All TV: An 'Extra Special' treat for a bleak season

Today's column reviews the Christmas finale to "Extras":

A year ago at this time, I listened to Ricky Gervais tell me that he had no interest in continuing "Extras," his comic follow-up to the original British version of "The Office."

"What's the point?" he explained. "Got other things to do, really."

Demonstrating a rare sense of TV perspective, he followed that up by admitting, "But then again, that's like saying, 'Do you want to be on telly?' 'What's the point?' I've just reduced my life's work to 'What's the point?' My gravestone: 'He did "The Office." What's the point?' "

Still, he seemed like a man who had a story to tell -- in this case, about a film extra and wannabe actor named Andy Millman (Gervais) who becomes famous but miserable as the creator and star of an awful but popular Britcom; had spent two seasons telling it, and was done.

So what, then, is the point of "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale," which HBO is airing Sunday night at 9?

To read the full thing (which gets more positive as it goes along), click here.