Extras -- are you 'avin a laugh?

Cafe Society
1

I was mostly disappointed with the first season of Extras, but this season I think that Ricky Gervais is getting back on his game.

Episode 2 (the Bowie episode) was quite a classic. It even brought in some of the pathos that made Gervais’ performance in the Office so good (e.g. when he getting ripped on by Bowie). He’s definitely back in the style of letting the camera linger a little too long on the scenes of great discomfort, and some of the exchanges with his agent have been funny.

This week’s episode was also strong. Mainly, I loved Harry Potter’s cameo. . .just horn-dogging on every woman, and waving the condom around, eventually to land on Diane Rigg’s head. The plotline with the kid with Down’s Syndrome was funny. I suppose he’s just doing more of what we saw on The Office with bits like that, but it’s still good.

Merchant has been great as his clueless agent this year.

Anyone hanging around for the show after Rome?

2

I have enjoyed it as well. Had to go back over last year’s episodes on On Demand after the first one this year. The setup in the fifth and sixth episodes is important for this year’s premise. I agree that this season’s format is better than last year’s. The agent is unbelievably funny. And the other actor in his stable is terrific, too.

I hope Gervais can keep his humor in this vein and/or that of The Office.

3

Watched this season the first time around on British TV. Since discovering him, I haven’t been able to get enough of Gervais.

The story arc of him creating and developing the show is very “meta” and is very reminiscent of Seinfeld. Which is, IMHO, of course a good thing.

On that note, how about a link: Ricky Gervais meets Larry David

4

I imagine the Brits would be 'avin more of laugh over some of the cameos. For instance, I suspect the morning show hosts playing “guess the mongoloid” (you DID stick around after the credits?) were real people.

And, the bad writing on the snippets of “When the Whistle Blows” just cracks me up. Like that joke about the “milky puddings” from this week.

5

I actually liked last season better so far. He seems to be getting a little maudlin with his crappy show-selling-out plot line. Still absolutely hilarious, though. The woman who plays his friend must be a fantastic actress to get him in so much cringe-worthy trouble and yet I still think she’s sweet and means well and I love her character.

The weird fan (Count Fuckula’s friend) was my favorite scene of any episode this season.

6

I actually don’t find the sitcom bits to be THAT awful just typical sitcom stuff… but not BAD sitcom. It makes me feel like something is wrong with me. I don’t even watch any regular sitcoms.

7

Yep - and the joke is particularly good because both halves of the cameo nicely reflect Richard Madeley’s likely actual reaction to such a story.

8

I just finished watching Season 1 on DVD. Patrick Stewart’s bit, where he explains his writing project, is just hilarious. From watching the outtakes, I would guess that they spend quite a bit of time just trying to keep a straight face when filming the show.

9

That would be “shitcom”, actually. We love this show. Don’t get some of the Brit references, but it’s a hoot to watch name actors playing the opposites of their screen personas.