Extras/Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller
Season 1, Episode 1
Airdate	July 21, 2005
Written by	Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Directed by	Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
— N/A	1x02 → Ross Kemp
Extras — Season One

Ben Stiller is the first episode of the first season of Extras. Andy and Maggie portray civilians in the Balkan wars in a film directed by guest star Ben Stiller, who is abnormally preoccupied with his box office returns.

Cast: Ricky Gervais (Andy Millman), Ashley Jensen (Maggie Jacobs), Boris Bosković (Goran), Steve Jackson (Jon), Shaun Pye (Greg)

With: Ben Stiller

Co-Stars: Liza Sadovy (Jackie Greer), Jay Villiers (Producer), Eleanor Matsuura (Producer's Wife), Jo Wyatt (Woman in bar), Thomas Byrne (Boy), Paul Tripp (Grip)

Plot Overview

Ben Stiller introduces the cast and crew of his new film to Goran, the Balkan man who lived the brutal true story they are shooting. He makes the point that his film will help change attitudes and bring attention to the inequities of the world in a way that will echo far longer than the smash hit comedy Dodgeball, as brilliant and eminently rewatchable as it is. Andy watches as Goran complains to Ben about his warm Coke and a lack of smoke on the battlefield, and he realizes where the true power on the set lies. If he wants a line, he's going to have to go to Goran to get it.

Later, Andy goes to Goran's trailer under the guise of thanking him for being a part of such a wonderful, meaningful film. He finds Goran looking at pictures of his dead wife and son, and the two share awkward moments as Andy wonders aloud where one gets such prints developed. Andy manages to ask Goran to talk to Ben about getting him a line in the film, but Goran breaks down in tears at the thought of his wife and can't respond. Andy decides to come back later, when there's not so much crying involved.

Maggie goes to meet with the film's production coordinator, Jon, to find out if she is owed extra money for her performance, and is pleased to see that he's attractive, single, and not gay. She then meets up with Andy between shots and warns him that a fellow extra, Jackie Greer, is on the prowl and inviting everyone to her upcoming birthday party. As Andy is explaining his foolproof plan to get out of any social engagement, Jackie spots the duo and invites them, insisting that she won't take "no" for an answer. Maggie's attempts at avoidance fail miserably, but Andy manages to get out of it by claiming his sick sister will be in town for the weekend. At lunch, Maggie stumbles upon Jon and realizes he's going to the party as well, giving her something to look forward to. Andy finds out that the producer of the film will be there as well and decides that maybe he can make it after all.

Andy returns to Goran's trailer bearing a gift, a voucher coupon for Top Shop. Goran is in better spirits this time and accepts the gift. Andy reminds him that he was going to ask Ben about getting him a line and refuses to hand over the gift until Goran promises he will do so. Later in the day, Ben threatens to shoot the mother of a child actor in order to get him to stop giggling during every take of a very emotional scene.

That night, Andy and Maggie arrive at the bar for Jackie's birthday. Maggie strikes up a conversation with Jon, and the two get along quite well. Andy locks onto the film's producer, ends up buying him an entire bottle of champagne, and does his best to insert himself into every conversation the man is having with other people, despite the fact that he has no idea what they're talking about. Maggie finds Andy and tells him she's leaving the party with Jon, and Andy then points out the fact that Jon is not exactly perfect. One of his legs is shorter than the other, and he wears a big, thick-soled shoe to compensate. Maggie had failed to notice this, as every time she'd seen him prior to this he'd been sitting down. Visibly shaken, Maggie decides she can't go with him and tries to come up with a valid excuse, but Jon knows the truth. He leaves, angry and humiliated.

Andy and Maggie return to chat with the producer. Just as Andy begins broaching the subject of a speaking role, one of the women in the group asks Maggie why she had such a problem with Jon's foot, and why she had to hurt him. Maggie denies this, and Andy speaks up in her defense but manages to insult the producer's wife and her entire race in the process. Defeated and no longer welcome, Andy and Maggie leave the party.

Back on location, Goran has some good news for Andy: he's gotten him a line in the film. Andy's unhappy, however, because it's only one line and he'd like more, so he convinces Goran to ask Ben about switching the parts. Ben snaps, telling Goran to shut up about his dead wife and all his suffering, which leads Maggie to stick up for him. Ben dismisses her as a nobody and Andy speaks up to defend her, resulting in Ben insulting Andy—until Andy, finally fed up, brings up Starsky and Hutch. Not pleased to be reminded of that film, Ben goes ballistic, and apparently not content with merely firing Andy, seems desperate to prove how successful he is by reeling off the exact box office returns of Meet the Fockers, as well as all the celebrities he's kissed, in order to prove he's not a nerd. Andy is kicked off the set as Ben screams about how it doesn't matter if he's only kissed these beautiful women in films, the kisses still count.

Trivia

Behind the Scenes

• Episode Order: Although originally broadcast first, this is actually the second episode according to the BBC episode guide and the DVD.