Three Seasons to Premiere Exclusively in the U.S. on IFC Beginning September 30 as Part of the Network’s Tuesday Night Alternative Programming Block
New York, NY – August 12, 2008 – IFC announced today that The IT Crowd, the popular, offbeat sitcom currently seen in the U.K. on Channel 4 will air for the first time in the U.S. as part of the network’s new AUTOMAT programming block on Tuesday nights. The BAFTA-nominated series, written and directed by Graham Linehan (Father Ted, Black Books), produced by Ash Atalla (The Office, Man Stroke Woman) and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), is about the technical support team housed in the basement of a fictitious corporation and has developed a cult following since the show debuted in 2006.
IFC will air the first two seasons this fall beginning September 30; the third season will premiere on IFC in early 2009, following its debut on Channel 4 this fall. Each season includes six 30-minute episodes.
"This series has generated a huge following in the U.K. and we look forward to bringing it to our audience here in the U.S. in our Tuesday night AUTOMAT programming block," said George Lentz Jr., vice president of acquisitions and scheduling at IFC. "This hysterical, offbeat sitcom will be an excellent complement to our existing programming line-up of successful, always uncut, comedy series."
Lisa Honig, FME VP, Programme Distribution North America added: "We are delighted to see The IT Crowd find a home on IFC. There is an increasing appetite for British comedy shows in the U.S. among young American audiences and this show is a great fit for IFC’s profile and audience expectation."
The IT Crowd centers on Roy (Chris O’Dowd – Festival), Moss (Richard Ayoade – Garth Marenghi, Nathan Barley) and Jen (Katherine Parkinson – Doc Martin). They make up the I.T. department of Reynholm Industries, a multinational company. While their social betters work upstairs in fantastic surroundings, Roy, Moss and Jen work in a horrible dark basement underneath it all.
In addition to the three main cast members, the series features several cameos from the comedy world including Adam Buxton (The Adam & Joe Show), Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh), Oliver Chris (Green Wing) and Danny Wallace, as well as a supporting cast that includes Matt Berry (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh) and Chris Morris (Brass Eye).
"The show is about a group of workmates hanging out, getting into humiliating scrapes and then getting out of them," said Graham Linehan, writer and creator of the show. "’Seinfeld’ with laptops, I suppose. At least, that’s the intention."
The series also includes appearances by James Bachman (That Mitchell and Webb Look), Amelia Bullmore (I’m Alan Partridge), Andrew Brooke (Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul), Nick Burns (Nathan Barley), Silas Carson, Lydia Fox, Alex MacQueen (The Thick of It), Jamie Michie, Orlando Seale, Catherine Shepherd (Peep Show), Peter Sullivan (Extras) and Kim Wall.
The IFC AUTOMAT is a four-hour block packed with exclusive uncut, uncensored alternative programming including network premieres, originals, shorts, web shows, anime and more, scheduled to launch Tuesday nights in September.
About FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world’s media markets. For further information, visit http://www.fremantlemedia.com.
About IFC – update pending
IFC (The Independent Film Channel) is the first and only network dedicated to independent film and related programming, 24 hours a day, uncut and uncensored. Operating under the mantra ’always, uncut,’ IFC presents feature-length films, "cult classics," thought-provoking original documentaries such as At the Death House Door and This Film Is Not Yet Rated, shorts, animated series, exclusive web series, and television’s most comprehensive independent film library. The network also offers some of the most innovative and edgy original series on television, including the sketch comedy "The Whitest Kids U’ Know." Providing a voice for independent thought not found anywhere else on television, IFC broadens the audience for independent film and supports the independent film community through its exclusive live coverage of notable film events like the Independent Spirit Awards. The network’s On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC’s original series in HD before they air on the linear network. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.