{{more citations needed|date=September 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}} {{Use British English|date=February 2014}} {{lowercase title|italic=yes}} {{Infobox television | italic_title = no <!-- it appears this option will need implementation to clear the warning --> | alt_name = extr@ | image = | runtime = 24 minutes | creator = Channel 4 Learning | executive_producer = Andrew Bethell | country = United Kingdom | network = Channel 4 (UK)<br />multiple PBS member station/network instructional television blocks (U.S.) | first_aired = {{start date|2002}} | last_aired = {{end date|2004}} | num_episodes = 30 <small>(English)</small><br />13 <small>(French, Spanish, German)</small> | list_episodes = }}
'''''extra''''' (stylized as '''''extr@''''') is a language education television programme franchise that was scripted in the format of a ''Friends''-esque sitcom. It was in production from 2002 to 2004, and is mainly marketed to the instructional television market for middle school and high school language classes. Four versions were made, each in a different language; English, French, German, and Spanish.<ref>[https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?film=6867&reihe=691 Extra English] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324212439/https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?film=6867&reihe=691 |date=24 March 2022 }}, planet-schule.de</ref><ref>[https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?reihe=560&film=5590 Extra en francais] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219134946/https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?reihe=560&film=5590 |date=19 February 2022 }}, planet-schule.de</ref><ref>[https://www.br.de/alphalernen/faecher/spanisch/index.html Extra en español], br.de</ref><ref>[https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?film=6086&reihe=580 Extra Deutsch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630172957/https://www.planet-schule.de/sf/filme-online.php?reihe=580&film=6086 |date=30 June 2022 }}, planet-schule.de</ref>
The English version was co-produced by Channel 4 Learning and RAI CPTO (Production Centre of Turin) for RAI Educational. All of the episodes were written by Louise Clover.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cambridge.org/de/cambridgeenglish/authors/louise-clover |title=Authors: Louise Clover |website=Cambridge University Press}}</ref>
== Plot == The English version has 30 episodes, and the other three languages have 13 episodes each. The plot of the 13 episodes is nearly the same in all the language variants.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Túc|first=Túc|date=2019-02-13|title=How to Learn English with Extr@ the Series|url=https://ejoy-english.com/blog/enjoy-learning-english-with-extr-tv-series/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=eJOY ENGLISH|language=en-US}}</ref>
Hector/Sam, with only a very basic grasp of the featured language, comes to stay with his pen pal, Bridget/Sacha/Sascha/Lola. Living with Bridget/Sacha/Sascha/Lola is roommate Anna/Annie/Ana. Sleazy and sly neighbor Nick/Nico/Nic/Pablo lives across the hallway. Hector's/Sam's efforts to get to grips with the language provide the dynamic for the series' language learning content. The series is particularly suitable for adolescents and young adults who can relate to the contextual setting and implied meanings in the screenplay. The series ended with Sam and Annie's wedding being canceled, ending with a cliff-hanger; however, the English version had 17 more episodes which provides a better understanding of the character, continuing with Nico and Sacha beginning to date and facing problems, and Sam and Annie wanting to break up. In the end, Sam was offered a job opportunity in the U.S as a producer. The 30th episode, ''Love hurts'', ended with Sam questioning "Should I go?", and there were no more episodes produced, hinting at Sam's departure. Thus the plot begins and ends with Sam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://multimedia-english.com/videos/esl/30-love-hurts-extr-6631 |title=''Love hurts'' |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=multimedia-english.com}}</ref>
== Cast ==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! English ! French ! German ! Spanish |- Vanessa Otero – Lola |- || Javier Marzan - Hector Romero <ref name="pdf">{{cite web|url=https://www.planet-schule.de/fileadmin/dam_media/swr/extra/pdf/en_sc26.pdf|title=EXTRA English 26 Alibi Filmskript|date=|website=planet-schule.de|access-date=11 July 2015|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923085654/https://www.planet-schule.de/fileadmin/dam_media/swr/extra/pdf/en_sc26.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Failed verification|date=May 2022}}</ref> | colspan="3" | Lawrence Ray - Sam Scott |- || Julie Buckfield – Annie Taylor<ref name="pdf" /> || Marie Cordillot – Annie || Britta Becker – Anna Schmidt<ref name= "German Episode 4" >{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid100665598.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111091226/http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid100665598.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 November 2010|title=4Learning - Secondary - Resources4Learning - Secondary - Resources - Modern Languages - German Extra - Sam finds a job|date=11 November 2010}}</ref> || Celia Meiras – Ana |- || Abby Simpson – Bridget Evans<ref name="pdf" /> || Vanessa Seydoux – Sacha Fontaine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFywXWHjZ08|title = - YouTube|website = YouTube}}</ref> || Leontine Hass – Sascha Meier/Fontane<ref name="German Episode 4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkc3PbgXPR4|title = Extr@ auf Deutsch 13 - Deutsch lernen Extra auf Deutsch [Subtitles]|website = YouTube| date=6 April 2016 }}</ref>{{efn|name=sascha|In the German version, Sascha's surname is given as Meier in episode 4, but as Fontane in episode 13}} || Vanessa Otero – Lola Cano<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGdxsg5PZ_M|title = Extra en español EP 13 - Boda en el aire|website = YouTube}}</ref> |- || Toby Walton – Nick Jessop || Jean-Felix Callens – Nico Dubois || Frank Brunet – Nic Müller<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid100665928.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709203008/http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid100665928.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2010|title=4Learning - Secondary - Resources - Modern Languages - German Extra: Series 2 - Episode 5: Ein Star ist geboren|date=9 July 2010}}</ref> || Javier Marzan – Pablo Aranda García<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid10066130.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006064015/http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/section/sectionid10066130.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2014|title=4Learning - Secondary - Resources - Modern Languages - Spanish Extra: Series 2 - Programme 5 - Transcript|date=6 October 2014}}</ref> |}
== Episodes == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Episode ! English<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k89GF-i_Eyg&list=PLdYSWqTrWP2jyqWIdjsATbrb11uN_BMrF Extra English, Playlist], YouTube</ref> ! French<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNqp4FXh-s&list=PLhAxKCm7GPvi1fmbLUbhYhQcLGTZ2Fqwq Extra en français, Playlist], YouTube</ref> ! German<ref>{{Cite web|last=rebeccahenderson|title=Where to Watch "Deutsch Lernen Extra," the TV Show Designed to Teach You German|url=https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/deutsch-lernen-extra/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=www.fluentu.com|date=20 December 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> ! Spanish<ref>{{Cite web|title=Extr@ en español|url=https://www.celebratelanguages.com/esextra.html|access-date=2021-05-07|website=www.celebratelanguages.com}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfb9-ZTCA-E&list=PLLVULqsElvki_riI1ld0QhZJx1wom5Ply Extra en Español, Playlist], YouTube</ref> |- || <div align="center">1</div> || "Hector's Arrival" || "L'arrivée de Sam" || "Sams Ankunft" || "La llegada de Sam" |- || <div align="center">2</div> || "Hector Goes Shopping" || "Sam fait du shopping" || "Sam geht einkaufen" || "Sam va de compras" |- || <div align="center">3</div> || "Hector Has a Date" || "Sam a un rendez-vous" || "Sam hat ein Date" || "Sam aprende a ligar" |- || <div align="center">4</div> || "Hector Looks for a Job" || "Sam trouve du travail" || "Sam sucht einen Job" || "Sam busca un trabajo" |- || <div align="center">5</div> || "A Star Is Born" || "Une étoile est née" || "Ein Star ist geboren" || "Ha nacido una estrella" |- || <div align="center">6</div> || "Bridget Wins the Lottery" || "Le jour du loto" || "Lotto-Tag" || "El día de la Primitiva" |- || <div align="center">7</div> || "The Twin" || "La jumelle" || "Der Zwilling" || "La gemela" |- || <div align="center">8</div> || "The Landlady's Cousin" || "La cousine de la concierge" || "Die Kusine der Vermieterin" || "La prima de la dueña" |- || <div align="center">9</div> || "Jobs for the Boys" || "Du boulot pour Sam et Nico" || "Jobs für Nic und Sam" || "Trabajos para los chicos" |- || <div align="center">10</div> || "Annie's Protest" || "Annie proteste" || "Anna demonstriert" || "Ana protesta" |- || <div align="center">11</div> || "Holiday Time" || "Les vacances" || "Ferienzeit" || "Tiempo de vacaciones" |- || <div align="center">12</div> || "Football Crazy" || "Fou de foot" || "Verrückt nach Fußball" || "Fanáticos del fútbol" |- || <div align="center">13</div> || "A Wedding in the Air" || "Un mariage dans l'air" || "Hochzeitspläne" || "Boda en el aire" |- || <div align="center">14</div> || "Changes" || || || |- || <div align="center">15</div> || "The Bouncer" || || || |- || <div align="center">16</div> || "Uncle Nick" || || || |- || <div align="center">17</div> || "Cyber Stress" || || || |- || <div align="center">18</div> || "Just the Ticket" || || || |- || <div align="center">19</div> || "Kung Fu Fighting" || || || |- || <div align="center">20</div> || "Every Dog has its Day" || || || |- || <div align="center">21</div> || "The Entertainers" || || || |- || <div align="center">22</div> || "Haunting at Halloween" || || || |- || <div align="center">23</div> || "Truth or Dare" || || || |- || <div align="center">24</div> || "Pilot Nick" || || || |- || <div align="center">25</div> || "Art" || || || |- || <div align="center">26</div> || "Alibi" || || || |- || <div align="center">27</div> || "Can You Live Without ...?" || || || |- || <div align="center">28</div> || "Christmas" || || || |- || <div align="center">29</div> || "Camping" || || || |- || <div align="center">30</div> || "Love Hurts" || || || |}
The episode descriptions are based on the English version. The plots are almost the same in the language versions. Word play, as with any internationalization, is usually untranslatable and involves slight differences.
=== Episode 1 === Bridget (Sacha, Sascha, Lola) shares a flat in London (Paris, Berlin, Barcelona) with her friend Annie (Anna, Ana). She receives a letter from her former pen pal Hector from Argentina (Sam from America) announcing his visit. When he actually appears, his knowledge of the English (French, German, Spanish) language turns out to be very poor. This leads to the misunderstanding that he is supposedly playing with toy cars and living in a museum. He also wears old-fashioned clothes. The girls are annoyed by this and wonder whether they should accommodate him. They suggest to Nick (Nico, Pablo), a neighbor who now appears, that he should teach Hector English (French, German, Spanish) lessons while they go grocery shopping.
Jealous Nick slyly teaches Hector words with which he later unsuspectingly annoy Annie. He also encourages Hector to prove his fitness on Bridget's exercise bike, even though he knows that she doesn't tolerate strangers on it. As this makes Hector sweat, he goes to take a shower. The returning girls have had enough and want to throw Hector out. When Hector comes out of the shower dressed only in a towel, they are fascinated by his body and are speechless.
Suddenly Nick pushes Hector back into the bathroom and closes the door. He has found a portrait of Hector and his rich family in a magazine. After Hector confesses to him that he is looking for true friends, they both decide not to tell the girls about it. In the meantime, the girls have changed their minds and ensnare Hector. It also turns out that Hector's bad impression was due to Nick's machinations. Since today is also a holiday, they have a small party.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/01-hectors-arrival.html# |title=Planet Schule - Wissenspool {{!}} 01 {{!}} Hector's Arrival {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA |website=www.planet-schule.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309224457/http://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/01-hectors-arrival.html |archive-date=2012-03-09}} </ref>
=== Episode 2 === Bridget, Annie and Nick are upset about Hector's old-fashioned style of dress and want to give him a new outfit. However, their ideas about the new style diverge greatly. Nick wants a biker, Annie a cowboy and Bridget wants a trendy style. Each of the three buys a piece for Hector. When they get home, they realise that they don't match. After the three practise shopping with Hector in the local language, he goes off himself and, amazingly, returns shortly afterwards in a fashionable outfit.
While they were away, Hector had found a shopping list and ordered the goods on it online. Bridget, Nick and Annie now realise that he ordered one item incorrectly and bought 12 dozen instead of 12 eggs. Finally, the landlady complains that there are 400 tins of dog food in the entrance to the house. Immediately it becomes clear who screwed this up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/02-hector-goes-shopping.html |title=Planet Schule - Wissenspool {{!}} 02 {{!}} Hector Goes Shopping {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA |website=www.planet-schule.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506181551/http://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/02-hector-goes-shopping.html |archive-date=2012-05-06}} </ref>
=== Episode 3 === Annie is dominated by Bridget in her search for a partner. So she tries to post a personal ad on the internet, but only gets three completely bizarre responses. Nick, the braggart, boasts that he can easily find girls on the internet.
Bridget gives Hector gymnastics lessons, then takes Annie to the gym. Before that, she tasks the boys with doing the laundry and watering a plant.
Hector tells Nick that he has never had a girlfriend. The latter then places a dating ad on the internet claiming that they are both millionaires, when in fact this is only true of Hector. Meanwhile, Hector sprays the plant with perfume instead of watering it and puts his red T-shirt inside the white underwear, which has to be washed very hot.
After the boys leave the flat, they receive 633 responses to the advertisement. This is what the girls, who are now returning home, discover. They also find the faded and perfumed plant, the empty perfume bottle and the white underwear stained red by the T-shirt. They plot revenge and delete the 633 mails. Then they go to the cybercafe to invite the boys on a date with two dancers.
The returning boys are disappointed to have received only one reply. However, they are pleased that they are dancers and prepare for the date. In the process, Nick practices with Hector how to give compliments. When there is a knock at the door at the agreed time, two girls dressed as dogs are standing there. At first they pretend to be dancers in a dog musical. Nick insists that they are millionaires. Bridget and Annie now reveal themselves and think that the "millionaires" could pay for the withered plant and the underwear.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/03-hector-has-a-date.html |title=Planet Schule - Wissenspool {{!}} 03 {{!}} Hector Has a Date {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA English {{!}} EXTRA |website=www.planet-schule.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506181923/http://www.planet-schule.de/wissenspool/extra/inhalt/extra-english/03-hector-has-a-date.html |archive-date=2012-05-06}} </ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0934648}}
Category:2002 British television series debuts Category:2004 British television series endings Category:British television shows for schools Extr@ Category:English-language education television programming Category:French-language education television programming Category:German-language education television programming Category:Language education in the United Kingdom Category:Spanish-language education television programming Category:Television franchises Category:2000s British sitcoms Category:Channel 4 sitcoms