Podcast Summary
Reminiscing about a Late Friend and Ping Pong's History: Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey share stories about working with their late friend and writer, Lester Lewis, and discuss the origins and Olympic inclusion of ping pong in this Office episode rewatch.
The Ultimate Office Rewatch Podcast, hosted by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, offers fans a unique perspective on their time working on The Office. Each episode, they revisit an episode and share exclusive behind-the-scenes stories. In season four, episode 12, Michael is deposed as a witness in Jan's wrongful termination case, leading to a rivalry between Pam and Kelly. The episode was written by their late friend and colleague, Lester Lewis, who passed away in 2013. Angela shared fond memories of Lester and how he made a significant impact on the show. Additionally, they discussed the history of ping pong, which plays a role in the episode, from its origins in Victorian England to its inclusion in the Olympics.
Table Tennis and The Office Writers: The Office writers turned their dining table into a ping pong table during quarantine, causing noise and inconvenience. They were crucial to the show's success, contributing to the pitching of alternates and acting in production.
The game of table tennis, or ping pong, involves various strokes and spins, with offensive and defensive techniques. Angela's family turned their dining table into a makeshift ping pong table during quarantine, resulting in constant noise and inconvenience. An unused storyline from the writers room involved Dwight getting stuck in a wall instead of the ping pong competition. The Writers Guild of America strike in November 2007 forced the production of The Office to shut down, halting the planned filming of 30 episodes for season four. The writers were crucial to the show's success, contributing to the pitching of alternates and acting in the production.
The Office cast stood in solidarity with writers during a strike, leading to a shorter season: During a major writers' strike, Steve Carell and the cast of The Office refused to cross the picket line, leading to a shorter fourth season. The writers were fighting for fair treatment and decent compensation, and Carell was proud to support them.
During a major writers' strike in the industry, Steve Carell and the cast of "The Office" stood in solidarity with the writers by refusing to cross the picket line. This led to a shorter fourth season with fewer episodes produced. The writers were asking for fair treatment and decent compensation from studios, and Carell was proud to support them. The strike lasted over three months, affecting many shows, but "The Office" was fortunate enough to resume production. Behind the scenes, the cast entertained each other with impressions and humor, such as Ed Helms' impression of Tom Brokaw announcing the "hot snack of the day" on set. These moments are cherished memories for the cast and crew.
Small gestures and moments of connection bring joy in the workplace: Small moments of connection, like notes and shared meals, can bring unexpected happiness and strengthen relationships in the office.
In the Office, small gestures and moments of connection can bring unexpected joy and happiness to people's lives. For instance, Pam's interruption with a note during Michael's meeting brought him so much delight that he asked her to do it every time, even when there were no calls. This moment of functional happiness between Jan and Michael during lunch was a peak moment for their relationship. The sticky notes, drawn by the show runner Greg Daniels, became a symbol of this connection. Jenna's reactions during the scene where Michael refused to take a call were priceless and added to the tension. The car ride to New York City revealed that Jan might win a significant amount in her lawsuit, and Michael's elaborate word associations to help him remember his testimony showcased his unique way of dealing with stress. Overall, these small moments of connection and humor in the workplace brought joy and lightness to the characters' lives.
Intricate set design and attention to detail in The Office: The Office's production team went above and beyond to create an authentic and engaging workplace environment, from transforming a swing set into a corporate headquarters to letting the actors play ping pong for real.
The production of The Office involved intricate set design and attention to detail, even for seemingly minor scenes. For instance, the corporate headquarters were filmed on a swing set, which was disassembled and reassembled to transform the reception area into a deposition room. Additionally, the decision was made to let the actors play ping pong for real, despite the challenges it presented for continuity and sound recording. The script also contained a planned subplot about Ryan's posse of shorter lookalikes, which ultimately didn't make it into the episode. Overall, the production team went to great lengths to create an authentic and engaging workplace environment for the show.
Inspiration from writers' experiences for ping pong storyline and Michael's deposition: Writers drew on their own experiences for humorous office ping pong rivalry and Michael's unsuccessful deposition antics
The Office writers drew inspiration from their own experiences for the ping pong storyline and Michael's over-the-top deposition behavior. Jim practices to beat Darryl after being motivated by Kelly's smack talk, while Michael delivers a humorous but failed opening statement during his deposition. Additionally, the conference room where Pam converts the table into a ping pong court is named the Robert Mifflin Memorial Conference Room, as revealed in a plaque on the wall. The use of real-life experiences and inside jokes added depth to the show's storytelling.
The Importance of Clear Communication in Depositions: Misunderstandings during depositions can arise from literal interpretations and office politics, emphasizing the need for clear communication and understanding.
The literal interpretation of words during a deposition can lead to confusion and derail the proceedings, as seen in "The Deposition" episode of "The Office." Michael's testimony, filled with callbacks and subtle references, was met with confusion from the lawyers due to their literal understanding. Meanwhile, back at Dunder Mifflin, office politics and social etiquette came into play as Pam tried to recruit Jim in ping pong practice, leading to a standoff with Kelly. The unsung hero of the episode was the stenographer, whose role in accurately recording Michael's testimony was essential and showcased in a brilliant scene after a commercial break. Overall, the episode highlighted the importance of clear communication and understanding in both professional and personal settings.
Authenticity in Comedy: Realistic Actors: Using realistic actors adds authenticity to comedy, enhancing humor and showcasing the importance of diverse backgrounds in comedy.
The use of realistic actors, like Valerie Ross, in the show adds to the humor by making the testimony readings feel authentic and straightforward, just like in real courtrooms. This authenticity enhances the comedic effect. Additionally, the show's dedication to hiring talented actors with diverse backgrounds, even if their resumes don't initially reflect their comedic abilities, is a testament to the importance of realism in comedy. For instance, Valerie Ross's impressive dramatic acting resume belied her improv comedy background, which added to the show's success. Furthermore, the experience of jury duty, where testimonies are read back without intonation, further emphasizes the importance of authenticity in the show's comedy.
Valerie Ross's Dedication to Jury Duty: Valerie Ross's diligent note-taking and professionalism made her an invaluable asset to both sides in the courtroom, leading to her being picked for juries frequently.
Valerie Ross, a juror in the episode, stole the show with her attentiveness and note-taking skills. Her dedication to the jury duty process made her an invaluable asset to both sides, leading to her being picked for juries frequently. The use of a notepad and pen, along with her professional demeanor, made her an ideal candidate. The episode also highlighted Dwight's passion for table tennis and his heroes, with the production team even providing him with a cue card to help him remember their names. Additionally, the scene at corporate involved a heated deposition between Michael and Jan's lawyers, with Michael's journal entries from their Jamaican vacation becoming a central point of contention. Michael's embarrassing and childish journal entries made for a humorous moment in the episode. Overall, the episode showcased the importance of preparation, dedication, and attention to detail, as well as the potential for unexpected moments in even the most mundane situations.
Michael's Positive Outlook and Office Workers' Cafeteria Memories: Appreciate everyday experiences, even during tough times, as they bring joy and uniqueness to life.
Despite the betrayal and embarrassment Michael faces during his deposition, he manages to maintain a positive outlook on life using the Jamaican term "Irie," which means nice, good, or pleasing. Meanwhile, the office workers, including Angela and Jenna, find themselves in a corporate cafeteria, reminiscing about their experiences with various commissaries and the appeal of a cafeteria setting. Michael regrets not having this experience on the set of The Office, but ultimately appreciates the independence and unique atmosphere of their own workspace. The discussion highlights the importance of finding joy in everyday experiences, even in the face of adversity.
The Office filming at Universal Studios Commissary and Michael's tense moment with Toby: Improvised moments, like Michael pushing Toby's tray, add humor to The Office, while Michael's admiration for Ryan and harsh review from Jan are depicted accurately in the deposition scene.
The filming of the Office scene at the Universal Studios Commissary required renting the entire space and hiring non-speaking roles to create the illusion of a bustling cafeteria. During this scene, Michael feels lost and sits with Toby, leading to a tense moment where Michael pushes Toby's tray to the floor without a word. This improvised moment made it into the final cut, adding to the show's humor. The deposition scene reveals Michael's admiration for Ryan, and Jan's harsh performance review of Michael guts him. Interestingly, the documentary footage was not used as evidence during the deposition, despite it being available. Michael's attempts to defend Jan during the deposition are met with skepticism, and the episode received praise from a real-life lawyer for its accuracy in depicting depositions. Tom Brady's water consumption became an unexpected topic of conversation during the recording, highlighting the show's ability to incorporate real-life trivia into the script.
Football players might pee in their pads during games: Tom Brady's impressive endurance could be due to peeing in his pads during games, allowing him to drink large amounts of water without frequent bathroom breaks.
Tom Brady's impressive performance on the football field might involve more than just his physical abilities. The discussion reveals that football players may be able to pee in their pads during games without being noticed. This could explain why Brady can drink an immense amount of water without making frequent bathroom stops. Additionally, the scene at the office showcases Dwight's lackadaisical approach to winning at Ping Pong against Jim, while Pam's outfit choice sparks a debate about her comfort level in her relationship. Overall, the conversation highlights intriguing insights into the world of professional sports and office dynamics.
Discussing ping pong serves and filming Office scenes: Being precise with serve placement and spin is crucial in ping pong. Filming The Office, Jim and Pam faked bad ping pong skills, but Michael's dream of a corporate position was dashed.
There's more to mastering the game of ping pong than just spinning the ball. During a discussion, it was clarified that specificity matters when it comes to serving, with examples given of fast no-spin cross, down the line, and long side spin serves. The importance of being precise was emphasized, as just adding spin doesn't guarantee success. Additionally, it was revealed that Mindy and the actor portraying Jim, John Krasinski, had to pretend to be bad at ping pong during filming, despite being decent players. The scene where they played was a highlight of the shooting day, and there were many deleted scenes of other office members playing as well. However, Michael's dream of getting a corporate position was crushed when it was revealed in a deposition that he was never a serious contender. Despite this setback, David Wallace showed Michael kindness and understanding, creating a touching moment between the two characters. An interesting behind-the-scenes tidbit is that lipstick cameras were used to film Michael and Jan's car ride home.
Adapting to unexpected situations in filming: Technical difficulties can lead to unexpected results, but adapting creatively can result in unique and entertaining content.
Sometimes technical difficulties can lead to unexpected and interesting results in filming. In the case of "The Dinner Party" episode of The Office, the lack of working light in the car resulted in no usable footage, but the footage from the follow car provided a more realistic and intimate perspective for viewers. Additionally, the use of CGI for ping-pong scenes saved time and resources but also added a layer of entertainment with the deleted scene of Creed's misunderstanding of strip ping-pong rules. Overall, the episode showcased the importance of adapting to unexpected situations and the creativity that can come from it.
