Product Details

• Actors: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: Unknown
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 9, 2007
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000JJ4DDM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,590 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Extras - The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After the British series of The Office came to an end, co-creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant were faced with an enviable problem: After making the most influential and acclaimed sitcom of the past decade, what do you do next? Amazingly, they've actually created an equally brilliant show: Extras, in which Gervais plays Andy Millman, an frustrated actor who can only get work as a "background artist"--i.e., an extra. Not only does the role continue to mine Gervais' gift for self-humiliation (which, staggeringly enough, may be even more excruciating than his David Brent's behavior in The Office, because Andy is more socially capable yet still can't avoid moments of jaw-dropping embarrassment), but Gervais has also persuaded a glorious variety of stars to tweak their own images. High points include Kate Winslet (Sense & Sensibility) teaching Andy's best friend Maggie (Ashley Jensen, Ugly Betty) how to talk dirty and Patrick Stewart (X-Men) describing his new screenplay about a man who uses psychic powers to remove women's clothing. But Ben Stiller, Samuel L. Jackson, Ross Kemp (sort of the British version of Michael Chiklis), and Les Dennis (sort of the British version of...well, there may not be an American version of Les Dennis) all also turn in deliciously ego-bursting turns. Merchant plays Andy's deliriously dense agent, but the core of the show is the relationship between Andy and Maggie. Over the course of six episodes, the interplay between this hapless, starry-eyed pair grows into a wonderfully tender portrait of friendship that perfectly balances the show's so-funny-it-hurts humor. The extras are few but worth watching: Along with a behind-the-scenes featurette, genuinely funny deleted scenes, and the usual clips of everyone forgetting their lines and swearing, there's a very funny sequence of Gervais and Merchant desperately trying to replace Jude Law (who had to drop out of an episode) with Leonardo DiCaprio. All in all, Extras: The Complete First Season is essential viewing. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Meet Andy Millman, Actor. Never forgets his lines because he never gets any. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is a desperate man. He's been an actor for five years but thanks to his useless agent (Stephen Merchant), he?s never done any real acting. Instead, he?s a lowly film extra, making his mark in the background while the stars do their work. His partner in arms is the pitiable Maggie, a fellow extra and a hopeless romantic. Andy may be an extra, but he?s a star in his own right. Too bad nobody else agrees.

DVD Features:
Deleted Scenes:Never-before-seen deleted scenes featuring Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Stewart. Over 20 minutes of exclusive outtakes.
Other:"The Difficult Second Album" behind-the-scenes featurette. "Finding Leo" -- Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant?s desperate attempt to secure a guest appearance by one of Hollywood?s top celebrity?s.
Deleted Scenes
Featurette:The Difficult Second Album- Behind the scenes of EXTRAS Finding Leo- featurette
Outtakes

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 88 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Who are these British 'celebs'? October 27, 2006

By Trevor Hirst

Format:DVD

Well, let me help you out! As a British ex-pat living in the USA perhaps I can shed some light on who these "famous" people are:

Ep. 3 Ross Kemp: A former regular cast member of BBC soap "Eastenders", he played tough-thug-with a-heart-of-gold Grant Mitchell ('e loved 'is Mum, 'e did!) for many years, then went on to front a TV show about fishing. Hmm.

Ep. 3 Shaun Williamson: Another Eastenders regular, he played failed son of a second-hand car dealer Barry Evans, who (in the show) married Natalie, who had an affair with Ricky, who was married to Samantha Mitchell (Grant's sister). Oh, and Barry's father was married to Ricky's mother, Pat. It's all true!!

Ep. 3 Vinnie Jones: Actually you may have heard of him - he was recently seen in X-Men 3: The Last Stand as Juggernaut. He was also in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (debt collecting) and Swordfish (random thug). In the UK however, Jones is best known for playing football (sorry, Soccer...) for Wimbledon and grabbing fellow UK football star Paul Gascoigne by the scrotum during a game (all true and caught on film). I realize it may be confusing for those who associate Wimbledon only with Tennis, but the place is well known for its (now defunct) football team and Wombles (but that is another tale for another day).

Ep. 5 Les Dennis: Les came to the public eye as part of a comedy/impersonations duo with Dustin Gee on Russ Abbott's Mad House (old-fashioned British humor from the eighties, say no more), which led to their own show "The Laughter Show". Their best known skit featured impersonations of Vera Duckworth (Gee) and Mavis Riley (Dennis) from UK soap Coronation Street.... The Mavis Riley character was known for being wimpy, downtrodden and indecisive, hence Dennis's (over)use of the phrase, "I don't really know!"
Dennis's more recent role was that of host of Family Fortunes (the UK version of Family Feud) which spawned his famous catchphrase, "If it's up there I'll give you the money myself", when contestants came out with particularly stupid answers. Both of these catchphrases feature in the Extras episode, hence the long and boring explanation.

I hope that shed some light on things. Episode numbers are per HBO screening. Fortunately there are fewer UK celebs in Season One than in Season Two! Read more ›

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as enjoyable as The Office November 1, 2006

By wendy sullivan

Format:DVD

As a huge fan of The Office, which I think is one of the best sitcoms ever, I was anxiously anticipating Extras by the brilliant Ricky Gervais.

Extras follows Andy Millman who earns a living as a "background artist" in film and television. Andy wants to break out into bigger and better parts but first needs to at least get one line in a feature that won't end up on the cutting room floor. Andy's best friend Maggie, played by the adorable Ashley Jensen shares Andy's dream but is also in search of a relationship she can maintain past the two week mark.

Gervais' underacheiving Andy is not a cringe-worthy David Brent knock off but a multi-dimensional character whose struggles are shared by the audiance albeit in a unique field. Each episode features a relatively big named star such as Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, Samual L Jackson and Patrick Stewart, though some stars such as Les Dennis and Vinny Jones are less well known here in the United States, though we get the general idea, Andy wants a speaking part and tries to befriend each of the stars in order to snag a speaking part.

Andy, pretending to be catholic, or "the "C" word" as he calls it and claiming that Michael Flatly was his childhood priest certainly remind us of David Brent but moments such as keeping suicidal Les Dennis company for the night or taking a more pathetic and desparate extra to dinner show Andy isn't quite the narcissist Brent was. Watching highly acclaimed and well respected actress Kate Winslet offer phone sex suggestions to Maggie is one of the most hilarious moments in television.... Ben Stiller as a control freak threatening to shoot a childs mother in order for the child to act better and Samual L Jackson putting up with Maggie calling Louis Armstrong Sasquatch are refreshing and original compared to most watered down sitcoms. Read more ›

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious January 26, 2007

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

For those of you familiar with Ricky Gervais, the man behind the original and best BBC Office, Extras is a real treat. For those of you unfamiliar with Gervais, Extras may take some time getting into, but once you do, you'll find a rewarding and comedic experience. Gervais plays Andy, a bit actor who desperately wants to make the big time. His partner throughout most of his antics is Maggie (Ashley Jenson), whose acting troubles are overshadowed even more by her man troubles. Andy's woes are only exasperated by his useless agent (Stephen Merchant), who seems to be doing Andy's would-be career more harm than good. The real highlight of Extras besides the excellent Gervais is the celebrity guest spots playing themselves on every episode that are brilliantly done. Ben Stiller is a scream, as is Samuel L. Jackson, while Patrick Stewart is laugh out loud hilarious as he tells Andy of his plans of writing a screenplay where he has mental powers and women have no clothing. It's Kate Winslet though that will leave you doubling over in laughter, as she attempts to help Maggie in the "talking dirty" department. Though it's only six episodes long, the first season of Extras is superb hilarity all the way, and this DVD set deserves to be picked up by fans of Gervais old and new.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The triumphant return of Gervais and Merchant... January 15, 2007

By Brian J. Sleeman

Format:DVD

You're most likely reading this if you're a fan of Gervais & Merchant from "The Office," the podcast, or the old XFM shows. Whatever your background of familiarity with these guys, "the difficult second album" as Gervais refers to it is quite a follow-up.

Ricky plays Andy Millman, a deeper character and one tougher to play than the hilariously obnoxious and uncomfortable David Brent. Never an actor before "The Office," Ricky is given more range and more of a challenge and proves he's up to the task. The bonus here is that Stephen Merchant gets a lot more screen time (and even more in season two) as the ridiculous non-agent Darren Lamb. Fans of Merchant from the old radio shows and podcast will certainly enjoy his greater participation.

Rather than blather on about how original, creative, and brilliant this series is (see everyone else's review for that), I'll clue you in on the special features.

OUT-TAKES: Thankfully, Gervais and Merchant have always been generous in their inclusion of their mis-steps and "behind the scenes" views of their work in "The Office," and that trend continues here. Try not to hurt yourself watching all of the takes of Ricky in the "You're aware that I'm gay" confrontation with the BBC producer from the last episode of series one. Or the multiple, failed renditions of "Mustang Sally" featuring "Barry off 'EastEnders'" with Stephen Merchant on backing vocals. It's absolutely hilarious stuff along the lines of Ricky's 70 takes with Martin Freeman trying to get through his staff appraisal in "The Office" (you remember, "the hot seat").... And it all proves once again that Ricky - though challenged by a more difficult acting role - has thankfully not become too serious a thespian that he cannot laugh at himself and continually probe his coworkers into fits of laughter as well.

FINDING LEO: This won't get many repeat viewings, but it's good for its "behind the scenes" look at Ricky and Stephen scrambling to fill a vacancy in the show late into the night by contacting several people in failed attempts to line Leonardo DiCaprio up for a role on the show.

TAPING NIGEL: You've probably seen this before if you've watched the special features on "The Office" DVD's: Ricky enjoys his 5-minute attention span by tying up the show's editor, Nigel, and performing his own "Project Runway" costume experiments on him. It seems when Karl Pilkington is unavailable, Ricky makes Nigel the guinea pig.

THE DIFFICULT SECOND ALBUM: An interesting look at the making of the series, mostly about how impressed Ricky and Stephen were with how well the A-listers they brought in for the series performed. Again, it won't get as many repeat viewings as the outtakes, but good stuff nonetheless. Read more ›