We already knew from the original British comedy "The Office" that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant could create an outrageously funny and different kind of comedy TV show, and that Gervais was a gifted comic actor.
But it wasn't until their second series, "Extras," debuted on HBO a year ago that we learned how persuasive the duo could be as well. Whether it was through blackmail (i.
e., making an offer that couldn't be refused) or simply their convincing nature, Gervais and Merchant were able to recruit genuine movie stars to portray themselves in genuinely unflattering, but hilarious, ways.
Kate Winslet takes a role as a Catholic nun hiding Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II because she believes being in a Holocaust-related movie is a sure path to winning an Oscar.
Ben Stiller is an egomaniacal movie director who can, and does, recite the opening weekend box office grosses of his hit movies to prove how successful he is.
Patrick Stewart reveals himself to be a voyeur whose main mission as an actor is to see his female co-stars in the nude.
"Extras," whose first season is out on DVD (two discs, HBO Video, not rated, $29.
98), is about a hapless actor named Andy Millman (Gervais) who works as an extra on various movies and TV shows but never gets a chance to actually recite a line of dialogue or, essentially, "act." Partly, his unfortunate career is the result of sticking with an incompetent agent (Merchant), but it's also the result of Andy finding one way or another to blow whatever chances do come his way. That doesn't stop him from scheming, in every extra part he has, to get himself just one line to say.
Andy's confidante and best friend is another extra, Maggie Jacobs, played by the wonderful Scottish comic actress Ashley Jensen (currently in "Ugly Betty") as a sweet, but not terribly bright gal.
Winslet, Stiller, Stewart and other guest stars, including Samuel L. Jackson, are "all playing sort of twisted versions of themselves," Gervais says on the DVD documentary "The Difficult Second Album - Behind the Scenes of 'Extras.
"' And give these stars credit for their willingness to put themselves in unfavorable light. Winslet, for instance, in addition to the callous calculation she reveals in explaining why she needs to make a Holocaust movie, is also incredibly smutty while giving Maggie advice about having phone sex with her boyfriend.
The stars who appear in "Extras," Gervais says, do so because he or Merchant asked them to participate after hearing that they liked "The Office.
" They usually only have to be on the set for a day or two to film their parts.
Merchant, who writes and directs "Extras" along with Gervais, describes Jackson as "the most professional person I've ever worked with." But then, without missing a beat, he looks over at Gervais and adds, "But then, I've only worked with you.
"
"Extras," as should be obvious, is an adult satire with adult language and themes - the show's tagline is "The Story of a Man With Small Parts." And like Gervais' "The Office," it's often funny in a way that leaves a viewer hovering between laugh and cringe.
For example, one of the episodes looks at interracial romance, or rather, how Maggie's desire for a black actor she's working with runs into conflict with her amazing ability to always say the wrong thing while trying to show how unprejudiced she is.
It's brilliant, daring stuff.
The DVD also comes with deleted scenes, outtakes (usually of Gervais and his co-stars being unable to maintain a straight face), and a funny little feature titled "Finding Leo." In it, we allegedly witness Gervais and Merchant trying to get Leonardo DiCaprio's phone number so they can ask him to be a last-minute substitute for Jude Law, who backed out of Episode Six just before filming was due to commence.
(Instead, they got Patrick Stewart, who works so well it's hard to imagine either Law or DiCaprio in the part.)
As was the case with "The Office," Gervais and Merchant only made six episodes of "Extras" the first time around. They're coming back with another six episodes in Season Two, debuting this Sunday night at 10 EST on HBO.
Guest stars will include Orlando Bloom, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Ian McKellen, David Bowie and Robert De Niro.
It should be a hoot.
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen and Stephen Merchant and guest stars Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Samuel L.
Jackson, Vinny Jones, Les Dennis and Ross Kemp
2. "The Devil Wears Prada," 20th Century Fox.
4.
"Invincible," Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
5. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
1. "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Special Edition)," Walt Disney Home Video.
2.
"The 12 Days of Christmas," GoodTimes Home Video.
3. "Frosty the Snowman," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
4. "Scooby-Doo: Foul Play in Funland," Warner Home Video.
5.
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre," New Line Home Entertainment.
1. "Jackass: Number Two," MTV Home Video.
2. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
3.
"The Descent," Lions Gate Home Entertainment.
4. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
5. "Invincible," Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
Tune in to NBC at 9 p.
m. Monday for the return of "Heroes." Hopefully in this half of the drama's season, its first, we'll find out, among other things, whether "Save the cheerleader, save the world" is an "if, then" statement, two separate thoughts or simply a clever tagline.
Tiffany, a features writer, has superpowers no one knows about.
Tiffany St.
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