Although HBO's "Extras" was never the pop-culture hit that Ricky Gervais' "The Office" became on BBC America, "Extras" took Gervais' patented comedy of the uncomfortable into a new direction -- he and writer Stephen Merchant added a little heart.

Where Gervais' David Brent on "The Office" was detestable to the point of being irredeemable, Andy Millman (Gervais, again) on "Extras" is a more complicated character. He's certainly more evolved than Brent and maybe even a little more self-aware.

But the biggest difference is that Andy, though certainly flawed, is not beyond saving. In "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale" (9 tonight, HBO), Gervais and Merchant, who wrote and directed the series-ender, do redeem Andy, which may come as a disappointment to darker-hearted fans. But I'd argue that the optimistic conclusion is wholly in keeping with the show's tone from the start.

Andy may have begun as a lowly extra, desperate for screen time beside brand-name stars, but by the show's second season, he became a star in his own right. Granted, he was the catch-phrase spouting buffoon on a lowbrow comedy, but at least he advanced a little, even if his evolution was accompanied by self-loathing.

		'Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale' When: 9 tonight, HBO. Starring: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen.

That internal struggle continues in this final episode, which feels a bit stretched at 80 minutes. It's an exercise in weighing the benefits of integrity against hollow fame, and at times, it also feels like Gervais, who won an Emmy for this role in September, is giving justifications for his own career choices.

When Andy fires his inept but well-meaning agent (Merchant, again), he sees it as a chance to advance. But his new, slick agent sees Andy's prospects differently and encourages him to do a Christmas special of his sitcom even though the show is obviously out of gas.

"If people are stupid enough to keep watching it, let's give it to them," the agent says.

"They've seen it all before, every sketch slightly rewritten," Andy complains. "They've heard every catch phrase shouted a thousand times."

"Yes, but have they seen an episode set in Spain?" the agent asks as the scene cuts to Andy on a faux Spanish beach.

Gervais and Merchant walked away from "The Office" even as fans clamored for more. They're also ending "Extras" after just two seasons.

While Andy's swelling ego leads to more unhappiness, his daffy extra friend Maggie (Ashley Jensen, "Ugly Betty") grows depressed that she's made nothing of her life. When she plays a prostitute extra in a Clive Owen film and Owen says nastily of her, "I wouldn't pay for that," Maggie decides to quit extra work; it's no longer worth the humiliation. Ultimately, she helps Andy put his own disappointments in perspective.

The series finale begins with a scene of Andy in England's "Celebrity Big Brother" house before flashing back to six months earlier. The story eventually returns to the reality show setting after Andy lowers himself to guest spots as a giant slug on "Doctor Who" and a porter on "Hotel Babylon."

On "Celebrity Big Brother," Andy has his own Howard Beale moment that ultimately pushes him in a direction that helps wrap up the series. It also vindicates the decision of Gervais and Merchant to bring the show to an end.

Sure, "Extras" could have gone on, but they would have been covering the same ground, the same argument Andy makes about his sitcom. Better to end a show on a high note, a path some American broadcasters would do well to follow.