Customer Reviews

Extras: The Complete Second Season

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ricky Gervais actually managed to top himself with season one of "Extras," all about a struggling actor trying to catch a break.

Well, in the second season of "Extras," his character has finally gotten one. But obviously it's not smooth sailing for the stressed-out extras, who continue to stumble through odd jobs and exaggerated celebrities. It's full of hilarious spoofery of the entertainment biz, and is pretty much hysterical from start to finish.

In the opening episode, Andy (Gervais) has finally gotten his own sitcom, "When the Whistle Blows," and is over the moon. Problem is, the BBC decides to dumb it down and make him use funny costuming to achieve cheap laughs. As the season goes on, Andy struggles to keep "When the Whistle Blows" afloat and approved of, since the reviews are atrocious.

Meanwhile, Maggie (Ashley Jensen) has a tiny part in an absurd courtroom drama starring Orlando Bloom, and the arrogant Bloom starts pursuing her when she expresses a lack of interest. ("They're basically just doing it because you're famous." "Well, they're not just doing it because I'm famous -- no, it's my looks as well!"). When he's not making fun of Johnny Depp ("I've got scissors for hands!")


He and Maggie continue to tangle with a bunch of other celebs -- a sex-obsessed Daniel Radcliffe (who accidentally snaps a condom at Diana Rigg), Warwick Davis, a self-promoting Chris Martin, and Robert De Niro. He also gets mocked by David Bowie in a pub, and his sitcom is criticized by Stephen Fry. He even stars in a play directed by Ian McKellen, but neglects to notice that it's a gay romance with a man-man kiss.

It's sort of pleasant that Gervais didn't pound the "barely employed actor" thing to death after the first season of "Extras." Instead, he uses Andy's sitcom to open new storylines (and new disasters) for his increasingly embittered character, as he tries to straddle the fence between success and being a genuine actor.

Gervais continues to write wonderfully squirmy dialogue ("'TV bully kicks dwarf in face.'" "Accurate, but as you say there's no such thing as bad publicity") and horribly embarrassing situations. It's all filmed in a very natural style, except that now we have some looks inside Andy's sitcom, a sort of lowbrow, widely-watched comedy with a random celeb cameo.

Poor Andy has a rough time in this season, and so Gervais really brings out his frustration and dissatisfaction with the way his poor show has been mutilated. Not to mention his tendency to embarrass himself. And Jensen is wonderful as the sweet, flaky Maggue, while Stephen Merchant is great fun as Andy's inept agent.

But the best is the stuff uttered by the actors -- Radcliffe and Bloom are hysterical as clumsily woman-chasing, self-obsessed parodies of themselves, and it's hard not to adore them for it. Bowie's "pathetic little fat man/nobody's laughing" song is just hilarious. And McKellen steals the show, whether it's discussing his "method" ("How did I know what to say? They had my lines written down on a SCRIPT") or accidentally making it look like he and Andy had an intimate encounter.

"Extras: Season Two" is a solid follow-up to the outstanding first season, with our "extras" continuing to struggle in the surreal world of showbiz. Definitely worth seeing!

As the second season of Extras opens, it appears as if things may be looking up for struggling actor Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais). His sitcom, "When the Whistle Blows", is picked up by BBC with himself in a lead role. Problem is, BBC makes him water the show down so much that despite it's high ratings, it gets slaughtered in the review columns. The season mainly focuses on Andy's troubles with the show becoming a hit (including a hilarious satire on the paparazzi), while Maggie (Ashley Jensen) goes about her same routine of looking her love, and Andy's agent (Stephen Merchant) proves to be inept as ever, leading up to a decision from Andy in regards to their professional relationship. Like the first season, the second season of Extras has it's fair share of A-list guest stars that all leave their mark. Robert DeNiro, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellan, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Stephen Fry, and Warwick "Leprechaun" Davis all make the most of their time, but it's David Bowie and Harry Potter himself Daniel Radcliffe that will leave you in absolute hysterical joy. All in all, the second (and possibly final) season of Extras is another excellent comedic blast to come from Ricky Gervais, and if you've never seen this show, you have been sadly missing out.

Overall I was disappointed with this because the distinctive format from the first series has been morphed into something else entirely. In the first series, one famous person dominated and they either overdid their public image or played against it. This was especially powerful given how straight the other characters played alongside them, while still remaining funny themselves. When the famous person was absent, Gervais and Ashley Jensen's characters and performances were pitched just right to keep the laughs coming.

Admittedly, series 1 was so perfect it was always going to be difficult to follow, but the same team did it with The Office and I had high hopes here ... but when I saw who was appearing in the second season, alarm bells were ringing. Richard and Judy? Jonathan Ross?

Admittedly, Ross is pretty good, as are most of the 'celebs' who appear. And when they fail - like Orlando Bloom, it has more to do with the lines they are given rather than their performance.

The main problem is not with the performers, it's just that Extras now feels like just another 'celebrity' show - as if the main aim is to pile in as many celebs as possible and hope that the laughs will surely follow. Yes, there are still laughs here, but each episode is struggling for them rather than flowing as it did in the first season. Then it was either Ross Kemp's inflated macho man, Ben Stiller's deluded tyrant or Kate Winslet's kinky opportunist that held each episode together. Now things often feels forced, or messy (or both).

Another major reason for the decline is that the quality of the writing has dropped noticebly. An example being jokes about Ian McKellen and vaseline that felt as if it had been lifted straight out of a 'Carry On...' film (and Gervais hates Carry On films!). Ashley Jensen is sidelined too much and Stephen Merchant's insane character is brought more to the fore (although Merchant is still hilarious so this does have its plusses). And one episode features a very famous person whose name I won't reveal - but he was so criminally wasted it left me depressed!!!

That's the bad news. The good news is that this is still great stuff compared to any other recent comedy out there. If nothing else see it for Keith Chegwin's turn as a clueless actor, Ronnie Corbett as a notorious drug taker and David Bowie singing to Gervais that he is a 'fat waste of space.'

Fat he may be, but Gervais proves he still has plenty to offer - his acting is always spot on even when his writing is shakey. But on this evidence he should stay away from a 3rd series of Extras and employ his marvelous talents in another direction.

While Season 2 has many hilarious moments, the episodes start falling into a pattern. In each episode, Andy is humiliated and embarrassed by something said or done by Maggie or his agent. After a while this stops being funny and just starts being predictable and depressing. It gets to a point where one just can't sympathize with Andy anymore because he should have fired his agent long ago and should have learned to keep his mouth shut about sensitive issues with Maggie.

Also, a lot of jokes are disguised versions of previous Gervais jokes. For example, the joke about Sir Ian McKellan's character's method of acting is very similar in spirit to Keith Chegwin's confusion about acting (i.e., the distinction between acting and real life). Even Orlando Bloom's hilarious part has echoes of the scene where David Brent asks his employees how old he looks and cannot bring himself to accept their answer.

What is indeed interesting, and quite brilliant actually, is how the show-within-the-show parallels the show itself. For example, as Andy struggles with the sitcom status of When The Whistle Blows, Extras itself becomes a bit ludicrous and outlandish in its jokes and situations and more like a sitcom. In the show, Andy bemoans having to bring on Chris Martin as a celebrity guest, when this is exactly what's going in the real show, Extras. Very Charlie Kaufman-esque.

If you're a fan of British comedy, I would highly recommend this dvd. For fans of The Office and the first series of Extras, this is a must-have item. The second season of this show is similar to the second season of The Office. The stakes are raised, characters are placed in a variety of new situations and, of course, more uproarious hilarity ensues. This season heightens the best elements of the first series and expands upon them immensely.

Mr. Merchant and Mr. Gervais are comedic geniuses and have created some of the best television in years. Featuring special guest appearances by Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, Chris Martin and Ian McKellan. This show delivers some of the funniest moments comparable to the best of The Office. You'll be having a laugh with one of the best television programs of the year!

Much darker and not quite as tightly written or funny as season 1, but still more interesting and original than most things you'll find on TV.

Though I wish I had skipped the 29-minute extra called "Taping Nigel: The Gimpening." It's more than I needed or wanted to know about Gervais, who apparently has a bondage/bdsm fetish which he acts out upon film editor Nigel Williams who doesn't appear all that comfortable with the prospect...one can't help worrying that he puts up with being bound (by tape, etc) into also sorts of painful and humiliating positions simply because he's got bills to pay OR he is star struck. Then again, perhaps that's the point of this exercise: that people will allow themselves to be debased and abused just to be close to "stars." A little too weird for me.

Still love Ricky Gervais - I mean, the Bowie episode still has me in stitches - but I liked season 1 better. I missed seeing Maggie's believable stupidity in season 2. She barely had any acting of substance in this season. Either Gervais & Merchant did an "Andy Milman" in season 2 and compromised all over the place, or the writing really slipped. This season wasn't as smart as season 1.
BUT they redeemed themselves with the Extras Christmas special. Perfect ending! :)

I would rate this higher if I could. Season 2 is funnier than the first, which was funnier than The Office.
I watched this through the fingers of my hand like watching a horror movie. I couldn't watch, but couldn't look away either.
This is British humor (humour?) and has a few references to British TV personalities, but from the context the humor comes through. Lots of "big, big, big stars" (to quote the box) who play against type -- and sometimes /with/ type.
I wouldn't want to have Ricky Gervais as a next door neighbor but he's genuinely funny in selected small doses.

Couldn't wait, bought from AmazonUK, only problem didn't know about the region thing with DVDs, so my DVD player wouldn't play it, fortunately, the laptop will play it.

Anyways, best show ever, besides the Office (original) and Office (US). Come on, just one more season or a final special episode, please?

Amazing.

The thing I love about Extras is that it gives you the dose of cringe-worthy humour that The Office brought, but without recycling tired scenarios & using cliches or innuendo to get a laugh. Both of those things, I think, only insult the viewer.

Gervais' tongue-in-cheek look into the life of a struggling actor is a breath of fresh air. If you liked Season One, you'll LOVE season two.

My only complaint is that there wasn't nearly enough of Stephen Merchant. I think that man is a genius as a comic, and he has a way of simultaneously making you pity and hate him on screen. He's brilliant.