"Extras" (2005)TV series 2005-????

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

25 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

His parts are bigger but now they're overexposed. (season2)

Plot:

"Extras" is about an out-of-work actor (Gervais) who struggles for work when he keeps losing his parts to stars like DeNiro. However, he insists that they're "just lucky".

Plot Keywords:

Workplace | Actor | Director

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 18 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 28	3:00 AM	HBO	The Extra Special Series Finale	#3.0
Thur. July 31	11:30 AM	HBO	The Extra Special Series Finale	#3.0

Cast

Ricky Gervais	...	Andy Millman (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ashley Jensen	...	Maggie Jacobs (13 episodes, 2005-2007)
Stephen Merchant	...	Darren Lamb (11 episodes, 2005-2007)
Shaun Williamson	...	Barry / ... (10 episodes, 2005-2007)
Shaun Pye	...	Greg / ... (7 episodes, 2005-2007)
Sarah Moyle	...	Kimberley (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Andrew Buckley	...	Gobbler (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jamie Chapman	...	Brains (6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Runtime:

30 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 (season 1) | UK:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (season 2)

Filming Locations:

New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Damon Beesley and Iain Morris are the names of two real British producers, both of whom worked on projects such as Jimmy Carr: Stand Up (2005) (V).

Quotes:

Maggie Jacobs: [trying to persuade Andy to ask Ross Kemp for a line] Just talk to him. Tell him you loved him in Eastenders, Ultimate Force, Spandau Ballet...
Andy Millman: He wasn't in Spandau Ballet. You're thinking of Martin Kemp.
Maggie Jacobs: Aren't they brothers?
Andy Millman: In Spandau Ballet, it's Martin Kemp and Gary Kemp.
Maggie Jacobs: So who's this one?
Andy Millman: Ross Kemp.
Maggie Jacobs: Who's his brother?
Andy Millman: I... I don't know if he's got a brother.
Maggie Jacobs: Yes, he has. The bald one, looks just like him, works in the Queen Vic.
Andy Millman: Phil Mitchell?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ricky Gervais Meets... Larry David (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tea for the Tillerman

The Humor of Mean Hitting its Stride

The absolute hilarious look at show business as seen through the eyes of a couple of Waiting for Godot type scene extras. With each episode, Extras has gained momentum like a cartoon snowball.

You can call me crazy, but Ricky Gervais has merely channeled Carroll O'Connor's ghost, and made it his very own. The Gervais Merchant brand of humor likewise is more Norm Lear than anything else. We get the laughs from racial, ethnic, etc. punch-lined jokes because we are really laughing at the ignorance, insensitivity and gross stupidity of the joke teller, who is in the end, the ultimate joke. Every sacred cow topic or taboo joke in the book is conjured triumphantly on this show, and I sit and laugh I mean really laugh, right along with everyone else out there. Borat utilized the same principle. Unlike Borat however, Gervais and Merchant don't go overboard and falsely portray positive stereotypes. That lack of hypocrisy is what makes this show and The Office before it, far superior to Ali G, Borat and company. Make The Office and Extras a top priority in your viewing.