EXTRAS
SERIES ONE

"But then I've seen everything"

Patrick Stewart

Episode 1: Ben Stiller
Andy Millman (Gervais) takes a part as an extra on a movie about the Balkans conflict that Ben Stiller is directing. As Andy attempts to win himself a speaking role by befriending Goran, the Croatian man whose story is being told, he is drawn into the friction between Stiller and Goran and must eventually choose between defending his new friend at the expense of his career or putting possible success ahead of his conscience.

Episode 2: Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp is keen to convince Andy that his hardman image on TV, is also true in reality. Andy isn't convinced, especially when Ross is confronted by Vinnie Jones.

Episode 3: Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet hopes her role as a nun in a Nazi film drama, will guarantee her an Oscar. However, her meeting with Andy leads in into a very embarrassing situation. That's not the only embarrassing situation Andy finds himself in, a 'date' with a fellow extra doesn't quite turn out as expected.

Episode 4: Les Dennis
Due to Christopher Biggins being (surprisingly) unavailable, Andy gets a break when he lands the part of the Genie in Aladdin alongside, Les Dennis.

Episode 5: Samuel L. Jackson
Andy is trying to avoid a fellow extra who is very dull. When the extra helps to get Andy a line of dialogue, Andy tells him he owes him one. The extra suggests that he should go out for a meal with him to return the favour. In the meantime, Maggie is going out of her way to show she isn't racist, whilst on a date with a black actor.

Episode 6: Patrick Stewart
Andy gives Patrick Stewart a script for a comedy he has written. Stewart is able to "make it so" and the BBC becomes interested, asking Andy to work on a pilot. However, problems set in when Andy meets the script editor; an outrageously camp man. The BBC comedy chief is gay too. Then there's Maggie...

Collaborators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant had a monster hit with 'The Office' but after that show ended the pair was faced the daunting prospect of following up that series. Like any director, film star or musician who strikes it big at the first attempt, they are inevitably judged on their second film or album, for Gervais and Merchant this would be the same. The good news is that 'Extras' proves that they are not just a one hit wonder.

With all the critical acclaim that the pair gathered for 'The Office', this made them well known not just here in the UK but in that all-important American market and this meant Hollywood took notice. When they announced that the new series would be about movie/TV extras, Gervais and Merchant now know that they had the clout to ask some of Hollywood's major players to be involved and they did. Major stars Patrick Stewart, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Stiller joined homegrown actors Ross Kemp and Les Dennis to produce another classic series.

The stars however play only supporting roles to the two main players, the extras themselves Andy Millman and Maggie Jacobs. Played by Ricky Gervais and Ashley Jensen, these two are actors who are longing for just a line, a speaking role that might just get them noticed. Treated as the lowest on the acting ladder, the extras are thespians in waiting but some have been waiting a lot longer than others. Andy and Maggie are prime examples but they still hope that stardom is around the corner.

Just like the Office, this is cringe comedy as both Andy and especially Maggie continue to put their feet clearly in their mouths. You end up laughing when you really shouldn't be, as the 'Extras' don't shy away from any discussion whether it be sexist, racist or down right crude but it is when they get overheard or they say something they shouldn't when you laugh and can't help doing so. You cringe as everything goes wrong but these are just normal people who you can't help but like, even if you don't agree with some of the things they are saying or doing. This comes from both the skill of the writing and the expertise of the two principles involved.

'Extras' is intelligently written, superbly acted and contagiously funny proving that Gervais and Merchant are not one-hit wonders. The big stars are amazing sports, allowing the scripts to really make fun of Hollywood personas but it is the extras themselves who are the stars. This is another classic in the making if the first season is anything to go by.