Got a ‘Chair Model’ question for B.J.?

Friday, April 18th, 2008

Last week’s Q&A with Gene and Lee worked out so well, I’ve asked B.J. to do the same!

Do you have a question for B.J. Novak about last night’s episode, ‘Chair Model’?

Submit your question here.

This post will close at 10pm Pacific Time tonight, so get your questions in today!

Remember, non-spoilerish questions about ‘Chair Model’ only. Thanks!

Posted in B.J. Novak

184 comments

Pages: [10] 9 8 7 6 … 1 » (Show All)

B.J., great episode, thank-you so much! The episode title changed from “Parking” to “Chair Model”. Did the title change because there was originally more fottage about the parking situation in it, or just because you guys liked “Chair model” better?
184 | VolunteerSheriff'sDeputy:) Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 9:23pm
This may be a fairly mundane question, but it’s tickling my curiosity-bone: Why does Creed need/want 3 chairs? Other than just being Creed, I mean.
183 | Inkspot Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 8:52pm
Debbie Brown getting fired in Product Recall, and now Deborah the Chair Model getting killed in a car accident high on cocaine. As a Debbie myself, I see a pattern here. Do the Office writers have anything against Debbies? And if so, why?
182 | Gigi Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 8:17pm
Last week the writers mentioned visual jokes that were in the episode’s background, like the plastic sleeves on Jan’s desk chair, the multiple bowflex machines, the absence of Michael in any of the photos - was there any of that type of stuff happening in this ep that we may have missed?

Also, I’ve noticed that the show is starting to feel more like a typical sitcom (camera angles/lighting/gags, etc). Is this a deliberate style transition?
181 | buyMEacoke,Jim! Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 8:05pm
Last week we heard about some great visual jokes that were in Dinner Party that weren’t really focused on, like all the photos in the condo being of Jan with other men - were there any little background jokes in this episode that we might not have noticed?

And, the question on everyone’s mind: was Kevin using his footbath when he told Michael that he and Stacey broke up?
180 | Megan Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 7:05pm
Great ep BJ! It was very subtle how it went from dusk to dark at the cemetery as they were singing American Pie. I think only people who know how long that song actually is got the joke. But my question is…

How much of the song did Rain & Steve actually sing? And it looked improvised, was it?
179 | UNSHUN Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 7:00pm
This goes along with everyone asking about the title change…

Maybe it’s because I always enjoy when the episode titles have a double meaning but as soon as I heard Michael’s speech about finding the perfect woman in the cemetery I thought the title choice was perfect since the other story lines in the episode (Kevin and Jim & Pam) had to do with the struggle to find the perfect woman/man as well.

So, my question, was this parallel part of the motivation behind the title change?
178 | traci Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:57pm
Which of the deleted scenes do you most wish you could have included in the episode?

What was the location shoot with Steve and Rainn in the cemetery like?
177 | joyray Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:47pm
BJ,this episode was pitch perfect! Thank you, thank you!

Was it your idea that Jim bought the ring a week after they started dating? I think it was brilliant.
176 | mbl Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:32pm
What was the thought behind Creed wanting/needing 3 chairs?
175 | Denise (ddker) Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:23pm
At the end when Michael is saying goodbye to his idealized version of Jan, the chair model, and he busts into his rendition of Miss American Pie I thought I was going to die laughing. Did you write his hysterical lyrics, or was that improvised? It was a wonderful closer, especially when he and Dwight were in full on song and dance mode.
174 | what's the dealio? Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:09pm
What’s wrong with Kevin’s voice?
173 | Dwigt Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 6:08pm
How much time elapsed between Chair Model and Dinner Party? Did you do any chair or model research for this episode? Do you writers have any say in the chairs you write in?

Thank you for an amazing episode, and for answering our questions. I really hope “shorn’t” enters the vernacular soon.
172 | pc Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:56pm
BJ, the minute it aired, this episode became an instant Office classic! We’ll be talking about it for years.

Where do you get your inspiration for the outrageous things Michael and Dwight say?

Great job with this one!
171 | Madge Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:53pm
It was hard for me to tell: What was Pam’s reaction to Jim telling her that he’s going to propose?
170 | Emma Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:27pm
Great episode B.J!
In the end where Michael and Dwight are singing on the Chair Model’s Grave, were the lyrics scripted as he sung them or was Steve improvising?
-One of the best episodes to date. :)
169 | Stephanie Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:26pm
Seeing that Jim wants to set Michael up with Pam’s mom, are Pam’s parents divorced?
168 | kreidy Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:25pm
okay this is what i REALLY want to know:
during kevin’s talking head he starts to say something about “when…. its just nice to win one” what was he about to say? does it have ANYTHING to do with jim and pam being so happy together? it seems like he was going to reference some other situation that he felt like a loser about in addition to the stacey situation. gambling debt? is there something else there or am i just reading too much into this.
167 | tuna tuna tuna Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:24pm
This was a jam-packed episode, was there anything that got cut that you wished could have been included?
166 | jj Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:24pm
Also, what compelled you to write such great material specifically for Kevin in this episode? From “Wendy:’hot, juicy redhead,’” to his TH about losing Stacy, he really shined in “Chair Model.”
165 | Killer Nano Robot Riding on a Burro Fri. Apr. 18, 2008 at 5:19pm