Extras

Rather than risk Americans bastardizing his unique vision again, The Office creator Ricky Gervais imports his latest hilarious concept directly to the States via HBO. (Who are we kidding, NBC must already have a pilot script just waiting for John Larroquette's approval.) Nevertheless, you can enjoy Gervais now as Andy Millman, a career movie extra with dreams of showing off his (alleged) legitimate acting chops. Chubby, sarcastic, conniving, and severely lacking morals, Andy would do anything for a speaking role, if only to show up a rival extra. But with an agent strictly focused on his 15-percent cut, Andy must depend on his own wiles to eke out career opportunities—resulting in a parade of hysterical scenarios more uncomfortable than pissing in a trough urinal. Set behind the scenes of an ever-changing film backdrop, each episode comes with pre-packaged laughs courtesy of ridiculous period costumes like Nazi uniforms and powdered French wigs. Extras also boasts a serious stable of memorable guest stars, like Ben Stiller overacting into an egoistic fit and Kate Winslet—finally inching herself closer to Titanic redemption—simulating the suckling of her own teat. But unlike his character, Gervais steals the show, radiating an apathetic air worthy of his Seinfeldian predecessors that adequately satisfies our need to watch someone more pathetic than ourselves.