Extras: Orlando Bloom

Extras: Orlando Bloom
BBC & HBO
14 September 2006
Sitcom
DVD
B

Cast that would return:

• Andrew Buckley as Gobbler
• Jamie Chapman as Brains
• Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman
• Guy Henry as Iain Morris
• Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs
• Gervais's co-writer and co-director Stephen Merchant as Darren Lamb
• Sarah Moyle as Kimberley
• Sarah Preston as Make-up Woman
• Martin Savage as Damon Beesley
• Liza Tarbuck sort of as herself
• Shaun Williamson sort of as himself, which means he keeps being called Barry because of his Eastenders character

Also, obviously, Orlando Bloom is sort of himself, only really vain, especially about his looks and snogging ability.

This second-series opener is funny and intelligent about television, and sort of about human nature.  Since I've never seen the first series (I've seen the Daniel Radcliffe episode, coming up in awhile), I had to get my bearings, but apparently Andy, like his friend Maggie, used to be an extra, but now he has his own sitcom.  Unfortunately, the humour is very broad and not what he wants to do.  Oddly enough, the theme tune to the sitcom-within-the-sitcom, When the Whistle Blows, reminded me of the theme for Saved by the Bell, only slower.