Q&A with Michael Schur: Part 2

Tanster: So that if one of you “runs out of funny,” someone else can pick up the baton. Or some metaphor like that.

Michael: I like it. Nice work. I’m going to steal that.

As for future collaborations, I dare say we all like each other enough so that any two of us could be paired, for any episode, and have a good time working together. I’m sure there will be more of it. Although, if I have to work with Lee again I will freak the eff out.

(And since irony doesn’t always come across on the screen, let me add that I love Lee. I love him an almost inappropriate amount. Paul too. Gene, not so much. But Lee and Paul are great.)

Tanster: I am now totally confused as to who you really like and don’t like. I need a cheat sheet.

Michael: Love: Lee, Gene, Paul.
Strongly Dislike: Gene, Paul, Lee.

Tanster: What strengths do you bring to the writing team? (“Mike is really good at handling …”). Does each of the writers have a special writing superpower?

Michael: Here is each of the writers’ main strength in the room:

Mike: impeccable manners
Paul: typing
B.J.: making coffee
Mindy: fashion/shopping on-line
Gene: cell phone photographs
Justin: can shoot flames from fingers
Jen: very good at those mechanical claw games
Lee: handsome
Greg: has not demonstrated a talent yet
Brent: physical fitness

We also hired back Lester Lewis, who wrote with us on season one. His talent is also fashion, so he and Mindy will have to fight it out to see who wins. Ryan Koh’s talent, I’d say, is his encyclopedic knowledge of late-‘90’s hip hop. And Anthony Farrell has Death-Ray Vision.

Tanster: I kind of meant, like, WRITING superpowers. Not superhero superpowers. But whatever. And I would argue that fashion is a superpower, but being handsome is not.

Michael: Have you seen how handsome he is, though? Seems like a superpower to me. The guy stops traffic.

As for writing superpowers … honestly, everyone has something(s) they are good at. It’s the #1 perk of my job that I get to work with, and hang out with, this staff.

Just one example: when Mindy wrote the scene in “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” where young Michael Scott is being interviewed by the cat puppet, Edward R. Meow, she wrote that sad/crazy line about “I want to have a million friends so no one will ever not be able to be my friend” or whatever it is. And she followed it up with the all-time greatest stage direction: “Even though he’s a puppet, Edward R. Meow somehow manages to look confused.” It killed me. She thinks very visually. Her writing style, like everything about her, is unique.

Next up: Part Three — The origin of Dwight’s cousin, Mose

Related links

• Q&A with Michael Schur: Part 1
• Q&A with Michael Schur: Part 3

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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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