Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant had a tough act to follow in TV comedy history after the monstrous success of The Office. What did they do? They did Extras, that's what they did, and it was genius.
By Ben Raworth
December 2009
The idea is simple: a comedy show following agroup of extras as they plug out a living in TV and theatre, always hoping for the big break, often disappointed and delusional. The execution was spot-on: for two series we watched as Andy Tillman went from being a nobody with no-lines to a cheesey comedy star with popular support, but critically loathed by the very people in the industry he wants to impress.
Not only was the show very, very funny, it also brought out the best in some unlikely names. Ross Kemp, Sir Ian McKellan, Kate Winslett, Les Dennis, Keith Chegwin, Orlando Bloom, Samuel L Jackson, Ronnie Corbett - all brought a level of humour and (for British viewers at least) an pathos unseen before. Many, many scenes stand out: Daniel Radcliffe accidentally flicking a condom onto the head of Diana Rigg; Richard Briers mocking Andy at the BAFTAS; Robert Lindsay incensed at not being recognised by a sick child as Citizen Smith . . . it goes on. Buy the DVDs: you won't be disappointed. Here are a few taster scenes until the Amazon box hits the floor.
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