10 Shows and Movies Like The IT Crowd (2006)

Description: Red Dwarf shares The IT Crowd's sci-fi elements and British humor. Both shows feature a small group of misfits in a confined space, dealing with absurd situations. The humor in both shows is often derived from the characters' interactions and their inability to handle the challenges they face.

Fact: The show was originally conceived as a 'sci-fi sitcom' to fill a gap in the BBC's programming. The character of Lister was originally written as a woman. The show's theme song was composed by Howard Goodall, who also composed the theme for The IT Crowd.

Description: Father Ted, like The IT Crowd, is a British sitcom created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews. Both shows feature absurd, surreal humor and eccentric characters in confined settings (a remote island in Father Ted, a basement office in The IT Crowd). The shows also share a similar visual style and comedic timing.

Fact: The show was inspired by the creators' experiences growing up in Ireland. The character of Father Jack was based on a real-life priest the creators knew. The show was initially controversial in Ireland for its portrayal of the Catholic Church.

Description: Spaced, like The IT Crowd, is a British sitcom that blends surreal humor with pop culture references. Both shows were created by the same team (Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews for The IT Crowd, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg for Spaced) and share a similar comedic sensibility. The shows also feature characters who are outsiders, struggling to fit into society.

Fact: The show was the first major collaboration between Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, and Edgar Wright. Many of the show's visual gags and editing techniques were inspired by video games and comic books. The show was initially rejected by several networks before being picked up by Channel

Description: Black Books shares The IT Crowd's British sitcom roots and its focus on quirky, dysfunctional characters in a workplace setting. Both shows feature a misanthropic lead (Bernard Black in Black Books, Roy in The IT Crowd) and absurd, surreal humor. The shows also share a similar visual style and pacing, with rapid-fire jokes and physical comedy.

Fact: The show was created by Dylan Moran, who also stars as Bernard Black. The character of Manny was originally written for Bill Bailey, who had worked with Moran on other projects. The show was filmed in a real bookshop in London, which had to be cleared of actual books for filming.

Description: Peep Show shares The IT Crowd's cringe comedy style, with humor derived from the characters' social awkwardness and poor decision-making. Both shows use a unique visual style (first-person perspective in Peep Show, static shots in The IT Crowd) to enhance the comedy. The shows also explore themes of loneliness and alienation.

Fact: The show was originally conceived as a radio series. The first-person perspective was inspired by the film 'Lady in the Lake.' The show's title refers to the idea of 'peeping' into the characters' private thoughts.

Description: Like The IT Crowd, The Big Bang Theory centers around a group of nerdy, socially inept characters who find humor in their awkward interactions with the world. Both shows celebrate geek culture, with references to science, technology, and pop culture. The humor often stems from the characters' inability to fit into conventional social norms.

Fact: The show was originally pitched as 'a show about smart people working at a dumb place.' The character of Sheldon Cooper was inspired by a combination of real-life scientists and the creators' own experiences. The show's theme song was written and performed by the Barenaked Ladies.

Description: Parks and Recreation shares The IT Crowd's workplace comedy elements, with humor derived from the characters' interactions and the absurdities of bureaucracy. Both shows feature a mix of eccentric characters and a mockumentary style (though The IT Crowd uses it more sparingly). The shows also share a similar upbeat tone, despite the characters' often frustrating circumstances.

Fact: The show was originally conceived as a spin-off of The Office. The character of Ron Swanson was inspired by a real-life libertarian the creators knew. The show's theme song was composed by Gaby Moreno and Vincent Jones.

Description: Community, like The IT Crowd, is a sitcom that celebrates geek culture and features a group of socially awkward characters. Both shows use meta-humor and pop culture references, and often parody other genres. The shows also share a similar ensemble dynamic, with each character bringing their own quirks to the group.

Fact: The show was created by Dan Harmon, who also created Rick and Morty. The character of Abed was inspired by Harmon's own experiences with autism. The show was almost canceled several times due to low ratings.

Description: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like The IT Crowd, is a workplace comedy with a diverse cast of eccentric characters. Both shows blend humor with heart, and feature strong ensemble dynamics. The shows also share a similar fast-paced, joke-heavy style, with humor derived from the characters' personalities and interactions.

Fact: The show was created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, who also worked on Parks and Recreation. The character of Jake Peralta was originally written for a different actor. The show was canceled by Fox after five seasons, but was picked up by NBC for a sixth season.

Description: Similar to The IT Crowd, Silicon Valley revolves around a group of socially awkward tech enthusiasts navigating the absurdities of their industry. Both shows blend workplace humor with geek culture, featuring eccentric characters and satirical takes on their respective fields. The humor is often derived from the characters' lack of social skills and the ridiculous situations they find themselves in.

Fact: The show was created by Mike Judge, who also created Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill. Many of the tech startups and companies mentioned in the show are based on real-life counterparts. The character of Erlich Bachman was inspired by real-life tech entrepreneur Sean Parker.