Why do the British make so few episodes of their TV shows? I just finished watching the first season of Extras, Ricky Gervais’ new sitcom, and it was fantastic. But, like his version of The Office, a season is only 6 episodes. What the hell is that all about? I want more! Especially because it is so damn funny.
I’m pleased that his character this time around is a little more likable than David Brent, although he tends to fall into many awkward situations, a la Curb Your Enthusiasm, which ensure that life will never go easy for him. His partner in crime is a fellow female extra who is trying just as hard to land dates just he is to actually get a line in one of the many films he’s been in. The two of them seem to have Larry David’s horrible problem of sticking their foot in their mouths, though, with hilarious results.
What really seals the deal on Extras though are the guest celebrities playing themselves in each episode. I didn’t think their was anything funnier than Kate Winslett giving out phone sex advice while wearing a nun’s habit, that is until Patrick Stewart told the tale of the screenplay he wrote in which he has the power to do anything with his mind, like Professor X. And he uses that power to make women take their clothes off. And that’s basically it. Check it out on DVD and if you’ve got cable, heaven forbid, check out Season Two now, because I’m wicked jealous.
Also amazingly good right now (and on network television, nonetheless!) is the sixth season of 24. Oh man, is it good. Jack and company have really pushed it to the limit this season. Keifer is especially Keifer-tastic this season, given new depth of character to play with after having been plucked out of two years in a Chinese prison camp only to be killed for the good of the country. And when that doesn’t happen he has to work with a terrorist to save the day and shoot his good friend over said terrorist to do so! For most shows that would be more than enough drama for one season. For 24 though, that’s just the first four episodes, and that’s not even the big news! What other show could then get away with exploding a nuke in Los Angeles? 24, that’s who! (Which is not to say there hasn’t been precedent on the show in the past for this. I mean, they’ve already dropped a nuke in the desert, had a nuclear fallout over part of the city, launched nerve gas attacks, shot down Air Force One, assassinated two presidents, etc. etc. etc.) Still, damn, what a way to start off the season.
C'est Non Un Blog 
There are tons of shows still on in the UK, just not shown here. Easterners is still on there. Also, their Office Space was on there in July, 2006. I think that it sucks that we can’t get all of their tv here.
Extras, I think, was just not able to pay the actors enough to carry it through, if I recall.
I have to tell you, I hate 24. HATE it, and I don’t hate anything, really. And even if you wanted to watch it now, you would be lost as to what was going on. I was happy that it didn’t when anything at the Globes.
Heros didn’t win either, but I like that show, some, now that I have caught up with it.
With all that said, if we could watch more British TV, I might watch more TV then. I really am not a great TV watcher. I like House. I like CSI Vegas, but not anymore since Grisim is leaving. And really, that’s it. We watch Las Vegas because Bob and I go there a lot, and I think we watch Charlie Sheens show. Bob loves tv. I prefer movies more. I will watch American Idol, mostly because I am a dork.
I wish I had your passion for TV. 😦 Sadly, I just read a lot. 😛 Cause, again, I am a dork.
What do you mean by “Extras, I think, was just not able to pay the actors enough to carry it through, if I recall.” I never heard that. I mean, the second season is on right now. And the British Office had six episode only seasons, much like most of the BBC comedies.
Why do you hate 24? I mean, it is perfectly fine if you do. 24 isn’t for everyone. Still, I couldn’t figure out if it was the show itself or the fact that if you tried to jump in now that you’d be lost that was bothering you about it. Because if the later is the problem, then I always find that starting with the first episode of the season is always the easiest way to get into one of the days of 24. Once they are in the middle of the day, though, forget it. That’s why they started running the show non-stop, so people would get hooked and then not get lost because repeats started airing. Anyway, I’m a huge fan of the show, and it has only gotten better with age.
The funny thing about me is that I have so many passions that I don’t know what to do with myself. I was talking to one of my high school friends about this the other day. Most people have their “thing” that they are really passionate about: movies or television, or music or books. I have all of the above and then some. Aside from not having a life, I have no idea how I fit everything in. Be glad you have a life, then. And I envy the fact that you have time to read, because that’s the one thing I just don’t get enough of. I’ve had to resort to comics and magazines to get my reading in, because they are much more bite-sized and easier to fit in. I can’t ever seem to finish a book for the life of me.
That’s why I don’t like it. It’s on all the time, everyday, somewhere. It’s just too much. But again, that’s me.
Give up some tv and read then. If you don’t watch tv, you can fit in the time to read a book. I fit everything in, but in segments. I read around the shows I do like, but I put more emphasis on my mind, in reading. I like that more than being fed tv. Movies I like because they have a beginning and an end somewhere. I like that because, as much as I like the movie, it ends and gives me time to read or do other things I like. When I get wrapped up in a tv show, well, it’s tough to miss the next episode, or you get lost, as with Heros for me. I need a DVR. I think it is which do you have a passion MORE for. I read, love it. I am reading three books at one time, too. I am book freak. Always have been. My office has over 3000 books in it, that I have read.
One more thing, I also don’t like shows that try to be “realistic” and then does something that isn’t. I get irritated, stressed, and walk away from a show when they do that. I hate the drama too. CSI, I liked only because of Grisim. He was smart, and I learned some stuff from his character. Now, it’s all drama and no learning. Ugh. Hate that. I can watch The Office, which I love, because I know beforehand, it will be over the top. LOL And I get it. I don’t like Earl too much. I think it’s too fake for me.
I am person who will watch American Justice, or Cold Case Files on A&E because they are more real. I can watch the Discovery and all that for the realness of it. TV shows like Friends, which I don’t get, or Raymond, would stress me out because they just are not real. I liked Seinfield because it was a show about nothing in our lives. I can relate. I have lots of nothing happening everyday.
I loved FireFly. I loved Northern Exposure. I miss those shows a lot.
I like wit.
Well that is my weirdness in a nutshell about TV. I try to get into more TV stuff, but it’s tough. I rebel against it a lot.
I thought Extras was on it’s last season…
The BBC just runs short seasons. I think the idea is that shorter seasons save money and also provide creative focus – you don’t have to fill out a 22 or 24 episode season, but you can put more time and attention into each episode, arc, etc. and I doubt Ricky Gervais has trouble getting a show funded at the moment. I love Extras, the season premiere was great.
24… it’s definitely non-stop. I’m not sure if I’m liking it as much this year so far. Definitely shocking, but I’m not sure I can forgive them right away for so cruelly dispatching Curtis the Ninja Warrior. I really like The Biscuit in his new role as official 24 dickhead, though.
I’m not much of a reader either. But I don’t really feel like it’s an either/or, or that one is superior to the other. Good television can have as much thematic depth and detail as any book, be just as entertaining, bla bla bla.
Do you do TV on DVD at all? That would be a good way to keep up with a show without having to worry about revolving your schedule around a certain show for weeks on end.
It is very possible that Extras is on its last season, since The Office only ran for two seasons and Gervais has been very vocal about not wanting to beat a good idea into the ground. I haven’t heard that though, so I don’t know.
I am just now getting into DVD on tv. I ordered some L Word stuff. I will see if I can find Heros, too. If it’s out yet. I am so lost.
I am open to trying new shows, for sure. I want to see Babalyon 5!