Grid Effect

Most people are completely unaware of the series Extras for two reasons: One, though it airs on HBO in the states, it originally aired on The BBC, as it is yet another series imported from Britain by comedic gadfly Ricky Gervais. So, while it is on the best network for original programming, this isn’t an HBO produced series and they do not advertise it like they normally would. Two, its first season was only six episodes, giving only a small time-frame for word of mouth to get around. But that doesn’t diminish the creative quality of the series.

The premise for the first season was Andy (Gervais), left a decent paying career too roll the dice as a struggling actor/writer, but for the most part all he can find work in is as a background extra (hence the title). He and female counterpart Maggie Jacobs (played by the understated Ashley Jensen) comment and discuss everything about working on set, from Maggies pursued relationships too attempting conversation with recognizable lead actors/directors/producers (Every week there is a A-list guest star playing a parody of him/herself: Kate Winslet, Smauel L. Jackson, Patrick Stewart, etc).

At the beginning of the second season which premiered on HBO on Sunday night, Maggie and Andy were separated for the majority of the half hour. Andy, now working on his own series, is disappointed because the BBC is forcing him too compromise his artistic integrity for the sake of fan fare and ratings. While Maggie, still an extra, is being continually denigrated by fellow cohorts, and socially harassed by Orlando Bloom, who cannot believe that Maggie doesn’t find him physically irresistible.

The episode had its high moments, particularly one in which Andy “took a stand” against The BBC for turning his series into a series consisting of props and catch phrases. And we are also accustomed too more Stephen Merchant playing Andy’s inept agent, Darren Lamb. Merchant co-created this series with Gervais as well as the British version of The Office, has typically been behind the scenes, with the exception of small doses of him in the first season.

My only complaint about the second season debut, was it lacked the dynamic of Maggie and Andy that I thought made the first season exempolary (Maggie’s appeal grows exponentially when she and Andy are playing off each other). But it detracted from the episode greatly, as watching Andy and Maggie talk, probably accounted for 70% of all scenes in the first season. I am optimistic that more and more of the second season will take place off set, as Andy and Maggie both compliment each other.

Just as a programming note, Extras airs on Sunday nights at 10pm et. But every new episode is posted on HBO On Demand the Monday before it premieres on HBO (six days in advance). I guess HBO is doing this too attract an audience with its series that are somewhat under the radar (much like they did/do with The Wire).