Extras Christmas Special

Being a fan of The Office, Extras was an obvious show to watch with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant both creating and starring in it. Admittedly, I prefer The Office as a whole but when it comes down to the Christmas Specials, Extras was the clear winner for me. Although not as humorous as The Office Christmas Specials, it was brilliantly directed and better demonstrated a film of the Extras rather than just an additional longer episode. Andy has become more self-absorbed than you could possibly imagine, obsessed with his public image and desire for fame and fortune. The result is ignoring Maggie and her overwhelming problems, as well as Darren getting ...  Read the complete review

It's been a while since I've reviewed anything even close to a TV comedy, let alone a DVD or CD - so here we go...ladies and gentlemen, the Extras Christmas Special. First shown on the BBC at Xmas 2007, it was the final episode in the Extras series - the second brainchild of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant after the phenomenally successful "The Office". On first impressions of the first series, it was good but not as good as it's predecessor, but the second series of Extras stepped up to the plate and was a fantastic piece of sitcom writing. So, at the public's request, here came the Xmas Special to wrap up all the loose ends. Set when ...  Read the complete review

Ive had to play catch up with Extras, I came in at the second series and since then bought both series and the christmas special on DVD. The series is one of the best to come out of the UK for ages and has been hugely successful with top stars queing up to play parts. The Christmas special is no different with stars such as George Michael, Clive Owen, Gordon Ramsey, David Tennent and of course Barry from Eastenders (plus more) starring. In this special last episode, Andy is at the top of his game, his show is doing well and signing with a different agent has opened up more opportunities, but he is not happy. Content on becoming instantly famous doing credible films ...  Read the complete review

I have long been a fan of Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais's unique comedic writing style; from the agonisingly brilliant goings on in The Office through their always entertaining podcasts and of course the massively successful Extras series, which is why I was delighted to receive the DVD of the Eighty minute special Extras episode that first aired on the BBC at Christmas 2007. On the surface Andy Millman has it all, a hit TV sitcom and a catchy - if slightly annoying - catchphrase have bought him the recognition and fame he so craved. But the realisation of his dreams have bought with them a growing unease within himself. Andy is increasingly disassociated ...  Read the complete review

Extras, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's follow up to the outstanding The Office, was, on initial viewings at least, fairly disappointing. The beautifully observed moments of human foible and social embarrassment that defined the earlier show were herein welded to a much broader, much more hyperbolic style of sitcom writing - the "cringe" moments were amplified and exaggerated to seriously detrimental effect, an emphasis was put on unrealistic and unbelievable "Big Laugh" moments totally at odds with the much more considered material on either side, and the much-discussed celebrity cameos often threatened to derail the whole enterprise - there is ...  Read the complete review