Jul. 12, 2006 | HBO'S EMMY®-NOMINATED COMEDY SERIES EXTRAS

EXTRAS, the Emmy®-nominated HBO comedy series from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (creators of the Golden Globe-winning BBC comedy series "The Office"), has begun production on its six-episode second season, slated to kick off next year. The first comedy series co-production of HBO and the BBC, EXTRAS made its debut on HBO in September 2005.

EXTRAS stars Ricky Gervais (star of "The Office") as bitter, aspiring actor Andy Millman, who gives up his day job to pursue fame in the movies, only to find he just can't land the big parts. Each episode has a different setting and features cameos by top Hollywood stars. The cast also features Stephen Merchant as Millman's agent and Ashley Jensen as Andy's friend and felllow extra Maggie Jacobs.

Season two of EXTRAS will pick up on the storyline of season one, when Andy Millman sold his series idea to the BBC - but his big break may not turn out to be what it seems. The new season's cameos will include Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Robert Lindsay, Chris Martin, Ian McKellen and Daniel Radcliffe.

EXTRAS has just received four Emmy® nominations, including two for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Patrick Stewart, Ben Stiller), as well as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Kate Winslet) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant).

The six-episode first season of EXTRAS received critical raves. Entertainment Weekly termed the series "HBO's next hit show," while New York's Daily News called it "fabulously funny." Daily Variety hailed it as "painfully funny" and the Washington Post described the show as "wincingly funny and hilarious." Among the first-season guests were Kate Winslet and Patrick Stewart. EXTRAS is written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant; executive produced by Jon Plowman.