The Life of Extras

Published September 8, 2005 in HBO Television

By Ryan Parsons | Images property of HBO

HBO picks up Extras

Any show with the taglines 'Once in a great while, a man really has a chance to shine. Andy Millman is not that man', 'The story of a man with small parts' or 'Never forgets his lines because he never gets any' has got to have something going for it. We have had our fair share of shows about nurses, interns and those willing to marry for a quick buck. Therefore, it is a refreshing change to hear that HBO has decided to team up with the BBC to deliver a show about a different, smaller, field that has yet to receive its due... until now.

HBO Throws in the Extras

Every star, actor, actress or even cameo has got to start somewhere-- being an extra. Talk to a good portion of the big actors our there today and they should be able to give you a few humorous stories about playing an extra and the different situations they have encountered. For example-- If you know the name Jared Leto [Lord of War, Flight Club, American Psycho, Alexander], this same actor begun his acting career as an extra on the hit television series My So-Called Life, only to be loved and adored by the fans and camera later.

But instead of Jared Leto we have Andy Millman [Ricky Gervais] in the upcoming show Extras, a guy who the spotlight seems to only dodge.

Extras is the hotly anticipated six-part comedy series written and directed by the creators of the Golden Globe-winning series The Office, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. In Extras, Gervais (the first British actor ever to win a Globe for TV comedy) stars as Andy Millman, an ambitious if somewhat nondescript Englishman who, having given up an "adequate" day job to be an actor, finds he just can't land any juicy roles that could lead to something big. Frustrated by the inability of his agent (played by Merchant) to land him a single speaking role, Millman and fellow aspiring actor Maggie Jacobs (Ashley Jensen) find themselves spending most of their days ensconced in a green room with other extras, envying their A-list counterpoints, and stooping to extremes to attract the attention of show writers, directors and anyone with an "in" to the all-powerful producers.

Featuring guest stars including Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet and Patrick Stewart, Extras will be anchored Sundays on HBO at 10:30 p.m. (right after new Season Five episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm) beginning September 25.

Extras is one of the first shows aired by HBO that is not a 'HBO Original Series.' However, with the tradition carried by the television network, expect English comedic greatness to head our way beginning on Sunday, September 25th.

To further help you prepare for Extras, watch a whopping twelve clips for the show at RickyGervais.

Stay tuned for updates.

You Like? (Bookmarks)

Add to Heffee!

Compiled By (Sources)

Ryan Parsons
Sources: Images property of HBO
Contact

Rod Takes the Road to ROME

© 2004 Minds Eye One, All Rights Reserved
The Can Magazine™ is a trademark of Minds Eye One
All movie titles, movie icons, movie stills/clips/trailers/other media... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of stated holders
CanMag.Com banners contain movie/gaming icons that were created by individual holders

Home > Television > The Life of Extras