'The Final Countdown'

The IT Crowd

The IT Crowd is a British sitcom which started broadcasting on Channel 4 in 2007. The episode called ‘The Final Countdown’ is from series 4, episode 2.

Conventions

The IT Crowd is conventional as the main characters are Jen, Roy and Moss and they are colleagues in an IT department.
The episode is 24 minutes long.
These characters appear in every episode and take on the role as the heroes within the series.

Synergy

The series was shown on Channel 4 during their Friday night comedy section at 9pm.
The IT Crowd utilised synergy through working with Countdown to construct the main narrative in the episode.

Graham Linehan

The IT Crowd was written by Graham Linehan.
Linehan had previously written Father Ted and Black Books which were both successful Channel 4 sitcoms.
Channel 4 needed a new sitcom for its Friday night comedy offering and so commissioned the production of The IT Crowd.

Netflix

Talkback Thames worked in synergy with Delightful Industries (founded by Graham Linehan) to produce The IT Crowd.
The IT Crowd was distributed on Channel 4 on Friday nights at 9pm and is now available to stream on Netflix.

Channel 4

Channel 4 is a public service broadcaster which has a remit to broadcast alternative programmes.
Channel 4 is a non-profit making organisation who are commercially funded through advertising
Channel 4 is regulated by Ofcom.

Remit

Channel 4’s remit includes creating innovative and distinctive content, to stimulate public debate, reflect cultural diversity of the UK, champion alternative viewpoints, inspire change in people’s lives and nurture new and existing talent.
The IT Crowd fits Channel 4’s remit as it offers distinctive content, reflects cultural diversity within its cast and nurtures new and existing talent.

‘The Final Countdown’: Intertextuality

The IT Crowd episode called ‘The Final Countdown’ is from series 4, episode 2. The episode contains multiple references of intertextuality.

Synergy

As the name suggests, there are multiple references to the Channel 4 day-time game show Countdown.
As The IT Crowd was commissioned by Channel 4 and also broadcast on Channel 4, they were able to work in synergy with Countdown to use their sets, theme tunes and presenters more easily.

Standalone narrative

The involvement of Countdown in this episode is an example of a standalone narrative as this will not feature in the following episodes in the series.

The Matrix

There are also intertextual references to The Matrix in the episode, shown through the character of Prime which can satire the original film.
Prime references The Matrix (1999) through calling Moss ‘The One’, as well as through his costume of a dark black coat with black sunglasses which mimics the main characters costume in the film.

Fight Club

There are further references to films such as Fight Club (1999) when street Countdown takes place.
The line ‘The first rule about street countdown…’ refers to the scene in Fight Club where the character Tyler says ‘The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about fight club’.
This can pay homage to the influence Fight Club has had since its release.

Target audience

The references included in the episode would be understood by the target audience who are likely to have watched The Matrix and Fight Club when they were first released.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Pride

2.1.3Pride 2

2.2GQ

2.2.1Context

2.2.2Narrative

2.2.3Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements

2.4.1Quality Street

2.4.2This Girl Can

2.5Film Posters (Marketing)

2.5.1Spectre

2.5.2The Man with The Golden Gun

2.5.3The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.6Newspapers

2.6.1Ownership & Regulation

2.6.2News Selection

2.6.3Media Language

2.6.4Genres

2.6.5Newspaper Conventions

2.6.6Representation

2.6.7Audience

2.6.8Theories

2.6.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.7The Sun

2.7.1Context

2.7.2Narrative

2.7.3Language & Images

2.8The Guardian

2.8.1The Guardian

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Language & Images

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Film

3.2.1The Big Six

3.2.2Technology

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.3Radio

3.3.1The Radio Industry

3.3.2Categories of Radio Station

3.3.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.3.4Theories

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.4No Time To Die

3.4.1Context

3.4.2Narrative

3.4.3Representation

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Michael Jackson

5.2.1‘Black or White’

5.3Taylor Swift

5.3.1Bad Blood

5.3.2Intertextual References

5.3.3Media Theories

5.3.4Representation

5.3.5Social Media

5.4Bruno Mars

5.4.1Uptown Funk

5.4.2Analysis

5.4.3End of Topic Test - Music Videos

5.5Lizzo

5.5.1Context

5.5.2'Good as Hell'

5.5.3Media Language

5.5.4Representation

5.5.5Audience

5.5.6Industry

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