You know you're in for a good time when a show opens with Kid Rock performing to nobody at a coming-out party for a company that just got snapped up by Google, and is then derided as being the "poorest person here." That his urging for the non-existent crowd to "make some noise in here!" is followed by comparisons between what liquid shrimp and male ejaculate (presumably) tastes like and a one-liner about a person on an online dating site being so far on the spectrum that "she can't even make eye contact with the camera" is even better. You know you're in for a good time when a show opens with Kid Rock performing to nobody at a coming-out party for a company that just got snapped up by Google, and is then derided as being the "poorest person here." That his urging for the non-existent crowd to "make some noise in here!" is followed by comparisons between what liquid shrimp and male ejaculate (presumably) tastes like and a one-liner about a person on an online dating site being so far on the spectrum that "she can't even make eye contact with the camera" is even better. Putting the disenfranchised geeks into a position of power is a not only what's happening IRL, but it's also a great comedic set-up. And the show makes the most of it, solidifying that premise with main character Richard's closing monologue: "For thousands of years, guys like us have gotten the s**t kicked out of us. But now, for the first time, we're living in an era when we can be in charge! And build empires! We could be the vikings of our day!" (His friends aren't sure about the viking part). The full spectrum of nerdom is represented - from the nervous nebbish to the butch brogrammers - and it's a rich vein for comedy that remains properly untapped for the most part.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
