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- [00:00]
A
If you've been listening for a while, you'll know how much goes into making this show run smoothly. And if I had to hire someone tomorrow, I'd want someone who understands our workflow, knows the tools we use, and can jump in without missing a beat.
- [00:13]
B
And when you need help finding someone who can really make an impact on your team, this is a job for Indeed.
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A
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B
and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it
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A
deserves@ Indeed.com podcast just go to Indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast.
- [01:01]
B
Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply.
- [01:05]
A
Need the right hire fast? Then this is a job for Indeed. Sponsored Jobs did you know that you
- [01:11]
B
can buy your car completely online on Autotrader? Really?
- [01:16]
A
Just visit autotrader.com, filter and search through dealer listings for the car you want, make, model, color and all the features that matter to you. Go ahead, get picky.
- [01:27]
B
Whether you're into subcompacts with heated cup holders, crossovers with all wheel drive pickups with kicking sound systems, or SUVs that can survive whatever chaos your kids unleash, just drop in your info and you'll only see cars in your budget. Really?
- [01:44]
A
Once you find your one and only, you can do the whole deal online and have the car delivered to your driveway. Or you can pick it up at the dealership and drive your new ride right off the lot.
- [01:55]
B
Really, AutoTrader makes it easy to buy your car online because the whole process is designed around your wants and must haves.
- [02:02]
A
Autotrader Buy your car online. Really? Hey everybody.
- [02:11]
B
Hi there.
- [02:12]
A
We hope everyone is doing fabulous this week and you guys know for us it's spring break, our kiddos are out of school and we're taking the week off to, you know, unplug and spend time with our families.
- [02:23]
B
So. So this week we wanted to take a look back at one of our favorite episodes we have ever done on Office Ladies. It is our interview with the fabulous Steve Carell.
- [02:32]
A
I am telling you guys, this was such an absolute delight. I love Steve. We love him, he's just the best. It was so fun to catch up with him. And he has a new show out on hbo. It's called Rooster. You guys, it's hilarious. Get this, it's HBO's most watched comedy debut in over a decade. Well, that's a pretty big deal.
- [02:52]
B
And you can see more than just Steve Carell in this show. You can also see Nancy Carell. She has a cameo in it. So definitely check it out. We think you'll love it.
- [03:01]
A
Yeah, Steve said in an interview, she steals the scene. And you guys, we hope you just have the best week ever. Please enjoy our interview with Steve Carell and we'll be back next week with all new episodes of Office Ladies.
- [03:12]
B
That's right. We've got some really fun episodes coming up. We've got an all about. We have a movie rewatch that that is pretty special. And we have some new interviews. It's gonna be a great time.
- [03:24]
A
Plus, we have a special bonus Mother's Day episode. And you guys, we wanna hear from you. We have set up a folder on the Office Ladies website called Tribute to Our Moms. Go over there, write us about your moms. We can't wait to share about it. All right, see you soon.
- [03:43]
B
I'm Jenna Fisher.
- [03:45]
A
And I'm Angela Kinsey.
- [03:46]
B
We were on the Office together and we're best friends. And now we're doing the UL Office Lovers podcast just for you.
- [03:53]
A
Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details, and lots of BFF stories.
- [04:01]
B
We're the Office Lady 6.0.
- [04:06]
A
Happy Wednesday, everybody.
- [04:08]
B
A very happy Wednesday. This is one of the most exciting Wednesdays for me.
- [04:13]
A
This might be one of my happiest Wednesdays.
- [04:16]
B
Office Ladies listeners, we have a special guest today.
- [04:19]
A
The one, the only, Steve Carell. We have been waiting for this ever since the beginning of the podcast. We are so excited to have him on and you guys are gonna love it.
- [04:31]
B
We are dedicating this entire episode to Steve. He's gonna talk about all of his time on the Office playing Michael Scott. We could not be more excited for you to hear it.
- [04:39]
A
Also, I hope you guys, when you listen, the thing that just warmed my heart was for me, it was just three friends getting to hang out who had missed each other and hadn't seen each other in so long. So I just hope as you listen, you get to feel that with us, it was like no time had passed. We just were so happy to see our old friend.
- [04:59]
B
I really feel like we captured what it's like to sit on set with Steve Carell. People always ask us, what's it like to work with Steve Carell. This interview captures what it's like.
- [05:09]
A
Yeah.
- [05:09]
B
These are the conversations. This is how we would laugh.
- [05:12]
A
Yeah. These were our Monday morning chats after the weekend.
- [05:15]
B
Absolutely. Before we get to the interview, we do want to give a big shout out to our Facebook fan page. I hopped on there and I wrote a message. I had to literally figure out Facebook in order to do it.
- [05:27]
A
You did. You were like, I don't know my password.
- [05:29]
B
I know. I don't know how to do it. I had an old account that was like five years old or something, but I went on there and I asked you guys, what do you want us to ask Steve Carell? And oh my gosh, did you show up for us? It was amazing.
- [05:44]
A
So awesome. You guys sent in thousands of fantastic questions. I also want to give a big shout out to Nikki who moderates the Facebook fan page because she helped us go through and pick out some of your most asked questions. And we asked Steve your questions.
- [06:03]
B
And some of the questions are so good, I would have never thought of them.
- [06:06]
A
I know.
- [06:07]
B
And they made us laugh. And you'll hear it. You'll hear it. All right, let's take a break and when we come back, our interview with Steve Carell. I think there's a myth out there that you have to have a huge chunk of money already to start investing money or that you have to have some expert level knowledge. But the truth is you can start investing with your spare change using Acorns.
- [06:37]
A
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- [06:52]
B
And you can quickly adjust how much you're investing daily, weekly or monthly to stay on track toward your goal.
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A
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B
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A
Head to acorns.com officeladies or download the Acorns app to get started.
- [07:19]
B
Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns tier 2 compensation provided potential subject to various factors such as customers, accounts, age and investment settings does not include Acorns fees. Results do not predict or represent the performance of any ACORNS portfolio. Investment results will vary. Investing involves risks. Acorn Advisors, LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. View important disclosures@acorns.com OfficeLadies lady, have you
- [07:39]
A
ever invested in something that seemed really amazing at first but then did not live up to the hype?
- [07:45]
B
I once got the this kind of fancy jacket that looked amazing in the store. But then I wore it out once and I realized it was not comfortable and now it just lives in my closet collecting dust.
- [07:57]
A
LinkedIn has a word for that. Bull spend.
- [08:00]
B
Bullspend is when you optimize for numbers that look great. Impressions reach reactions, but then those numbers don't actually drive revenue. Invest in what actually looks good to your CFO. LinkedIn ads generate the highest ROAS 121 all major ad networks. You can reach the right buyers by targeting company, industry, job title, and more.
- [08:25]
A
So cut the bull. Spend advertise on LinkedIn, the network that works for you. Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com office that's LinkedIn.com office.
- [08:42]
B
Terms and conditions apply.
- [08:46]
A
Jenna, I am so excited because guess who's sitting next to me. Steve. It is my in the studio on Office.
- [09:00]
B
Ladies, we're all here in our glasses. Remember, we didn't have these when we worked on the show together. Did we all three wear glasses the very last season.
- [09:08]
C
I really needed them for table reads.
- [09:10]
B
Right. For reading.
- [09:11]
C
Yes.
- [09:12]
B
But look at us now.
- [09:13]
C
Now we're here.
- [09:14]
A
I know eyewear. Should I just kick it off with our very first question? We always ask?
- [09:21]
B
We have a favorite first question. We have all of our guests.
- [09:24]
A
Okay, here it is.
- [09:25]
B
It is. It's really hard.
- [09:27]
A
It's really hard. Ready? How did you get your job on the Office?
- [09:31]
C
I auditioned. I have to say the audition for the Office was unlike any audition I've ever had. And I'm sure you had the same experience because it felt like it was a workshop. It didn't feel like an audition. There didn't seem to be a ton of pressure. You just went in and they had a camera. But you didn't think there was anyone outside of the, you know, the one or two people that was. That were in the room. So it was very low key and very supportive.
- [10:03]
B
I remember we did a screen test together because after I auditioned something like seven times, I made it to the end, I guess, and it was like I was one of the final four. And they paired me up with you for a couple of scenes. That was crazy. I'd never done something like that before.
- [10:20]
C
I said, anybody but her.
- [10:22]
B
You were like, I don't care.
- [10:24]
C
No chemistry.
- [10:25]
B
What is her name? Gemma.
- [10:26]
C
Gemma Fisker. I don't like it. Don't think it's gonna work.
- [10:30]
A
I don't think Gemma Fisker is gonna be on the show.
- [10:34]
C
No. I remember auditioning with you, and I remember how grounded you were instantly in your character. And I thought, you know, when you read with someone, you don't know who they are as a person, and you immediately think, well, that's who she is, clearly, because you can't separate it at that point. But then you find out, like, everyone has completely different personalities than the characters are portraying. And it's kind of amazing. Like, once I remember. Can I tell a story, like, right off the bat?
- [11:05]
A
Yes.
- [11:05]
B
Yes.
- [11:05]
A
Oh, my gosh.
- [11:06]
C
I remember when we were at our first studio, our first soundstage out in Culver City, and we were shooting the pilot, and I was at craft service, and I had taken a can of Diet Coke or something out of the six pack. And, you know, there was that plastic, the carrying suspect thing, and I started breaking it down. I started cutting the edges before I threw it in the trash, you know, because of the dolphins. And you wanna. And I remember you walking up and commending me for doing that, and that stuck with me, like, oh, yeah. I was just kind of doing it as a courtesy to the dolphins, of course, and. But I remember you kind of giving me a pat on the back and saying, hey, good for you. Nice job.
- [11:54]
A
That is such a specific memory to remember.
- [11:57]
C
I did. Like, it's one of my strongest memories from the first episode. And I thought, she's so nice. That's so. It's so nice to be with nice people. I guess that was the takeaway. Like, oh, this is gonna be great.
- [12:11]
B
Bellow, dolphin lover. You know, I do that at home. I probably said, I do that at home.
- [12:17]
C
Yeah.
- [12:17]
B
Yeah. I love to see it.
- [12:18]
C
And we should shout out to all the people out there, cut the plastic. Cut the plastic. Don't you? Yeah, well, keep. Keep blasting down one thing.
- [12:28]
B
That's right.
- [12:29]
C
This is going to be a psa.
- [12:32]
A
It is so funny, though, like, where your brain goes. Because my strongest memory of the pilot is how you had to go down those stone steps outside to get, like, to crafting everything, you know, like, you had to go outside the building, down these stone staircase, and Oscar and I were leaving at the same Time. And he. We had done sketch comedy together for years, right? So we just went back to our silly shtick. And he goes, let's walk down the stairs together the same way. And I said, okay, Oscar. And we started to go down the stairs with our arms flinging about, and we turned and the whole producing team was walking behind us like Terry Weinberg, Howard Klein, all of those people. And I was like, oscar, there's a bunch of people behind us. He goes, then we have to keep doing it.
- [13:22]
C
Yeah, you have to own it at that point. Yeah.
- [13:24]
A
So I'm like, okay, that's the one thing I remember.
- [13:26]
C
But then you find out later on those intimidating people weren't intimidating at all. Everyone who was completely in so nice
- [13:33]
A
and rooting for us.
- [13:35]
C
Yeah, everyone's in the same boat.
- [13:36]
B
I have a question that came from our Office Ladies fan group. This is from Carly D. Carly would like to know what was your process and inspiration behind playing Michael? How did you craft this character?
- [13:49]
C
I remember meeting with Greg Daniels up at a deli, like, on the top of Mulholland, and we didn't know each other at all. And it's. Before I got the part, actually, he was. I think he was meeting with some of the people who were sort of in the mix, the final mix for Michael, and we just discussed the character and talked about what his foibles are and what his. His dreams and hopes. And I had a pretty specific take at that point, and it wasn't Ricky Gervais's. And I've told this story a million times that I chose not to watch the British version because I just didn't want that to influence whatever this version was going to be because he was clearly so great at it and was such a distinctive character. I didn't want to. To do an impression of him.
- [14:44]
B
I remember you telling me that, and I remember telling you that I had chosen to watch the entire British series and completely copy Lucy Davis and was basically doing a Lucy Davis impression to get the job. So I really.
- [14:59]
C
Not true,
- [15:02]
B
but also kind of true. I don't think so until. Especially for the pilot, because we were doing it word for word, and I was like, I think she nailed it. I don't know how to say the line better than that. So I guess I'm just gonna go
- [15:15]
C
with what she did.
- [15:16]
B
But I remember you saying you'd never seen it, and I didn't really have
- [15:19]
A
information in your brain. I didn't.
- [15:21]
C
Because, you know, I watched like a minute of. Just to get a sense of the tone of the show, Sort of how dark and very dry, very dour, kind of bleak, which I loved. I loved how still it was at times. But his character was so specific, I thought, no, I can't, because that's what I'll want to do. I won't see it any other way. And I think Greg agreed with that as sort of a template for doing it. And we were definitely on the same page in terms of who this guy could be and could become. And early on, I started thinking about an arc too, like where, because you hope, you don't go in thinking this is just going to be a pilot or this is just going to be six episodes. The hope is the character starts here and ends up way somewhere else. There's no way of really knowing where a character's going to end in the last episode. But I kind of, in my mind, I had a plan, because these characters. The hope was that all of these characters would change and evolve and grow. And that's part of what's fun about watching a show is to see progress in these characters. So that was sort of the plan going in. That was sort of the hope. It was one of those parts that you just pray that you get because, well, you know, at that point, certainly we were all just happy to be working.
- [16:57]
B
Yeah.
- [16:57]
A
Yeah.
- [16:58]
C
But on top of it, it just seemed like what a perfect thing to be a part of. And everyone who I met who had been involved with it seemed great and smart and nice and kind, and all of those things just made it so appealing to want to be. I was, you know, crossing my fingers.
- [17:19]
A
Oh, I know. I remember thinking, like, I can do this. Like, this one I can do.
- [17:24]
C
Yeah.
- [17:25]
A
But that was Pam, and I didn't get it. But then I got to be the accountant. And then I was like, no, I can really do this.
- [17:35]
B
Have you ever worked in an office in real life or ever had a boss like Michael Scott?
- [17:41]
C
No, no, no, I never have.
- [17:43]
B
Not an office worker.
- [17:45]
C
I did a lot of, you know, I did a lot of waiting tables. I sold wine over the phone at one point.
- [17:51]
B
How do you sell wine over the phone?
- [17:53]
C
Exactly?
- [17:56]
B
I mean, you can't taste it. How does it.
- [17:59]
A
It's a beautiful bottle.
- [18:00]
C
Well, you describe it based on. But we didn't get to drink the win. You have to describe a wine based on a, you know, a paragraph that they've written on each wine and varietal characteristics of each wine. It's a hard sell, believe me. Hello? Do you like wine?
- [18:19]
B
I mean. Click.
- [18:23]
A
Oh, my God. Okay. Was The Office, your first lead role?
- [18:29]
C
Yeah, I think it was. I had done. It was really fun to do, but I played a crazy Greek chef on a sitcom with Annie Potts and Tim Curry. So that's the sitcom that I had done. And I did a show just before the Office starring Tom Papa, really funny comedian. And he had a show, Come to Papa, Come to Papa. And he was so great. And the show only lasted a few episodes. So I went from that and then auditioned for the Office when that ended. But, no, I'd never done a lead
- [19:12]
A
role because I have such a memory of you, Steve, sitting over on that little sofa at front reception, or the chair sometimes, that was in front of Michael's office, just studying your lines because you would have to carry every scene. And I just breezed through and said something snarky to Kevin and then breezed out, you know, for the most part. But I always thought, was there a lot of pressure to be the lead and have to carry all of that?
- [19:37]
C
Not with that group of people. Because I felt like everyone was an equal component of that show. I didn't feel that way. I didn't feel like I was carrying any more load than anyone else. Because when you think about it, yeah, I had a lot of dialogue, but everyone was there all the time. And even if you were in the background of a scene, you're still acting, you're still active. All of us had character stuff going on at all times. So I don't think enough can be said for the fact that to just be present on that set. Everyone was working really hard. But I don't wanna make it sound like it was hard work, because it wasn't. It was really fun.
- [20:26]
A
Right.
- [20:27]
C
Because everyone was there supporting each. No, I never felt like any undue pressure. And also, the writing was so good that at a certain point it became very easy to memorize lines because you started to understand exactly how the writers were writing it and how they were also writing to us, like to our characters and to all of our voices. So I find that if dialogue's really good, it's generally pretty easy to remember because it makes sense.
- [20:59]
A
That's right. I always think about that too. If it's well written, I have no problem. And then our joke is, we'd never make it on a medical show because all of the things, they have to just quickly rapid fire off. I'd be like, oh, no, I'm not going to audition for that. I'll be a disaster.
- [21:16]
C
Yeah, no, that would be tough.
- [21:18]
B
So, Steve, we have talked about Many times on this podcast, just about our gratitude for your just stability and consistency and your leadership. So much so that a fan wrote in Sarah H. And said, we've heard how supportive and professional Steve is on set, and I would love to hear Steve's perspective or advice on setting the tone at work and fostering a supportive environment.
- [21:47]
C
Let's start by saying I am pretty great.
- [21:52]
B
So some of it's just in your DNA.
- [21:54]
A
I mean, you had a shot that said I'm fantastic, right?
- [21:57]
C
That's right. With my face on it. So just to reiterate that it's me. That's really nice of you to say. But again, I felt like I was part of this very unique ensemble, and so I never thought of myself that way. I thought of Greg as our leader and our sort of mentor in terms of this world, and he oversaw everything. And everyone was so nice, everyone was so kind to each other that I never got a sense that it should be any other way than the. Just in terms of the production of the show, like, from wardrobe to the writers to all of the crew, catering, craft service, everybody felt like they were part of something. And the other part of it is, I believe sincerely that every one of us knew, no matter who watched it or whether it had any sort of longevity in terms of viewership, even if, you know, if we got canceled after a season or two or three, I think we were all so happy and thankful for the time that we got to work on the show and to be with one another. It was really. It just. It was a special. A special thing, and we were aware of how special it was in the moment, I think.
- [23:23]
A
For sure. For sure. I always was just super thankful for the writing because it was like, you know, when you do an improv show or a sketch comedy show or something, and there's one person that wants the joke, wants the joke, wants the joke, and they just kill the show. I never felt that on our show, it was like, if Phyllis had the best button, she could level the room, or Oscar or Creed, it didn't matter. Like, the jokes came from everyone. It was a real creative collective, and the writers wrote that way, and Greg treated us that way. Like, Greg could look at a scene and be like, no, you know what? It's not working with Jim getting the laugh. Let's flip that and let's have Stanley say it. And then it just floored everyone. And so I always felt that way. And I feel like Greg set that tone for us that, like, everybody gets to play.
- [24:14]
C
You're exactly Right. Everyone got their shot. Not just that, but everyone else loved it. Everyone else was supportive of it. There was no resentment, no ego involved. And like, why not? That's the way to do it. And I think you can see it when you watch the show because there is a calm to it. Like no one's everyone. It's all good. Everyone's loving each other. You know, in terms of us as actors and people beyond the characters.
- [24:49]
A
I get so excited for conference room scenes. Cause those were our rapid fire things. I mean, Michael is up there, but literally every single person in the room has either a bit or a look. And it's just so fun to watch.
- [25:02]
C
Almost impossible to get through.
- [25:04]
A
Oh, and we didn't. Oh my God, we laughed so much.
- [25:07]
B
Well, people are very excited for you to talk about some of your favorite memories of shooting the Office. Specifically, they're curious if you have a favorite episode, which I think is like asking, do you have a favorite child? It's very hard.
- [25:19]
A
It's so hard.
- [25:20]
C
Yeah, that is hard. You know, my last one, Talk About Heart, it was a really difficult episode to do, but I also loved it at the same time because it was sort of that end game for Michael. It was that the culmination, showing the growth, that he didn't need the big send off, he didn't need the big party. He could say goodbye to all of his friends on his own terms without any of the fanfare. The fanfare, exactly. And so that I really enjoyed, you know, having that character evolve to that point in that moment. And people always point to this one. But dinner party, dinner party's up there. And you know, we'd come back after the writers strike, so that was the first thing that we had shot. I know you've discussed it, but I think everyone was so ready to get back to work and had really missed each other. And this is an episode that had just been sitting there waiting to happen for a while. And it's so weird and kind of dense thematically and crazy. And had great guest appearances and great sight gags, but was also really dark in a lot of ways and very sad and kind of emotionally fraught. So there was a lot going on in that one. So I like that one too.
- [26:54]
B
We didn't realize until we were breaking it down and we did a little Googling. Apparently it was a huge bomb when it first aired. It was not a fan favorite. It is not what it is today, but it was. People did not care for it.
- [27:07]
C
The show in general, you know, was a huge bomb when People first saw it.
- [27:13]
B
This is true.
- [27:14]
C
You know, acquired taste. I suppose another one to your point that people did not like at first was Scott's tots.
- [27:20]
B
Yes.
- [27:21]
C
And I loved doing that episode because it was so horrible, but I think expressed so much about this guy's Persona because his heart definitely in the right place and a huge heart, but so wrong.
- [27:39]
A
No follow through.
- [27:40]
C
And I think there was a talking head. Something to the effect of, of all the stupid things I've done in my life, this was the most generous, or something like that.
- [27:51]
A
This was the most generous.
- [27:53]
C
It was something to that effect.
- [27:55]
B
I think it's like, of all the empty promises I made in my life, this one was the most generous.
- [28:03]
C
That's it. And it's just such a hard line to say with a straight face.
- [28:07]
A
You have so many amazing talking heads. We talk about it every week, and I sort of go and look at the deleted scenes and there's some real gems in there, too. But, Jenna, your favorite is.
- [28:18]
B
I have a favorite, and we have an audio clip of it so that we can listen to it together. Is after Michael burns his foot on the Foreman grill. Oh, yeah. And you very angrily explain how it happened.
- [28:32]
A
You're so annoyed.
- [28:33]
B
You're so defensive. Like, why do I have to explain this? But I guess here it goes again.
- [28:40]
A
Wait, we gotta hear it.
- [28:41]
B
Yeah.
- [28:42]
C
I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up, I plug in the grill, I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious. It's good for me. It's a perfect way to start the day. Today I got up, I stepped onto the grill, and it clamped down on my foot. That's it. I don't see what's so hard to believe about that.
- [29:21]
B
I love the big sigh after you've explained how you eat bacon. Six strips of bacon every morning. You're like, so today.
- [29:32]
C
I think my favorite part of that was when he says, and it's good for me. Just slipping in, how good? How healthy Eating six strips of bacon in the morning.
- [29:47]
B
Oh, but there's so much about that. If you unpack it. Like, it actually is really nice to wake up to the smell of bacon. I have that memory from childhood.
- [29:56]
A
It's comfortable.
- [29:57]
B
You wake up on a Sunday, Dad Downstairs, making the pancakes, making some bacon. It is actually a really. He has a point.
- [30:05]
A
Maybe just made bacon.
- [30:07]
C
He doesn't say it the way you just did, though. That's the problem. And what was so great about those talking heads and so terrifying, in a way, was they were so well written that you just didn't want to screw it up. You didn't. You. There was an obligation. And I know you guys felt this, too, when you had a really good line, and here it comes. You would try to do everything you could to take the pedal off a little bit. Don't floor it for the joke. Really ease off and let it seem like this is just a natural extension of what this guy is thinking or what these women are thinking. And that was the hardest, is to not point to all of these fantastic jokes, to just make them feel conversational, and also just to not laugh. I'm sure I laughed 20 times during that, trying to do that talking head. There's one talking head. What was it that I could barely get through? And it was the same sort of thing. It was something so ridiculous.
- [31:16]
A
There's one in the bloopers. You know, Isabel's obsessed with the bloopers. She loves them. So she'll be like, oh, mom, you're at season seven. There's great bloopers. I'm like, okay, Iz. But there was one, Steve, that you could not get through where you said, I'm gonna get it wrong. But you're like, Michael's like, I'm not a bad guy. Sometimes I hit people with my car.
- [31:34]
C
That's the one. That's the one I was thinking.
- [31:36]
A
Yeah, you couldn't get through it. Sometimes I hit people with my car.
- [31:40]
C
Yeah. When I hit Meredith with my car, like, trying to absolve myself of having done it. I'm not a bad guy. Sometimes I do just hit people with my car. And I remember doing it, and I'd be getting close, and I couldn't get through it. It was so. It's fun going to know you're gonna go into work every day and laugh until you cry.
- [32:07]
A
Yeah.
- [32:08]
C
Every day I was on that set, at least one point of the day, I was laughing until tears were coming out of my eyes. And, I mean, what a gift.
- [32:16]
B
Yes.
- [32:17]
C
Who has a job like that?
- [32:20]
A
So Michael Scott had a lot of characters that he would play over the years. And we found a deleted scene, Steve, that I wanted to share with you. I don't know if you'll remember it. You know, when you hear it, you'll remember It. But it's from season three. In the Convict, Michael explains where he got the idea or, I guess, inspiration for all of his characters. In particular, Prison Mike. I really wanted you to hear it, Sam. Can you play it?
- [32:46]
C
When I was just a little kid, we had an assembly at school where a giant owl came out and gave a very impassioned speech about giving hoots and not polluting. And you know what? I never polluted again. It was right then that I realized the power of saying things as a character. People listen to you when you are wearing an elaborate costume or speaking in a voice that is not yours.
- [33:31]
A
Can you believe that's amazing.
- [33:33]
B
Can you believe that was deleted?
- [33:35]
A
That explains Prison Mic, everybody.
- [33:39]
B
Michael Scarn, anyone. Anytime you let a conference in a costume with a voice, you thought, this is it.
- [33:46]
A
They're gonna hear me.
- [33:47]
B
This is how I am most active, how I give. Cause you don't give any hoots anymore. You give a hoot.
- [33:54]
A
You don't pollute.
- [33:54]
C
Well, clearly this relates back to me tearing apart the plastic, you know. Yes. Or the dolphins.
- [34:01]
B
Yes.
- [34:01]
C
Even still, you don't pollute. Steve Carell gave a hoot.
- [34:05]
B
Yeah, he sure did.
- [34:09]
C
Boy. I mean, that's sort of like that vague, foggy. As I was hearing it, I kind of recalled. Yeah, but there are thousands of those. There are different versions of all of this stuff. And things that could have made, you know, could made a difference either way. Yeah, but they were so good, you know, the editors and Greg. I never regretted anything that was taken out of the show. I, like, had complete confidence that. Cause you know how some people get possessive. Like, well, why did that scene go? What happened there? They were so good about structuring the show and what needed to be in and what might have been really funny
- [34:51]
A
but didn't help or might have explained a whole backstory, but they let the audience just jump in the middle. They didn't have to explain everything. But every once in a while, as we're doing this rewatch and we find a deleted scene or something that's such a nugget. We're like, oh, well, that's why he would come in these costumes and give a big presentation. It's because of Hoot. Shoot the owl.
- [35:16]
B
Did you get to give notes on things? Like, were you very much a part of that? Like, I would remember sometimes you would stay behind after a table read, and they would want to know your thoughts and things. They were really collaborative and open in that way. Right?
- [35:29]
C
For sure. Yes. And the fact that so many of the writers were also actors on the show. There was such a great connection that it didn't feel like different facets of the show. Again, everybody just felt like they were all collaborators and the writers were part of the ensemble, which I think helped because they understood everyone's voice that much better because they were there and they were hearing it. But, yeah, I mean, I'd weigh in.
- [35:57]
B
Would you pitch ideas?
- [35:58]
C
Sure, yeah.
- [35:59]
B
Do you remember any?
- [36:01]
C
Well, I remember one specifically. And this was later on. This was when you and Jim were getting married and they wanted to have a horse go over Niagara Falls.
- [36:12]
A
Oh, my gosh.
- [36:13]
B
Yes.
- [36:13]
C
And I, I, I raised my hand and said, we can't. That's.
- [36:18]
B
That's crazy.
- [36:19]
C
I mean, all due respect, but please don't do that.
- [36:24]
B
It was not just you, apparently. When we were breaking down that episode, we talked to Greg about it, and he was like, steve told me not to do it. Randy told me not to do it. You told me not to do it. Like, literally everyone told him. It was so hard for him to let go of that.
- [36:42]
C
I'm sure if it was Greg, it would have been funny. Definitely. And those were rare moments when you felt like, no.
- [36:54]
A
Yeah.
- [36:54]
C
I mean, little notes here and there. But again, those writers were so good and so on point about everything that it was more in addition to. As opposed to negating.
- [37:07]
A
Yeah. Side note, did you know. We didn't know this. Randy shared this with us. That up until, like, right. Like the day before, they had a horse they were training in a big water pool at Paramount Studios. Like, it was. They were all systems go. Like, right up until, like, the day before. See that? There was a horse being trained.
- [37:27]
C
Of course there was. That's what you don't realize. When you write something, somebody starts to build it.
- [37:33]
A
Yeah.
- [37:33]
C
I mean, it starts to happen. So when you say, oh, so now we're going to be out in the woods, and then a month later, you're driving an hour and a half up into the Los Angeles forest to shoot a few scenes. Like, why did I write this terrible idea?
- [37:53]
A
It's nighttime in the morning, forest in
- [37:55]
B
the middle of nowhere, Freezing.
- [37:58]
C
Terrible.
- [37:59]
B
He falls in a creek. What?
- [38:01]
A
Why did I write it? So we've talked how the show was slow to find an audience. It was sort of like we were doing a little theater production and no one's seeing it. But then one day, it turned a corner and everybody knew the show, and we had people coming up to us. Jenna, do you remember we're at an awards show and Laura Dern was like, stop. I have to talk to you. We're like, what? She was like, I love your show. And I was like, this is Laura Dern. Oh, my gosh. But was there anyone like that for you, Steve, that sort of surprised you and caught you off guard? That was a fan of the show?
- [38:30]
C
Laura Dern. Same thing. I met her somewhere down the road. I was doing a promotional thing with her, and I wasn't even aware of your encounter. My encounter. Because she was clearly a fan because she was very excited to talk about the show, and she said the same things to me. She loved it. She was. And that's. It's nice when, you know, it's nice when anyone likes something that you're a part of, and especially nice when somebody that you respect like that and has sort of a critical eye for things likes your show. So, yeah, it was really nice. It was nice hearing any of it, you know, because you're right. Early on, it felt like we were in a vacuum. And is any. Let alone appreciating, is anyone watching it? Is anyone, you know, paying any sort of attention? And the only part of it that mattered to me was the continuation of the show. I wanted to have enough people watch it, so they kept letting us do it because I didn't really care about the acclaim or, like, we knew that we liked it and we were having fun with it, and I think we all felt like it was special in that moment, and that's what mattered to me. But, yeah, yeah, it was Laura Dern.
- [39:50]
B
I remember that time early on because a few of us had gotten on MySpace and we were able to interact with the, like, 17 people who were watching our show in the beginning, and they were such fans, and they so got it, and they so appreciated it. And that really, like, kind of. That just felt so good, you know, because when you make a television show, you don't hear the people laugh when they watch it, and you don't know how it's being received or a movie or whatever, I guess, unless you sneak in the theater. But you can't, like, go sneak in people's living rooms while they watch it. So I always loved when someone told us that they loved it, especially a fellow artist. And they were excited, too, because the show was different with the documentary style and the looking at the camera. Would you look into the camera after you got jobs on the Office?
- [40:38]
C
I have never had a job where I didn't look into the camera at some point.
- [40:42]
B
Same, same. I can't not make the camera a character. Now. It's so, such a habit.
- [40:47]
C
At least once, I'm sure on Foxcatcher, I, like, looked into the camera and went, nope, you cannot comment on what you just did because that's not this show.
- [40:59]
A
Yep, same for me. I actually had a director say, angela, you just looked right down the barrel. I was like, oh, I'm sorry, and look to the left or right.
- [41:09]
C
It was such a fun kind of discipline. Know who was really good at that right off the bat was Amy Adams. I'll never forget, because it was kind of a learned strength, I think, on the show to figure out the right way to play the camera, to invite the camera in and to make it feel like these people aren't used to the cameras. So you couldn't be too savvy. Especially at first, you couldn't play it too well. You needed to have an awareness of it without, like, having an overawareness of it.
- [41:43]
B
Yes.
- [41:44]
C
But I remember when Amy Adams came in to do Purse Girl. Was that it?
- [41:48]
A
Hot girl. Hot Girl.
- [41:50]
B
She was selling purse. Selling the purses.
- [41:51]
A
Selling purses, yeah.
- [41:52]
C
And I remember she just had, like, this. She was right up to speed with everybody else in terms of how to play the camera. Like, it's eavesdropping. I don't know how I should react to it. And that sort of discomfort built in that we had learned how to do, so she was really good at that. And that was such an interesting. And we'll never get to do something like that again. It was a really interesting acting exercise to be. You know, you're in your character, and your character is also being watched. So there was, like, another layer of something going on with all of these characters, which is kind of cool.
- [42:34]
B
You mentioned Amy Adams. One of my favorite guest stars that we had in terms of chemistry with you was Tim Meadows. You guys doing the baby back ribs. That also. That episode has one of my favorite lines in it, which is, gould is dead because Jan is no longer Jan Levinson Gould. And she's like, no, Michael, we got. We're separated. We're divorced. Gould didn't die. As if she would drop the Gould from her name if he died. Right. As a widow.
- [43:03]
A
Yeah.
- [43:03]
B
Amazing. But, yeah, I love you guys. I don't know how you got through all the rib eating and singing and comedy from that episode.
- [43:13]
C
I've known Tim for a long time, too, and we did a Second City show that went to Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy center with Nancy. We went as this. This group one summer and spent, I don't know, three. Three weeks at the Kennedy center doing a Second City show. And I had known him from Second City as well, you know, earlier on stage. And he is so. I think he's one of those, one of those people that is always great. He's never not great. You know, sometimes people like that are under the radar and then they pop out and you say, oh my gosh, like they're incredible. And yeah, he's I think, one of the best. And he's a great improviser and he's so, he's so effortless. He just doesn't look like he's ever breaking a sweat. And he's hilarious. Yeah, I'm a big fan. He's a great guy.
- [44:13]
B
Well, why don't we take a break and when we come back, we have some more questions from the fans.
- [44:18]
C
Okey doke.
- [44:25]
A
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B
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A
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A
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B
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A
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A
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B
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A
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B
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A
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B
Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. All right, we're back. And while we were on break, before we get to fan questions, Steve, I remembered this cold open that we did that led in to a talking head. That was one sentence from you. When I rewatched it, I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face.
- [48:05]
C
What?
- [48:06]
B
Do you remember the cold open that we did where we're all trying to take the Christmas photo.
- [48:12]
C
Yes, yes, yes.
- [48:14]
B
And we're trying to jump on three. Three, two, one. One, two, three.
- [48:19]
A
This whole thing, Dwight's like, phyllis didn't jump.
- [48:22]
B
Angela didn't jump. Yes. And it's so long, this cold open. And then it cuts to a talking head of Michael and Michael says, we never got it.
- [48:33]
C
You know what? That cold open is a perfect demonstration of us as an ensemble, I think because to make it look as bad as it did took some effort. It did. Like, we had to be completely in sync to be that out of sync.
- [48:54]
A
Yeah.
- [48:55]
C
And everyone jumping at different times and
- [48:58]
A
Michael getting frustrated like a dad would like. Come on. Come on, guys.
- [49:02]
C
I think that's a perfect example of how in Sync. We were as a cast. Cause we all got what that thing was and how many people needed to be going at one time. But we didn't talk about it.
- [49:12]
B
No.
- [49:13]
C
We didn't discuss, like, well, on the count of three, you two are gonna go. And then we just. As a group, we just felt that not to give ourselves too big a pat on the back. But I think I've watched that since and thought the same thing. Like, that's there was something cool happening there.
- [49:32]
B
That was one of my favorite group cold opens for that reason.
- [49:36]
A
I know.
- [49:37]
B
Well, let's get into these fan questions.
- [49:38]
C
Okay.
- [49:39]
B
Katherine G. And Christy R. Both asked if you had to choose a different character to play on the Office besides Michael, is there one you'd like to be?
- [49:47]
C
Wow. I can't imagine anyone but the people who played their parts, like, right off the top of my head. I think Dwight is a very fun role to play, but I would have been terrible. I mean, Rain was perfect for that part. So, no, I never imagined myself in another part. It was just as it should have been.
- [50:11]
B
Lauren D. Asked, what trend or big pop culture moment that's happened since 2011 do you think Michael would have gotten obsessed about? For example, Lauren thinks Michael would have been all over the ice bucket challenge in 2014.
- [50:27]
C
I think she's absolutely right.
- [50:29]
B
So much ice water.
- [50:30]
C
Oh. And would have done something wrong. Someone might have ended up in the hospital, Probably Meredith. Yeah.
- [50:39]
A
Dwight would have overdone it too.
- [50:42]
C
Yes. Yeah. It would have gone south somehow. It would have gone wrong.
- [50:48]
A
We say that we think that Michael probably would have made us all learn TikTok dances.
- [50:52]
B
So many TikTok dances.
- [50:54]
A
Yeah.
- [50:55]
C
Well, the Internet wasn't as. Certainly as much of a thing.
- [51:01]
B
Social media, really.
- [51:03]
A
We had flip phones when we started the show. Then we got blackberries. And then at the end, we had iPhones.
- [51:08]
C
Yeah. Yeah. A lot changed. Yeah. There are tons of things that Michael would have have glommed onto in the worst possible way.
- [51:20]
A
Beth M. Writes in and says, what is the most common Michael line that people quote back to you?
- [51:26]
C
What do you think it is?
- [51:28]
A
Yeah, Beth.
- [51:29]
C
That's what she said.
- [51:31]
A
Is there one other than that?
- [51:37]
C
That's the one. That's the one. That's the one I hear.
- [51:40]
A
Yeah.
- [51:40]
C
And sometimes, I don't know. Do people ever stop you and say, oh, could you. You talk to. Can you do a shout out, you know, into my phone? And. Yeah, and I'm happy to do it, but when they say, can you say that? I can't. I just. I Don't. I can't.
- [51:55]
B
It can be taken out of context.
- [51:58]
A
Please don't make Steve say, that's what she said.
- [52:00]
B
If you see him at the airport, do you ever. That's what she said. In your life, do you ever find. Never.
- [52:07]
C
No, really? I don't do it.
- [52:10]
B
I do throw them out.
- [52:11]
A
Jenna does. I do. Yeah.
- [52:13]
C
Well, you can. You can.
- [52:16]
B
Gosh, it's gonna be so weird when we give you your parting gift. It's a T shirt that says, that's what she says.
- [52:21]
C
Well, you'll love it. I do wear that all the time.
- [52:23]
A
And then on the back, it says, I'm fantastic. Same brain.
- [52:29]
B
We really liked this question because we both come from a long line of teachers. Someone wanted to know if you remember a favorite teacher.
- [52:37]
C
There was one in particular, A guy named Mr. Blackman, my second grade teacher, and he's the one who got me interested in acting in the first place. We were doing, like, a Pilgrims, meet the Native Americans thing. It was a long time ago, so a lot was being glossed over for sure. But what I remember is we were rowing canoes, and it was all mime. You know, we were sitting in little chairs in the classroom. It wasn't a big play. It was just like an in class thing. And I started rowing the canoe. My mime, rowing. And then I changed my hands with the oar and rowed on the other side. I'll never forget it. He singled me out. It's the first time I'd ever been singled out in any way. And he gave me a pat on the back and said, notice how Steve rode on both sides of the canoe so we wouldn't go in a circle. And he kept the canoe straight in this miming the canoe. And something about that really struck me. And I thought. And apart from that, he was just the most lovely guy and really kind to all the kids and everyone. It was fun. It was really just a fun class. And he did that for all the kids, too. He made them feel special about whatever talent they had, whether it was art or music or anything. He really embraced everyone's abilities, as little as they were in that. That moment as a second grader. But I'll never forget it. Like being seen.
- [54:07]
A
Yeah. Seen.
- [54:09]
C
Yeah. And that was special. Something sort of clicked, like, oh, that felt good. And so I guess I owe it all to him.
- [54:18]
B
You know, Steve, I love that story because I have a similar story. I took a summer school acting class, and we had to do pantomime. We had to mime things. And my Assignment was to go over to the refrigerator and get out some milk and pour it in a glass and drink it. And so I did it. And afterwards the teacher said, did everyone notice how Jenna shut the refrigerator with her foot?
- [54:39]
C
Oh, yeah, It's. Exactly.
- [54:41]
B
And I was like, wait, I might be good at this. Cause I didn't think it just. Maybe I have a little thing.
- [54:48]
C
Right. Exactly.
- [54:49]
B
You know, and then it just makes you feel like, I might be good
- [54:52]
C
at this or it might be something.
- [54:55]
A
Yeah.
- [54:55]
C
You know, it might be something that I'm actually. Yeah. Capable of.
- [54:59]
B
That's so fun.
- [55:00]
C
And it's not even like, look at me. No. It's just a sense of, like one of the first senses of pride that you ever feel that you accomplish something completely on your own, not your parents, and nothing that you were instructed to do. It's just something that you did naturally. And to have somebody notice it felt really good. And that's a great teacher, in my mind, somebody who can pick up on those things.
- [55:27]
B
Yeah.
- [55:28]
A
Okay. I love this question. Here it is. Are there any foods you don't eat anymore? Because of so many takes you had to do with that certain food. It can be on the office or any other job. I know mine right away. It's that cake that we had to eat, the ice cream cake for Meredith's birthday. Was it the Alliance. We started filming at 7:30 in the morning and we were given a slice of cake. And, you know, this is a rookie move on my part. I took a plate with a big piece of cake and I took a huge bite in that first take. And by the end, my fork was shaking as it got close to my mouth because I was like, I can't. I can't eat it anymore anyway. I was asking you that. But no, no, no, Literally, I have a visceral, like, I can't eat ice cream cake anymore.
- [56:13]
C
That did it. That did you in.
- [56:14]
A
So gross to me.
- [56:15]
C
I learned early on to nibble.
- [56:18]
A
Yeah.
- [56:19]
C
Not like if that first take. Try not to take a big bite because then you have to match it for the rest of the day. Yeah. Or I'm not hungry today. You know, my character's not hungry. But Michael would eat some pretty crazy stuff. Nothing that turned my stomach. Nothing to the point where I can't eat it anymore. I did a bit on the Daily show where I was supposed to be eating Crisco. I was doing. It was some health food segment, and I said, well, this is all vegetable based. And I was like, at the desk with John and so I take a big spoonful of Crisco in.
- [57:01]
A
For real Crisco?
- [57:02]
C
Well, they wanted to mock it up and just put, like, vanilla frosting in. Cause no one would know. And I could play it like it's Crisco, but I said, no, leave Crisco in, because that's gonna be funnier for John to watch me eat Crisco. Cause the expression on his face was pretty horrifying. And. And I didn't practice it, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And so on camera, basically live, you know, that show was live to tape, but it was really bad. I did not. I could. I mean, the two of us had a hard time getting through the rest of that segment because he. He knew I. He knew I was in distress. Yes. So. So not that I would sit around eating Crisco, but that. That kind of. That was a hard one.
- [57:49]
A
Yeah.
- [57:50]
B
Here's a good question. Do you have a Toby in your life? Someone who just enrages you? This.
- [57:57]
A
This was one of our favorite questions sent in because we're like, we're sure Steve doesn't have a Toby, but.
- [58:05]
C
But yeah, some who just really, for no reason.
- [58:08]
A
Did you just hate.
- [58:10]
C
Just abject hatred? No, I don't. But that. That's. That's one of my favorite character dynamics of the time that I spent on. On the Office. And it evolved from. I don't exactly. I know it's been discussed as to. And I think the writers could sort of pinpoint clearly, but I think one day I just decided. I just got really mad at him and, like, disgusted by him for no reason. And we just kind of stayed with it.
- [58:46]
A
People lost it. They would lose it at a table read when you would snap at Toby.
- [58:52]
B
We did an interview with Paul and he said he remembers the moment.
- [58:55]
C
Oh, he does.
- [58:56]
B
It was during the alliance when he has to come in the office and sign Meredith's birthday card. And apparently it just took him a long time. And you turned on him and you told him, you said, I don't know what it is, Paul, but I hate you for how long it's taken you to write this card. And you guys laughed so hard about it. And you met, like, me as Michael. Like, Michael is so irritated with you right now. And that. That was like, everyone else just sound.
- [59:31]
A
But he started to write something.
- [59:32]
C
Yeah. I love the fact that it was never discussed, too, as to why and the specifics of it.
- [59:39]
B
Yeah.
- [59:40]
C
And people have asked me that too. Well, why does Michael hate Toby so much? And I Think it's like the end when our characters say goodbye to each other. I'll never talk about exactly what was said. Cause that's like, our thing. And it's more fun, too, to leave those things as sort of a mystery. Like, well, why, really? Because I built in Michael's head, like, all of the reasons. But it's better that you don't know that. It just kind of sits there.
- [60:11]
B
That's how I feel about the Teapot Letter.
- [60:13]
A
Right.
- [60:13]
B
Everyone wants to know what's in the teapot letter. And the thing is, is that what's in the teapot letter is what you need to be in the teapot letter. There's what I needed to be in the teapot letter. There's the thing that Pam needs. But, like, it has to be the most wonderful, romantic thing. And you can't write it. Like, you can't tell people what was in it.
- [60:34]
A
It'll just be a letdown.
- [60:36]
B
It will. It can't live up to it. Right. So it's like, I know what it said completely, but it's better if you write it yourself. As an audience member, I think the
- [60:45]
C
writers in general felt that way about the show, and I think Greg was very savvy about that, that you don't have to tell the whole story and just let people come to it. And I think that's partly why people have liked the show over the years, is it doesn't spell everything out about these characters or about these relationships. You kind of acquire a knowledge over time, and it becomes more ingrained that way. This is sort of off the subject, but, you know, you talking about the Teapot Letter and, you know, and I thought about this many, many times since I left the show, that you and John, in my opinion, you and John were the rock of that show. Like, if not for your two characters, I feel like that show would have imploded because there was so much craziness going on and so much wackiness. And you were both such grounded characters on that show while simultaneously being incredibly funny and real. But the fact that everyone could bounce off of you and your very grounded, loving, and interesting relationship and how that grew to me, that was the nucleus of the show. I've always felt that way. And the way that you guys. And you're both such good actors, too, it's like, we're just so fortunate on so many fronts in terms of the casting of this show, in terms of the writing, I attribute it to. Well, to you guys, obviously, and to Greg for putting this group of People together in just the right sort of alchemy. I don't know if I've ever specifically told you that, but I've always felt that way, Steve.
- [62:31]
B
Thank you. I remember when we got ready to shoot the pilot, Steven and Ricky came to visit and we had this one day meeting with them, and Steven told John, and I never forget, you two are the heart of the show. And I remember it was like in Threat Level Midnight, I was like, gulp, gulp. I thought, I don't really know what that means. That's sort of scary to me. I was sort of hoping to kind of keep with my whole wallflower thing where Pam just kind of sits at the desk and gives a couple of stares. Really liking that Lane. But over time, I understood what he meant. And it's kind of what you're saying, which is like, we're not going to go to you all the time or maybe even very often, but over a large arc, over a large period of time, this is a really important thing. And so just, you know, make sure you always honor it. Make sure that you, you know, that you honor that.
- [63:32]
A
We did. I'm so glad Jim and Pam made it and work and they didn't, like, do that thing where they. They pull you apart and put you back together.
- [63:41]
B
Break up.
- [63:41]
A
Breakup.
- [63:42]
B
Breakup makeup.
- [63:43]
A
Yeah. And I get really defensive of Jim and Pam if, like, we're doing an interview and someone's like, to Jenna. So I think Jim and Pam are still together. I'm like, how dare you? Of course they're still together. And so are Dwight and Angela and so are Michael and Holly. Get out of here.
- [63:58]
C
Oh, you know what I need to tell you about.
- [64:00]
A
No.
- [64:00]
B
Oh, dear.
- [64:01]
C
About Michael and Holly.
- [64:03]
A
No, no.
- [64:06]
C
It is bad.
- [64:07]
A
It is bad.
- [64:09]
C
Oh, I don't want to. I don't want to get to it.
- [64:11]
A
We just watched the scene and it's, it's, you know, I feel like I'm rediscovering so many of these scenes because we haven't seen the show since it aired, you know, a lot of these episodes. But when you and Amy Ryan do that, you are hoo, ha. Like that moment. And it says, basically, I love you, like, yua. It's like I was like, tearing up.
- [64:33]
B
Yeah.
- [64:34]
A
I, like, played it for Jenna. I was like, you gotta watch the scene. They're just saying you are. But it's like, so powerful. Yeah.
- [64:40]
C
Amy Ryan's pretty good, eh?
- [64:42]
A
She's okay.
- [64:42]
B
She was fine.
- [64:43]
C
I mean, yeah, I guess we were lucky to get her on the show. She did pretty well, for herself, I think. Yeah.
- [64:52]
B
We did just watch all of these episodes. We watched the Proposal to Holly and the singing goodbye to you and, you know, all the individual goodbyes to all the different people. What a brutal couple of final weeks for you. I mean, were we. Did we just cry the whole time? How did we do that?
- [65:14]
C
I don't know. I could look at it. I don't know. I don't want to make too much of it, but it was difficult because we were such good friends, and it had been so much fun and so rewarding in a lot of ways. All ways. But at the same time, there was this. For me, there was a joy to it. You know, when you're crying with joy. Cause it wasn't even sadness. Cause I was ready. I was ready to go. And so I wasn't sad about leaving.
- [65:48]
B
Yeah.
- [65:49]
A
And it felt right for Michael.
- [65:50]
C
Yeah. No, it was time. And it was time for other characters to kind of step to the forefront and other storylines to be pursued. It was just. I think it was the right. The timing was right, I think, for everybody. But simultaneously, there was just a sense of joy for me that we had experienced all of this, and we were getting. I was getting a chance to kind of take a lap with everybody. And the way, you know, those last few episodes were structured, it felt very rich to me to kind of simultaneously be saying goodbye as Michael and, you know, us as. As friends in this moment of work together. But, yeah, it was a lot. It was a very emotional thing.
- [66:36]
B
It was.
- [66:37]
A
It was. It was just hitting us in waves. I remember, like, we would laugh one minute, and then we'd be tearing up the next. But like you said, it's because we had had such a great run. We'd had such a good time.
- [66:49]
C
Incredible. Just incredible.
- [66:51]
B
Steve, we are always telling people when they ask us, what was it like to work with Steve Carell? What is Steve Carell like? And we say he is a regular guy. We're telling you, he is a regular guy. So we thought we would end this interview with a regular guy. Quiz.
- [67:04]
A
Yeah.
- [67:05]
B
All right.
- [67:05]
A
All right. Regular guy question number one. Favorite pizza.
- [67:11]
C
Favorite brand of pizza. Like, favorite pizza place.
- [67:14]
A
Oh, my gosh, you're very versed in pizza.
- [67:17]
C
Oh, I. Come on.
- [67:19]
B
We know your love of pizza.
- [67:21]
A
Well, favorite topping.
- [67:24]
C
I will either go with just a plain cheese or maybe do half cheese and then half mushroom and pepperoni. That's my pizza of choice.
- [67:33]
A
Okay.
- [67:34]
C
But I have a lot of different spots. I have different types. The deep dish, the thin crust, the New York Style. There's different LA types of pizzas that are. I'm sort of a connoisseur.
- [67:45]
A
Next podcast. Pizza with Steve.
- [67:48]
C
That's. Hey, you just gave me an idea. I'm getting the studio next to yours.
- [67:55]
B
Next question. Favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt?
- [67:59]
C
I like a good. Kind of a basic, like a chocolate. I like a good sundae, like a hot fudge sundae.
- [68:09]
B
Okay.
- [68:09]
C
It's always pretty delicious.
- [68:11]
B
So you like a topping more than maybe something in the actual ice cream.
- [68:15]
C
I'm not. Yeah, brownies mixed in are always good.
- [68:18]
B
Okay.
- [68:19]
C
But kind of basic, kind of. I don't. I'm not like a gummy worms and pistachio ice cream kind of guy.
- [68:26]
B
That sounds delicious.
- [68:29]
A
Okay, let's see. Favorite place you've visited in the United States.
- [68:37]
C
Pittsburgh was pretty cool.
- [68:39]
A
Oh, yeah?
- [68:40]
C
Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying that ironically either. I've done a couple of movies there and I liked it. It was a cool city.
- [68:48]
B
All right, there you go.
- [68:49]
C
I bet that's the first one you got.
- [68:50]
A
Shout out to Pittsburgh.
- [68:51]
C
Shout out to Pittsburgh.
- [68:53]
B
What is your least favorite exercise or the exercise you avoid the most?
- [68:57]
C
Abs.
- [68:58]
B
Yes, abs, of course.
- [69:00]
C
Oh, leg day was always fun.
- [69:04]
B
We love a leg day. Who doesn't? Look at us.
- [69:07]
A
I mean, look at us.
- [69:10]
C
Well, yeah, I mean, just doing sit ups is that's. I do it, but I don't love it.
- [69:18]
A
All right, what's the last thing you bought at Target?
- [69:21]
C
I bought one of those little razors for my son because he's shaving now and it's like a trimmer, but it's what the youths are using now.
- [69:39]
A
Okay.
- [69:40]
C
They're not using a blade.
- [69:41]
A
We're not there yet.
- [69:43]
C
They're not using. But it's like you can trim it close enough. This is a terror. You can definitely lift this from the show.
- [69:51]
B
No, this is my favorite.
- [69:52]
C
This is the dumbest answer. I don't even know what they're called. It's like, it's sort of a. I
- [69:56]
B
know what you're talking about.
- [69:57]
C
It's a little blade and you can kind of.
- [69:59]
A
Yeah, like a beard groomer thing.
- [70:02]
C
But you can cut it really close but not have to use like an electric razor and. Oh, everyone's tuned out.
- [70:09]
A
No, they're not.
- [70:10]
C
Yep. No, everyone just changed to a different, Different Steve. I want to listen to some music.
- [70:18]
A
Saved a pizza.
- [70:20]
B
If you.
- [70:20]
C
Anyway, the pizza, the sweet spot.
- [70:24]
B
If you are in charge of cooking dinner, what's your go to dish?
- [70:27]
C
Spaghetti bolognese.
- [70:28]
B
Okay.
- [70:30]
C
I make a pretty good Bolognese sauce.
- [70:33]
B
What skill would you like to master?
- [70:35]
C
I'd love to learn how to play the piano. Never gonna happen. But.
- [70:39]
B
But do you play the piano in any way?
- [70:41]
C
No, not in any way.
- [70:42]
B
So we'd be starting from zero.
- [70:44]
C
Totally from zero.
- [70:45]
B
Okay. Do you play any instruments?
- [70:49]
C
I'm embarrassed. I play the fife and I play the baritone horn.
- [70:53]
B
What's a fife?
- [70:54]
C
Yeah. Oh, God.
- [70:56]
A
Is that like ye olde. Ye olde flute?
- [70:59]
C
Yeah, that's exactly right. It's like. It's like a. You know.
- [71:05]
A
Okay.
- [71:05]
C
Like a flute from the 1700s.
- [71:08]
A
Pittsburgh. At the Fife or 2.
- [71:10]
C
I didn't think we were. Not only am I sort of an ordinary guy, but super boring also.
- [71:17]
A
Stop it.
- [71:17]
C
No.
- [71:18]
A
Stop it. Okay. Ready to really lean into the boring. How early do you get to the airport before a flight?
- [71:25]
C
Like two hours early.
- [71:27]
B
That tracks. You were 10 minutes early today. I knew you would be early.
- [71:31]
C
And I actually circled the block a few times. I was ready to go, but I'm like. I don't want to seem too eager. Nancy and I get. We get to the airport so early, and we just. We were just talking.
- [71:43]
B
Both of you, though, you're in sync. That's good.
- [71:45]
C
Totally.
- [71:46]
B
Okay.
- [71:46]
C
Yes. And she's often said if she had been married to someone who was, like, always late, she would have gotten a divorce because it would have turned out.
- [71:57]
B
It's very important to her. Very punctuality, but for both of us.
- [72:01]
C
And I would rather sit in the airport for an hour and a half than be, like, getting all worked up in the car that we're gonna not make our flight.
- [72:10]
A
All right. What is your favorite cocktail or adult beverage?
- [72:13]
C
I don't drink a lot. I will occasionally have a glass of wine or something, but I can't say that I have a cocktail. I'm just not a big drinker.
- [72:22]
B
We would like to recommend Michael's drink, which is the Scotch and Splenda. We're tried it here on the show, Steve. It is excellent. It's very good.
- [72:33]
C
Really?
- [72:34]
A
Jenna brought it in a joke, like, as a joke. And I was like, this is gonna be disgusting. What are we doing? We made em for everybody. And we were like, damn. It's actually pretty good.
- [72:45]
B
I want to order one at a bar, but I'm scared to because, well,
- [72:50]
C
you have to come up with a name for it. Instead of scotch and Splenda, do you call it a Scotch Da.
- [72:55]
B
I know. Didn't Michael have a name for it? And we can't remember what it is. Is. I don't know, a small.
- [73:02]
A
Yeah, he does have a name for it. A splotch.
- [73:05]
B
Wasn't it a splenda? And Scott, he. A splotch.
- [73:07]
C
A splotch.
- [73:08]
B
Maybe a splotch.
- [73:09]
C
Oh, that's good.
- [73:09]
B
It doesn't sound delicious. It's very good.
- [73:11]
A
Yeah. I'll take a splotch, please.
- [73:13]
C
You know what? I'll try a splotch at some point.
- [73:15]
B
Great.
- [73:16]
C
All right.
- [73:16]
B
Okay.
- [73:17]
C
Next time, the three of us are going to get together and we're going
- [73:19]
A
to have one splotch.
- [73:20]
C
We're going to go splotching.
- [73:22]
B
Last question. When was the last time you had to get out your toolbox? And what tool did you grab?
- [73:27]
C
About three days ago, I was putting. I am. I. I am so embarrassed.
- [73:36]
A
Are you about to say you're putting together a bird feeder?
- [73:38]
C
Worse. I. I bought. I bought a vacuum, an outdoor leaf vacuum, which also mulches the leaves. And I had to go to my toolbox to put it together. I. I ordered it, and it arrived, and I had to assem. And put the little bag on it.
- [74:01]
A
Do you blow leaves, like, and.
- [74:03]
C
Well, I have a leaf blower, too. What I do. What I do is I. I use the leaf blower to blow them into a pile, and then I take my vacuum mulcher and I. I vacuum them up and mulch the leaves, and then I take the leaves and I put them in our planting beds.
- [74:20]
A
Oh, my God.
- [74:21]
C
And so that's. So the fife hits for pizza. Plain chocolate ice cream. And that's. That's me. Yeah. And we all do it in Pittsburgh. Barrel of laughs.
- [74:41]
A
I'm in love with you.
- [74:45]
C
Well, clearly the bar is low because there's nothing. I can't even believe that Nancy decided to marry me with like, that as a track record, that's pretty bad. Like, when you do interviews like this and you say things and you hear yourself reflected in the words, how you're describing yourself, I think I'm, like, more interesting than that, but clearly I'm not. I don't know how to play the piano.
- [75:17]
B
No.
- [75:18]
C
What would you like to do? I'd like to be smart and play the piano, but instead, I'm mulching leaves and playing the fife. So.
- [75:27]
A
Okay. Is there anything in your career that you haven't done that you'd like to do or in your life? Because, like Jenna, for example.
- [75:34]
B
Yes. You know, it is my dream to one day do theater and win a Tony Award. This is my. I would love to do this in my life.
- [75:42]
A
My dream is, I really want one of those hats that has big flowers on it that hummingbirds eat out of. So that's. Jenna wants to work towards a Tony. I want to work towards a hummingbird eating out of my hat. That.
- [75:56]
B
Where do you land?
- [75:57]
C
Those are very disparate dreams. Well, I don't even know how to top that, honestly. Boy, I'm so content with certainly my professional life. I've been so lucky. I can't maybe do a play at Chicago.
- [76:21]
B
Yeah. Would you ever do theater?
- [76:22]
C
Yeah. Yeah. And I've been talking to a couple of theaters about maybe doing something. Yeah. Maybe somewhere down the road. I haven't done a play in. Well, since Nancy and I got married. It's been 27 years since I've done a play. Wow. So.
- [76:38]
B
But you are a classically trained actor.
- [76:40]
C
Oh, yes.
- [76:41]
B
Yes, you were. Of all of us. We always talk about how there were a bunch of the people who were the theater nerds, and then there were the, like, comedy, sketch comedy, improv nerds on our set. But you were both. You studied theater and also studied improv.
- [76:57]
C
I was just a ner.
- [77:00]
B
You double nerded it is what I'm getting at. You did both.
- [77:05]
C
Yeah. I mean, it was. Yeah. I would like to do. I'm with you. I'd like to do some. Maybe we should do something together.
- [77:12]
B
Let's do it. Oh, we'll do some Broadway.
- [77:14]
A
I would come and watch it with your hat.
- [77:19]
B
And finally, Steve, you just worked with Mr. John Krasinski on his movie. If. How was it to team up with him again?
- [77:26]
C
Really?
- [77:27]
B
Was that great?
- [77:28]
C
Well, I'm supposed to. Contractually, I'm supposed to say.
- [77:30]
B
That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Do you need to get out the piece of paper? Do you want to read directly from it?
- [77:36]
C
John Krasinski is the most wonderful. It was great. And he was such a good director. I mean, obviously, since the office boy, has he really shown himself as a fine director. But did you know Janusz Kaminsky is his DP on this movie?
- [77:57]
B
No.
- [77:57]
C
Who is Steven Spielberg's dp? Like, he is the best director of photography in the business. He's a legend. And so, you know, wow. It's a huge deal. And I think such a sign of respect to John that this person wants to, you know, wanted to work together with him. So that's. Yeah, he's an amazing. He's a big deal, amazingly talented guy. Just great to see him like you guys. It's like, wow. It's exactly like the last time we saw each other. There's like, no time has passed.
- [78:36]
A
We definitely felt that too. Like, when he zoomed in, we were just cracking up. We had to stop laughing so we could do our interview with him because we just got so ticked. I love that.
- [78:47]
B
This is.
- [78:47]
A
You know, BJ was on and he said to us, he was like, you guys, office family forever. And that's absolutely how I feel. Like family.
- [78:56]
B
Thanks for coming, Steve.
- [78:57]
C
Yeah, whatever.
- [79:00]
A
Oh, sorry. You gotta get back to your leaf mulching. Geez, got a busy day there.
- [79:05]
C
Oh, man, you don't know the half of it.
- [79:12]
B
Well, truly, thank you.
- [79:14]
C
Yes, thank you. So good to see you guys.
- [79:20]
B
Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.
- [79:22]
A
Office Ladies is a presentation of Odyssey and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.
- [79:27]
B
Our senior producer is Matt Beagle and our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer.
- [79:32]
A
Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese Dennis.
- [79:35]
B
Office Ladies was mixed and matched mastered by Bill Schultz.
- [79:38]
A
Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton.
- [79:57]
B
Spring just slid into your DMs.
- [79:59]
A
Grab that boho.
- [80:00]
B
Look for that rooftop dinner those sandals
- [80:03]
A
that can keep up with you. And hang some string lights to give
- [80:05]
B
your patio a glow up. Spring's calling, Ross, work your magic.