Gervais’ ordinary ‘Extras’ makes for extraordinary TV
Ricky Gervais is fascinated by how a camera can skew the flow of ordinary life.
On “The Office,” his hilarious British “mockumentary” series, he explored the effect of a film crew on David Brent, the fame-lusting office manager who clowned it up for a TV reality show.
Now, on his new HBO comedy “Extras,” Gervais has turned his attention to aspiring actor Andy Millman and the show-biz obscurity of being an extra.
Portrayed by Gervais (who also played Brent), Andy is what is called “background talent.” His workdays are spent on London film shoots helping fill the frame with his unnoted presence.
Extras, as Gervais explains, “are just bodies. They’re pushed in and told where to stand. It’s like hanging drapes.”
On tonight’s episode, Andy plays a nameless prisoner in a film about modern genocide directed by Ben Stiller.
He tries to wangle a line or two of dialogue by approaching the bereaved war victim whose story Stiller is telling.
“I can’t push it,” Andy frets to Maggie, his chum and fellow extra. “I can’t go up to him and remind him, ‘Sorry to interrupt you again while you’re thinking about your slaughtered loved ones, but that line – you done anything about it?’ “
Ashley Jensen is perfect as the dimwitted Maggie, while Stephen Merchant is a whiz as the agent who, after five years, has failed to score Andy a single speaking role. (“I’m as annoyed as you are,” he assures Andy pleasantly.)
Merchant also co-wrote and co-directed “The Office” and now “Extras.” They met eight years ago when Gervais, working at an alternative radio station in London, took him on as an assistant.
Gervais was already a self-confessed sloth and budding late bloomer. After graduating from college in philosophy, he had performed in one rock band, managed another, and been a talent booker for a student union. Once they got around to it, he and Merchant created “The Office.”
At first glance, “Extras” may seem overly similar to “The Office.” But first impressions can deceive.
“Brent was essentially an idiot who wasn’t that bad but just wanted to be popular,” says Gervais, “whereas Andy has a different theme: The world owes him a living.”
Preparing to move Andy forward for a second season, Gervais remains fascinated by fame and how so many people chase it. But he disavows his own.
“It’s the one thing I actively don’t like: just being recognized,” says Gervais, a 44-year-old chap who gives the strong impression he is on no star trip.
“What I love is the work,” he insists. “I get excited by the creativity, not because I think I have the best ideas in the world. I’m excited, because they’re my ideas.”
Having said that, Gervais confides his fear that the sum of creativity allotted him might fail to be in synch with his lifespan.
“You don’t want to die before you’ve got out all your ideas,” he says. “But you don’t want to run out of ideas before you die. You’ve got to time it right.
“It’s like the perfect meal: You don’t want to have toast left over, with no bacon.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Don McLean is 60. Musician Sting is 54. Actress Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) is 51. Singer Gillian Welch is 38. Singer Kelly Willis is 37. Actress/talk host Kelly Ripa is 35. Singer Tiffany is 34. Rapper Big Proof (D12) is 28.