Extras (2005–2007)

Andy Millman is an actor with ambition and a script. Reduced to working as an extra with a useless agent, Andy's attempts to boost his career invariably end in failure and embarrassment.

Stars:

Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
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)

Storyline

Andy Millman is an actor with ambition and a script. Reduced to working as an extra with a useless agent, Andy's attempts to boost his career invariably end in failure and embarrassment.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | workplace | sitcom | double act | director | 

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Taglines:

Meet Andy Millman, actor. Never forgets his lines because he never gets any. (season 1)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk] British Sitcom Guide

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Statisti

Filming Locations:

High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 30 min (12 episodes) 84 min (1 Episode)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to scheduling problems, Samuel L. Jackson had to film his fifth episode scenes a month before the first episode began shooting.

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Quotes

Andy Millman: What's happening with my script?
Darren Lamb: What script?
Andy Millman: [rolls eyes] The script I gave you two months ago.
Darren Lamb: Is it funny?
Andy Millman: You haven't read it?
Darren Lamb: What's it called?
Andy Millman: "When the Whistle Blows".
Darren Lamb: [writing] "When the W Blows".
Andy Millman: Don't just write "W" you'll forget what the W stands for.
Darren Lamb: "When the Wind Blows".
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.147 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Tea for the Tillerman"
Written by Cat Stevens
Performed by Cat Stevens

User Reviews

Pure Comedic Gold from Ricky Gervaise

Every so often, England hits the comedic mark and creates a benchmark to which all else must aspire; Monthy Python, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses and, of course, the simply faultless "The Office". The writing team of Gervais and Merchant crafted in that series some of the most achingly funny and desperately well observed depictions of the human condition ever committed to film. "The Office" struck a particular chord with me because I have spent most of my adult life in sales and they nailed the highs and lows of that career brilliantly.

Moving on then to their new offering; "Extras", I am happy to report that the observational skills have not deserted them. This time the central character (Andy Millman) is again played by Ricky Gervais, only, unlike his David Brent character, Millman is astute, caring and worth the time of day. Unforutnately, like Brent, he is also trapped in a spiral of underachievement.

Andy Millman is an film extra, a background artiste, who aspires to a real acting role and the central theme of each episode is his quest for a "line" in each film in which he appears in the background. Along side him is his (seemingly) only friend, a frustrated thirty something woman, Maggie Jacobs (superbly played by Ashley Jensen), whose sole aim seems to be to find a husband / longterm partner. Add into this mix a chronically crap agent (Merchant himself), a nemesis in the shape of another extra who seems to be getting lines and a liberal sprinkling of cameoing "A" list guest stars and you have a wonderful platform on which to build a spankingly funny series.

And wow... do they hit a home run! Every second of each episode is deliciously funny and acutely observed. Highlights to look out for are the Ben Stiller/Dodgeball opening weekend grosses scene - the Golly scene in Maggie's apartment - the "Are you really a Catholic scene" and, above anything you will have ever seen in a TV comedy, the entire Les Dennis episode.

Les Dennis will be lost on Americans but for those of us who have followed his plunging career, you can only weep for this superbly written and judged performance. Pathos doesn't even begin to cover it.

Also, anyone who can look at Kate Winslet again without thinking of that "phone sex" scene is a better man than me.

Please, please, watch "Extras". It may, for some, be an acquired taste but once you have that taste, its like a piece of Swiss chocolate - exquisite.

And no laugh track either - yay England.