Comments on: Got a ‘Goodbye, Toby’ question for Jen?

By: gen

gen — Sat, 17 May 2008 01:00:42 +0000

“Just My Imagination” was playing in the background of the almost Jim/Pam proposal. Was the song choice intentional?

By: major_nelson

major_nelson — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:59:55 +0000

The end of this finale mirrored the end of the Season 2 finale (except Dwight and Angela did a lot more than kiss!) — did you intend this?

By: headphone

headphone — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:54:18 +0000

Did Michael Schur play one of the cops in Ryan’s arrest video?

By: Alejandro

Alejandro — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:50:49 +0000

Are the writers consciously throwing in “Animal House” references in recent episodes? I noticed in the finale that Michael said “Toga” in that John Belushi voice. In the episode “Job Fair”, is Michael also paraphrasing ‘Animal House’ when he leans over Jim’s shoulder and says “Kiss her, kiss her good”?

By: scrantonbranch

scrantonbranch — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:42:05 +0000

Goodbye, Toby was a stunning close to the season. Thank you for writing such a unique and funny episode. In particular, I love the turn Jim and Pam’s storyline has taken. Thank you for making them realistic, rather than a fairytale.

I’ve noticed a lot of negative fan reaction to the fact that Jim didn’t propose. Did you anticipate this reaction from fans?

When did the story arc of Jim’s almost proposal come to fruition? Was it something planned before the writer’s strike?

Jan’s baby was a shocker to say the least. Where did she get the money to go to a sperm bank? Candles? ;-)

By: CubeFarm

CubeFarm — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:20:38 +0000

Why was Allentown, which is over an hour away from Scranton, chosen as the location for Jan’s lamaze class?

Thanks.

By: MNFan

MNFan — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:01:27 +0000

Jen ~ I LOVED this episode! And I have to say, as someone who’s had alot of experiences with the mentally-challenged population both personally and professionally, I found the Kevin storyline very funny and very tastefully done. I found myself thinking “I wish the world was filled with more people like Holly!” :)

Question: Who were the other “band” members? Members of the crew? Casted musicians? Friends who jam with Craig?

By: loved it!

loved it! — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:59:05 +0000

What was it like blocking/filming the final Dwight/Angela scene with Angela Kinsey being so pregnant?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:52:12 +0000

So was that supposed to be the first time Angela cheated on Andy with Dwight? BTW…best scene ever!

By: Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:24:18 +0000

Were the people playing Andy’s parents just hired actors or were they Ed Helm’s real parents (or anyone else’s parents on the office set)?

By: AnnMarie

AnnMarie — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:14:51 +0000

Hi Jen,
Can you explain more about why you decided to have Andy interrupt Jim’s proposal? I understand wanting to leave us with a JAM cliffhanger, but I’m having trouble believing that Andy would just happen to interrupt at the exact second that Jim was going to propose. It seemed like a typical TV contrivance to manufacture drama and, with all due respect, I have come to expect more from The Office.

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:05:44 +0000

How many alternative endings were filmed? Do you film other alternative versions of main events (like maybe Angela rejects Andy’s proposal on the spot???) and then edit the main story afterwards to maintain secrecy?

By: Brooke

Brooke — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:02:11 +0000

Dinner Party made it seem that Jan didn’t want to bring a child into the world (snip snap snip snap). But if that was when they broke up and she went to the sperm bank while they were still together, what made her change her mind?

By: Roscoet

Roscoet — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:56:56 +0000

I noticed that Dwight’s reaction to Andy and Angela’s engagement did not seem too sad. Did their affair begin before this episode (I’m thinking in “Job Fair” when they were along together)?

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:55:12 +0000

I’m re-watching the episode right now, and it looks like Kevin was about to break when he’s at the vending machine and Holly points out he’s holding a penny. Did the cast break a lot during the scenes where Holly thinks Kevin is slow?

By: JelloedJam

JelloedJam — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:55:12 +0000

In the end with Holly’s talking head she says something along the lines of “It was a good day.” Is this a reference to Jim and Pam’s “It was a good day” remarks from previous seasons?

By: Sonni

Sonni — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:52:08 +0000

How long did it take to write the season finale? I know people always ask how long it takes to shoot an episode, but how long does it really take to write an [awesome] episode like that?

Were you able to go in the direction you wanted with season 4, since the WGA strike took away almost half of the season- did you still manage to fit all the bigger plot twists you planned into the shortened season or are you going to bring some of them into season 5?

By: SaxophoneBabies and beetfarm

SaxophoneBabies and beetfarm — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:49:47 +0000

Great episode last night! We were wondering if the inclusion of the fireworks was a nod to season 2′s episode “The Client” when Jim and Pam watched the fireworks from the top of the building. Jim said he was romantic and reminding her of their first “date” would definitely have been memorable.

By: schrutebuck

schrutebuck — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:46:38 +0000

who wrote that “cold open” with Jim, Pam and Dwight with his cellphone? the first time i saw it on Leno when Steve was on, I nearly pissed myself with laughter!

could you tell us now that Toby has left and i don’t think it was ever explained. why did Michael hate Toby so much?

Was that the first time Dwight and Angela…the new office mattress…hooked up since their breakup?

By: SantasLittleHalpert

SantasLittleHalpert — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:37:20 +0000

What was that tune that Dwight had as the ringtone on his cell phone? I instantly recognized when I heard it, but I can’t figure out what song it is, and it’s driving me nuts!!!