is he having a laugh?
“The Victorian freak show never went away,” Millman rails in a soliloquy that serves as a climax of the “Extras” final episode and a moment of redemption for the character, whose life and friendships have been corrupted by fame. “Now it’s called ‘Big Brother’ or ‘American Idol,’ where in the preliminary rounds we wheel out the bewildered to be sniggered at by multimillionaires.”
To the networks, he says: “You can’t wash your hands of this. You can’t keep going, ‘Oh, it’s exploitation, but it’s what the public wants.’ No.”
To the audience watching at home, he says: “Shame on you. And shame on me. I’m the worst of all. Cause I’m one of these people that goes, ‘I’m an entertainer, it’s in my blood.’ Yeah, it’s in my blood because a real job’s too hard.”
I don’t think so. Ricky Gervais on celebrity culture. If you haven’t seen “Extras” you’ve been missing some great TV.
Willy Wonka = Johnny Wanker
Note to self: Add Orlando Bloom to top of pretend boyfriend list.
Just think, Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp are connected by chunnel. I could easily carry on a pretend affair with both of them.
I’m sorry that Extras was not on my radar. Perhaps there will be a DVD. I always liked the English version of Office best, although both shows are top notch.
Ironically just saw my first X-Men movie last night - the 2nd one was on in the living room when I wandered in and since Partick Stewart was visible I curled up to watch it. Now PS might make a list if I had one
Haven’t seen Extras and would guess I am sorry about that.
Working from just what you’ve given us - -
Extras may be poking fun at celebrity ego in the two video clips you put up but Mr. Gervais doesn’t seem to be laughing in his use of his character and show to rant about reality TV.
Concur on most points alluded to - I especially hate obvious cruelty and do not buy the “but they volunteered for it so that makes it okay ” argument. There is a Roman ampitheatre audience feeling to one show’s auditions in particular. I don’t like and don’t watch the majority of them. A couple I do watch and find to be pretty reasonable in their treatment of people are Top Chef and Project Runway.
Good grief - took my serious pill today didn’t I ……….
Came back to say I loved the scene with the blond woman brushing off Bloom - the other dark haired woman’s reaction totally cracked me up !
If there is a DVD set I will most probably get it.
Ahhh. Top Chef and Project Runway. Two of my very favorites.
The last couple of years of the Idol pre-season shows, AKA “Take a look at these idiots!” have grown sad and tired for me. From the Hollywood show on it has the potential to be pretty interesting. (last year, not so much)
On the one hand I think “These people know what they were getting into - they deserve what they get” and on the other hand I think “This is really humiliating for the people and the producers of the show are cashing in on it.” The impression I get is most of the really awful people are just there to get on tv, even on the “bloopers” show. It’s the few who really believe and have been told that they are fantastic but are really horrible that get me right here. (pointing to my heart)
It’s like watching outtakes of 6 year olds being told by a stranger that there is no Santa. That crushing realization that comes over you when you realize the people you trust most in the world have been lying to you.
Loved the Orlando episode, so many great moments. The one where Daniel Radcliffe is trying to get her into bed is funny as hell as well. The David Bowie episode was excruciating, at exquisite at the same time.
The thing with this show, it is like watching a perpetual train wreck. You can’t look away, even though you can see it coming. You yell “no, no, no,” at the TV, hoping he won’t make another dumb ass blunder. Ricky is definitely riffing on the pitfalls of ego in this show, as opposed to the pitfalls of playing up your skills and knowledge.
My guilty pleasure? I love watching Gordon Ramsay chew out people who think cooking and running a restaurant is easy. Thrills me to no end. Especially the ones that think they are hot shit and he is clueless. I am such a bad person.