Wearing multiple hats on The Office

Variety has a really interesting article about the challenges of being both an actor and writer — true of several staff members on The Office:

[Paul] Lieberstein, who was strictly a writer before coming to “The Office,” finds his actor mind and producer mind in conflict in another way. [Steve] Carell, he explains, will pounce (in character) on any actor who fumbles an improv.

“He just devours you. If you take too long, he makes fun of you. If you say something that didn’t follow, he makes fun of you. It’s kind of amazing. While I’m watching it as a producer, when I’m not in the scene, it’s definitely something I’m hoping for.”

Link: Writer-performers stage balancing acts

A.V. Club interviews Mindy Kaling

A.V. Club talks to Mindy Kaling about Ben Affleck, SNL, and writing for The Office:

AVC: As a writer, who are you most enthusiastic about writing for?

MK: I love writing for Pam, because she doesn’t get a lot of huge jokes or anything, but she’s very passive-aggressive, and I think writing that is very fun. She’s also very likeable. I think that’s very fun to write. I think everyone will pick their own favorite character to love. Everyone loves writing for Creed and Toby, because Creed can be just non sequiturs, and in a way, it’s pretty easy. But I think writing for Michael Scott is pretty amazing … He’s fun to group-write.

Warning: a little bit of profanity.

Link: Mindy Kaling

Tipster: Anonymous

Mindy Kaling’s Office Party

aprilbegins over at the LiveJournal Office community has posted scans of a funny article about Mindy Kaling from the March issue of Venice Magazine.

An excerpt:

Because “The Office has such a sizeable ensemble, is it difficult to keep each character from getting lost or overshadowed?

The great thing about the show is none of these characters are alike; it’s like a zoo. We have every different animal in his or her own little cage, like a Stanley or a Meredith or a Dwight. You can poke each animal and they’ll make a sound and you write it down. I think the perfect kind of episode is one where we have a conference room scene and every character gets to say one thing that is very in character, one little hilarious remark. And I feel like I’ve done my job if I can service every character on the show.

(And did you guys know about Brenda? — I didn’t!)

Link: Mindy Kaling’s Office Party

Tipster: MelB

Office wins Writers Guild awards

The Office writing staff has won TWO 2007 Writers Guild awards!

  • COMEDY SERIES: The Office, Written by Steve Carell, Jennifer Celotta, Greg Daniels, Lee Eisenberg, Brent Forrester, Ricky Gervais, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Stephen Merchant, B.J. Novak, Michael Schur, Justin Spitzer, Gene Stupnitsky
  • EPISODIC COMEDY – any length – one airing time: Casino Night (The Office), Written by Steve Carell

Woo-hoo! Congratulations to everybody!

Read a complete list of winners here.

From Variety:

Steve Carell won a second trophy for “The Office” in top comedy episode for writing the “Casino Night” segment … Upon accepting his award, Carell evoked a big laugh by saying tongue-in-cheek, “The other writers did not help me, so I celebrate me.”

Tipster: _bales

‘Office Romances’ video

SPOILER WARNING! Videos and subsequent comments will contain spoilers.

When I went over to Yahoo to watch the extended ‘Phyllis’ Wedding’ preview video for the nth time (addicted? am I addicted?), I noticed there is a new video up — one where Melora Hardin, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, and B.J. Novak talk about the Office relationships.

They discuss upcoming storylines, so hence the spoiler tag …

Check it out here.

Office nominated for 2007 Writers Guild Awards

The Office has received three nominations for the 2007 Writers Guild Awards:

  • COMEDY SERIES. The Office, written by Steve Carell, Jennifer Celotta, Greg Daniels, Lee Eisenberg, Brent Forrester, Ricky Gervais, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Stephen Merchant, B.J. Novak, Michael Schur, Justin Spitzer, Gene Stupnitsky
  • EPISODIC COMEDY, any length, one airing time. Casino Night (The Office), written by Steve Carell
  • EPISODIC COMEDY, any length, one airing time. The Coup (The Office), written by Paul Lieberstein

Read the full list of nominees here.

The awards will be presented on February 11 in Los Angeles.

Congratulations to Steve, Paul, and the rest of the writing staff!