EXTRAS: THE EXTRA SPECIAL SERIES FINALE (TV)
Summary
A special extended episode concludes this comedy about wannabe actors trying to find fame while employed as extras. As the show opens, Andy is seen in misery on an episode of “Celebrity Big Brother” as his housemates bicker. The scene then flashes back to a period six months earlier, as an episode of “When the Whistle Blows” plays to an audience full of fans sporting its tie-in merchandise. In a department store, the manager asks Andy to sign some of the poorly selling dolls representing his Ray character on “Whistle.” Walking through the store’s television section, Andy and Maggie see a scene of Greg acting in the film “Byron, a Life,” opposite Clive Owen. Andy demands that Darren get him an audition for the sequel to “Byron.” In Andy’s dressing room, Maggie helps him get into a girdle for his “Byron” audition. At the tryout, Greg humiliates Andy and he leaves in disgrace. Later, Andy runs into Bunny, who’s waiting in the park for a pickup and comes across George Michael. Meeting Maggie at a posh restaurant, Andy is approached for yet another role in “Byron” by one of the show’s agents. Maggie wangles a small part, but walks off after Clive continually insults her. Later, Barry tells Darren that Andy has fired him, replacing him with Greg’s agent, Tre Cooper. Andy hears from Tre that he’ll be officially put on “the B list.” Meanwhile, Maggie takes a job as a cleaner and moves to a smaller apartment. She later meets Andy in his new, posh home, where he wants her to pretend to be his production assistant for a reporter due to interview him. Andy quickly gets into a row with the reporter, who’s on to his tricks. Meanwhile, Barry helps Darren pack up his office. Tre wants Andy to do a Christmas special for “When the Whistle Blows.” Andy declines, insisting that he wants to do a “respectable” Hollywood film. Though he says he wants off the sitcom, Andy relents, but acts outrageously on the set as a bewildered Maggie watches. When Andy refuses to let Maggie help Darren, she realizes how much her old pal has changed. After the show, Andy tells the audience that he’s quitting the show after its three-season run. Iain then takes Andy to task for his arrogance. Three weeks later, Andy has received no work offers. After Andy is rude to Maggie at lunch and feels at his lowest, he tries to hold his tongue as Greg stops by to tell of his burgeoning Hollywood career. Afterward, Andy and Maggie run into Darren, who’s back working at The Carphone Warehouse, this time with Barry. Five months later, Andy is forced to play an alien in “Dr. Who” against his wishes. He follows that up with a demeaning role on “Hotel Babylon” as Tre refuses to return his calls. Meanwhile, Maggie asks Darren if there are any openings at The Carphone Warehouse. Breaking down, she tells Darren that she’s “wasted” her life. At lunch, Andy is so intent on his own setbacks that he doesn’t listen to Maggie’s troubles, particularly after they run into the surly Greg. When Gordon Ramsay won’t help Andy get into the restaurant, the two engage in verbal fisticuffs. Maggie leaves when Andy admits that he has no idea where she now lives. Later, Andy bursts into the dining room and confronts Tre, who tells Andy that he’s washed up. Tre and Greg concoct a plan for Andy to trade on his fading fame, leading to a gig on “Celebrity Big Brother.” There, Andy finds each of his cast mates to be especially off-putting. In the show’s “diary room,” Andy tells how pathetic his life has become and bemoans the onset of publicity-seeking reality stars. He then goes on to deliver a withering self-portrait, followed up by an on-camera apology to Maggie. Tre proves ecstatic at the publicity which Andy’s words generate. However, Andy skips the press conference which Tre schedules and instead meets Maggie to drive off for parts unknown.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: December 16, 2007 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:25:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:92456
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Satire; Celebrities
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2005-2007
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jon Plowman … Executive Producer
- Ricky Gervais … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Stephen Merchant … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Charlie Hanson … Producer
- Eirwen Davies … Line Producer
- Glyn Hughes … Music by
- Ricky Gervais … Cast, Andy Millman
- Ashley Jensen … Cast, Maggie Jacobs
- Stephen Merchant … Cast, Darren Lamb
- Shaun Williamson … Cast, Barry
- Shaun Pye … Cast, Greg
- Liza Tarbuck … Cast, Rita
- Guy Henry … Cast, Iain Morris
- Gerald Kelly … Cast, Bunny
- Clive Owen … Cast, Himself
- George Michael … Cast, Himself
- Gordon Ramsay … Cast, Himself
- David Tennant … Cast, Himself
- Gareth Hale … Cast, Himself
- Norman Pace … Cast, Himself
- Lionel Blair … Cast, Himself
- Dean Gaffney … Cast, Himself
- June Sarpong … Cast, Herself
- Lisa Scott-Lee … Cast, Herself
- Chico … Cast, Himself
- Jonathan Ross … Cast, Himself
- Vernon Kay … Cast, Himself
- Sarah Moyle … Cast, Kimberley
- Jamie Chapman … Cast, Brains
- Andrew Buckley … Cast, Gobbler
- Adam James … Cast, Tre Cooper
- Nicola Redmond … Cast, Journalist
- Steve Brody … Cast, Estate Agent
- Ben Willbond … Cast, Film Director
- Frog Stone … Cast, First A.D.
- Susy Kane … Cast, Amy
- Toby Foster … Cast, Northern Comic
- Claudia Sermbezis … Cast, Wren
- Lolita Chakrabarti … Cast, Maitre d'
- Stuart McQuarrie … Cast, Shop Manager
- Scott Baker … Cast, Paparazzi
- Kerry Godliman … Cast, Floor Manager
- Jason Barnett … Cast, Doorman
- Fergus Craig … Cast, Runner
- Dan Tetsell … Cast, Extra
- Karl Pilkington … Cast, Fan
- Liam Barham … Cast, Child