Jonathan Ross (episode)

Robert de Niro admiring Barry's pornographic pen

## Guest appearances

Jonathan RossRobert Lindsay
Robert de Niro

'**Jonathan Ross**' is the sixth and final episode of the second season of *Extras*, the twelfth episode overall. It was originally broadcast on 19 October 2006 on BBC Two and on 12 February 2007 on HBO. The guest stars for this episode were English talk show host Jonathan Ross, English actor Robert Lindsay and American actor Robert de Niro.

## Summary

Convinced that he has outgrown his sitcom and his agent, Andy becomes detached from his friends after appearing on *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross* and becoming friends with Ross. Andy is also getting very sick of Darren's incompetence and sets him a task: find a way for him to meet Robert de Niro or be fired.

Despite making excuses, Andy is coerced into visiting a boy who is in hospital with cancer and asks Maggie to go with him. Robert Lindsay, who appeared on the Ross show with Andy, is incensed that he, the more famous and talented actor (according to him), was not asked to visit the ailing child and gate-crashes the scheduled visit. Lindsay becomes livid when the sick child shows no recognition of Lindsay's earlier work, especially his appearances as Wolfie on 1970s sitcom *Citizen Smith*.

Just as Andy is about to fire Darren when he catches him masturbating over a pornographic pen, Darren tells Andy he has arranged a meeting with De Niro. The meeting time conflicts with one of Andy's scheduled visits to the sick boy, but guilt at the burden he is imposing on Maggie combined with his suspicion of Darren's empty promises forces Andy to keep his appointment with the boy at the cost of meeting De Niro. Lamb is able to pacify De Niro with the pornographic pen, and at the hospital, Andy receives a call from Lamb and De Niro, who invite Andy to meet up at a pub, which he and Maggie accept.

## Cast

### Main

* Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman
* Ashley Jensen as Maggie Jacobs
* Stephen Merchant as Darren Lamb
* Shaun Williamson as Barry (himself)

### Guest

* Jonathan Ross as himself
* Robert Lindsay as himself
* Robert de Niro as himself
* Corey J. Smith as Joe
* Regina Freedman as Joe's mother
* Paul Albertson as Maggie's date

### Extra

* Jennie Goossens as Date's mother
* David McKail as Date's father
* Penny Ryder as Date's family friend
* Lawry Lewin as Researcher
* Cathy Murphy as Nurse
* Alex Dee as Fritz

## Trivia

* This episode was written on the basis that Robert De Niro had tentatively expressed interest in appearing in the series, but when filming had started the producers had not actually pinned him down to a filming date. During one scene Ricky Gervais jokingly did a couple of takes saying de Niro's name with a coffee cup in front of his face so that they could dub different actors' names in if necessary.

## Cultural references

* Robert Lindsay references his appearances on the television series *Citizen Smith*, *GBH*, and *My Family*.
	+ He also reenacts a song and dance to "Make 'em Laugh" from *Singin' in the Rain* (1952) for Joe, who replies with "I'm not really into musicals."
* Making small-talk with Robert de Niro, Darren asks him if he has actually driven a taxi in real life, referencing de Niro's role in *Taxi Driver* (1976).
	+ In response to this, de Niro replies "No"; however, in real life he did actually drive a taxi for a month in preparation for his role in the film.
* The song that plays over a montage of Andy and Jonathan Ross having fun together is "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw.

## Gallery

Robert Lindsay talking with Andy behind the scenes of the chat show