Comments on: Got a ‘Stress Relief’ question for Paul Lieberstein?

By: Zack

Zack — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:01:33 +0000

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!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:57:45 +0000

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!

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:04:20 +0000

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?

By: Nick Merritt

Nick Merritt — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:36:45 +0000

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.

By: Pamela Halpert

Pamela Halpert — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:31:35 +0000

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!!

By: Something Random

Something Random — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:29:39 +0000

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)

By: ShaSAM

ShaSAM — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:27:59 +0000

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

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:23:51 +0000

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?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:57:38 +0000

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???

By: Jessica in Detroit

Jessica in Detroit — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:31:58 +0000

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

By: Jayna

Jayna — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:28:01 +0000

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

By: Aaghaaz Madan

Aaghaaz Madan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:13:27 +0000

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?

By: Deborah Shoshlefski

Deborah Shoshlefski — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:09:16 +0000

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?

By: Big Tuna

Big Tuna — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:24:51 +0000

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?

By: mr.dude

mr.dude — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:23:06 +0000

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?

By: kreidy

kreidy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:48:59 +0000

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?

By: Mikaela

Mikaela — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:38:41 +0000

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?

By: elizabeth from pa

elizabeth from pa — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:58:50 +0000

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!

By: what's the dealio?

what's the dealio? — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:27:48 +0000

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.

By: Just Selling Purses For the Day

Just Selling Purses For the Day — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:08:01 +0000

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?