In "Extras"' exquisitely excruciating second and, alas, final season, Andy Millman, former "supporting artist," learns a humbling lesson: Be careful what you wish for. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is still "an impossible person," but he is now an impossible person with a sitcom, one that, to his increasing horror, humiliation, and disgust he allows to be severely compromised. The character he portrays, a factory boss, is outfitted in a ridiculous wig and big glasses, and Andy becomes enthrall to his catchphrase: "Are you havin' a laugh?" The result is high ratings for the show, but the critics' slings and arrows are aimed at Andy. Surely, David Bowie (just one of the A-listers who grace this season) can relate to Andy's struggle for artistic integrity. Instead, his plight inspires Bowie to improvise a V.I.P. lounge sing-along ditty that mocks his pretensions ("Little fat man who sold his soul/Little fat man who sold his dream"). Andy's two closest relationships drive the series. The first is with his clueless and useless manager (Stephen Merchant), who in one there's-everything-wrong-with-that episode, arranges for Andy to be unwittingly cast as a gay man in a play. The second is with Maggie (Ashley Jensen), Andy's platonic friend, still an extra, who is steadfast and supportive, but at times absolutely tactless, as when she reveals to a woman whom Andy dumped how he lost his virginity (an embarrassing anecdote the vengeful woman proceeds to share with the attendees of Britain's most prestigious awards ceremony).
Season 2 is a no less star-studded affair than its predecessor. Among the astonishingly game notables having a laugh at themselves are Orlando Bloom ("You know who does get ignored?" he tries to impress Maggie, "Johnny Depp"), a randy Daniel Radcliffe, and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who makes a hilariously gratuitous guest-star appearance on Andy's show. Priceless are cameos by such venerable British entertainers as Robert Lindsay, Ronnie Corbett (one of "The Two Ronnies") and "Barry from "EastEnders"." "Extras" is a classic cringe comedy in the grand tradition of Albert Brooks, "The Larry Sanders Show", and "Curb Your Enthusiasm". All of Andy's worst impulses are magnified by his newfound fame. In one episode, he complains about a disruptive child in a restaurant, only to discover he has Down's Syndrome. Enhancing these all-too-few six episodes are "Extras"' extremely entertaining extras, including a multi-part behind-the-scenes look at the show. One wonders how the actors got through these brilliantly funny episodes without "corpsing" (breaking up). As the generous outtakes reveal, they very often didn't. With "Extras", Gervais has accomplished what the hapless Andy could not: Create "a good credible comedy that will stand the test of time." "--Donald Liebenson"