Q&A with Michael Schur: Part 2

Tanster: Do you have a long-term outline for each character?

Michael: Before we start talking in specifics about any individual episode, we spend weeks talking about the long-term stories for the main characters.

Last year, coming back from the big kiss in Casino Night, we knew Jim would be in Stamford for 6-8 episodes, the branches would merge, and by the time they did, Jim would have a girlfriend. We also knew that Pam would get upset and backslide into Roy’s arms, that it would be a disaster, they’d break up, and that the whole second part of the season would be from Pam’s point of view as she summoned the courage to tell Jim how she felt. Season Two was from Jim’s point of view, and Season Three was from Pam’s.

We do a lot of refining and readjusting and stuff as the season goes on, but we don’t ever start writing until we at least have a basic outline of where the season will take us.

Tanster: Casio Night? I think I missed that episode. Is that where Dwight buys a new calculator watch?

Michael: Smartass. I changed it above so you have to delete this. I win.

(Michael’s original answer referred to “Casio Night”; he later corrected it without authorization. Advantage, Tanster.)

Tanster: How often is it when you’ve been in the writers room all night racing toward a deadline, you’re brain dead, and everything sounds ridiculously funny? Do the writers pull “all nighters”?

Michael: The best part of the job, hands down, is the time spent in the writers’ room when everyone is giddy. It is a happiness I cannot describe.

Tanster: Do you plan on doing any more collaboration with Gene, Lee, Paul, or other writers? How does collaboration come about?

Michael: I would definitely work with Gene again, but Lee kind of drags me down. He is the singularly least amusing person I have ever met. Including Paul, which is saying something. Because Paul is a Class-A jerk. All day, every day, it’s, “I’m so great. I’m Toby. Everyone loves Toby. Toby is the best character.” Seriously, he’s the most egotistical jackass. And loud. You would never know this, but his natural speaking voice is like bullhorn-level loud. He sounds like the Marine boot-camp leader in “Full Metal Jacket.”

Tanster: Don’t diss Toby! He wears killer suits. Except during the Christmas episode. (Jenna told me to say that.)

Michael: I don’t care what he wears. He’s a mean nerd.

But Gene I like, and would gladly work with again.

Tanster: Which one is Gene?

Michael: The one who’s not Lee. That’s all I care about.

Collaboration on our show is constant. The “writer” of the episode can be responsible for anywhere from 50-90% of what you see on screen. This is not because the writers are bad — again, except for Lee, who hasn’t got a funny bone in his body — but rather because every script is put through a rigorous rewriting process to ensure that we get the best possible jokes and scenes at every possible moment.

As for technical collaboration, like when Lee (ugh), Gene, and I wrote “Traveling Salesmen” and “The Return” together — that was borne out of necessity, as we were in a time crunch to get those two episodes written, and we pitched out a 2-parter about Dwight quitting to keep his relationship with Angela a secret, and we thought it would just be easiest for all three of us to write them together.

The same was true of “The Job” at the end of the year, with stupid lame Paul and me (and a significant amount of material from the rest of the staff — that was a true team effort), and “Beach Games” with Jen Celotta and Greg. Sometimes it’s as much about time management as anything else.

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65 comments

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1. 
   65. Angie S  Wed. Jul. 11, 2007 | 2:32pm

   Such a great interview! You two crack me up!! Can’t wait to read part 3.

2. 
   64. Tina  Wed. Jul. 11, 2007 | 12:16am

   Actually wouldn’t that be great if Tanster could guest star as Mose’ girlfriend! haha…[I shouldn't laugh cause it might happen....]

3. 
   63. Dani  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 7:24pm

   There’s even more?! I can’t wait to read the rest. This is great!

4. 
   62. tanster  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 1:17pm

   Nemesis? — heck no, I want a walk-on part as Mose’s sweetheart! ;)

5. 
   61. _bales  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 1:15pm

   Great interview again! Thanks for sharing, tanster! Aww…you and Michael Schur have such a great rapport…any chance of you guest-starring on the show as Cousin Mose’s nemesis, who stands in the way of his merciless quest for total monopoly of the beet farming industry?

6. 
   60. WhackyWeedCreed  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 9:49am

   Another Part!!! keep it coming tanster these are great reads.

7. 
   59. JR Ewing  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 9:01am

   This has been a witty conversation so far. I can’t wait to read the rest.

8. 
   58. BlueJeanBaby  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 7:00am

   I love this type of insight more than anything! Thanks Tanster!!

   (and Mike!)

9. 
   57. Tori Weber  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 5:40am

   Again, great read! You two are funny together :)

10. 
    56. Emily  Tue. Jul. 10, 2007 | 4:45am

    He is so funny and I am so loving this… this is a great interview!

11. 
    55. Claudia  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 11:48pm

    Thanks Tanster – what a fantastic interview! He is so funny ( and so are you!)

    Great job!

12. 
    54. caitlin  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 11:09pm

    that was fantastic, he is so funny. and I totally agree with Ruby, he did look cute under that beard. I wonder if the Office audiences will ever meet Mose again, I hope so :)

13. 
    53. What's the dealio?  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 8:30pm

    Thank you so much–this is an amazing interview. It just gets better and better and I can’t stop laughing! I love this guy!

14. 
    52. BeckySue  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 8:07pm

    Wow. Great interview! I’m so happy that you got to chat with Mike. Thanks for sharing!

15. 
    51. Tina  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 7:44pm

    wow more parts to come! that was great tanster!
    haha i loved that scene when michael says he wants 100 kids so he could have 100 friends [and no one can say no lol]

16. 
    50. Julie  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 7:03pm

    Great stuff!! You should ask him how is it having Regis Philbin as his father-in-law! Haha

17. 
    49. leslie  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 6:43pm

    i’m so crazy jealous that i don’t know these people. i just want to be friends with them.

    mike is hilarious, and i’m sure everyone on the show is freaking funny also. i kind of want to cry this was so good. thanks.

18. 
    48. Matt  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 6:11pm

    I love these writers (and you, Tanster, for posting the interviews). I’d do anything to spend even a day in the writers’ room.

19. 
    47. dualori  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 4:28pm

    Great interview, Tanster. I enjoyed it immensely. Great insight into the crazy/genius minds that bring us The Office!

20. 
    46. mk  Mon. Jul. 9, 2007 | 4:19pm

    it’s crazy how happy these interviews make me. i can now say, without a doubt, that my dream job would be to write for the office. why is september so far awayyyy???

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