The "Fix" Is In
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I just encountered a remedy for the dyspepsia brought on by Sting's recent, self-aggrandizing visit to NBC's dramedy "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (see the earlier post "Lute-ing the Vaults"). And that remedy is Coldplay's Chris Martin, who, in the name of comedy, shows exactly how craven one can be when flogging one's product.To reiterate: Instead of promoting his just-released classical album by performing a long-forgotten number from the 16th century, Sting chickened out on "Studio 60" and played that adult-contempo classic "Fields of Gold" -- on the lute. (I guess you don't wanna frighten any fans in the great American viewing audience by spouting a bunch of thees and thou-arts.)Anyhow...through the magic of them thar new-fangled 'lectronics (you know what I mean, bit-torrenters), I've been enjoying the second season of the Brit-com "Extras" from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant -- the writing-directing team responsible for the brilliant, critically-acclaimed mockumentary series "The Office," which ran in the U.K. for 12 episodes and a Christmas special before spawning a U.S. version.
Coldplay's X & Y"Extras," which just finished its sophomore run on BBC2 and will show up on HBO in a few weeks, follows the progress of 40-ish "background artist" Andy Millman (Gervais) who quit his bank job to become an actor -- and meets with nothing but disdain and disappointment, even when he eventually gets to star in his own TV series. Each episode of the show features one or more real-life celebs from the world of show-biz as exaggerated or caricatured versions of themselves. So Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McKellen and others have taken the plunge with riotous results.Martin shows up on "Extras" when he follows Andy at a recording session for a series of eco-conscious public-service announcements, and tries to turn a call for clean water into a shameless plug for a Coldplay greatest-hits collection. Then, Martin wheedles a gratuitous guest-shot on Andy's lowbrow workplace sit-com "When the Whistle Blows," shoe-horning a glib performance of the ballad "Fix You" into the middle of the show -- to Andy's embarrassment. Wincingly hilarious.I hope Sting was tuned in.
Coldplay's X & Y"Extras," which just finished its sophomore run on BBC2 and will show up on HBO in a few weeks, follows the progress of 40-ish "background artist" Andy Millman (Gervais) who quit his bank job to become an actor -- and meets with nothing but disdain and disappointment, even when he eventually gets to star in his own TV series. Each episode of the show features one or more real-life celebs from the world of show-biz as exaggerated or caricatured versions of themselves. So Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McKellen and others have taken the plunge with riotous results.Martin shows up on "Extras" when he follows Andy at a recording session for a series of eco-conscious public-service announcements, and tries to turn a call for clean water into a shameless plug for a Coldplay greatest-hits collection. Then, Martin wheedles a gratuitous guest-shot on Andy's lowbrow workplace sit-com "When the Whistle Blows," shoe-horning a glib performance of the ballad "Fix You" into the middle of the show -- to Andy's embarrassment. Wincingly hilarious.I hope Sting was tuned in.
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