"Extras," Read All About It

Last night, I met my first fellow "Extras" fanatics, and it was good. For some reason, Ricky Gervais' HBO series follow-up to "The Office" just hasn't caught on, even though it has offered some scorching and hysterical set pieces about the warped world of show business. Maybe the resistance is due to its British setting; maybe it's because the cringe factor is just too great -- the same problem that dogged one of the best Hollywood satires ever, "The Comeback."

Maybe it's because a lot of viewers don't want to see celebrities such as Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Daniel Radcliffe, and David Bowie present themselves in such an unflattering and self-ironic light. "I don't want to see that!" as Valerie Cherish from "The Comeback" might say.

Tonight's episode is a good one, as Gervais' Andy tries to counteract his silly sitcom work by starring in a play directed by Ian McKellen. Andy is ashamed of his TV turn as the ridiculous boss in "When the Whistle Blows," wearing a curly wig, twisting his face, and repeating the catchphrase "Are you havin' a laugh?" Even his stupid agent (played by Gervais' comedy partner, Stephen Merchant, in photo) puts down the show. But Andy is equally uncomfortable appearing as a gay man on stage, and when his macho buddies show up for opening night (including Jonathan Cake), Andy's discomfort is a comic spectacle.

Early in the episode, McKellen makes a fool of himself by explaining the very basics of acting to Andy. He comes off as an idiot. But by the end of half-hour, you wish Andy had really heard McKellen's words about the difference between being yourself and playing a character. Loved it.