So, here's number one! I really enjoy Extras, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s second big sitcom after The Office. Like its predecessor, the cringe comedy can sometimes be a bit strong for my tastes, but I like all the characters, the amusing conversations, and the fun look at British film- and television-making. Without a doubt, however, the most entertaining part is the prominent celebrities playing unflattering versions of themselves. Here are the best in my book.
Daniel Radcliffe
“I’ve
done it, you know. […] With a girl.” I
get such a kick out of macho-posturing Daniel Radcliffe, showing off his
cigarettes, trying to score with Maggie, and carrying around his unwrapped
“ready for action” condom. It’s a
hilarious parody of child-star train-wrecks, and Radcliffe’s dorky,
wannabe-playboy performance is a stitch.
Patrick Stewart
If I’m
ever trying to convince someone to give Extras
a shot, I show them the scene of Andy with Patrick Stewart in his dressing
room. Stewart’s screenplay pitch, about
an ordinary man who seems to use his superhuman mental powers mainly to see
women with their clothes off, is delivered with such pitch-perfect earnestness;
it just kills me. I’m also fond of
Stewart puzzling over a grown man with no wife or girlfriend who’s never seen Star Trek.
Orlando Bloom
Goodness
gracious, how I love Orlando Bloom’s escalating attempts to “prove” his good
looks to Maggie. Especially good is his
deep-seated loathing for/obsession with Johnny Depp and his insistence that the
mere thought of kissing Johnny Depp makes Keira Knightley nauseous. Not only is it wonderfully funny, but it
provides a nice win for Maggie in an episode where she really needs one.
Kate Winslet
As an
opposite to my last top five, Kate Winslet is the only woman on this list, and
now that I think about it, the only female celebrity prominently featured on Extras – weird. Still, she more than holds her own beside the
boys. Winslet’s calculated Oscar-baiting
(Holocaust movie = guaranteed Oscar) is both astute and darkly humorous, and I
like the way she pals around with Andy and Maggie, coaching them in making
dirty phone calls.
Chris Martin
It’s a
short appearance but such a great one.
Chris Martin’s persistent efforts to turn an ad about developing
countries without clean drinking water into a plug for Coldplay’s new album are
hysterical. He has a can-do attitude that doesn’t know
when to stop, and although it’s painfully awkward, his in-show cameo on When the Whistle Blows is ridiculous and
awesome.
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