"Extras" The Extra Special Series Finale (2007)

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Directors:

Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant

Writers:

Ricky Gervais (written by) &
Stephen Merchant (written by)

TV Series:

"Extras" (2005)

Original Air Date:

16 December 2007 (Season 3, Episode 0)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Andy is unhappy with the fame he has achieved. When a new agent approaches him, Andy fires Darren and quits 'When The Whistle Blows'...

Plot Keywords:

Reference To Lindsay Lohan | Actor | Director | Sitcom | Workplace

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Ricky Gervais	...	Andy Millman
Ashley Jensen	...	Maggie Jacobs
Stephen Merchant	...	Darren Lamb
Shaun Williamson	...	Himself
Shaun Pye	...	Greg Lindley Jones
Clive Owen	...	Himself
George Michael	...	Himself
Gordon Ramsay	...	Himself
David Tennant	...	Himself
Gareth Hale	...	Himself
Norman Pace	...	Himself
Lionel Blair	...	Himself
Dean Gaffney	...	Himself
June Sarpong	...	Herself
Lisa Scott-Lee	...	Herself

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:TV-14

Quotes:

Greg Lindley Jones: I saw you was in Doctor Who as a slug. Very convincing.

Movie Connections:

References "EastEnders" (1985)

Finally Gervais isn't the one making the cameo!

Having been a fan of The Office and an underwhelmed viewer of the Extras series I approached this 'Special' with caution.

In this 90 minuter, Gervais battles with his ambition to create something admirable but struggles to overcome his urge for fame. Colliding with a host of superbly performed celeb cameos he finds himself free-falling into mediocrity and is forced to re-arrange his priorities.

This was a 'special', deserved of the title. Gervais rewarded viewers who stuck with him through the previous two series which gave us no plot, no story and over-reliance on star cameos. In Extras, Gervais ambition had always been to communicate his view on the TV and Film industry but, in the series, this message always became diluted.

In the 'Special' the cameos were used sparingly whilst that enforced awkward silence that usually accompanies his work was rarely used. It was out with the dead-air moments and in with themes and story. Gervais performed well, proving himself to be a capable actor at long last, with some excellent dramatic and emotional moments - his final speech particularly resounding, and yes, quite moving too.

What I like about Extras and this special episode is his emphatic case against lazy comedy and cheap gags. He subtly makes numerous digs to Catherine Tate and shows like Hardware.

Though they've taken their time, I believe Gervais and Merchant have finally made their point, or rather, protest against the fame factory. I strongly recommend this, not just as an excellently written comedy but as an engaging piece that examines celebrity culture. It's comedy with something a little extra. Yes, finally, Gervais isn't the one making the cameo!