Whedonesque : Comments on 17551 : The IT Crowd want Mutant Enemy's help.

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September 09 2008

The IT Crowd want Mutant Enemy's help. "THE IT CROWD" is a UK show about geeks and nerds on Channel 4. They want to reference Doctor Horrible by set dressing themselves with Horrible things for filming series 3, but need to get permission. Edit: Thank you, Jed - help is at hand. The show, in case anybody is wondering.

[ edited by gossi on 2008-09-09 20:24 ]

gossi | Dr. Horrible | 16:28 CET | 30 comments total | tags: doctor horrible, the it crowd

That sort of approach leaves me somewhat cold. If they can't get in touch with Mutant Enemy, then get in touch with Joss' agent or something like that but don't spam fansites. I just see that sort of thing as "HEY JOSS".

Simon | September 09, 16:43 CET

I tend to agree with Simon, but I'd be exponentially excited about any IT Crowd/Dr Horrible crossover!

NotMandatory | September 09, 16:47 CET

I agree too Simon usually, but in this case I suspect they are hitting a brick wall which probably shouldn't be there. I.e. they don't know who to contact (or they've gone to the wrong person).

[ edited by gossi on 2008-09-09 16:52 ]

gossi | September 09, 16:52 CET

Also I'm bitter about them never resolving the cliff hangers at the end of series one.

Simon | September 09, 17:14 CET

Screw DR Horrible, can't they get James Marsters for a cameo or something instead? D=

The Alpha Gamer | September 09, 17:21 CET

Why do they need permission? Isn't parody fair use? Do people need to call Lucas everytime they reference Star Wars?

Succatash | September 09, 18:23 CET

I don't see anything in his post about "permission", just that he's looking for set dressings. I'm guessing they want props from Dr. Horrible and stuff?

Vaughn | September 09, 18:25 CET

Do people need to call Lucas everytime they reference Star Wars?

I think Family Guy and Robot Chicken had to get permission from Mr Lucas to do their parodies (though I could be wrong).

Simon | September 09, 18:26 CET

Yeah I'm a little lost as to what it is they think they need to contact ME for. But at least it isn't stalker humor.

Also, I'd like to suggest they don't follow the suggestion of one of the commenters over there and try to talk to "Jedd", who doesn't exist.

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-09-09 18:28 ]

The One True b!X | September 09, 18:27 CET

Ooh. I'd watch that. heh. Though we'd have to get through ses. 2 here first. We just finished ses. 1.

But that sounds awesome. :D

druzilla | September 09, 18:47 CET

Settled.

The One True b!X | September 09, 19:18 CET

Updated.

I love this show, by the way. It did an episode which included a parody of studio scare tactics on piracy, which ended in the viewer being shot by the FBI. Uhm, it's a lot more funny when you see it.

With regards to UK copyright law (where this is shot) - I don't think we have a parody clause.

gossi | September 09, 20:07 CET

Nope, we don't (the Gowers Report recommended it but no news so far - haven't read it BTW, having unfortunately topped out my quota of incredibly boring 150 page government documents with the milk subsidy recommendations).

Still, good to see it resolved and also good to hear they're making a third series. Maybe Moss will come to work dressed in a lab coat and goggles ? ;)

Saje | September 09, 20:39 CET

This made me have a nice chuckle, thanks gossi! Will definitely watch this. Love the IT Crowd!

bubblecat | September 09, 21:24 CET

I love the IT Crowd so i am very pleased that they want to have Dr Horrible refs in there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nGjxO_Bfac

I love Moss.

"FIRE! FIRE! HELP ME!"

cicatrixtwigs | September 09, 21:42 CET

That episode is my favourite! 0118 999 881 999 119 725...3!

Plus, Danny Wallace is in it. Bonus!

RachVG | September 09, 22:12 CET

Wait, Danny is in it?

gossi | September 09, 22:16 CET

Two of my very favourite things in the same place at the same time. I smell awesomeness, and plenty of it. Please let it happen!

(Have to admit, though, prefered the first series to the second, because of Chris Morris. Because he's, you know, Chris Morris.)

[ edited by redders on 2008-09-09 23:01 ]

redders | September 09, 22:46 CET

Would love this to happen but is anyone going to 'get' the joke? Not many people have seen Dr Horrible, seems like its going to confuse a lot of people.

Dave B | September 09, 23:04 CET

Not many people get the RTFM tshirts and such, Dave. Which is what makes it awesome.

gossi | September 09, 23:12 CET

I love the IT crowd...so happy it's back for a 3rd season!will be lookin out for the Horrible references

angeliclestat | September 09, 23:38 CET

IT Crowd is awesome. And I dare say, a lot of their viewers WILL have at least heard of Dr.H even if they havent watched it.

My favourite thing to come out of IT Crowd?

1. Have you tried turning it off and on again? (Setting that up as their voicemail is just brilliant)

Ivalaine | September 10, 00:12 CET

Kev - yep, Danny's in episode 2. Very briefly. Near the end.

He didn't speak.

If you type "Google" into Google, you will break the internet.

RachVG | September 10, 00:34 CET

I'm still a little stuck on fair use in the UK. Simon Pegg in Spaced ripped on Phantom Menace, and he reenacted the ending of Empire Strikes Back. All of that got approved by Lucas? Hmmm.

Succatash | September 10, 01:33 CET

The IT Crowd is one of my favourite shows of the last few years. Who cares if their approach to Mutant Enemy is unorthodox? You get nothing by not asking or trying - that's for sure. Can't wait to see the result.

missemd | September 10, 01:39 CET

TV shows in the U.K tend to be made by small production companies and then sold onto a television channel. So it's entirely likely that a team of only 10-15 behind the scenes staff are working on it.

So it's sort of like expecting some dude writing a music blog in Finland to have Axl Rose's phone number.

Aidan W. | September 10, 01:55 CET

Lucas was involved with the Robot Chicken special. He approved almost all of the jokes (one of the only things he changed was to have a swear replaced with something more Star Warsey).

The I.T. Crowd is amazing and I'm glad that there's going to be a series three. Now if only they could get through the brick wall of making the show available to Americans, we'd be set.

[ edited by DavidB on 2008-09-10 03:14 ]

DavidB | September 10, 03:14 CET

I'm still a little stuck on fair use in the UK. Simon Pegg in Spaced ripped on Phantom Menace, and he reenacted the ending of Empire Strikes Back. All of that got approved by Lucas? Hmmm.

Yes he did.

As Pegg relates it in the commentaries, they couldn't do everything they wanted for S1, but after that (after TPM came out) Lucas said they could use what they want as long as they weren't derogatory...."but we just were anyway".

ZodKneelsFirst | September 10, 12:15 CET

Thanks, ZodKF, that's interesting trivia. Also interesting that Pegg didn't do what Lucas asked.

Succatash | September 10, 15:15 CET

I saw an interview with Seth McFarlene, the creator of Family Guy, where he said that he had all Star Wars related jokes on the show approved by Lucas for fear of being sued. When it came time to do the Blue Harvest special Lucas was a fan of the previous jokes and allowed McFarlene to use the official score and sound effects. By the way, a sequel to Blue Harvest is airing on FOX sometime this season.

I'm fairly certain you don't have to get permission to reference movies, shows, etc. as long as they're parodies. It seems in Hollywood it's best to take the "better safe than sued" approach.

[ edited by JesusSavedIn01 on 2008-09-10 16:17 ]

[ edited by JesusSavedIn01 on 2008-09-10 16:17 ]

JesusSavedIn01 | September 10, 16:16 CET

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