Podcast Summary
Office Ladies Discuss Season 2, Episode 8: Jenna and Angela share behind-the-scenes stories from their time on The Office, discussing a prank-filled episode where Michael tries to decipher a voicemail and Pam and Jim play a trick on Dwight. They also highlight the talent of writer Larry Wilmore and Jenna's determination to perform despite being sick.
The Office ladies, Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, are back with their ultimate Office re-watch podcast, sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the show. In this first episode, they discuss Season 2, Episode 8, where Michael tries to decipher a voicemail from Jan, while Pam and Jim prank Dwight. Jenna shares a funny story about the Texas phrase "chunk it," and they mention how talented writer Larry Wilmore was on the show, who wrote this episode. Jenna also shares that she was sick during filming but still performed her lines. The podcast offers a unique perspective from two cast members who were there, making it a must-listen for Office fans.
Performing while sick on a film set: Actors push through illnesses to avoid production delays, and shows like 'The Office' use cold opens to hook audiences
Being sick on a film set is not an option for actors, as production cannot be halted for every illness. Jenna Fischer shared her experience of performing while ill on "The Office," and how she was praised for her work despite feeling loopy and sick. Additionally, the show used a technique called a "cold open," which is a standalone moment before the credits that could be a joke or a teaser for the episode. In this episode, one of the most famous cold opens featured Dwight's fitness ball, which was not meant to pop but did during filming. Props master Phil Shea, a trooper himself, went through 17 fitness balls to get the perfect one for the scene.
Unexpected bloopers in television production: Adaptability is crucial in television production as unexpected mishaps can lead to hilarious bloopers and add excitement to the process.
Even the most meticulously planned scenes in television production can unexpectedly go awry, leading to unintended but often hilarious results. During the filming of a scene on "The Office," where Dwight was supposed to slowly deflate in his chair, the team practiced and perfected the stunt multiple times. However, on the final take, John, who played Dwight, accidentally hit the seam of the ball, causing it to explode and Dwight to fall to the floor. The unexpected blooper was so amusing that writer Larry Wilmore fought to include it in the episode as a cold open. This unexpected mishap highlights the importance of adaptability and the unexpected twists that can make television production an exciting and unpredictable process.
Collaborative and Creative Writer's Room: The Office's early days featured a democratic and fun writer's room where ideas were generated through group brainstorming and everyone had a hand in crafting each episode, fostering a sense of creative freedom and collaboration.
The early days of "The Office" were marked by a sense of creative freedom and collaboration in the writer's room. Ideas were generated through group brainstorming and index cards, with no one person taking sole credit for an episode. The team had a "whatever happens, we'll make it work" attitude, which allowed them to experiment and take risks. The environment was so unique that when the team members went on to work on other projects, they were struck by the contrast in the more formal and structured writer's rooms they encountered. The creative process for "The Office" was a democratic and fun experience, where everyone had a hand in crafting each episode. Even when ideas didn't go as planned, like when Mindy Kaling wanted to write the Halloween episode but didn't get the chance, the team remained positive and continued to enjoy the process.
Creating Opportunities Leads to Unexpected Success: Embrace new opportunities and be open to unexpected experiences, even if they're outside of your initial plans. Your unique perspective can lead to success.
Creating opportunities for yourself can lead to unexpected success. The speaker, a television writer and producer, shares how they started writing and producing in television because they couldn't find work in Hollywood that fit their unique brand of comedy. They also discuss how they were reluctant to take on a role in "The Office," but ultimately embraced it and had fun with it. The character they played, Mr. Brown, became a memorable one, and people still refer to the speaker by that name. The speaker also mentions that not as many improvisations were done for the suggestion box scene as people might think, and their first draft made it through mostly intact. Overall, the speaker's experience demonstrates the importance of seizing opportunities and being open to new experiences, even if they're outside of your initial plans.
A unique creative process combining scripted and improvised elements: The Office's success stemmed from a collaborative approach between writers and actors, with a focus on enhancing performances and adding heart to the humor.
"The Office" was a carefully crafted blend of scripted and improvised elements, with a strong emphasis on collaboration between writers and actors. The writers observed the cast's performances and wrote to enhance them, creating a unique and special creative process. Steve Carell, the show's star, was a key collaborator and never felt threatened by the process. Co-creator Steve Merchant's vision of the show as a romantic comedy added a heartfelt center that elevated the humor and made the characters relatable and root-worthy. The early episodes were particularly important in establishing this collaborative and creative process.
Exploring the depth of unanswered questions and emotions in storytelling: Successful storytelling can engage audiences by leaving some questions unanswered and evoking strong emotions through authentic performances and well-crafted scenes.
The unanswered questions and complex emotions in a story can make it more engaging and enjoyable for both the writer and the audience. Larry Wilde, a successful television writer, shared his experiences and passion for creating stories that represent underrepresented groups. He mentioned his ongoing quest to write a romantic comedy series. The discussion also covered the iconic scene from "The Office" where Michael makes Pam listen to Jan's voicemail during her performance review. This scene, which elicited strong emotions from Jenna Fischer, was not improvised, but Melora Hardin, who played Jan, recorded the voicemail on set and delivered it live. The intrigue and unanswered questions in the scene added depth to the story and made it a fan favorite.
Deleted scenes and small details add depth to 'The Office': Small moments and details, like deleted scenes and subtle performances, add layers to characters and enhance the authenticity and rewatchability of 'The Office'.
The deleted scenes and small details in "The Office" add depth and humor to the show. For instance, there's a deleted scene where Steve keeps pressing the button for Angela, and her repeated "I guess I missed you" response is hilarious. Another example is the exterior shot of the Chili's, which looks different from the one in a previous episode, suggesting that it might not be the same location. Additionally, small moments, like John Krasinski's subtle performance as Jim figuring out Dwight's mistake, and Steve's relief when Michael's door is closed during filming, add layers to the characters. The accountants, led by Brian and Oscar, were always excited about having a scene solely in their department, and Kevin's gossipy behavior added to the office dynamics. Paul Lieberstein, who played Toby, wrote the intentional line "on the ghetto" instead of "in the ghetto" during Stanley's meeting with Michael, adding to the show's authenticity and attention to detail. Overall, these small moments and details make "The Office" a beloved and rewatchable show.
The Office's relatability comes from its authentic portrayal of everyday moments and interactions.: The Office's writing style makes everyday moments engaging and relatable, allowing us to connect with the characters as if we're observing their lives.
The Office's relatability comes from its ability to capture everyday moments and turn them into engaging scenes. The quick downloads of information between characters, like Jim and Pam, remind us of real-life interactions and add intimacy to their relationship. The show's unique writing style makes it feel authentic, allowing us to connect with the characters as if we're just observing their lives. The discussion also highlighted the humor found in small details, such as Stanley's performance reviews and Kelly's hair, which adds to the overall charm of the show.
Appreciating Media in Pieces: People can enjoy media selectively, focusing on characters or elements that resonate with them, even if they don't engage with the entire narrative.
People have complex relationships with various forms of media, and it's possible to enjoy certain aspects without fully embracing the entirety of a genre or storyline. Angela expresses her reluctance towards fantasy shows like Game of Thrones and Star Wars due to the new rules, planets, and creatures involved, but she still appreciates the characters and specific elements of these franchises. Her conversation with Jenna highlights the importance of finding personal connections within media, even if it means selectively engaging with certain parts rather than the whole narrative. For instance, Angela admits her fondness for Princess Leia and baby Yoda despite her lack of interest in the overall Star Wars story. Ultimately, this conversation underscores the idea that people's media preferences are multifaceted, and it's essential to respect and understand these nuances.
Thoughtful production adds humor and charm to 'The Office': The production team's careful planning and attention to detail enhanced 'The Office''s humor and charm, from accidental touches to thoughtful camera placements and memorable lines.
The production of "The Office" involved careful planning and attention to detail, even in seemingly small moments. An accidental touch between Steve and Melora led to a humorous addition to the scene, while the placement of cameras was thoughtfully considered to enhance the storytelling. Paul Feig's decision to keep cameras outside Michael's office during certain scenes added tension and intrigue, while allowing Jan privacy. The suggestion box scene was filled with memorable lines and moments, including Toby's critique of Michael's personal habits and Creed's unexpected wisdom. Overall, the production team's thoughtful execution brought the show's unique humor and charm to life.
Dwight's Unique Energy on The Office Set: Rainn Wilson's character, Dwight, brought a unique energy to 'The Office' set through his love of props, improvisation, and dedication to performance reviews, contrasting Michael Scott's dismissive attitude.
During the filming of "The Office," Rainn Wilson's character, Dwight, brought a unique energy to the set. He was known for his love of props and improvisation, which was on full display during his performance review scene in the stairwell to the writer's offices. The scene was filmed with the actual music playing on set, making for a challenging editing process but adding significantly to Rainn Wilson's performance. Dwight's dedication to his performance review was a contrast to Michael Scott's dismissive attitude towards them, leaving two characters who were excited for the process feeling disappointed. Additionally, Wilson's character, Dwight, had a creative acronym for his name, which was explored in deleted scenes.
Background details add depth to Office setting: Attention to detail in Office setting extends beyond surface, with significant business names, office layouts, and character emotions
The intricacies of the Office setting extend beyond the surface, with details like business names and office layouts holding significance that may not be immediately apparent. For instance, the presence of W.B. Jones and Vance Refrigeration in the background of the office park were planted long before they became relevant in the story. Additionally, the characters' thoughts and emotions run deeper than what is explicitly stated, as shown in Jim's contemplation of office romances and Pam's lack of concern in the scene with Jan and Michael. Furthermore, the seemingly sturdy Dunder Mifflin sign is actually just a foam board prop, emphasizing the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship and attention to detail in the production of the show.
A peek behind the scenes of The Office: Filming techniques, arguments heard, and behind-the-scenes stories from The Office set are shared in this podcast.
The Office scene where Michael and Jan argue in the elevator was filmed with a camera and microphone close enough for the cast and crew to hear every word. The space between the reception area and the elevator was not far, and the walls were not thick enough to muffle sounds. The scene where Dwight is pranked into thinking he missed work is a long tracking shot filmed in one take. The episode also features a tag scene the next day where Dwight is seen arriving late to work. The production of Office Ladies is led by Jenna Fisher, Angela Kinsey, and Cody Fisher, with Sam Keefer as sound engineer and Rubber Tree by Creed Gratton as the theme song. For ad-free versions and bonus episodes, listeners can subscribe to Stitcher Premium using the code "office".