This episode concentrates far more on the main characters than the celebrity guest stars although when David Bowie does make an appearance it’s well worth the wait.
It starts with an excerpt from Andy Millman’s sitcom When the Wind Blows rather than the usual spoof movie clip, and while it’s not without comedy value, it’s something I’d prefer didn’t continue every week.
Throughout the episode, Andy discovers that fame is a double-edged sword. An encounter with a beggar has him concerned that he’ll be presented in a bad light if he fails to give generously enough, while an attractive new neighbor has him attempt to “use his new powers for evil,” as Maggie puts it.
The episode really has two double acts this week. In addition to Andy and Maggie, we also have Stephen Merchant as Millman’s agent and Shaun Williamson as his only other client, to whom he always refers as “Barry from EastEnders.” While they’ve appeared regularly, this episode gives them more exposure than normal and it doesn’t really work; they seem to serve the series best as supporting characters.
When Andy is recognized in a pub by a couple of freaky fans, he can’t wait to get away and, at Shaun’s suggestion, they head off to an exclusive club. Here he’s recognized again, only this time by people slightly less fanatical about his new comedy show. He manages to take some short-lived shelter from the abuse in the cordoned off VIP area. Unfortunately, it is short-lived because, having barely sat down, he’s asked to move when a real star, in the shape of David Bowie, makes an appearance.
Managing to bribe his, and Maggie’s, way back into the VIP area again, he winds up pouring out his troubles to Mr. Bowie, who, after listening intently, turns to a piano and starts serenading the “Chubby Little Loser.” It’s far and away the highlight of the episode.
Andy ends up back at the pub with his devoted fans, including the newly arrived Count Fuckula. They may be freaks, but at least they like him.
While nowhere near as funny as last week's episode, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Ricky Gervais and Ashley Jensen make a great team, and after the first episode kept them apart for most of its running time, it’s nice to have them together again for the majority of this one.
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Article comments
1 - Duke De Mondo
i'm not at all sure what to make of Extras any more. i adore Ricky Gervais, i think The Office is pretty much the finest comedy series of the decade, but this is very, very hit and miss.the first series was also, but hit far more often than the three episodes i've seen thus far of this second series. the bowie episode i thought was half wonderful, half wretched. the bowie bit i would include in the wretched section.
a good friend of mine summed it up thus; "in The Office, David Brent thought he was brilliant but we knew he wasn't. in this, we're supposed to assume Andy IS brilliant." it doesn't work, it comes off as incredibly smug and self-righteous. particularly the stuff with the fans in the bowie episode. that was rather sickening, the contempt the script displayed towards those people.
still, i watch every episode and i'll buy the DVD, becuase it's Gervais and when it's good it's astounding, but the air of self-righteous snobbery that hangs over this series is especially distasteful.
2 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks for the comment.
I found this a hard episode to review because it's not great (although it has moments of greatness) but it's not crap either. It occupies that middle ground of being merely adequate and therefore there's nothing much to shout about.
I can't agree about the treatment of the fans. While they are portrayed as a bunch of weirdoes that's a pretty accurate description of the kind of fanatical fan depicted here. Yes it’s a generalisation but that's often how comedy works. I was never a big fan of The Office (I think David Brent reminded me a little too much of a boss I once had, he even had the beard) but it worked in the same way - we know this kind of person and that's what makes it funny. And let’s not forget that it's their company he seeks out at the end.
Andy is kind of half David Brent (he thinks he's great) and half Ricky Gervais (he is great) although this season he's more Ricky (the fictional TV show mirrors his problems with the BBC.)
For me this is still the best British comedy running at the moment, even when it's only average like this week.
But then I loved the Bowie bit.
3 - peter donson
andy milmans show is called when the whistle blows not when the wind blows - did you watch this at all?