’s Joel McHale, Jessica St. Clair, and Richard Ayoade reprising his role of Moss. There was an attempt at another remake in 2014, but that also failed.

Variety reports that this will be the first time an IT Crowd US reboot will be written by original creator Graham Linehan, who is also an executive producer on the new show.

Linehan confirmed that the remake was being developer via twitter. “Oh, yeah. Working on it. Don’t expect the same kind of show and EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY,” he wrote.

Linehan told me early last year that he was hoping to make a new US version of the IT Crowd sometime in the future.

@midian182 it's a no go. But I'm hoping to try again at some point.

— Graham 'jack and biz are nazis I guess?' Linehan (@Glinner) February 12, 2016

Fans of the original UK series should check out what is probably the writer’s most famous work, the excellent Father Ted; a fantastic sitcom about three Irish priests.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/72335-nbc-making-us-version-smash-british-sitcom-crowd.html

 

[GreenNova343]

I am so torn on how to feel about this.

On the one hand, even though the original creator is involved with it, you always worry when a show is a 'copy' of another show. And while I know that British TV is just like American TV (in that it's hit-or-miss whether a show is going to be interesting or not), they do have some very great shows over there -- Doctor Who (classic & new)/Torchwood, Sherlock, Primeval, etc.

On the other hand, sometimes the "knockoff" show can surpass the original in longevity (if not popularity). The Office is an example of that, with the US version lasting for 9 seasons.

 

[Hexic]

I am so torn on how to feel about this.

On the one hand, even though the original creator is involved with it, you always worry when a show is a 'copy' of another show. And while I know that British TV is just like American TV (in that it's hit-or-miss whether a show is going to be interesting or not), they do have some very great shows over there -- Doctor Who (classic & new)/Torchwood, Sherlock, Primeval, etc.

On the other hand, sometimes the "knockoff" show can surpass the original in longevity (if not popularity). The Office is an example of that, with the US version lasting for 9 seasons.

Agreed, Shameless is another example of where the US production smoked it's British counterpart. I hope they don't screw it up, we quote the US IT Crowd, Super Troopers, and Key & Peele at the office on the regular.

 

[Catweazle]

I am so torn on how to feel about this.

On the one hand, even though the original creator is involved with it, you always worry when a show is a 'copy' of another show. And while I know that British TV is just like American TV (in that it's hit-or-miss whether a show is going to be interesting or not), they do have some very great shows over there -- Doctor Who (classic & new)/Torchwood, Sherlock, Primeval, etc.

On the other hand, sometimes the "knockoff" show can surpass the original in longevity (if not popularity). The Office is an example of that, with the US version lasting for 9 seasons.

Sanford and Son and All In the Family are a couple other examples. It can certainly be done, but in this case the cast of the original are just soooo good in the role, I'm just not sure how they could ever top it.

 

[Darr247]

Isn't that Rocky Carroll (NCIS) in the picture with McHale but not mentioned in the article?

Hard to believe we were still using CRTs in 2007, by the way. It really dates sci-fi shows to see 12'' B&W (or 10'' black & green!) 4:3 CRTs being used 50 to 500 years in the future.

 

[Catweazle]

Isn't that Rocky Carroll (NCIS) in the picture with McHale but not mentioned in the article?

Hard to believe we were still using CRTs in 2007, by the way. It really dates sci-fi shows to see 12'' B&W (or 10'' black & green!) 4:3 CRTs being used 50 to 500 years in the future.

Ha ha, I was thinking about that the other night watching Star Trek. Using those huge, thick LCD panels in the 24th century.

 

[OortCloud]

The Elders of the Internet will never stand for it.

 

[mattfrompa]

I'm a fan of the original and I'll gladly give this a shot!