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HBO
So what made you want to do a show about extras?
Ricky
Well, you should write about what you know, and before I did "The Office," I worked in an office for seven or eight years, and people-watched and jotted down observations. I came to that with a big bag of experience. And the last seven years I've been in the media. So you come at it with anecdotes and stories and opinions, and you want to get those off your chest. It's not really about the industry as such, just like "The Office" wasn't really about selling paper. It's about relationships and a decent job at work, and getting on.
HBO
How else does "Extras" compare to "The Office" — your first show?
Ricky
It's got all my favorite themes in it, just like in "The Office" — ego, wasting your life. There are probably more plots in "Extras," because we tried to hide the plotting in "The Office" to make it look like a fake documentary, whereas "Extras" is more of a traditional sit-com, really. There are stories, there are plots, but it's still a character-based piece.
As different as their premises, "Extras" and "The Office" are similar in the sensibilities of the comedy. They're both about excruciating social faux pas and the minutiae of human behavior. If our comedy can be described easily, it's embarrassment. We like that. What's the worst thing someone could say here? We like the audience feeling empathy with 'em.
HBO
So how much of the Andy Millman character is really you?
Ricky
When "The Office" came out, people wondered if I was really like David Brent. And I'm a bit, but so is everyone. We've got a little bit of David Brent in all of us. But I think I'm much more like Andy Millman. Some of the things that happen in this have happened to me. [SIGHS] I can't stand lateness, I can't stand noise, a noisy restaurant - it drives me mad. And I've put all of these [SNICKERS] neuroses and hates into Andy Millman. So, yeah, he's more like me than David Brent, I'd say.
HBO
Besides acting on the show, what other duties do you have?
Ricky
I wrote and directed the show with Stephen Merchant. And my other duties included trying to put off the other actors during takes. Filming the extra, tying him up. I used to dress him up for my own amusement. Uh, sending people out to get me toasted cheese sandwiches. That took up only fifty percent of the time. The rest was just trying to get through the takes, really. But there's a lot to think of.
HBO
Have you ever been an extra?
Ricky
I haven't, no. I wrote myself a part and went straight to the top. I recommend that to anyone.
HBO
How about any advice for an aspiring extra, having worked as an actor on sets?
Ricky
Advice for an aspiring extra... well it depends what you're in it for. To be honest, extras are in it for various different reasons. Some do it because they hope they'll be discovered. They think that Spielberg's gonna say, "I like that fellow in the mud. He's good. Look at him - he's playing dead well." Some do it 'cause it gets them out of the house. Some do it 'cause it's slightly easier than working, I imagine, and it's interesting work. I wouldn't suggest becoming an extra to be discovered and be an actor. In fact, I'd advise against it. I'd say you want to do the opposite, really. But if you want an interesting day dressing up, then stay at home. Don't bother to go into a film set to dress up.
HBO
Tell us about some of the guest artists that appear on the show.
Ricky
Over the first season, we've got a couple of big American stars and a couple of English guys that you might not be aware of, such as Ross Kemp, who was one of our biggest soap stars, and Les Dennis, who's a big game show host. We deconstruct their image, or they play twisted versions of themselves. And even though the focus has been on the A-list stars, they're really icing on the cake. It's always more about the little people on set, and their interaction with these guest stars.
HBO
Andy has a buddy on the show, a woman named Maggie. What is their relationship like?
Ricky
My only friend in the world in "Extras" is Maggie Jacobs. She's another extra who isn't as driven as me. I'm desperate, I'm angry that I'm not getting my piece of the world. Whereas she's sort of drifting through, doing it for laughs, and doing it to meet guys. She's looking for love. She's not looking for one-night stands, she just sort of ends up with that sort of thing. She just makes bad choices, really. So it's two hapless people who can't do anything about their lot, really.
HBO
How would you describe Andy's relationship with his agent?
Ricky
It's the blind leading the blind. I'm frustrated, I know he's useless, but there's nothing I can do about it, 'cause I'm totally impotent in this struggle for fame. And he's the worst agent in the world, and I just can't take him out of my life because I feel so sorry for him. It's like a stray dog, you don't know whether to cuddle it or take it to the vet and have it put down. That's the relationship, really.
The agent is played by Stephen, whose acting style I could best describe as Beaker from the Muppets. I mean, he won't mind me saying so, he's an oddity. A freak of a guy. He's eight foot tall, has stupid glasses, awful hair, but it makes me look good, which is why he's in the series. We look so strange on screen together as well. The height difference is ridiculous. I want people to know that he is a freak and I'm the normal one. Don't look at this and go, "What? Didn't know Ricky was a dwarf." I'm not. He's the weird one. I want you to know that. It's so fun as well, working opposite of Steve, because we sort of know what the other one's thinking. He's thinking, "I wish you guys would take this seriously," and I'm wishing I was taller.
HBO
So tell us about the creative process for you and Stephen. What's the collaboration like?
Ricky
Well, I come up with everything, and to get fifty percent, he does a lot of my laundry. Back massage. Stuff like that. People will say I'm stupid to give that much away, but he's a friend.
HBO
So what's the best thing about doing the show?
Ricky
The best thing about doing the show... it's fun. You know, it's embarrassing enough, acting for a living, so you might as well enjoy it. And there's nothing more enjoyable for me than the creative process. I like the actual making of TV programs, from coming up with the idea to us writing it, casting it, directing it. We worry about the fun on the back of the DVD, that to me is the fun bit. Myself and Stephen can put the box on our shelf and say, "We made that." And that's the real buzz for us.
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Video
Watch the promos and trailers for Extras.
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