The Office on NBC

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

by Dwight Schrute It's springtime and creepie crawlies are starting to emerge from all the cracks and crevices. I urge you not to kill them. Please bag them up and bring them to me at once. I need them for soil aeration and to pollinate my beet flowers. Your cooperation will be noted.

THANKS ERIN!
by Andy Bernard I'm sure everyone is already well aware, but one of the year's largest observances took place this week. No it wasn't Ferris Wheel Day, or Middle Name Pride Day, or Sneak Some Arugula onto your Neighbor's Porch Day. Those are all clearly awesomedary, but not as kickass as...Secretary's Day! That's right m'peeps, it's that time again when you step it up and drench your administrative professionals in gifts galore to show them how much you care. There are more than four million secretaries and administrative assistants in the U.S. right now. That's a ton o' typists to commend! And if your secretary is anything like Dunder Mifflin's secretary, you know that she or he is the most hardworking, beautiful, and special person worthy of the highest praise ever. On that note, I'd like to stand on the tallest desk in the office and shout into the vents so that it echoes throughout the entire office building for all to hear, THANK YOU SO MUCH ERIN HANNON! You have done an amazing job as DM's secretary this past year, and everybody knows it. You've got great posture, your bangs are always bouncy, your faxing skills are insane, and your smile is more winning than the Cornell Basketball program (well, almost). Keep up the good work and enjoy your time in the sun, Cinderella. You deserve it.

DARRYL'S REQUEST
by Darryl Philbin Will the person keeping a box of random insects by the bailer please pick them up and take them home? My warehouse isn't some halfway house for bugs. You have until the end of the day before I Raid their asses.

EARTH DAY
by Pam Beesly Andy asked if I would write up a tribute to Erin for Administrative Professionals Day. While I wholeheartedly support this very essential holiday (even though no one really recognized it when I was secretary...), I sort of feel like I should acknowledge Earth Day instead. It's a global holiday celebrated to bring awareness and appreciation for our environment. And I think we can all do our part, big and small, to help save the earth. For example, Jim and I are going to be permanently carpooling to work from now on. Michael - maybe you could cut down on all your finger painting and origami to save paper. Meredith - start recycling your beer bottles. Kevin - think about what you want before you open the refrigerator door to keep the cool in. Angela - maybe turn your floor heater down a few degrees. Think outside of the box, and reduce reuse and recycle everyone!

FASHION 411
by Kelly Kapoor Okay so today it was 61 degrees and partly cloudy, which means...time for mini skirts and camis you guys!!!!! I'm so excited to finally put my arm warmers and my faux mink coat away. Don't get me wrong, those things are totally yummy. But I'm so ready to switch them out for sheath dresses and studded tank tops. If I had to describe fashion this spring in two words, it would be: crazy beautiful. All the rules are seriously changing. Here's the basic lowdown:
Mixing stripes and floral prints is totally okay! I know - initially I was like, ew! What is happening?! But now I'm obsessive. It looks great, trust.
Pockets in dresses are here to stay. Yes it seems weird and like it would make your hips triple in size. But it actually makes your waist look smaller. And you can stuff your fave lip gloss or disposable toothbrush in there, so you'll never be caught unprepared if you bump into a male model or reality star who wants to make out with you.
Necklaces: the bigger the better. Think African tribe meets a second grader's arts and crafts project. So edgy.
Jean jackets are back, just like on Blossom. I never thought I would utter that sentence, but I am. Deal with it. *NOTE: Blossom hats are NOT, repeat NOT back in.
Shoulders are the new cleavage. Show a lot of them. Unless you have weird moles or sunspots or something. In that case just stick to classic cleavage.
Lastly, shoes are getting totally complicated (in a good way). The more hardware, buckles, straps, clasps, color, plastic, and leather the better. Not in a hooker-ish way, but definitely pushing the limits. Think Lady Gaga or Xtina. Have fun looking sexy in the sun! XOXO

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Fun Facts about the cast and show.

First ever NBC comedy series on NBC to be presented in wide-screen to non-HDTV viewers, resulting in horizontal black bars. Previous NBC dramas have been presented in wide-screen to non-HDTV viewers, but no previous comedy.

Dwight currently has four bobble-heads on his desk. The most well known is the "Dwight Schrute" bobble-head, a present from Angela in season two. Two others seen throughout the series are of Mike Lieberthal and John Kruk. Lieberthal played catcher for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons before being promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies and John Kruk was a Philadelphia Phillie before retirement. The fourth bobble-head, added in the fourth season, is of former Syracuse University guard and Scranton native son Gerry McNamara.

Dwight has a "Froggy 101" bumper sticker on the filing cabinet next to his desk. Froggy 101 is the #1 rated country-western station in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the setting for the show. This bumper sticker can also be seen in the office of Michael's boss at his short-lived night job at the telemarketing company.

Many of the famous insert shots from the original series such as the water cooler and copier machine are not used in the show. Instead they pay homage to those particular shots by placing them in the opening credits.

The exterior shot of the building the office is "in" in Scranton, Pennsylvania is across the street from a bar which is coincidentally named "The Office". Greg Daniels (I) has said that he hopes this is a sign of good karma for the show. The Office (the bar) was actually condemned by the city a few years back.

The first season was filmed in actual office space located just above a sound-stage. The sound-stage is often used to replicate the Dunder-Mifflin warehouse, most notably in the "Basketball" episode. For the second season, an exact set replica of the original office was built on a sound-stage for further shooting.

Michael has a Union Jack Flag on his desk that appears in various shots as a homage to the original British series.
The computers on the Dunder-Mifflin office set are wired for the internet. Cast members have admitted that when they're in the background of scenes they are often checking email and surfing the net.
Four of the regularly appearing secondary characters have the same first name as the actress or actor that plays her or him: Angela (Angela Kinsey), Oscar (Oscar Nu�ez (I)), Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) and Creed (Creed Bratton).

The Office's address is 1725 Slough Road. Slough was the name of the town in which the original version of the show takes place. However, there is no Slough Road in Scranton.

Many main and supporting cast members have written episodes of the show. B.J. Novak (Ryan), Paul Lieberstein (Toby) and Mindy Kaling (Kelly) wrote 12 of the 28 episodes over the first and second seasons (albeit separately). (Liberstein would even go on to direct a fourth season episode, "Money".) Steve Carell (Michael Scott) has written two episodes so far: "Casino Night" (which was the second season finale) and "Survivor Man". One episode (2.8, "Performance Review") was written by Larry Wilmore, who plays Mr. Brown, the diversity instructor. Michael Shur, a seasoned writer, plays Dwight's cousin Mose Schrute. Gene Stupinsky and Lee Eisenberg, two writing partners, play the delivery men in the Valentine's Day episode and others. Greg Daniels, the developer and show runner of the Office, played Michael's neighbor in "Office Olympics" but his scene was cut.

Four of the main cast members are originally from Massachusetts: Steve Carell (Michael Scott), John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard) & Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor). Guest star Nancy Walls (Carol Stills), Steve Carell's real-life wife, is also from Massachusetts.
John Krasinski and B.J. Novak went to high school together. They went to Newton South High School in Newton, MA and they both graduated in 1997.

Both Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) and Ed Helms (Andy) graduated from The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia.
Some of the video used in the opening theme song specifically the exterior shot of the building was taken by John Krasinski and his friends in their Jeep. John had just gotten the part and was coming out for shooting.

Matt Walsh (I) was in the final running for the Dwight role but was turned down.

Michael's birthday is March 15th.
The cast is frequently seen on-screen drinking cans of Crystal Club soda (various flavors, Jim seems to prefer their cola), which is made in Scranton by the Crystal Club Soda Water Company.
There is an actual lamp banner in Scranton, PA of the fictional company Dunder Mifflin on N. Washington Ave. It had to be replaced once after being stolen.

Poor Richards Pub, a bar the gang often refers to in the show, is an actual bar in South Scranton. It is actually in a bowling alley, South Side Lanes.

Steve Carell only watched a few minutes of the British version before permanently stopping such viewing because he did not want to copy Ricky Gervais' performance as the office manager. John Krasinski, on the other hand, was an avid viewer of the original.

Michael Scott has a "Certificate of Authenticity" on his wall that states he is the "Proud Owner of a Quality Seyko Timepiece."

There are some changes in the set between the first season and the subsequent ones. The exterior of the building is completely different in the first season than what's used after. Also, the wall in between Michael's office and the conference room (the one Andy punches a hole in) is much thinner in the first season.

The document being highlighted in the opening credits scene is a copy of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, Section 12.22.

The show had to stop production in November 2007 because of a writer's strike. The show's star Steve Carell (himself a WGA member) supported the writers, and refused to cross the picket lines even for non-writing duties. Carell went so far as to call in sick to the network on the first day of the strike, citing a case of "enlarged balls" as the reason he couldn't come in.

The "Welcome to Scranton" sign featured in the opening credits, formerly located on the Central City Expressway, is now on display in the food court of the Mall at Steamtown. It is setup with a backdrop so people can get their picture with it. It was moved there when the city replaced the signs with new signs.

The Penn Paper building featured in the opening credits is really located on Mifflin Avenue in Scranton, PA. This is likely where the fictional company name "Dunder Mifflin" came from.
Fictional company Dunder Mifflin is now an actual member of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

It is frequently mentioned that the characters Phyllis Lapin Vance and Michael Scott are the same age, having gone to high school together. In real life Phyllis Smith is 11 years older than Steve Carell.

Michael Scott's home address is shown as either 42 Kellum Court (per NBC's Dunder Mifflin website) or 126 Kellum Court (seen on the show). Kellum Court is a real street in Scranton, but house numbers start at 300 because of the city block numbering system. If it existed, the physical location of 42 Kellum Court would actually be in the rock quarry depicted behind the "Scranton Welcomes You" sign in the opening credits.

Jim and Pam lovestory.

"Just Friends"
The very subtle courtship between sweet Dunder Mifflin receptionist, Pam Beesly and kind-hearted salesman Jim Halpert begins. Only problem, Pam is currently in her third year of being engaged to Dunder Mifflin warehouse employee, Roy.
Jim makes an attempt to move on by a cute and perky purse saleswoman, Katy. Pam is secretly bothered by the relationship, but continues to act fine by everything.
"Kiss"
Jim ends his relationship with Katy and still pines for Pam, as she continues planning her wedding to Roy, who has now set a wedding date. By now, Michael has learned of Jim's feelings for Pam and encourages Jim to pursue his crush.
Casino Night rolls around and unable to keep his feelings hidden any longer, Jim reveals his love for Pam in a tender and private moment. Pam rejects Jim's declaration and heads into the office to call her mother. After the phone call, Jim approaches Pam and the two kiss.
"The Make-up"
Pam breaks Jim's heart and tells him she still has every intention of marrying Roy, despite their growing attraction for one another. A heartbroken Jim transfers his job to the Stamford, Connecticut branch. It's there that Jim begins a relationship with his coworker, Karen.
Pam eventually calls off her wedding to Roy. With the Stamford branch closing, Jim and his new girlfriend transfer to Scranton. Karen is unaware of Jim's past with Pam.
Pam briefly reunites with Roy, but once he discovers her kiss with Jim during their previous engagement, he flies into a rage and attempts to attack Jim at work. Roy is fired for his actions and Pam breaks up with him for the second time.
At a Dunder Mifflin retreat, Pam gets the courage to tell Jim, and all of her coworkers, that he was the reason why she called off her wedding.
Jim and Karen compete for a job at the Corporate offices in New York. Jim and Karen eventually break-up and Jim withdraws his name from the running for the Corporate job. He returns to Scranton and officially asks Pam out on a real first date and she accepts.
"The Realationship"
Jim breaks up with Karen and she quickly decides to leave Scranton for good, accepting a managerial position at the Utica branch.
Pam and Jim date on the down low to keep their nosy coworkers from knowing.
When news breaks out of Jim and Pam's relationship, it doesn't come as much of a surprise to their coworkers.
Pam and Jim continue to learn new things about one another as their relationship grows more serious.
"The Proposal"
Jim decides to take the relationship to the next level and proposes marriage to Pam outside a gas station and she tearfully accepts.
Jim surprises Pam, again, by purchasing his childhood home from his parents with hopes of raising his own family with Pam there.
Career-wise, both Pam and Jim's take a rocky turn. Jim continues to lose points with his newly appointed Scranton boss, Charles, while Pam spontaneously accepts a job with Michael's new business adventure, Michael Scott Paper Company. When Michael gets his job back at Dunder Mifflin, he hires on Pam and promotes her to saleswoman.
At a company picnic, Pam heads to the hospital with Jim after a volleyball accident. While at the hospital, Jim receives some life-changing news about Pam.
"The Wedding"
Now that Jim knows that Pam is pregnant, he looks for ways to expand on their family's future. Jim accepts a promotion at Dunder Mifflin to be co-regional manager, working side by side with Michael.
Jim and Pam reveal to the office they are having a baby and also planning a wedding. The two invite their coworkers to their wedding in Niagara Falls. After their wedding, Jim and Pam take off for their honeymoon to Puerto Rico.
Now back to the grind, Jim continues to work along side his co-manager, Michael, while Pam balances expectant motherhood while dealing with the all-new pressures of being a saleswoman.
"The Baby"
First came love and then came marriage and now comes Pam and Jim with a baby carriage. Now they take on the everyday struggles of finding the balance between parenthood and career.
With Dunder Mifflin being bought by Sabre Corporation, the new parents feel an added pressure of impressing their new boss, as well as learning the ropes of raising a child. Tune in for what unexpected adventures lie ahead for Dunder Mifflin's favorite family, the Halperts!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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