Extras (http://www.rickygervais.com/extras.php) Don't forget extras starts tonight on BBC2 i'm really looking forwards to seeing Ricky Gervais new series.

Reviews later tonight i guess.

The previews dont rate it.

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
The previews dont rate it. funny Ricky Gervais was on Richard and Judy yesterday and he said the previews were positive and that he's waiting for the backlash to begin.

The previews say its a follow on from The Office, the same type of people just as extras in a studio and as this time there are star guests, different one each week so there is no continuity and the characters dont develop.

In saying that I will not avoid it, but, as in The Office, it did appear to run out of steam, and if this is the same characters in different guises and different settings it starts off on the wrong foot. I will watch it if I am at home.

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
The previews say its a follow on from The Office, the same type of people just as extras in a studio and as this time there are star guests, different one each week so there is no continuity and the characters dont develop.

In saying that I will not avoid it, but, as in The Office, it did appear to run out of steam, and if this is the same characters in different guises and different settings it starts off on the wrong foot. I will watch it if I am at home.

Completley disagree - i thought The Office was GREAT right until the end! it was only 2 series long!!!! (erm we'll forget about the xmas special *cough*)

If Extras is duff I think Ricky Gervais can be forgiven one duff series.

Watched the Red Nose day episode of The Office last night on UK TV Gold and it's startling to see again how vicious some of the humour was.

The way the camera stays with a scene until it becomes uncomfortable and we begin to feel like the unwilling co-workers. Take the scene where the obnoxious sales rep pretends to be having sex. It just goes on and on and he becomes more and more repulsive. A quicker cut would have gone for the laugh and moved on but the direction reveals more of the unpleasant character by lingering.

Looking forward to be entertained and challenged by Extras.

Ricky Gervais, then Catherine Tate, then Stephen Fry?! Oh BBC2, with this new schedule you're really spoiling us!!!

i thought The Office was brilliant. I didn't think it ran out ofsteam at all and the Xmas special was fantastic - it just tied up all the loose ends. I'm happy that despite being offered shed loads of cash to do a third series Ricky Grevais refused wanting to leave it on a high rather than drag it all out for the money.

I've heard bad reports about Extras too but maybe they just want to slate him because everything else he's done has been brilliant. I'll watch it and make up my own mind i think.

Ben Stiller is in the first one i believe ?

Originally posted by Lee1979
i

Ben Stiller is in the first one i believe ?

Correct! Cant wait myself.

My only problem is that everything he does is David Brent. Even his stand up shows i just see David Brent. Even tonight i'm sure i'm going to see David Brent as an extra!!

I think he should just have a series called 'David Brent does'. He'd be a classic!

Originally posted by youwhatref
Correct! Cant wait myself.

My only problem is that everything he does is David Brent. Even his stand up shows i just see David Brent. Even tonight i'm sure i'm going to see David Brent as an extra!!

I think he should just have a series called 'David Brent does'. He'd be a classic!

really? i don't have that problem. i think he's trying to get away from David Brent now. did you see Live 8 when he was forced to do the dance ? brilliant !!

i didn't like politics at all though - just couldn't get into it. thought animals was fab !

Only one hour to go, hurrah!!! :clap: :banana: :clap: :banana: :clap:

Originally posted by KookyKoo
Only one hour to go, hurrah!!! :clap: :banana: :clap: :banana: :clap: You will miss 7 mins of it if you watch it in an hour :hihi:

hehehe ok an hour ish to go!!! :hihi:

Right! I'm off to make a cup of coffee and make myself comfortable!!:thumbsup:

:confused: i'm not too sure what to make of what i've just seen...i hope it gets better :rolleyes:

Thought Ben Stiller was good.

that was pretty darn awful.

I fell asleep watching it - did I miss anything???

In the old days, so I have been told, comedians used to get cheap laughs from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Perhaps someone should have told Ricky Gervais.

Extras! I will tell you this, I for one will be spending time next Thursday spending extra time watching anything apart from this sick and childish rubbish.

I will still be watching it. Thought it was ok so will give it chance to improve. Although different altogether i thought the first Doctor Who was pants which then improved greatly.

I laughed a couple of times and Ricky/Steven still go for the humour from uncomfortable situations. Also was partly glad to see that his new role was not identical to Brent.

6/10 for me and fingers crossed for next week. I had a similar feeling when watching Max & Paddy after Phoenix Nights.

Thought it was a load of rubbish.

If his name was not Ricky Gervais and had The Office not bben a hat, would Extras ever have been made? I think not.

hmmm not sure what to make of it
will watch again next week

I thought it was good, not excellent but good- also thought Ben Stiller was v funny, possibly the funniest bit of last night's show. But I will stick with it. I think maybe expectations are very high after the Office and I'm secretly still disappointed the Office is over, but I do love Ricky Gervais' humour so I will give Extras a chance.

Hmmmmmm . . . . . What the heck was all that about then! I kept hoping it would get better, it promised so much . . . The thing is - it just wasn't funny. I hope next week it actually has some comedy in it.

Very, very disappointing.

I thought it was good, slightly like the Office in it's deadpan style but Ricky's character was slightly more subdued than Brent. Stiller seemed a good sport playing himself up like that, well unless he truly is a self loving prat which seems unlikely on the face of it, who knows.

I missed the second episode!! :mad: Did i miss anything?

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
In the old days, so I have been told, comedians used to get cheap laughs from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Perhaps someone should have told Ricky Gervais.

Extras! I will tell you this, I for one will be spending time next Thursday spending extra time watching anything apart from this sick and childish rubbish.

The laugh wasn't at the expense of the guy with the disability though - it was at the 'able bodied' actress for stuffing up her own evening through her prejudice about his disability.

I missed the second episode!! Did i miss anything?

Ross Kemp & Vinnie Jones sending up themselves (& their stereotypical characters/media images). I'm enjoying the series so far, personally. It's not laugh out loud so much as cringeworthily & painfully funny. Watching the more 'successful' actor making Gervais's character ("You've not even been in The Bill!) twist & turn & finally admit he'd not had any real acting roles started off as amusing as he exaggerated. Then it got nasty as he watched his own self image/ success being diminished infront of the other 'extras' as well being forced to admit he was a failure.

There seems to be a theme with Ricky Gervais about not taking yourself too seriously & the urine to be extracted from those who do. Almost as if he's been very close to the mark on that one - or maybe that's me thinking too much.

Originally posted by Siân

Ross Kemp & Vinnie Jones sending up themselves (& their stereotypical characters/media images). I'm enjoying the series so far, personally. It's not laugh out loud so much as cringeworthily & painfully funny. Watching the more 'successful' actor making Gervais's character ("You've not even been in The Bill!) twist & turn & finally admit he'd not had any real acting roles started off as amusing as he exaggerated. Then it got nasty as he watched his own self image/ success being diminished infront of the other 'extras' as well being forced to admit he was a failure.

There seems to be a theme with Ricky Gervais about not taking yourself too seriously & the urine to be extracted from those who do. Almost as if he's been very close to the mark on that one - or maybe that's me thinking too much.

Thanks Sian. Does anyone know if this gets repeated?

From the previews and reviews the critics are panning it. I have to agree with them. I was forced to sit thru the second episode as my wife wished to see it, thinking it could get no worse than the previous week. How wrong she was. It couldn't engage her for the full 30 minutes.

I have read that it is has not gone down too well with the viewing audience and some media journalists suggest it should be pulled as it is doing Ricky Gervais' career no good at all.

To each his/her own. Its certainly below my expectations after 'The Office'.

Must be dificult though to follow something so successful. Itwill never be as good as comparisons will always be made. And if it was then I suppose it would have to be like The Office, which he would also be criticised for.

I missed the first half this week. But the bits I saw I thought were quite funny, especially the very end with Les Dennis in bed. Ho ho.

What did anyone else think? And was the 1st half any good? And is it repeated?

I've really enjoyed the series so far.

Last night's was the best episode. It was strange watching Les Dennis talk about his breakdown, it was something that happened, yet here he was "playing" himself making light of it.

Originally posted by Dug

Last night's was the best episode.

Absolutely!

Top marks to the series so far.
How they got Ross Kemp and Les Dennis to do those roles is beyond me.

I love Maggie Jacobs by the way. Actually in love.

I criticised the first episode of Extras but I've kept watching and it's amused me.

The Les Dennis episode the other evening was toe-curling, but still very funny.

Was Les brave to portray himself in the way he did, or conned into it, because it would guarantee a bit of prime-time?

Let's face it, recently his phone must have been decidedly tepid.

The scene at the danger girl's birthday party (with her friends!) was hilarious.

the birthday party bit was PAINFUL to watch!!! .:blush: On the whole am enjoying it, although the first episode wasn't that amazing. Plus guest stars tend to do well on Celebdaq the week they are in.:clap:

Catherine Tate's new series I am finding quite patchy. Some of the characters are getting tired. Absolute Power had one duff episode the other week but generally it's really good.

Despite their flaws though the three together are a good Thursday night's watching.

Originally posted by dishwasher
Was Les brave to portray himself in the way he did, or conned into it, because it would guarantee a bit of prime-time

Taken from in interview in Heat magazine:

Les: When Ricky said they'd like to write a story based on me, I was thrilled, and then he asked, 'How far can we go?' and I just said - 'As far as you want'

From BBC website:

Only Ricky Gervais could have got me to do what I did... you'll know what I mean when you see it! Ricky and Stephen were great fun to work with - Extras was one of the most joyous working experiences I have had in my career.

Originally posted by rad6380
the birthday party bit was PAINFUL to watch!!! .:blush:

Tonight's episode was hilarious. Really enjoying this series.

The whole racist thing was painful, excruciating, (I hid behind my hands at one point), then... it drew it out even more!

My god that is genius comedy.

I never thought he could escape David Brent (I have seen his live shows and couldn't help seeing him as Brent), but with this series he has.

Tell you what, give me a budget, give me a camera crew, give me half hour slot on BBC and i'll make something funny. Its the lowest form of entertainment I have seen on television for years.

I can take mick out of disability and race, but then I'd be reported.

Sorry I, and many of my colleagues, think its rubbish. Sooner it ends the better.

Yes, and incidently, we have watched every episode for research purposes.

was good last nite - tis the first one ive watched.

i know everybodys saying it but it still aint as good as the office!!

Originally posted by Deavon
Tonight's episode was hilarious. Really enjoying this series.

The whole racist thing was painful, excruciating, (I hid behind my hands at one point), then... it drew it out even more!

My god that is genius comedy.

I have to agree with you there - the stuff with the gollywog was funny but the following scene with Samuel L Jackson was sheer brilliance. Fabulously toe curling.

BoppingBruce if you think it's taking the mick out of race & disability you are missing the point so I guess you wouldn't find it at all funny.

the bit where she tells the black guy about possible acting work he could get was hilarious!

dont know that woman who is in every episode but she is so funny and plays `stupid' better than anyone :)

From the official website:

Maggie Jacobs (Ashley Jensen)
Maggie is an extra and seems a lot more content to be one than her friend Andy Millman. She's a simple, uncomplicated soul and doesn't long to be a proper actor. Whilst on the set of a production, she'll use any free time there might be to check out potential boyfriend material.

Ricky and Stephen spent ages casting the role of Maggie and, before giving the part to Ashley, she was called back no less than five times.Andy is usually on hand to vet her choices and to offer advice.

Maggie's failed relationships so far this series...

1. The Production Accountant (offended him with insensitive comments about his foot).
2. The fellow extra. Posh totty. We presume it just fizzled out after hitting the sack.
3. Props Man. He liked to talk dirty on the phone. He dumped her when he found out she'd told Kate Winslet.
4. Danny, a handsome the young actor. She scared him off with a 'I'm not a racist' speech.

Maggie doesn't have a love interest in episode four but we do discover she had been a child actor in a BBC drama called The Orphans of Penny Farthing Lane.

The Maggie ~ Andy Relationship
Stephen Merchant said, "Me and Ricky are very fond of Laurel and Hardy and Morecambe and Wise. We decided to incorporate that double-act thing into the show. Millman is Olly to Maggie's Stan, which gives Ricky the chance to play the straight guy for a change.

Really enjoyed last night's episode.

During the whole series it was interesting that he chose to highlight society's prejudices against marginalised groups, i.e. refugees, physically disabled, learning disabilities, ethic minorities and gay/lesbian.

Now that's out the way, let's get something on worth our licence fee.

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
Now that's out the way, let's get something on worth our licence fee.

err, what like "My Family" or something.

Anyway they have commissioned a second series, so you can look forward to that.:thumbsup:

Turn on the Sheffield tap and out comes a comedian.....I dont think. Typical Extras viewer

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
Turn on the Sheffield tap and out comes a comedian.....I dont think. Typical Extras viewer

Typical Extras viewer? What would one of those be then?

You obviously, no sense of homour

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
You obviously, no sense of homour

Thanks for the constructive comments to the thread.:loopy:

Read it thru, you will see I have posted before this

So what comedy do you like Boppin Bruce?

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
Turn on the Sheffield tap and out comes a comedian.....I dont think. Typical Extras viewer

Each to their own I suppose. You don't like the series and you don't get the humour. No need to chastise those of us who do.

Patrick Stewart was fantastic in the last episode. The way he did the 'Make it so' thing and took the micky out of himself and Star Trek fans in equal measure.

The 'too gay' thing was funny as well. He really knows how to portray uncomfortable situations to the maximum effect.

I love the very slowly developing romance.

Looking forward to the next series!