HBO'S EMMY(r)-NOMINATED COMEDY SERIES EXTRAS TO END ITS RUN WITH A ONE-HOUR SPECIAL WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SERIES CREATORS RICKY GERVAIS AND STEPHEN MERCHANT

LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2007 - The acclaimed HBO comedy series EXTRAS will conclude its run with a one-hour special, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. To be written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (creators of the Golden Globe-winning BBC comedy series "The Office"), the special will shoot in August, with the debut date to be announced when is confirmed.

"It's been an honor to present this hilarious series on HBO," said Strauss. "I can't wait to see how Ricky and Stephen will wrap up the saga of Andy Millman."

EXTRAS is the story of fortysomething aspiring actor Andy Millman, who gave up his day job to pursue fame in the movies, only to find he couldn't land the big parts. Then things started looking up for the determined, ever-optimistic Andy, who became the star of a hit, albeit lowbrow, sitcom, while learning that success isn't everything that it seems.

"Fame is a mask that eats into the face - even a pug-nosed face," says Ricky Gervais. "Andy Millman is now a big star. He has a hit TV show, a brand new hot-shot agent and a multi-million-dollar mansion. But it's not enough."

EXTRAS stars Ricky Gervais (star of "The Office") as Andy Millman. The cast also features Stephen Merchant as Andy's incompetent agent; Ashley Jensen ("Ugly Betty") as Maggie Jacobs, Andy's friend and former fellow extra; and Shaun Williamson ("EastEnders") as another unfortunate client of Andy's agent.

The six-episode first season of EXTRAS launched in Sept. 2005, while the six-episode second season launched last January. New York's Daily News called it "fabulously funny" and the Washington Post described the show as "yet another roguish triumph for Gervais." TV Guide said, "EXTRAS is a winner," and the San Francisco Chronicle hailed the show as "wickedly funny" and "searingly original." Among the guests in the two seasons were Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, David Bowie, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen and Daniel Radcliffe.

HBO Video released the second season of EXTRAS on DVD July 10.

EXTRAS received four Emmy(r) nominations for its first season, including two for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Patrick Stewart, Ben Stiller), as well as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Kate Winslet) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant).

The EXTRAS special will be written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant; producer, Charlie Hanson; executive produced by Jon Plowman.