Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2562 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-26
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 175 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Attracting yet more star names, while wisely moving the narrative on, the second series of Extras really finds the show maturing nicely, and unsurprisingly, cleaned up more awards in the process.

That said, it remains a far more divisive programme than its forerunner, The Office. Written by, directed and featuring Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais, its appeal is more concentrated and less broad, following Andy Millman on his progression from background artist to his own TV show. At times, for a programme frequently billed as a comedy, there's a melancholy tone, although that's not to say it doesn't deliver its fair share of laughs in the process.

Many of those laughs are oiled by the seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of big names who take part in the show. Extras's first season attracted the likes of Kate Winslet and Samuel L Jackson, but this time, the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Sir Ian McKellen and David Bowie are quick to join in. There's, er, Barry from EastEnders, too, who adds to the fun.

And fun is, ultimately, what Extras serves up, albeit laced with a depth and occasional bout on introspectiveness. As with the first season, it's Ashley Jensen who steals the show from underneath Extras' cavalcade of star names, with a terrific portrayal of Maggie Jacobs.

Yet this second series feels and is superior to the first, and already, its creators have announced that they're putting the brakes on the show, save for one final special to sign off with. And it'll be sad when it all ends. For while Extras takes a little time to get to love, it's likely to be held in similar regard to the aforementioned The Office in the years to come. --Jon Foster

Synopsis
Series two of EXTRAS finds former television and film extra Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) commissioned by the BBC to create and star in the sitcom ‘When The Whistle Blows’. However, Andy’s initial happiness with his achievement is soon quelled when he finds he has to make a lowest common denominator show in order to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Andy’s sitcom has been transformed from a show that was in many ways like Gervais’ groundbreaking previous show THE OFFICE into a catchphrase-driven show that’s filmed in front of a studio audience. Additionally, he has been told that he has to wear large glasses and a curly perm wig. The second series of EXTRAS sees Millman attempting to adjust to fame and life in the public eye and the compromises that come with. Guest stars include Robert De Niro, Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Jonathan Ross, Sir Ian McKellen, and Daniel Radcliffe.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
The second series of Extras was not as good as the first, there are not so many good jokes and the few ones are Steve Merchant's and Barry from Eastenders.

The celebs are bland ( Orlando Bloom ) or they do not do anything ( DeNiro ) and there is nothing compared to Les Dennis in this series.

Forget about the Extras in Extras they are a waste of time.

Extremely disappointing
I was a huge fan of everything Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant had done up until this. The Office in my opinion was one of the best TV shows ever made, and the first series of Extras seemed to follow suit. But in this series they just seem to have lost the realistic, subtle touch that made The Office and the first series so good. This feels so much more like a conventional sitcom, and more lazy if i'm honest. What made their other work what it was, was that the dialogue and performances were so true to life. The characters said the kind of embarrasing things, and reacted in the same way real people would, yet that just doesn't seem to be present here. Gervais's latest standup show Fame was not as good as Politics, and nowhere near as good as Animals. Looks like he's already run out of ideas.

Quality!
Unlike O Khan, I totally get this and it's quality entertainment. Keep 'em coming Ricky.