TV Review: Extras (HBO/BBC)
Synopsis (some spoilers): Andy (Ricky Gervais) and Maggie (Ashley Jensen) are movie extras and best friends. They interact with several famous people whilst working on these movies. Andy aspires to be much more but his agent (Stephen Merchant) isn’t finding parts to suit him. Andy writes a script for a sitcom. The script eventually gets to the BBC who make it a series called “When the Whistle Blows”. Wanting to be successful, Andy compromises on some aspects of the show. It becomes nothing more than extremely broad jokes, funny wigs, and catchphrases. The show takes off to the tune of six million viewers. Andy is not pleased by his success because his audience is composed of kids and morons. Maggie remains a lowly extra while Andy’s notoriety grows. But Andy is torn by his desire to be rich and famous AND respected. In a series of increasingly jerk-ish moves, he fires his agent and begins to forsake Maggie’s friendship. He gets a new agent. Andy abruptly announces the end to his sitcom and alienates his fans. Andy goes six months without work while Maggie gets fed up with the shabby treatment she is receiving as an extra. Andy agrees to be on “Celebrity Big Brother” where he realizes the follies of fame and makes up with Maggie on the air. Andy’s agent tries use this speech as a launching pad for Andy’s career, but Andy decides that he would rather have nothing to do with showbiz and drives off with Maggie to someplace where no one knows him.
Thoughts to come….
