That or the rule of British TV programming. 6 episodes a season and run for less than 6. See The Young Ones, Coupling, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Black Adder, League of Gentlemen, etc.....

Of course there is also Absolutely Fabulous where Jennifer Saunders writes episodes when she feels she has cobbled together some decent material.

I figured this would be the case, but still sad to hear confirmation of it.

It's a shame there isn't another season, but let's just hope the Extras special is even half as good as The Office Special. That would be nice!

Agreed, Im just glad to get a special too...now if Spaced would get one as well......

After watching a few episodes, here is what I noticed.

In episode 1 of series 2, Keith Chegwin is talking about gay people and says something about cocks and 'beaver', and the UK version says 'minges' instead, which I prefer - I can't believe I'm typing this.

Then in episode 2, a hobo asks Andy what cologne he's wearing and says something about Ryan Seacrest wearing the same type. I don't know who is referenced in the UK version, but it can't be Seacrest, right?

Correct. It's Vernon Kay.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443201/

I think the biggest difference is that HBO still hasnt figured out how to present this show (or Flight of the Conchords) properly on HBO-HD.

From the RickyGervais.com news e-mail:

The Extras Christmas Special, a feature-length series finale, wraps up the Emmy-winning sitcom and will premiere in the US on HBO at 9pm on December 16. Its place in the BBC's Christmas schedule remains a secret for the time being.

A longer-than-usual trailer for the 80 minute TV movie will be released on 19 November - watch it at rickygervais.com then.

This is great news for fans of Extras!

Awesome.

This is great news. Extras was a really great show. I wonder who they will get to do the special. The Daniel Ratcliff episode was hilarious.

I guess we will be havin another laugh.

YES!!! Fantastic news.

But, at the same time, it sucks that this is it, again. Hopefully, Ricky & Stephen have another show in the works. These guys are brilliant.

One of his last podcasts has a trailer for it that looks great!

Ooh, great news! I'd assumed the show was completely done.

this is fantastic news and it comes to DVD only a month later....

that is awesome. i havent had hbo for a while so good thing I can rent it soon

Great show. The Office Christmas special was on the best series finales I've ever watched, I hope they pull off something good with this.

this single episode is as long as each of the seasons of extras individually!

Can't wait...something new I can look forward to watching come December. With no more Curb on HBO after this Sunday, I was thinking of canceling (usually just have HBO for the TV shows) but I guess it'll stay for another month.

I know it's a couple of days early, but it's a heads up for the people who don't know this is being aired.

Bloody Merry.

It's an 80 min finale for the series, similar to the Office Christmas Special Gervais did.

I'm very much looking forward to it.

And the mini-review from sfgate.

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale: 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO and repeated throughout the week.

"Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale" will ultimately be known for several impressive elements. First, it's one of the truly great finales to a television series - smart, true to the original vision but creatively challenging; satisfying without being pat or predictable. Secondly, at a full 80 minutes, it's thrilling in its ambition, attaining closure with artistic triumph.

But perhaps most important, Ricky Gervais gives a tour-de-force dramatic performance and serves notice that he has the ability to go beyond comedic genius (of which he surely has buckets) and into the realm of convincing character actor, not unlike Bill Murray, Robin Williams and Jim Carrey.

The "Extras" series finale is painfully hilarious, and Gervais gets ample opportunity to take his Andy Millman character to sadly funny depths. When he needs a truly searing comedic moment, Gervais takes it - and nails it - but it's what he accomplishes in the difficult dramatic moments that is most impressive. Beyond the level of superb television it achieves, the "Extras" finale is a coming-out party for Gervais, as he confidently steps into a broader acting world.

Thanks for the reminder. Can't wait to see the capper.

F I wish I had HBO

I've heard about one of the guest-stars and I cannot believe they got this person to do what they asked.

One one hand, very excited to see this was coming up. I was mezzo-mezzo on season one, but thought that season two was effen phenomenal and was delightedly surprised to see Gervase win an Emmy for it. On the other hand, I was really surprised and disappointed to see the series end so quickly. This series had legs and there isn't a lot of great new shows on HBO (save The Conchords).