Gervais/Merchant...Extras Debuts Tonight at 9 on BBC2

[LJo]

I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to meeting Stephen Merchant's slimy agent character.

Film sets are such surreal places anyway...think there is lots of good potential here.

 

[Jayshat]

The bit on the sofa, I had to switch off (as I used to on the office), and watch in bits, as I knew it would be so cringeworthy. The black, yellow, white bit was excellent

It's still better than 80% of what's on tv passing for comedy (particularly C5 and ITV stuff)

 

[butchersapron]

But that's the character he plays! He's a top bloke in real life and couldn't give a shit about awards or fame. I watched his standup show "Politics" last night - not the finest of comedy but funny enough.

And so what? He doesn't do politics in his shows at all.

?

 

[isvicthere?]

I say give it a chance. The first time I saw "The Office" I thought it was a slightly crap documentary, until all of a sudden the penny dropped and I got drawn in. The same may be the case with this

 

[Dask]

I think it will be a grower, I remeber not really getting the office the first time I watched it.

 

[Stigmata]

Have you seen Politics butchers? There's no actual politics in it, that's part of the joke.

 

[Loki]

?

His show was called "Politics". But was there any politics discussed? Nope.

 

[stavros]

Ok I suppose but it wouldn't get recommisioned if it wasn't Ricky Gervais I don't think. Nowhere near Peep Show, Keith Barratt or The Thick Of It (which needs to be put on terrestrial) in terms of new British comedy, and light years behind Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

[Jayshat]

I heard Curb your Enthusiasm was good, but it was on quite late I think, as usual for the Beeb, all the good stuff

You'd probably like Arrested Development - it was on a while back, and they're filming the next series soon. it was cringing, satirical and laugh out loud funny in parts, whilst being totally underrated.

When US humour is good, it is the best, much better than the Office even.

 

[stavros]

I think I watched the first episode of Arrested Development and forgot about the rest. I'll watch out for it.

Apparently Channel 4 have the rights to CYE now, which is a shame because they seem more interested in the equally dull cricket and Big Brother at the moment. I fear they will relegate it to very late night, particularly the Beloved Aunt episode, and screen yet more repeats of the stanically-evil Friends instead. American stuff can be great (CYE and Seinfeld, Cheers a bit) but then they also made Friends.

 

[butchersapron]

CYE is as good as the Office was - best US show for decades. All the good bits from Seinfeld and with the misanthropy factor whacked right up.

 

[stavros]

CYE is light years better than The Office ever was. CYE actually seems quite British to me, with the central character trapped in a situation they are not suited to (see Father Ted, Blackadder, Basil Fawlty, Alan Partridge). The Office wasn't as original as it's been portrayed; I seem to remember a series of mock fly-on-the-walls from a few years ago on BBC2, although it's name escapes me now.

 

[Stigmata]

CYE is light years better than The Office ever was. CYE actually seems quite British to me, with the central character trapped in a situation they are not suited to (see Father Ted, Blackadder, Basil Fawlty, Alan Partridge). The Office wasn't as original as it's been portrayed; I seem to remember a series of mock fly-on-the-walls from a few years ago on BBC2, although it's name escapes me now.

People Like Us? That was made by a guy who used to teach at my old college.

 

[Echo Beach]

I thought Extras was quite jolly

 

[jasoon]

I watched the 2nd half, thought it was qute good, anyone know when/if it is repeated? :->

 

[smurkey]

For a first episode it was very good.

 

[Jo/Joe]

It's cetainy worth following. It's kind of funny seeing Gervais without the usual crew of characters around him. It will be interesting to see how other characters develop.

Best gag for me was

'Starsky and Hutch? Is that meant to be funny?'

'You tell me, you were in it.'

Very funny.

CYE is excellent, but doesn't surpass the Office I don't think.

 

[Stigmata]

I laughed more at tonight's. I think it's growing on me.

 

[mk12]

I laughed more at tonight's. I think it's growing on me.

I didn't. I laughed less. The funniest bit for me was when he was geting food from the van.

 

[butchersapron]

Nah, that was top notch. Will take a few episodes for people to get the tone i reckon.

 

[mk12]

I did like it, I just laughed more at last week's episode. Ross Kemp was quite good in it too. I wonder how much they paid Vinnie Jones to do his scene?

 

[Stigmata]

"They bully me. Call me names and stuff."

 

[mack]

Me and Mrs Mack laughed pretty much all the way through last nights edisode, what was Ross told the SAS stands for again?

 

[DownwardDog]

2nd episode was v. funny but obviously influenced by CYE.

Lol'ed at the poncey actor telling that thick bird to 'put some minge round it'.

 

[g force]

Big improvement on the 1st episode - Kemp was much better than Stiller - "if he wants to start on me i'll unleash hell"

The discussion about which Kemp they were working with was very funny. The food scene - the extra who's parents bought him a house was a good character hopefully he'll be in it more.

And SAS = "Special Army Soilders"

I think each espisode will depend greatly on how well the 'star' plays the character - Kemp was pretty funny, Stiller was a bit shit.

 

[Stigmata]

I loved that Gervais' character couldn't look Kemp in the eye when he was telling him he was a good actor. You wonder how aware Kemp was that he was having the piss taken.

 

[Dask]

Top quality comedy.

I loved the way Stephen Merchant kept refering to Barry out of eastenders when the actor who plays him was standing there.

 

[tommers]

Missed the first one but caught last night's. I thought it was good. Kemp was excellent.

Felt a bit sorry for barry though!

 

[Shirl]

I was feeling really fed up last night. Then I stumbled on this and cheered up no end. I also watched Catherine Tate afterwards and would have followed on with McCabe and Prentice but I was too tired to stay up.
Thursday is suddenly a good tele night

 

[R.I.C.O.]

It had its moments, but I can't help thinking that the huge success of "The Office" will harm Gervais future performances - I found it quite hard to differentiate his new character from that of David Brent's...