Got a ‘Stress Relief’ question for Paul Lieberstein?

Do you have a question about last night’s post-Super Bowl episode, ‘Stress Relief’?

Paul Lieberstein, ‘Stress Relief’ writer, has very graciously agreed to answer your questions about the episode! Given that he is also very busy being an executive producer for ‘The Office,’ I am beyond excited that he’s agreed to do this. Thank you, Paul!

Submit your question here by 11pm PT tomorrow night, February 3rd.

I’ll put together a Q&A and post it hopefully sometime next week.

Remember, non-spoilerish questions about ‘Stress Relief’ only. Thanks!

148 comments

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1. 
   148. Zack  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 10:01pm

   Do you know the second song that Michael plays on his computer when he is playing snippets of songs that are supposed to be calming? It’s the song that he says reminds him of death. Thanks!

2. 
   147. Ashley  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 9:57pm

   Hi Paul!

   Great episode! My favorite of the season. I was just wondering if you find it easy to write for the Jim/Pam storylines? Many of the scenes you write for them have been fan favorites!

3. 
   146. Janet  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 8:04pm

   Our family has been trying to figure out who plays the guy making out with Cloris Leachman in the last scene of fake movie, stealing her from Jack Black. Nobody’s quite sure but there are several theories. Can you please identify him for us?

4. 
   145. Nick Merritt  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 7:36pm

   This cold opening was by far one of the funniest and outrageous yet. I just want to know how much fun you guys had on set doing this sequence? Throwing Bandit through the ceiling was priceless.

5. 
   144. Pamela Halpert  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 6:31pm

   What a great episode! I laughed, cried and got really angry, all in one episode! It was nice to see some JAM stuff, since they’ve kind of been on the DL for the past few weeks. Anyway, I was wondering, how did you come up with the movie that Andy, Jim, and Pam are watching? It is so funnY! It was very clever to use three big stars, but not accually have them interact with the cast. Very smart!!

6. 
   143. Something Random  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 6:29pm

   Why are the windows boarded when Jim and Pam are being interviewed? (Where Pam is explaining that her parents are going through a rough patch)

7. 
   142. ShaSAM  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 6:27pm

   Were all of the roast jokes scripted? Or did some of the cast write their own/improv their own roasts?

8. 
   141. Eric  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 6:23pm

   Is the movie supposed to have a deeper meaning when it comes to the storylines of some of the characters (i.e. Andy, who evidently related to Jack Black’s character)? Or is it supposed to foreshadow a future plot point?

9. 
   140. Matt  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 5:57pm

   I enjoyed the clips of Stanley’s outbursts over the years. Has there every been any discussion around writing and filming an episode that takes place in the past, instead of in the current chronology? It might be interesting to see a new story set in office days gone by (like a story line that takes place between two episodes we already know and love!).

   Also, when do we get to see Todd Packer again???

10. 
    139. Jessica in Detroit  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 5:31pm

    How did the decision for new opening credits come about and how did you decide to premiere them after the Super Bowl?

11. 
    138. Jayna  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 5:28pm

    Please tell us about the behind-the-scene mechanics that allowed snow at the playground where Michael goes to feed the birds.

12. 
    137. Aaghaaz Madan  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 4:13pm

    1. I was immediately in tears when Michael stumbled away from the roast, because, I mean, that’s some extremely potent stuff there. I remember remarking to myself the ingenuity of having Michael return to the office not seeking sympathy but retaliating in full. How’d you decide to have Michael decide to do that, and how does his decision fit into YOUR understanding of his character?

    2. How many pages was the final draft?

13. 
    136. Deborah Shoshlefski  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 4:09pm

    The roast in Stress Relief brought to mind the kind of awkward, cringe-worthy and almost painful humour that defined the UK version of The Office. Five seasons in, do you still look back to the original Office for inspiration when you’re writing? Or have you totally moved on?

14. 
    135. Big Tuna  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 3:24pm

    Fantastic episode!! Nearly all of the characters have shown in past episodes that no matter how Michael acts, they DO care about him. Why did none of the roasters say anything positive after their roast?

15. 
    134. mr.dude  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 3:23pm

    Who came up with the opening scene, how much of a challenge was it to shoot, and were many takes needed to execute it perfectly?

16. 
    133. kreidy  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 2:48pm

    Seeing that Jim was smart enough to use the copier to break open the door in the cold open, does that mean that the Scranton office got a new copier after all?

17. 
    132. Mikaela  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 2:38pm

    Wonderful episode! I heard before watching it that there would be some Pam and Jim drama, including some personal trouble for Pam, and was curious to find out what it was. I was very much touched by her reconciliation with Jim. I was wondering if there were any other ideas to create a conflict between the two, other than Pam’s concern over her parents’ marriage?

18. 
    131. elizabeth from pa  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 1:58pm

    Paul, why are you so clearly awesome? Also, is it hard for you as a writer to see jokes get cut due to time? How much input do you have in what stays and what gets left on the cutting room floor. I’m hoping for a 3 hour episode on the DVD set of everything we missed on tv!

19. 
    130. what's the dealio?  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 1:27pm

    Seriously, how do you get through the day when you have things rolling around your brain like, “I’ve got to make sure YouTube comes down to tape this!” and “Cut off her nose to spiderface” and “You were in the parking lot earlier! That’s how I know you!” without constantly dissolving into a useless puddle of laughter?

    The roast was great and seemed like a fun thing to film and direct. Everyone looked so happy. Did that scene feel like a real party to the cast?

    Wonderful episode. I’m still giggling, days later.

20. 
    129. Just Selling Purses For the Day  Tue. Feb. 3, 2009 | 1:08pm

    Two decades ago in my petless townhouse apartment in Cambridge, Mass., I was napping in the late afternoon when a cat (the neighbor’s) fell through the dropped ceiling of my living room on top of me and dashed down to the first floor landing, wailing eerily and inconsolably for many minutes. The cat, the opened-up dropped ceiling and the plaintive wail have stayed with me in my viscera. Did something like this happen to someone on the writing staff?

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