IT Crowd Series 2: No live studio audience?
Thu, 14/12/2006 - 06:00 — John Hoare
Here's something interesting. Searching for information about tickets for the second series of The IT Crowd, I came upon this site. Recording dates "TBA". So, I give them a quick mail, they told me that they don't know when the show will appear - and that the last they heard, "they may not do it with a live audience".
Now, bear in mind a couple of things. If this does happen, it wouldn't mean getting rid of the laugh track altogether - they would simply show the completed episodes to an audience to record their reaction, much like Red Dwarf VII. Also, it's important to note that this is not definite news by any means - just something the production team are considering. On the other hand, seeing as this information has come direct from the ticket agency itself, I think it's safe to say that this isn't just a stupid rumour, and they are considering it. Although given Linehan's comments in the commentary for the Series 1 DVD release, it would seem a strange decision to take.
Personally, I think it would be a huge shame if they went down this road. Partly because I was hugely looking forward to the recordings, obviously - but mainly because having an audience there gives the performers something to bounce off, and to time their performances. You just can't do that with a seperate laugh track recording.
I'll keep you posted if I find out more...
Comments
Mark X (Unregistered) / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 06:32 / #
Interesting, but if it's true, so very *bad and wrong*. Having a live studio audience made the show stand out from the, erm, crowd. The lack of audience would suggest they've been ordered by Channel Four to more like Green Wing or something. Groo. It'd be series seven of Red Dwarf all over again!
Seb Patrick / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 10:22 / #
Oh, this shared login thing is clever.
You showoff.
Andrew (Unregistered) / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 10:24 / #
It CAN'T be true, can it? Has to be some oik on the phone taking a guess - please God...
Jonathan Capps / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 11:12 / #
I'm currently holding on to the hope that it's just some know-nothing shooting his mouth off. It would be totally baffling if they cut out the audience.
Sycorax82 (Unregistered) / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 20:50 / #
> bear in mind a couple of things. If this does happen, it wouldn't mean getting rid of the laugh track altogether - they would simply show the completed episodes to an audience to record their reaction
Yeah. They're probably 'considering' this because it would be cheaper (please tell me if that wouldn't be the case). I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes. I liked the first series but the second will hopefully be better (although, without an audience, there goes all your comic timing out the window)
By the way, Father Ted is one of the greatest sitcoms, no, one of the greatest television programmes of all-time. I'm not going to go as far as to tell you to feck off if you don't like it (like how certain people would tell someone to fuck off if they didn't agree with their musical tastes) but...if you don't like Father Ted...you deserve to have Father Stone come and stay at your house forever and ever and ever, or failing that, Noel Furlong and the youth group doing Riverdance and telling ghost stories, or Finton Stack drilling holes in your wall ('you're sitting there, imagining that, with a big smile on your face.....you dirty fecker')
Steve Harris / Thu, 14/12/2006 - 21:57 / #
Just popped in to say hello, so, err hello...
Father Ted Eh! Go on, go on, go on, you know you like it...
Jonathan Capps / Fri, 15/12/2006 - 01:05 / #
Was Black Books shot in front of an audience, or was that all pre-recorded? I can't remember.
John Hoare / Fri, 15/12/2006 - 08:43 / #
The email I got was from the direct contact given on their contact page - and the specific words were "they told me recently" (emphasis mine). It all sounds like an utterly ridiculous plan, and if it was just a normal rumour I wouldn't even have bothered publishing the story... but this *is* from someone who should know.
But I do stress that the word "may" was used. I really hope they've decided against it as well.
Capps: Black Books was shot in front of an audience. At Teddington - same as The IT Crowd.
John Hoare / Fri, 15/12/2006 - 11:32 / #
I've contacted Channel 4 about this, anyway. I'll let you know when I have a reply.
If I have no luck there, I'll go direct to Talkback.
John Hoare / Sun, 17/12/2006 - 09:09 / #
Clue to Channel 4 - if you're going to tell everyone on your website that you'll respond to all queries within 24 hours, it's a bit of a fucking cheek to make that response an email saying someone will "get back to you within a week".
Just say a week in the first place, dammit!
Phil_A (Unregistered) / Sun, 17/12/2006 - 10:48 / #
By the way, Father Ted is one of the greatest sitcoms, no, one of the greatest television programmes of all-time. I'm not going to go as far as to tell you to feck off if you don't like it etc, etc.
What are you talking about? No-one's slagging off Father Ted here. If you read the whole site, John says he'll cover it at some point. Just not immediately.
John Hoare / Mon, 18/12/2006 - 12:10 / #
Right, Channel 4 have got back to me (in fairness, very quickly, so kudos to them) - they have no information at all about the 2nd series of The IT Crowd, and so can't answer my questions. Or rather, their Viewer Relations section don't have any information...
I'm going to try Talkback.
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