Extras - Series 2 - Complete (DVD)

...and Xmas Special. I've done Extras series 1. I've dried up on Gervais/Merchant sitcoms…that is until last Monday, when the 'critically acclaimed' second series of Extras arrived in our shop windows. Any good though? You bet!

Series one saw Gervais manage to get the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Patrick Stewart, Kate Winslet and of course Les Dennis to appear in a comedy about an television extra, Andy Millman (played by ...
...Thankfully the extras, on the Extras DVD, are plentiful. As with all Gervais' stuff, there's a 'making of' style documentary which includes interviews with a number of the big stars that appear. Of course outtakes are there, a short programme entitled "The Art Of Corpsing" which is a development from the outtakes where they discuss the problem of when they start laughing, and just can't stop. And finally "Taping Nigel II" - in ... more

Well…I've done The Office Series 1, 2 and Xmas Special. I've done Extras series 1. I've dried up on Gervais/Merchant sitcoms…that is until last Monday, when the 'critically acclaimed' second series of Extras arrived in our shop windows. Any good though? You bet!

Series one saw Gervais manage to get the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Patrick Stewart, Kate Winslet and of course Les Dennis to appear in a comedy about an television extra, Andy Millman (played by Gervais) who's a desperate man, doing whatever it takes to get himself noticed. At the end of the series, he'd successfully written a script about a workplace with an annoying boss (yes…the link with the Office is apparent) that the BBC had commissioned. Now we needed to know whether or not it would be any good…

With things looking to be on the up, they're instantly brought down to earth in the first episode when the BBC opt to rip it apart and make it into the sitcom he wished to steer clear off - catchphrases, a live audience, silly wigs…all a bit "Carry On…" really. From then on Millman is doing what he must to claw back any pride and self-respect he had. The critics tear apart the sitcom, entitled "When The Whistle Blows", although with it being on primetime on BBC 1, it gets the viewing figures to stay on air…much to Millman's annoyance.

So then…In episode one, we see how the BBC have opted to change Millman's script, and although the live audience appear to love it, Millman feels he's sold out. Keith Chegwin appears in the sitcom and with full respect to him, makes an absolute fool of himself, especially when asking if the BBC is still run by "Jews and Queers"! Of course, just when you thought international-superstar Keith Chegwin was enough of a celebrity in the first episode, Orlando Bloom appears in a film that Maggie (yes, Maggie of series 1 fame) is acting as an extra in. The irony being that Bloom does his upmost to invite Maggie out for a drink, yet she refuses, despite her known 'lust' for men!

When the feedback from "When The Whistle Blows" arrives in episode two, it's labelled as simply 'appauling'. However, Andy's getting noticed in the streets and in the pub…however this begins to annoy him after getting constantly asked for the catchphrase - "Are you having a laugh?!" - so after the advice from Barry from Eastenders, he goes to a trendy wine bar, where he's briefly treated as a VIP, until David Bowie turns up. After chatting to him momentarily, Bowie bursts into song, ripping in Andy with the whole bar singing along. A bit of comedy gold for those that have watched it!

In episode three, Andy gets his chance to appear in a film, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Dame Diana Rigg. Here Radcliffe is made to seem like a sex-craved teenager, constantly chatting-up Maggie. Well, I say 'chatting-up'…he fails miserably. During the filming, Andy takes Maggie out for a meal, where he accidentally offends a mother and her disabled son. This, of course, results in an uproar from the British tabloids meaning Andy must eventually grovel to quell the outrage. Of course, that's not the end of it after he inadvertantly knocks out dwarf actor Warwick Davies during filming, and of course he receives further embarrassment from the press.

Episode four, my personal favourite, stars a large entourage of British stars, something that's nice to see in the ever increasing mass-American-sitcom-syndrome we seem to be suffering here in the UK. Chris Martin starts things off with an absolutely hilarious bit about an appeal for clean drinking water. Andy having just done his bit looks on in amazement as Martin rips apart the set, what's being talked about - "Can we get on with it please. I've gotta do AIDS, Alzeimer's and Landmines today and I wanna get back for Deal or No Deal. Besides Gwyneth's cooking drumsticks." - genius!

After that, Millman discovers he's been nominated for a BAFTA for best comedy performance. At the ceremony, TV stars such as Richard Briers, Stephen Fry and Ronnie Corbert all make appearances…Ronnie Corbert of course getting caught doing cocaine in the toilets!! Trust me, watch it, it's pure genius. Credit to Corbert and Martin for doing their parts…it's amazing what Gervais can get people to do.

Episode five features the great Sir Ian McKellen as a director in a new play that Andy has managed to get a leading role in, after opting to try his hand at theatre, just to gain some respect his the critics. Unknown to him until it's too late, he has to be part of a homosexual relationship in the play, much to his annoyance…so far that during the first night, he walks off half way through, feeling rather uncomfortable.

And finally, episode six, where they save the biggest star until last. It begins with Andy chatting to Jonathan Ross on his Friday night chat show along with Robert Lindsay. After becoming quite 'pally' with Ross, it becomes clear that he's spending less and less time with Maggie. Although they go and see a young fan of "When The Whistle Blows" in hospital, that's pretty much all he sees of her…he suddenly realises this when it seems too late…he's on his way to a meeting with, of all the people Gervais could get hold of, Robert De Niro! Millman decides to head to the hospital, and fails to show for his meeting.

Now, those that have watched this may have noticed I've totally avoided speaking about one character….Darren Lamb, Andy's agent. Played by Stephen Merchant, in this series he features far much more than in series 1, the same can be said about Barry from Eastenders. Merchant's performance is genius, side-splitting comedy, and often takes the limelight away from Gervais. He did of course win an acting award for his role…beating Gervais in the nominations funnily enough. Some genius parts include a chat with Warwick Davies, (now bare in mind that Warwick is about 4 foot tall, and Stephen about 6 foot 7!) a dinner date with Maggie that includes a 'blocked toilet', his arrival at the BAFTA's and him introducing a "Ray doll" to Andy (Ray being Andy's character's name in When The Whistle Blows), and the meeting with De Niro, and his constant smile. Funny? That's not even half as close as what he is!

Thankfully the extras, on the Extras DVD, are plentiful. As with all Gervais' stuff, there's a 'making of' style documentary which includes interviews with a number of the big stars that appear. Of course outtakes are there, a short programme entitled "The Art Of Corpsing" which is a development from the outtakes where they discuss the problem of when they start laughing, and just can't stop. And finally "Taping Nigel II" - in series 1 they included a programme on Gervais basically picking on the Editor Nigel. This time around, things have gotten a lot worse for Nigel!

You can pick the two-disc DVD up on Amazon for around £14. I got mine from Tesco's yesterday for the exact same price. If you ask me, that's an absolute steal for what is genius comedy!

After the first series, many people said Extras was 'good' but certainly not as good as The Office…after series two though many people may be saying the opposite - The Office was good, but this is great. I love it. Will Gervais and Merchant do anymore? Will they just produce a final 'one-off' show like they did with the Office? Who knows, but surely, after this great outing, they can't just leave it at that?!
 

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