Do deleted scenes ‘count’?
Sunday, February 25th, 2007A few weeks ago, the post for Business School deleted scenes generated an interesting debate on whether these scenes “counted” in Dunder Mifflin reality, even though they never officially aired.
Well, according to Office show runner Greg Daniels, yes, Virginia, deleted scenes are canon:
Daniels is rare among producers in his belief that the deleted scenes have as much validity as the ones that made it to air, explaining, “For the writers, in our minds, those scenes have happened. We wrote them, we shot them, and at the last minute, I cut them in the editing room, but we’re relying on them anyway for the mythology of the show.”
They say on the DVD commentary that with working computers and looooooooots of free time when filming they surf the net alot. As a group I’m sure they frequent most of the big fan sites. (LIKE THIS ONE!)
60 | Voltaire Wed. Feb. 28, 2007 at 6:51pmI like the timing of the article. Do you think Greg Daniels lurks on OfficeTally? Not to be too off topic, but I wonder how much The Office writers/producers/actors follow what we say online… any thoughts/out-of-the-closet cast members who are secretly users of OfficeTally?
59 | dlo Tue. Feb. 27, 2007 at 8:27pmI really do hope they start making the DVDs available with the option to watch the broadcast version or the big ol’ fat version with all the deleted scenes.
58 | Los Benitos Tue. Feb. 27, 2007 at 5:10pmThe reason that the producers cut the scene w/ Stanley’s daughter was not because the writers “made a mistake”; it was because the show is 22 minutes and this comedic bit was irrelevant to the more substantial plot lines in the series. Stanley, his daughter, and Ryan (although admittedly less so) are not main characters and Cocktails was not focused on telling their story. I don’t see anything odd about Ryan forgetting what Stanley’s daughter looks like. He has only met her one time. I certainly can’t remember everyone I’ve met only briefly.
As far as the Karen flyer scene goes? It may help explain events that unfold during a later episode. If season three ends and nothing ever relates back to that deleted scene, then I will accept that it was a “mistake.” But not until then.
57 | StanMAN Tue. Feb. 27, 2007 at 4:26pmVoltaire, I’d sign that petition, too. The half-hour versions are woefully inadequate, especially upon viewing the deleted scenes. The deleted scenes offer real depth to the development of the show and sometimes answer questions that the thirty-minute episodes leave unanswered.
If an hour-long episode can’t be finagled, then I suggest that every ‘Office’ episode released on iTunes be a director’s cut with the “45 minutes of pristine material,” give or take. After all, I think the loyal iTunes fans deserve a little more bang for their buck.
The episodes go so quickly when I watch the “live” broadcast Thursday nights. I blink and it’s over.
56 | Adriana Tue. Feb. 27, 2007 at 2:28amI’d sign a petition to make it an hour show, standard. Think about it: Daniels says his first cuts are always 45 minutes of PRISTINE material. An hour show is 41 or 42 minutes. I’ll sign a petition for anything!
55 | Voltaire Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 11:24amWait a minute…
This isn’t a real documentary?!?!
I’ve been duped!!!
(Note the obvious sarcasm)
:-)
Yes, it’s tv, but it’s GREAT tv!
54 | Dying Star Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 11:10amRE #56:
You’re just talking crazy now…
53 | Cousin Mose Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 10:29amJust wanted to pause this forum for s second..
ITS JUST A TV SHOW.
Thank you
52 | Sherifwantlammachineback Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 1:56amJust thought I would throw that reminder up there.
I know, but I am interested in pushing for a super-sized April 5th episode. How would we go about that? It only seems fitting after a 6 week deprivation.
51 | Fat Jim Halpert Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 10:46pmThe season finale is going to be an hour long! Well, with commercials like 42 minutes. Pretty super.
50 | You killed Jim Halpert! Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 10:40pmHa ha nice. How did fans go about petitioning for one with last season’s finale?
49 | Fat Jim Halpert Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:45pmThat would be awesome Fat Jim Halpert.
What with all the Jim killing, it HAS to be super sized. I mean, what if Roy kills him in a deleted scene?
48 | Elisabeth Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:43pmCome on everybody, we’re all Office fans, can’t we all just get along? Speaking of a long month, anyone else feeling like rallying to get a super-sized episode on April 5th?
47 | Fat Jim Halpert Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:41pmcmon … that was a joke … sort of
lighten up.
it’s going to be a long month.
46 | blao Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:09pm#48 blao,
“executive producers make mistakes, too.”
And I guess you don’t make mistakes?
How come you’re right, while the Writers/Producers are wrong?
45 | Jill Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 8:59pmok jill, because you didn’t recognize stanley’s daughter right away, that makes it plausible that ryan didn’t as well. SURE !!!!!!
executive producers make mistakes, too.
44 | blao Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 8:39pm#33, Fat Jim Halpert, excellent points. I completely agree and I think you present the best argument (outside Greg Daniels himself) for the deleted scenes being canon.
43 | Adriana Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 8:31pmOops. #4. And … did I use the word pointless?
42 | Elisabeth Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 8:00pmRE: 42 Jill
“Why are people still debating over this?”
1. They’re on the eventually loser Team Karen.
2. We have about six weeks until a new episode and about five weeks until a new promo, so people will talk about literally anything to fill the void.
3. Someone will find a new deleted scene to try to prove that they’re not canon, like the deleted scene from the Dundies, where Kelly says she hated Toby’s kid. Of course that might be inconsistency in writing, and heaven knows that has never ever happened.
4. Did I mention pointless?
41 | Elisabeth Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 7:58pm