Podcast Summary
Michael falls into a koi pond and Reggie Hudlin's background is shared: Michael's office mishap leads to humor while Reggie Hudlin's impressive background adds depth to the episode
The "Koi Pond" episode of The Office, directed by Reggie Hudlin, is full of humor and behind-the-scenes stories. Michael falls into a koi pond, leading to office jokes, while Pam and Andy are mistaken for a married couple on mandated cold calls. Reggie Hudlin, an accomplished director with a rich family history, brought his unique perspective to the episode. He grew up in East St. Louis, with great-great grandparents part of the Underground Railroad, and a famous tennis instructor uncle who mentored Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson. Reggie attended Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude and directed a short film version of "House Party," which became the basis of his feature film. The episode is a fun and entertaining watch, with the added bonus of Reggie's impressive background. Don't forget to pre-order their signed book, "The Office BFFs," available online.
Writing 'Coy Pond' with Reggie Watts: The writers used unique writing techniques, including using white cards for main story beats and pink cards for subtext, to create the complex subtext between Michael and Jim in 'Coy Pond' episode. Personal experiences also influenced the plot.
The writers of "Coy Pond" episode of The Office, Warren and Halstead, shared some behind-the-scenes stories about working with director Reggie Watts. They praised his sense of humor and storytelling abilities, and mentioned an unusual writing technique used for this episode where they wrote main story beats on white cards and subtext on pink cards. This helped in mapping out the complex subtext between Michael and Jim. Additionally, the plot of Michael falling into a koi pond was inspired by a real-life incident where Warren himself fell into a pond during a meeting. The unique writing process and personal experiences of the writers make for an interesting insight into the making of this beloved episode.
Unexpected events can lead to inspiration: Unexpected events, like falling into a koi pond, can provide creative inspiration and lead to new opportunities in life and art.
Sometimes unexpected events, like falling into a koi pond, can lead to unexpected opportunities and creative inspiration. Warren Lieberstein and Halsted Sullivan's experience of this happened during a business meeting in Los Angeles. Warren, while trying to dispose of his gum, accidentally fell into the koi pond in the building's lobby. The incident was a source of embarrassment and disorientation for him, but it also provided the inspiration for the Coipond episode of The Office. The unexpected event became a memorable part of the meeting, and the writers used the experience to add humor and creativity to their work. The incident also shows that in life and in art, unexpected events can lead to new opportunities and unexpected outcomes.
The Office episode inspired by real-life haunted house experience: Life experiences can inspire art, even if certain elements don't make it into the final product. Researching details for accuracy can add authenticity to a work of art.
Life experiences can inspire art, even if certain elements don't make it into the final product. The Office episode about a haunted house for children was originally supposed to have a haunted house cold open, but it was pulled and replaced with a garlic festival scene. The writers' decision not to pursue the haunted house storyline didn't diminish the enjoyment of the final episode, as it was inspired by a real-life experience of one of the show's creators. The discussion also highlighted the importance of researching details for accuracy, as the group discovered the existence of a real Pocono Garlic and Harvest Festival.
The Importance of Professional Appearance: Misunderstandings can occur in everyday situations, emphasizing the importance of clear communication.
Appearance matters in professional settings, as shown in "The Office" when Michael tries to help Jim prepare for a meeting by ensuring his tie has a double dimple and suggesting he wear a tank watch. The importance of a double dimple in tying a tie was a common theme on the internet, with many tutorials emphasizing its significance in creating a finished look. Michael, however, seemed to have misunderstood the term "tankard watch," believing he had purchased an expensive Cartier tank watch when in reality, he had given Jim a rectangular-faced watch. This scene highlights the importance of clarity in communication and the potential for misunderstandings in everyday situations. Additionally, the scene showcases Michael's enthusiasm and attempts to help Jim present himself professionally, despite Jim's annoyance.
Improvised scene between Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer in 'The Office': Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer's memorable scene in 'The Office' was improvised, with Helms creating a melody for the song 'Sweet Foe'. Jenna recalled attending fancy parties as a child, inspiring her iconic ponytail. Post-production replaced the watercolor painting with an inspirational poster.
The scene between Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer in "The Office" was improvised on the spot, with Ed making up the melody for the song "Sweet Foe" as they filmed. The scene was particularly memorable for Jenna as it brought back memories of attending fancy parties with her parents during the Emmys, which resulted in her iconic wavy ponytail. Additionally, the watercolor painting on the wall in the background was replaced with an inspirational poster during post-production. The scene was challenging for Jenna to film as she was instructed to repeat her denial of being in a relationship with Helms multiple times. The receptionist in the scene, played by Jennifer Hasty, has appeared in numerous other shows and films.
Jumping to Conclusions and Awkward Situations: Assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and awkward situations, but sometimes they can also bring unexpected positive outcomes.
The Office episode in discussion explores the theme of people jumping to conclusions and the resulting awkward situations. This is illustrated through the plot of Michael's lost keys in the koi pond, which leads to everyone assuming he was trying to save a child and therefore a hero. Meanwhile, Pam and Andy deal with assumptions about their relationship during a business pitch. The episode also showcases the fun dynamic of the Office cast as they rapid-fire respond to these situations. Additionally, Tom Yi made a guest appearance as Tim Dockery, and the episode marked a more pronounced baby bump for Jenna Fischer's character, Pam, as she progressed in her pregnancy.
The Office writers drew inspiration from real-life friends and experiences for character names and details.: The Office's authenticity came from incorporating real-life elements and friends' names into the script, adding fan engagement.
The name "Tim Dockery" on The Office was inspired by a real-life friend of the writers named Martin Dockery, and the show often incorporated friends and family names into the script. A funny moment involved Michael asking Aaron for a paper clip, with Aaron jokingly responding "staples, staples." The show also featured small details, like Pam and Andy having the same fish tank screensaver, and Michael's admission of falling into a fountain at the Steamtown Mall, which sparked a fan investigation to find out if such a fountain existed. In the end, it was discovered that there is no fountain at the Steamtown Mall. The show's attention to detail and incorporation of real-life elements added to its authenticity and fan engagement.
Writers involved actors in creating relatable moments: The Office's authenticity and collaboration led to memorable moments through actor involvement and attention to detail.
The Office writers went to great lengths to involve the actors in the writing process, creating authentic and relatable moments for their characters. For instance, Rain's sensitivity about his small nose led to a hilarious scene in which his colleagues made a "Do Not Mock" list. Another example is Pam and Andy's sales call with Amy Reed, where the small cast and location allowed for a more intimate and memorable experience for the guest star. Additionally, the writers' attention to detail, such as Victoria's confusion about the non-existent fountain in the steam town mall and Ryan's fake glasses, added layers of depth and humor to the show. Overall, the Office's commitment to authenticity and collaboration resulted in some of the most beloved moments in the series.
The Reality of Physical Requirements in Entertainment: Understanding the unique challenges of physical requirements in entertainment, such as wearing a fake pregnant belly, requires effective communication and empathy between cast and crew.
Working in the entertainment industry comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to physical requirements for roles. Amy shared her experience of having to wear a fake pregnant belly on set, which involved multiple layers and took a significant amount of time to put on and take off for bathroom breaks. This experience taught her the importance of communication and understanding between cast and crew about the realities of certain roles and the time it takes to prepare. Additionally, Amy shared the impact of sudden fame and the transition to being on a hit show like "The Office," and how it affected her friendships and personal life. Overall, Amy's stories highlight the importance of empathy, communication, and understanding in the entertainment industry, and the unique challenges that come with it.
Friendships provide comfort and support: Friendships bring joy and relief during tough times, and we find humor in shared experiences.
Friendships provide comfort and support during challenging times. The discussion revolved around a scene from a TV show where two characters, both shy and excited about a new experience, found solace in each other's company. A small detail in the scene, a photo of a friend's child in the background, added a heartwarming touch. Another topic touched upon was a proposed storyline involving a costly koi fish, which was initially intended to be a humorous situation but was later changed due to its disturbing nature. The conversation also revealed a friend teasing Michael about falling into a koi pond and Michael's attempt to diffuse the situation by making fun of himself, but ultimately going too far. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of friendship and the human tendency to find humor in everyday situations.
Discarded Jokes and Funny Moments on The Office Set: Despite not making it to the final cut, discarded jokes and improvised moments showcased the creativity and depth of The Office's production process and the actors' impressive performances.
The actors on "The Office" had many hilarious moments that didn't make it to the final cut of the show. For instance, Michael's comedy bit about getting stuck in a dog cage at Kmart and making himself cry were among the discarded jokes. Steve Carell's performance was so impressive that the writers wanted to include these scenes, but they were deemed too depressing. Angela's nut-eating scene, inspired by her observation of squirrels, was another fan favorite that brought a lot of laughter on set. The actors often had fun improvising and playing in the moment, which made the filming process enjoyable for them. The audience's appreciation for these moments highlights the creativity and depth of the show, even in the scenes that didn't make it to the screen.
Creating a Realistic Koi Pond for Michael's Fall: The production team went to great lengths to create a realistic koi pond for Michael's fall scene, including renting a warehouse, filling it with over a thousand gallons of water and koi, hiring a koi wrangler, and using real coy.
During the filming of a scene involving Michael's fall into a koi pond, the production team went to great lengths to create a realistic and detailed environment. They rented out a large warehouse from a neon sign manufacturing business called Knights of Neon, built a koi pond on top of a waterproof liner, and filled it with over a thousand gallons of filtered water and expensive koi. They also set up two cameras to capture the footage, one of which was used for the final scene. Additionally, they hired a koi wrangler and used real coy for the scene, which cost $12,000 in total. The team even went as far as testing the water with goldfish before adding the koi. Michael's fall into the koi pond was a meticulously planned and executed scene, showcasing the dedication of the production team to creating a believable and engaging experience for the audience.
Unexpected challenges during filming Michael's fall into the koi pond: Film production can be unpredictable, requiring cast resilience and teamwork to overcome unexpected challenges
During the filming of a scene involving Michael falling into a koi pond, the production encountered unexpected challenges. The Koi Wrangler made the cast wait for the Koi to come out before filming, resulting in two takes. Steve Carell, who portrayed Michael, had to fall into the pond twice, much to his dismay. The first take was not captured by the security camera, so they had to repeat the scene. Despite the inconvenience, Steve was known for his good nature and took it in stride. The incident caused the koi to hide again, requiring more waiting. When the cast watched the footage later, they pretended to be surprised by Jim's apparent lack of action to save Michael. The scene was eventually edited to include Jim seemingly stepping aside as Michael fell. The experience demonstrates the unpredictability of film production and the importance of a cast's resilience and teamwork.
The unpredictability of instincts in crisis moments: Instincts can differ greatly from person to person and are unpredictable in unexpected situations
Instincts can be surprising in moments of crisis. The discussion revolved around a scene from "The Office" where Jim falls into a pool while trying to save his daughter. While some of us might instinctively try to save others, even if it means risking ourselves, Jim instead leaned back to avoid falling in. This shows that instincts can vary greatly from person to person. Another interesting point is the discovery of a post-it note with the words "call mom" in an episode where a character, Aaron, shared that he's an orphan, leaving us wondering about its significance. Overall, the conversation highlighted the unpredictability of human behavior in unexpected situations.
Discussing friend Amy Reed's new film project: Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey express excitement for friend's film, share details about upcoming podcast episode, and mention production team and theme song.
The Office Ladies podcast, hosted by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, discussed the upcoming project of their friend Amy Reed, who is writing and directing a feature film called Smokey Mountain Rain. They expressed their excitement and support for Amy and looked forward to seeing her work. They also mentioned an upcoming episode featuring a double date with Jim, Pam, Michael, and Pam's mom. The podcast is produced by Earwolf, Jenna Fisher, and Angela Kinsey, and is executive produced by Cody Fisher. It is also produced by Cassie Jerkins, sound engineered by Sam Keefer, and associate produced by Ainsley Bubico. The theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Ratton. For ad-free versions of Office Ladies, listeners can go to Stitrapremium.com, and for a free one-month trial of Stitrapremium, use the code "office."
