The Office writers at Paley Center
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 | 109 commentsBecause of the spoiler potential of this question, the answer can be a simple ‘yes or no’: Do you guys already know of one or two scenes that will definitely be in the very last episode of The Office? | John in San Francisco
They said they have two or three ideas of what’s going to happen. Perhaps the whole series was in Mose’s head (a la St. Elsewhere)? Or Mose wakes up next to Suzanne Pleschette (a la Newhart)? I also remember Mike Schur discussing that someone suggested that Mose should go to college.
Mike talked about how he’d like Mose to disappear for a couple years and go to college. He’d return as a normal socialized human being. He’d go to Yale. Though it’s funny that even though he’s a Harvard grad, and all the character pitches for Mose involve him being naked or in an outhouse.
On the spoiler topic in general, I remember Greg saying he doesn’t get people wanting to know what happens before it airs. They thought they had the proposal scene under wraps but then there was a leak when EW said something momentous was going to happen in the rain. They were very disappointed that got out.
Improvisation
Someone asked about improvising — Steve, Rainn, and John are really good at it. Steve does his best to crack people up on set.
A very rough synopsis of Greg Daniels on improvisation:
Steve Carrell will improv if you give him that window. In the ‘Office Olympics’ episode where I give my acting debut, Steve improvs his first line, “So what do you do?”
This, not being in the script, makes me sweat. I could feel the beads forming on my forehead.
“I’m a salesman.” which was all I could think of, since there was a salesman in front of me.
“Of what?”
“Yarn.”
To think things could have gone very differently in my life, if I had been great at improv.
Steve Carell’s goal in a scene is to make the other person crack.
The kiss in ‘Gay Witch Hunt’ (written by Greg) was all Steve.
Paul’s rules of acting
Mike pointed out Paul’s three rules of acting:
1) Don’t laugh.
2) Take the water bottle off the desk.
3) Remember the last word of the other character’s line, so you know when it’s your turn to speak.
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Thanks for the report tanster! What a great experience that must have been for you (:
On another note, I saw the link to the movie BJ will be in…it’s so intense, how did Mr.Comedy-Writer/Fire Guy get cast in that one?
Sounds like paley was amazing! and thanks for the fancynewwhatever link! i read their recap and i felt like i was really there!
Hey tanster,
thanks so much! you were so great! and looked great too!
i know bj was filming… but where was lee’s other half, gene?
thanks!
[from tanster: awww, thank you so much kaylie! gene got called away at the last minute. :( ]
Jennie ~ thanks for the fabulous coverage! I wish I could’ve been there to cheer you on, but I’m so glad the evening went well. I’m sure you will always remember this experience. :) We’re so proud of you!
[from tanster: thank you, laura! it was awesome. and it was nice looking down on my script every once in awhile and seeing the names of everyone who submitted questions. it was comforting. ;) ]
I’m tired of Holly. It’s time to send her away.
Thank you, Tanster! Your expression in the pic is priceless! Elation and nervousness all rolled into one.;) Good for you!
(Also, I love JAM together, but I agree that they can be together without being the main focus of the show. My favorite moments are always the interaction between groups: Jim and Pam pulling a prank on Dwight and Michael or Michael annoying everyone and Phyllis snapping back, etc. )
Thanks so much for the recap, Tanster! It was great to read answers to such interesting questions and not have to hear the usual (Yes, the actors improv some. Yes, some of us worked in an office. Gah!)
I was a little concerned, however, at the Jim/Pam backlash I sensed. I would argue that the writers would best take the focus off Jim/Pam by just letting them be together and NOT drawing things out like they are now.
OHH SOO awesome!
the gals over at fnw did a SUPER detailed recap of the event as well, from the audience perspective.
thanks for linking up to them Tanster!
So glad the writers get frustrated that fans care more about the JAM plotline than Michael’s. Michael and the comedy aspect have always appealed more to me than the JAM drama and I don’t like how episodes are deemed “bad” by fans because it doesn’t have JAM moments.
Great Recap! And thanks for the Fancy New Whatever link! It’s got some great information about Paley and the mods. are super cute (:
I personally don’t think that any one character “is the show”. Every single character brings something special and unique :)
Awesome report, tanster! So worth the wait!
i sooooooooooooooooooo disagree with 95….. STEVE CARELL IS THE SHOW!
Thanks so much for this awesome entry!
Sounds like it was an amazing evening with some amazing people:)
While I enjoy disliking Michael aka Steve Carell. I had gone with that it was a full cast effort. I don’t see Steve as “the star”.
I just finished reading the whole recap. It was so great, thank you so much Tanster! It must have been an amazing (and well deserved) experience for you.
Charlie is a very good looking man…
The top you were wearing was so cute, I want one!
[from tanster: thanks! i love that top, too, and was bummed i had to throw a sweater over it at the last minute, but i was afraid i'd be too cold otherwise ...]
Fantastic job Tanster! I bet that was a real dream come true. Excellent Q&A and pics.
That first picture, it looks like Paul is touching Mindy in a weird way. :)
How awesome that they asked for you specifically!
Is BJ Novak not a writer anymore? Maybe you mentioned this but I didn’t see it. I’d be sad.
[from tanster: B.J. was in Berlin filming Inglourious Basterds.]
Thanks for the links Tanster! They’re all really great. I’ve never been to the fancy new whatever site, and it’s really cool! :)