The highly anticipated sitcom stars both Nick and David, with the former Friends star also serving as executive producer. Nick created and wrote the series for Sky One, and the duo revealed how their infectious laughter caused major issues on set for show’s director Matt Lipsey.
Despite the comedy’s deadly serious setting, the new workplace sitcom is set to be one of the funniest shows to hit TV screens early this year.
David Schwimmer plays Jerry Bernstein, an intense wannabe action hero from the USA tasked with forming a new cyber crimes unit with GCHQ.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he revealed: “What my character lacks in experience he makes up for in confidence, which is a particularly American quality right now.”
As David’s comments indicate, the series is also an effective skewering of American ego as Jerry meets his match against GCHQ’s withering Commander-in-Chief Christine Clark (Sylvestra Le Touzel).
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Jerry also teams up with hapless lackey Joseph Harries (Nick Mohammed) to kick Cheltenham’s mundane and disinterested task force back into shape.
Intelligence is as smart as its name suggests, a winning blend of sharply written satire and fast-paced improv.
The two stars of the series revealed that their on-camera chemistry and affinity for improvising contributed to some major delays during production as the cast couldn’t stop laughing.
David said: “We definitely had moments where we couldn’t stop laughing and it became problematic for our director, Matt [Lipsey]. In particular one day, the hottest day of the year.”
Filming a sitcom with such finely tuned comedic moments is always a challenge, especially with Britain experiencing some of the hottest summers on record.
Of course the cast never break character in the show, but viewers will be able to feel the addictive positive energy from the cast, especially during fast-paced comedic exchanges between David and Nick.
One scene in the first episode involves Jerry attempting to sabotage a lie-detector test, while the highlight of the series is probably an intense game of ‘Simon Says’.
David revealed this scene was mostly improvised and came from real experience, adding: “I’ve always done a game with my theatre company in Chicago called Schwimmer Says.
“It’s a version of Simon Says but it’s really fast and really intense and I’m hardcore.”
Devoted Friends fans may be wary of the former hopeless romantic playing against type, but David Schwimmer fearlessly steps up to playing such an unlikable character.
After disappearing into his role as Robert Kardashian for the sombre true crime drama The People vs OJ Simpson, it’s encouraging that David’s comedy chops haven’t faded as he takes on more dramatic projects.
Intelligence starts Friday, February 21 on Sky One and NOW TV.