Extras - The Complete First Season (2007)

I just finished watching all six episodes of the first series of Extras. Being a big fan of The Office (the original, British version), I had high expectations for this 'difficult second album' as the DVD puts it, and I certinaly wasn't dissappointed. The cringe, unfunny yet funny humour from The Office was still here, and in some cases surpassed what The Office had to offer. After all, that was mostly set in a printing factor in Slough, unlike this, which goes all over the place, so there was a bigger variety of people to upset. Unlike The Office, it isn't filmed in a mockumentry style, it's more like a sitcom.

Each episode has the same basic layout. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is an extra, who in each episodes tries to get close to someone (such as the guest celebrity) to get a speaking line in the fictional set they're on, and it usually goes wrong. Meanwhile, his friend Maggie (Ashley Jenson) goes around on set looking for a man, or is invited somewhere by a friend, where she doesn't want to go. Eventually, Maggie and Andy usually go away at the end of each episode together, disappointed, humiliated, and kicked off the set. I like how the writers have showed a special bond between the two, which they probably don't realise is there, but I feel they may be a love item in the next series (which I'll be watching, and presumably reviewing, tomorrow).

The special guests are brilliant at portraying an overexaggerated twist on themselves, and they range from small, UK-based celebrities such as Ross Kemp, to the Hollywood A-list, such as Samuel L Jackson. Because of this, americans may get confused by all the references to the UK celebrities, and to shows such as Eastenders or Celebrity Big Brother. What is amazing is the way the celebrities ridicule themselves, such as Les Dennis. I've never seen anyone bash themselves so much before, especially on television. The DVD extras are funny too, such as the Searching for Leo and the Taping Nigel extras.

Extras is on-par, perhaps supassing The Office in terms of sheer satisfaction. I'll be bringing you a review of Extras Series 2 shortly, and sometime I'll review The Office.