Writers & Directors: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant
Cast: Ricky Gervais (Andy Millman), Ashley Jensen (Maggie), Stephen Merchant (Darren Lamb), Clive Owen (Himself), David Tennant (Himself), Nicola Redmond (Journalist), George Michael (Himself), Gordon Ramsay (Himself), Nicola Redmond (Journalist), Steve Brody (Estate Agent), Claudia Sermbezis (Wren), Stuart McQuarrie (Shop Manager), Ben Willbond (Film Director), Toby Foster (Journalist), Toby Foster (Northern Comic), Shaun Williamson (Barry), Ben Willbond (Floor Manager), Shaun Pye (Greg), Guy Henry (Iain Morris), Liza Tarbuck (Rita), Sarah Moyle (Kimberley), Jamie Chapman (Brains), Andrew Buckley (Gobbler), Gerard Kelly (Bunny), Adam James (Tre Cooper), Suzy Sharp-Kane (Amy), Gareth Hale (Himself), Norman Pace (Himself), Lionel Blair (Himself), Dean Gaffney (Himself), June Sarpong (Herself), Lisa-Scott Lee (Herself), Chico (Himself), Jonathan Ross (Himself), Vernon Kay (Himself), Scott Baker (Paparazzi), Jason Barnett (Doorman), Fergus Craig (Runner) & Dan Tetsell (Extra)
Andy's sitcom is now a huge success, but doesn't resemble his original idea, Maggie is still struggling as a lowly extra, and former-extra Greg's career is skyrocketing... which inspires Andy to make a decision...Like The Office before it, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's sophomore sitcom takes its bow after just two seasons and one Christmas special. And, while there is certainly more mileage left in their tale of a "background artiste" struggling to become rich and famous (whilst maintaining integrity), it's probably a wise decision. Certainly, this Christmas special doesn't have anything particularly fresh to say -- it just reiterates Extras' mission statement on a slightly grander scale.
Andy (Ricky Gervais) is still suffering through his catchphrase-based sitcom When The Whistle Blows, forced to don a curly wig and red spectacles to amuse the 7 million watching at home. But it seems the show is reaching its zenith, as the cash-in merchandise is struggling to sell and people are becoming fatigued with cries of "Are you 'avin' a laff?"
After a chance meeting with a high-flying agent, Andy parts company with his inept management, spearheaded by Darren Lamb (Stephen Merchant), in pursuit of the worthwhile projects that have alluded him thus far. It doesn't help his ego that snivveling former-extra Greg (Shaun Pye) has achieved such lofty aims already, getting rave reviews for his performance alongside Clive Owen in a biopic of Byron...
Maggie (Ashley Jensen) is still on the bottom rung of the showbiz ladder, forced to quit her job and become lonely cleaner, living in a one-room apartment. It's Maggie who begins to realize Andy has changed, as he's ignorant of her plight, condescending to his own sitcom's extras, and wrapped up in his own unimportant concerns.
The Extras special is essentially about Andy coming to realize that his true friends are more important than the shallow clique he's surrounded by, the famous idiots he tried to ingratiate himself with, and that everyday problems are more pressing than his vain quest for fame and fortune.
That it takes 80 minutes to make this statement is a self-indulgent, but this last episode takes great delight in its never-ending parade of celebrity cameos; from small walk-bys (Vernon Kay), amusing bit-parts (Hale and Pace), unnecessary fun (Gordon Ramsey), and the headlining appearances from George Michael (on the prowl for gay sex in a park) and Clive Owen (a chauvenist who won't lower himself to appear with Maggie in a bedroom scene.)
Truth be told, the celebrity appearances and blunter attempts at poking fun at the showbiz landscape are what keeps Extras bubbling along -- mainly because Andy himself has never been particularly engaging, Darren is pushed into the background far too much, and Maggie is often too simperingn for my taste. However, inbetween easy giggles like a Doctor Who parody (David Tennant versus Gervais' alien slug, there are a few near-classic moments: particularly the writers' famous brand of "cringe-comedy", when Andy fakes a phone call to Ridley Scott to impress a journalist, only to discover she knows Scott personally and wants to speak to him...
Despite being 30-minutes too long for is own good and a too reliant on its celebrity appearances, Extras does manage to go out on a poignant and emotional climax. Andy is later forced to accept his lot in life (as a C-list catchphrase-spouter) and sinks to an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother (alongside the likes of a constantly-dancing Lionel Blair and Lisa-Scott Lee from Steps). It's while in the house that he has an epiphany about celebrity culture and, via the medium of live TV, makes a connection to Maggie back at home.
Andy's heartfelt musings on fame suddenly make him hot property again after he walks out of Big Brother, but he decides to leave the dispiriting world of fame behind, and drive off to the airport with Maggie -- the only person whose approval really matters...
Overall, this is definitely one of Extras' best episodes, even if it's a little prolonged and the celebrity appearances always sound a little hollow -- probably because every one of them is written in the same disparaging, self-conscious tone. But they're still fun to watch, and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout. I particularly liked Andy's girdle-bursting movie audition, the Ridley Scott phone call, Darren working at Carphone Warehouse with Dean Gaffney post-dismissal, the Doctor Who spoof, the Big Brother moments, and the intentionally dumb-but-oddly-funny When The Whistle Blows segments.
Gervais does some of his better work in this episode, particularly with his all-important tear-jerking speech, Merchant is always good comedy value, Jensen is less irritating than she became in season 2, and you have to applaud the A, B, C and D-list celebs who were willing to send themselves up throughout. Even if their paid appearances go against the very point of the show.
This was a solid end to a funny, if slightly underachieving sitcom. It was definitely the best Christmas special of the season, and a return to form for Gervais after a backlash year of naff film cameos (Night At The Museum, Stardust), unfunny live TV gigs (the summer Princess Diana concert) and his omnipresence on chat shows to flog DVDs and Flanimals books.
27 December 2007
BBC1, 9.00 pm
