Jan 5th, 2008
Extras
Back in 2001, a little-known actor named Ricky Gervais co-produced a series with a littler-known producer/director named Stephen Merchant, which presented a comical perspective on the banality of life in an office.
The show received a great deal of both public and critical acclaim. After only two seasons The Office had turned into a global franchise, garnering numerous awards, spawning French and US adaptations and propelling Gervais and Merchant to super-stardom.
In 2005, the duo anted up once again and created Extras, a series co-produced by HBO and the BBC. This time the subject matter was the periphery of showbiz. The texture of Extras is a bit more gritty than The Office although the depth of both far supersede anything on American television.
In season 1, Extras traces the life of Gervais as he struggles to build a career as an actor. The season culminates when Gervais’ script is well received by the BBC who decide to produce his show (ironically about life in an office).
During the second season of Extras, Gervais has attained success through his television show but no credibility. His struggle is carried through the series finale, the culmination of which is an incredibly moving and honest soliloquy in which Gervais rails against the entertainment industry and laments the trajectory of his career.
I recommend purchasing the series on DVD because it is that good. I’ve embedded a clip of Gervais’ climactic speech because I believe it actually stands on its own as an acute commentary on today’s fixation with celebrities:
