Extras Anyone?

I was a latecomer to The Office. Not this morning - I was bright eyed and bushy tailed today. Well, I was actually sore as a bastard and probably red eyed, but more on that later.

Where was I? Ah yes, The Office. It was a very funny show, with just the right mix of British character humour and excruciating situation comedy in the blacker sense of the word. I loved it. So it was with some excitement that I tuned in to Extras last night, being the new vehicle for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the Office guys. Ricky plays Andy, an actor who is focusing on background with a view to moving into speaking parts... You can see where this is going.

I am risking this being exactly like about 14 million other sites/posts about this today, actually, it isn't a matter of risk, it IS like about 14 million other sites/posts about this today...

So..... How was it? Not quite more of the same, although certainly there are similarities in the awkward situations that the characters find themselves in, or more often put themselves in. There is less of an ensemble cast than the Office, although one episode is probably a harsh basis on which to make a call - no doubt more regulars will appear.

The other difference that came to my mind was the use of Hollywood/movie stars, last night Ben Stiller, to send themselves up. I didn't find this as titillating as some others might, although it is always fun to see these people able to take the piss.

I think that this will take a few episodes to grow on me, much as The Office did. It is always unfair to compare these things to previous work, especially something as successful as The Office, but then again, everyone will do just that, fair or no, so bugger it. More pressure this time around.

So what did you think? Did anyone watch?

Oh, and just because you all care, soreness and red-eyedness (pricecheck on red-eyedness please?) was due to a magnificent basketball victory - including 20 points from yours truly - last night after a few weeks off with illness (which put paid to any semblance of fitness to which I may have laid claim) and waking up early this morning respectively. It is all about the sharing, after all...