Extras (sitcom)

Influences

The HBO series The Larry Sanders Show is a big influence; it also had celebrities guest star as exaggerated versions of themselves, mocking their public image. In addition, TLSS showed what happens behind-the-scenes of producing a talk show; Extras does the same for movies.

Related Topics:
HBO - The Larry Sanders Show

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Another HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, is another influence, and Gervais has said as much in interviews. The show follows the everyday life Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, with comedy often coming from friction that develops between David and others. These others often include celebrity guests like Ted Danson, David Schwimmer and Ben Stiller (who has appeared as himself in The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Extras). Gervais also lists the David co-created comedy series Seinfeld among his chief influences, most notably in the similarites between the friendships of Maggie and Andy in Extras and Jerry and Elaine in Seinfeld. Although Seinfeld was one of the most popular American TV shows ever made, it never achieved a large audience in the UK, mainly due to the BBC's scheduling, which didn't heavily promote the show and aired it after 11pm weeknights on its secondary channel (BBC 2).

Related Topics:
Curb Your Enthusiasm - Seinfeld - Larry David - Ted Danson - David Schwimmer - Ben Stiller - American - UK - BBC - BBC 2

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