Tidbits about ‘The Office’ show, cast, and staff for the week ending September 14.

Tidbits

• Blog updates: Angela — Hello!, Jenna’s DirectTV Debacle parts one and two.
• Article: TV Guide’s Sept. 15-21 issue previews the new season of The Office and includes a cute picture of Steve and Amy! (Warning: includes future storylines)
• Article: LOBSTER HAT gets big chance.
• Article: Jenna Fischer: ‘A Little’ Crazy About Cats.
• Article: Hollywood director and writer Paul Feig turns pen toward middle school readers.
• Photos: Jenna Fischer at last night’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
• Photo: Melora Hardin and her daughters at Disney World.
• Graphics: check out entries to the Office Photoshop Challenge over at the DMI forums.
• Graphics: what if Dwight Schrute appeared on ‘The Simpsons’?
• Video: Ricky Gervais: Fat Putz With an English Accent.
• Fan report: Rainn Wilson wishes Tiffany a Happy Birthday.
• Vote: was ‘The Office’ cast snubbed by Emmy? Make ‘em EWwy winners! Vote for: Best Actress in a Comedy (Jenna Fischer), Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy (Angela Kinsey), and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy (Paul Lieberstein).
• Merchandise: Tallyhead Rachel reports that her Jacksonville, FL Target store is carrying some of the $1 Office goodies again! Do you guys see them in your store? Any new items?

Events this week

• Tonight: Jenna Fischer hosts Kitten Rescue’s Fundraiser “The Fur Ball at the Skirball,” Los Angeles.
• Mon, Sep. 15: Ricky Gervais on ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien.’
• Wed, Sep. 17: Stephen Merchant on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live.’
• Thu, Sep. 18: Ricky Gervais on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live.’
• Thu, Sep. 18: Goodbye, Toby on NBC.
• Sat, Sep. 20: Jenna Fischer on ‘Animal Radio.’

For a complete list of events, subscribe to the OfficeTally Calendar.

Tipsters: Tanya, Nick, Diapers Schrute, Mikki, Chris, Paul, Amy, Jules

SPOILER ALERT! Notes and subsequent comments may discuss spoilers.

I had the pleasure of participating in a conference call with The Office’s Paul Lieberstein and Amy Ryan this morning, along with bunches of press people. We all got a turn in asking Paul and Amy questions, mainly about Season 5.

Tidbits about ‘The Office’ show, cast, and staff for the week ending July 20.

Tidbits

• Blog update: Creed Thoughts — Geese.
• Blog update: Schrute Space — Maintaining a Normal Body Temperature During the Summer Months.
• Article: Microsoft announces that high-definition TV shows, like ‘The Office,’ are coming to Xbox Live.
• Video: Tristan sent this in and explained, “I made it as a present for my wife’s birthday.”
• Video: a trailer for Ricky Gervais’ new movie, ‘Ghost Town.’
• Merchandise: check out the new Dunderheads shirt available at the NBC Office store! Jeanette of Nette’s Layouts says, “Huge Office fan Bobblehead Gary and I were contacted by the head of NBC Universal Merchandising Dept. about a month ago. They wanted to make a t-shirt with the word Dunderhead on the front and then a definition like you’d see in a dictionary on the back. They used a few of the definitions given by fans! It will be available at Comic-Con San Diego. It truly is a shirt made by the Office fans!”
• International news: more on the Chilean version of ‘The Office’ at the official website for La Ofis. (Look familiar?)
• And last but not least: Congratulations to The Office’s executive producer Paul Lieberstein and his wife Janine, who were married this weekend in New York!

Events this week

• Fri, July 25: Brian Baumgartner in Scranton, PA
• Sat, July 26: ‘The Office’ writers panel at Comic-Con, moderated by Rainn Wilson, San Diego.
• Sat, July 26: Rainn Wilson at Q&A after a screening of ‘The Rocker,’ San Diego.

For a complete list of events, subscribe to the OfficeTally Calendar.

Tipsters: Lauren, Stapler, Sheila

From Variety:

• “Human Giant”’s Aziz Ansari is the first confirmed cast hire for ‘The Office’ spin-off.
• Greg Daniels and Mike Schur are executive producers of the spin-off.
• Spin-off writers include Tucker Cawley, Dan Goor, and Alan Yang.
• Three new members have been added to ‘The Office’ writing staff: Paul Feig, Aaron Shure, and Charlie Grandy.
• Paul Lieberstein has been promoted to executive producer of ‘The Office.’

Link: Aziz Ansari hired for ‘Office’ spinoff

Tipster: George

• Article: the GW Hatchet interviews B.J. Novak.
• Article: Angela Kinsey has no worries about maternity jeans thanks to mom.
• Article: based on your votes, John Krasinski now has his own Celebrity Central page on People.com.
• Fan report: read Lindsay’s report of B.J. Novak’s show at George Washington University.
• TV commercial: from Tallyhead WiseWithWorms — “Yesterday I was watching The Price is Right and lo and behold, I looked up at an AT&T commercial and I saw STANLEY the Manly playing a train conductor, operating the speed of the train.”
• Video: Boy who opted for amputation fulfills dream. An Office star makes a surprise appearance!
• Late night appearance: Angela Kinsey is scheduled to appear on ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’ next Wednesday, Feb. 13.
• Live appearance: Paul Lieberstein speaks at Hamilton College next Wednedsay, Feb. 13. $5 for students/staff; $10 for general public.
• Merchandise: Glarkware always produces cool Office tshirt designs — check out this month’s limited edition Army of Champions!

Tipsters: Kim, Dana, jdog_spiffy, Stephanie, Christine, Rachel, Dan