I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!
Hello everyone, I'm back from my little hiatus from LJ, and I'm ready to dive right back into thick of things. I've finally caught up on all the back episodes I had been missing (Tivo is a beautiful thing). So my "Supernatural" and "Smallville" reviews should be up sometime this weekend. If things go well they should include small recaps of the previous episodes I didn't get to review. If I'm feeling really productive there might even be a "Doctor Who" recap in there as well. We'll see how it goes. Finally, below are some of my thoughts on the British TV show Extra's, there are possible if somewhat vague spoilers so please be careful. You have been warned.
While trolling the lovely
mskatej journal I came across her thoughts on the British show Extra's, which sounded interesting. The show follows two "Extra's" as they pursue fame and speaking parts as they interact with Celebes on the sets of TV, movies and plays. Even though I need another fandom like I need a hole in my head I hunted down season's 1 and 2. Unfortunately, I could only make it thru a couple of episodes for each season. Although the show was amusing at times, I was rather bored for the majority. Also the characters didn't exactly resonate with me as well.
Andy the star plays the earnest, yet cynical everyman who gave up his job at a bank to for a chance to fulfill his dream of being an actor. He spends the majority of each episode the constant butt of everyone's joke and increasing levels of debasement as the season's progress. Since I'm not a big fan of humiliating your characters for humor and entertainment. I don't particular enjoy most of his scenes. Maggie the main female, is so dumb that there are lobotomy victims who shake their head at her stupidity. And while somewhat funny for a few episodes, the joke of her obtuseness, and the way she constantly torpedo's (though to be fair she doesn't mean to) Andy's life has gotten old, fast. Darren The Agent, and Barry the has been, are just sorta blah all around. Sometimes funny but not consistently so.
The shows saving grace for me at least was the celebrity guest stars who seemed to relish, lampooning themselves, and the acting business, at every turn. In fact its two such celebrity performances that made the other less entertaining scenes I had to sit thru entirely worth it. That of Orlando Bloom playing himself as a narcissistic, self involved movie star whose jealously of Johnny Depp was positively delicious. And that of Sir Ian McKellen's whose explanation of the process of acting to Andy and his subsequent WTF face was absolutely hilarious. Both performances reminded me of the heydays of SNL, Mad TV, and The Dave Chappelle Show.
I.............LAUGHED.............MY.................ASS............OFF! Both times. They were that funny. Even thought I won't be watching the show regularly (it's just not my cup of tea) I will probably watch now an again if there's a particular guest star I want to see. Who knows, maybe Maggie will buy clue, and Andy won't be so downtrodden next season after his brush with fame. Which could cause me to make Extra's a permanent liaison instead of the occasional booty call.