[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJwqvyC-nWU[/youtube]
Extras, the best show on TV I think. But it went out like a brilliant Phoenix and some refreshing ideas were born in its wake. Except for the fact that no one seemed to be talking about it. In the show’s final moments, Ricky Gervais delivered a devastating commentary on the state of fame. And no said a damned thing? I never said anything because I missed it when it first aired and only now catching up with it. What he says about fame reminds me not only of what actors and starlets do but sometimes how bloggers, too, must “work it” in order to “get anywhere.” Get where exactly? Into early screenings or onto sets, to have lunch with this person or that person, to go to this party or that party, read this script early…Honestly, that part of the job because ultimately, it is mostly meaningless except for the part of it that’s fun and schmoozing is not fun. Anyway, cheers to you, Mr. Gervais.
He pretty much summed up all of my thoughts on celebrity media and gossip and culture.
Yeah, I really liked Extras as a series, but the (Christmas) special was really poor. It got a really bad critical reception over here; and despite its previous dominance, was pretty much absent from the recent BAFTAs.
I agree that it was just laying on its message about ‘celebrity culture’ pretty thick -and while it’s a message that I’m sure Ricky is very interested in, the rest of us non-famous / non-mindless viewers aren’t that enthralled by, especially in a feature length episode that despite its laboured message manages to include an excruciatingly bad cameo from fame-whore Gordon -fucking- Ramsay.
Anyway, there was an article in the Observer today about him and it mentioned his new project about an insurance firm in Reading (his home town) in the 60s/70s(working title:’The Men from the Pru’ [referring to the Prudential insurance firm and its slogan -sorry if that’s obvious but I thought it might need a bit of cultural translation.)
I think it might be more of a straight drama and less of a comedy, but then again the Office and Extras were hardly laugh-out loud. I remember he was bemoaning the state of British TV in general awhile back, particularly in comparison with such high quality American output as the Sopranos. I admit that its not entirely unfounded, but he did seem to become a bit of a snob after his success in the states and was disparaging towards perfectly good programmes (- and (on a side note) conveniently missed out the fact that the Office would never have been made on US TV).
I suspect he might have decided to assume the mantle of our televisual saviour and produce his own second coming; and from the sounds of it, somebody has been watching Mad Men, so my hopes are unfeasibly high.
Well, he (and the BBC) might not reach that standard, but it is good to hear that he is moving his focus back to real life, where his real skill lies, as demonstrated so brilliantly by the Office and the 1st season of Extras.
Forgive me for rambling on, off-topic, but I just thought you might be interested.
No one mentioned it because he made the exact same points during all of Series Two, just in a much more subtle way. In the Christmas Special for whatever reason he chose to repeat all of the points made in Series Two by directly speaking them aloud. And it was annoying.
The entire Christmas Special was unnecessary in terms of what Gervais wanted to say because he had said it earlier in the series. However, it was worth it just for the Clive Owen scene.
I’m a huge Gervais fan. The Office and Extras are series of equal brilliance. I’m also very much looking forward to the film he’s directing for next year, This Side of the Truth, which sounds like a potentially brilliant piece of satire.
I haven’t seen this show, but Ricky Gervais was great in The Office and after watching this video I’m sure he does a great job (again).
It’s an interesting topic. I’ve never really understood the whole celebrity thing (though I must confess I read Perez). I don’t see why people just want to become famous (for fame’s sake) in the first place, I don’t even know when things began to change. That is, if in the golden age of Hollywood, studios made up artificial lives for their stars so their real lives were completely blocked from the public eye. How come now we know every single movement from some people with their consent? That is, I know it’s possible because the media are different and the whole situation is completely different. My amazement is what makes someone, knowingly, expose oneself up to her knickers? What do they get in exchange? Some fast cash for maybe a couple of years?
(On a completely idiotic sidenote, how on earth does an ex-celebrity find a job when he/she is still a familiar face but already a has-been?)
Not deep thoughts, you see, just wanted to come back to the comments section before spam comes.
P.S. I’m still shocked I’ve seen the actors dancing “Los Pajaritos”, hahaha. I never thought that “song” could ever cross national borders, but if “Macarena” could, why not?
That was brilliant Sasha. Thank you. I have never watched this programme, but think I will watch the DVDs now.