A.A.R.M. Pt 2

Summary

Office Ladies Podcast Summary: "A.A.R.M. Pt 2"

Release Date: October 16, 2024
Hosts: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
Podcast: Office Ladies by Audacy

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Episode Overview

In "A.A.R.M. Pt 2," Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey delve deep into the intricacies of "The Office" Season 9, Episode 25. This episode serves as a pivotal moment in the series, bringing culmination to long-standing storylines and character arcs. Jenna and Angela provide an in-depth analysis of key scenes, share exclusive behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and reflect on the emotional journey of filming the series finale.

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Plot Breakdown and Key Discussions

1. Dwight's Proposal and Angela's Response

The episode centers around Dwight Schrute's earnest but initially unromantic marriage proposal to Angela Martin, which is met with rejection (03:09). Jenna highlights iconic moments, such as Dwight proposing with a bullhorn, describing it as "nothing says romance like a bullhorn" (03:50), while Angela shares the challenges of portraying Angela's nuanced reaction to Dwight's proposal.

Notable Quote:

• Angela Kinsey: “Nothing says romance like a bullhorn.” (03:50)

2. Casting Insights: Aaron Rodgers, Clay Aiken, and Santi Gold

Jenna and Angela discuss the impressive guest stars featured in the episode:

• Aaron Rodgers: Secured through cast member Brian Baumgartner’s connection, Rodgers brings authenticity as he is a genuine fan of "The Office." Angela recounts her first meeting with Rodgers, emphasizing his down-to-earth nature and the warmth he brought to the set (06:03).

• Clay Aiken and Santi Gold: Their auditions and performances added depth to the episode. Santi Gold, in particular, shared her experience auditioning and her initial nervousness, which turned into a rewarding collaboration with the cast (09:19).

Notable Quotes:

• Jenna Fischer: “Aaron Rodgers was a huge fan of The Office. He even came to set one time.” (06:03)
• Santi Gold (Audio Clip): “That was like my dream, because I really wanted to be on something funny.” (11:39)

3. Emotional Reflections and Behind-the-Scenes Stories

Angela reflects on watching the series finale's bonus features, particularly the "Feeling All the Feels" segment. Both hosts express how the journey of nine seasons has been profoundly impactful on their personal and professional lives (14:24). They share heartfelt moments from set, including the emotional weight of final scenes and the camaraderie among the cast and crew.

Notable Quotes:

• Jenna Fischer: “I can't think of another thing that I've done for so long that is so important to me.” (14:34)
• Angela Kinsey: “It was so emotional to watch as someone who worked on the show and was in these scenes.” (15:18)

4. Production Anecdotes and Character Development

The hosts delve into specific scenes, such as Dwight’s games to determine Philip’s paternity and the strategic use of flashbacks and montages. They discuss the meticulous planning behind the choreography of the office dance sequence, sharing insights into rehearsals and the challenges of synchronizing movements with live music (63:03).

Notable Quotes:

• Angela Kinsey: “We had to carefully choreograph with camera and Daryl's movement through the office.” (63:10)
• Jenna Fischer: “It was a fairly complicated scene that had to be carefully choreographed.” (63:03)

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Behind-the-Scenes Insights

1. Script Development and Storytelling Choices

Jenna reveals that the decision to read Jim’s teapot note to Pam was not part of the original plan from the first season. The writers decided to incorporate it based on fan curiosity and the desire to provide closure without revealing the exact contents, allowing fans to imagine the perfect message (55:07).

2. Emotional Filming Experiences

Both hosts recount the emotional toll of filming the finale. Angela shares how the proposal scene brought genuine tears to her and Rainn Wilson’s eyes, highlighting the authentic bond developed over nine seasons (70:17). Jenna discusses reading a heartfelt note from John Krasinski that added a deeply personal layer to the episode (57:00).

Notable Quotes:

• Angela Kinsey: “When Dwight proposed to Angela and she accepted, there was a feeling of joy on set.” (73:02)
• Jenna Fischer: “It was a beautiful, beautiful note from one scene partner to another. It made me cry.” (57:12)

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Fan Interactions and Questions

1. Teapot Note Spelling Debate

A significant discussion emerged around a misspelling of Pam’s last name in the finale. Fans debated whether Jim had made a typo in his message to Pam. Jenna clarified that the correct spelling is "Beasley" (61:54), reaffirming that inconsistencies in earlier episodes were unintentional and have since been corrected in subsequent releases.

2. Dance Scene Clarifications

Fans inquired whether the dance scene featured live music or was added in post-production. Jenna confirmed that the music was playing during filming and that the choreography was extensively rehearsed with the help of a professional choreographer (64:19).

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Technical Aspects and Choreography

The dance sequence in the breakout room was a highlight of the episode. Jenna and Angela provided a detailed breakdown of each dance move, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to choreograph and film the scene seamlessly. They shared amusing anecdotes about missed dance steps and the inclusion of guest stars in the choreography (63:18).

Notable Quotes:

• Angela Kinsey: “We had cameras mounted to the car and stunt drivers for fast sections.” (67:08)
• Jenna Fischer: “Our choreographer worked with each person on their dance with Daryl.” (63:03)

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Emotional High Points and Reflections

The episode closure focuses on the profound emotional experiences during the series finale. Both hosts reflect on the transformative moments, the lasting friendships formed, and the legacy of "The Office." They express gratitude towards the cast, crew, and fans for their unwavering support throughout the series (75:53).

Notable Quotes:

• Jenna Fischer: “We've reached the end of a nine-year journey together. It's pretty special.” (58:35)
• Angela Kinsey: “You know, we reached out to Dave about this episode and he shared something about this scene…” (73:00)

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jenna and Angela conclude the episode with heartfelt thanks to their listeners and collaborators. They emphasize the enduring impact of "The Office" on their lives and careers, promising more engaging content in future episodes. The hosts share personal mementos, such as matching hoodies and teapot notes, symbolizing their deep connection to the show and each other.

Notable Quotes:

• Jenna Fischer: “To go on a nine-year journey with another actor in such an intimate and vulnerable way is pretty special.” (58:35)
• Angela Kinsey: “Thank you so much. I'm so emotional for this community.” (86:03)

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Key Takeaways

• Emotional Depth: The hosts highlight the emotional significance of the series finale, emphasizing genuine connections formed over nine seasons.
• Behind-the-Scenes Stories: Exclusive anecdotes provide listeners with a deeper understanding of character decisions, casting choices, and production challenges.
• Fan Engagement: Addressing fan questions and debates fosters a strong community connection, enhancing listener experience.
• Legacy Reflection: Jenna and Angela reflect on the lasting impact of "The Office," celebrating its success and enduring popularity.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Angela Kinsey: “Nothing says romance like a bullhorn.” (03:50)
• Jenna Fischer: “Aaron Rodgers was a huge fan of The Office. He even came to set one time.” (06:03)
• Santi Gold: “That was like my dream, because I really wanted to be on something funny.” (11:39)
• Jenna Fischer: “I can't think of another thing that I've done for so long that is so important to me.” (14:34)
• Angela Kinsey: “It was so emotional to watch as someone who worked on the show and was in these scenes.” (15:18)
• Angela Kinsey: “We had to carefully choreograph with camera and Daryl's movement through the office.” (63:10)
• Jenna Fischer: “It was a fairly complicated scene that had to be carefully choreographed.” (63:03)
• Jenna Fischer: “We've reached the end of a nine-year journey together. It's pretty special.” (58:35)
• Angela Kinsey: “Thank you so much. I'm so emotional for this community.” (86:03)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the "A.A.R.M. Pt 2" episode of the Office Ladies podcast, providing listeners with detailed insights into the episode's content, behind-the-scenes stories, and the emotional journey of the hosts as they celebrate the conclusion of "The Office."

Transcript

[Angela Kinsey]

Whenever I travel, I love to learn new languages wherever I am, learn phrases. I always wish I knew more.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is very true about you and it's a really cool thing about traveling with you, actually.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, thanks. Well, you know, I'm a big fan of Rosetta Stone. It is the most trusted language learning program available on your desktop. As an app, it can truly help you immerse you in the language you want to learn.

[Jenna Fischer]

You can learn speak Spanish, French, Italian, German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic and Polish.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here's one of the things I like about it. It has built in true accent features so you can get feedback on your pronunciation.

[Jenna Fischer]

I like that you can learn on the go that you can use the mobile app. And right now they have a lifetime membership that has all 25 languages.

[Angela Kinsey]

That is such a great deal. You can have it for your trips and any language needs you have in life.

[Jenna Fischer]

Don't put off learning that language. There's no better time than right now to get started. For a short time, Office Ladies listeners can get Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership holiday special.

[Angela Kinsey]

This offer will not last long. Visit rosettastone.com officeladies that's unlimited access to 25 language courses for the rest of your life. Redeem your Holiday [e-mail] OfficeLadies today for yourself or as a gift that keeps giving. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[Jenna Fischer]

This month is all about gratitude. And you know, sometimes there's one person that we just don't thank enough, and that's ourselves. Because sometimes it's hard to remind ourselves that we are trying our best to make sense of everything in this crazy world. And it just, it's not easy.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's not. It's a lot to hold.

[Jenna Fischer]

Listen, I think accessing gratitude is so good for your mental health.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And therapy is a great place to do that. And if you are thinking of starting therapy, you can give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online. It's designed to be convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule.

[Angela Kinsey]

Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists anytime for no additional charge.

[Jenna Fischer]

I am grateful for therapy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Let the gratitude flow with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.comofficeladies today to get 10% off your first month.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's BetterHelp. H E L P.com officeladies.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm Jenna Fisher.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

We were on the Office together and we're best friends. And now we're doing the ultimate office rewatch podcast just for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Each week we will break down an episode episode of the Office and give exclusive behind the scenes stories that only two people who were there can tell you.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're the Office ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hello. Hi, everybody.

[Jenna Fischer]

It is AARM Part two.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know what that means.

[Jenna Fischer]

Next week is the finale.

[Angela Kinsey]

Finale.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is season nine, episode 25, written by Brent Forrester and directed by Dave Rogers. And here's your summary. Newly convinced that Philip is his son, Dwight unromantically proposes marriage to Angela. She says no. With the help of the documentary crew, Jim reassures Pam that she is more than enough for him. Darryl's co workers make one last request before he leaves. Andy's singing dreams are shattered by Clay Aiken. And Dwight proposes again romantically to Angela. And she says yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Nothing says romance like a bullhorn.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's one of my favorite parts of that scene. Well, everyone, I am holding my Pockets mug again, but it's not because I have a soapbox today. It is because we have found Katie. Katie, the maker of the Pockets mug and the hummingbird mug, which I am.

[Angela Kinsey]

Holding right now as well.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kaia Goodwin from South Carolina went full mom detective, although she actually solved this.

[Angela Kinsey]

Case so slightly mom detective.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, she found Katie and Cassie was able to get in touch with her and everybody. Katie has an Etsy store for her pottery. It's so beautiful.

[Angela Kinsey]

Katie, you are so talented. Jenna and I have already picked a few things we want to buy.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's true. We told Katie we would share about her Etsy shop. Now I believe she's willing to make more pocket mugs. But please be kind to her because she is just one gal making amazing pottery. So we don't want to overwhelm her.

[Angela Kinsey]

With pocket mugs and hummingbird mugs. You have to be patient. She makes everything herself.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. Her Etsy shop is called Ravens and Widow, and we will link to it in our stories this week.

[Angela Kinsey]

We sure will. Cheers, lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

Cheers. All right, so here we go. Fast fact number one. Let's talk about the next acapella sensation. Celebrity judges Aaron Rodgers, Clay Aiken, and Santi Gold. Can you believe it? We got these three.

[Angela Kinsey]

Amazing.

[Jenna Fischer]

So when we got the script for this, when we did the table read, there were just like, placeholders. It was like pop star, country star, and athlete. And we found Santi Gold and Clay Aikens through Alison Jones. But our own Brian Baumgartner is how we got Aaron Rodgers.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's true.

[Jenna Fischer]

Because he had met Aaron at like a celebrity golf tournament or something.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And Aaron Rodgers was a huge fan of the Office. Like super fan, super fan. He even came to set one time. Remember when we were filming and he wanted to take pictures with all of us?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

So after the table read, Brian went to Greg and the producers and was like, hey, how about athlete is Aaron Rodgers? I mean, he would flip out to do this. And that is how we got Aaron Rodgers, who, by the way, had just recently led the Green Bay packers to victory in the super bowl and was the super bowl and NFL season MVP for that season.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. You know, I have a little bit of an embarrassing story of when I first met Aaron. Okay, so Brian had done the golf tournament with him.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And they became friends. And I don't know if it was like a few weeks later or what, but Brian texted me and was like, hey, my friend's in town, we're gonna go have dinner, do you wanna join us? I'm gonna get a group of people together for dinner. I was like, sure, sounds great. All I knew was his friend played sports. Right? That's it. Brian didn't say anything else in the text. So I go to this dinner and man, oh man, am I noticing people like from every walk of life tripping over themselves to say hi to Brian's friend.

[Jenna Fischer]

Uh huh.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm sitting next to him at dinner and we're talking about work and stuff. And I go, so you play football? And he said, I do. And I said, that's so fun. That's really cool. And I was like, what position do you play? He said, I'm a quarterback. And I go, wow, that's like big time. And then we don't really talk any more about it, you know, we just talk about all kinds of other stuff. And this is when I had just started dating Josh. And the next day he and I are on the phone and he was like, how was your dinner with Brian and his friends? I said, so fun. I met such a nice guy. He's. I think he's a. Oh, he's a quarterback for I think Seattle something with a bird, maybe a hawk. And he goes, what's his name? And I said, Aaron. And he goes, no, no, no, there's no quarterback named Aaron for Seattle. He goes. I go, well, I think he's a pretty big deal because people were really excited to meet him. And then he goes, is it Aaron Rodgers? Angelica? And I said, yes, that's it. And he goes, oh my God, that's crazy. You had dinner with him. You had no idea. He was just so nice and just unassuming and anyway, I didn't know he was the quarterback for a Green Bay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I have a really fun audio clip for later in the episode because there was somebody else who also did not know who he was when they met him on our set that day.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'll save it. But it made me chuckle. Well, I'm a huge football fan, a football person. And I remember when he came to set, and I was just so tickled that he was so excited to take a picture with me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, because I was like, you're Aaron Rodgers.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, there were so many fantasy football teams on our show. The whole set was so excited to have him visit.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's very true. Well, I'm excited to talk about another big guest star from this episode. It's our fast fact number two, and it is Santi Gold. Angela. We have a story about her. We were at a benefit, a fundraiser where she was performing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. We got pretty excited.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is recently. This is, you know, a long time since she's been on the show.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. This was just a few years ago, you guys.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was. First of all, I'll say, we were right at the front. Like, we were right at the lip of the stage. We were dancing hardcore.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, we were.

[Jenna Fischer]

She was playing Creator, my favorite song. And can we have it, by the way? Could we listen to some of it?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh, yes. Can we. Can we play a little bit of it?

[Jenna Fischer]

I'd like to, because I want you to understand, this is what Angela and I are rocking out to at, like, the front of this performance, the very.

[Angela Kinsey]

Front of the stage.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[C]

Got no need for the fancy things all the attention that it brings Tell me no I say yes I was chosen and I I will deliver the explosion can't say it's gonna get me far do no good to say what you are I run the streets and I break up houses river runs deep.

[Jenna Fischer]

And the flame devours it okay, so that is one of my songs I listen to when I want to feel like a badass boss lady.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

So we are two badass boss ladies. We are rocking out at the foot of the stage. And she says, everybody, come up. Come up. Come on stage and dance with me. We're like, we will.

[Angela Kinsey]

We're like, heck, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

We start to mount the stage. And a big, beefy guy, he was a bouncer.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like, a bouncer person.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Who worked at the venue, was like, you will not be going on stage. And she was like, you are. Come on up on stage. We're like, she's saying, we can go. And he's like, I'm saying, you cannot. We almost got thrown out.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, one or two gals made it up on stage. We didn't.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was jealous.

[Angela Kinsey]

He pretty much, like, just gently picked me up and set me on the ground.

[Jenna Fischer]

He shut it down pretty quickly, but he was like, I will ask you ladies to leave if you do not stop trying to climb on the stage. I was like, oh, no, we don't want to get thrown out.

[Angela Kinsey]

We don't want to get thrown out. Also, you guys, we were totally sober.

[Jenna Fischer]

We were.

[Angela Kinsey]

We were just really excited. She said, come up on stage.

[Jenna Fischer]

She did, but I know Santi, and she's an amazing person. And I traded text messages with her, and she said that she would send in audio clips for this episode. Here's the first one. She's going to tell us how she got her job on the Office.

[C]

Oh, my God. I just watched the link that you sent me. It's so funny. He's so great. So, yeah, I was a huge fan of the Office from the beginning of the Office. I was a fan of the Office when it was just the UK version of the Office. And then when it turned to the US version, I remember it was so different, but yet, I don't want to say funnier, but it kind of was. It was just so good. And so from the very beginning, I was watching it, and I had seen pretty much every episode. So what happened was it was like I had been touring for quite a while, and. And I wanted to do something just that seemed fresh and new, something that I didn't know how to do, and that seemed fun. So I started taking some acting classes, and I went on. I think it was my very first audition was for Anchorman 2. And I went. And the casting agent, she said that I did really, really well, and she really liked me. And then she was like, but because I had never acted before, the director wanted to go with someone who had more experience. So, you know. So I didn't get that. But she was, like, really nice. So she called me very shortly after, and she's like, but would you want to come on the Office? And I couldn't believe it. I was like, that was like my dream, like, because I just really wanted to be on something funny. Like, I don't think I even really wanted to ever be an actor. I just wanted to be on something funny. And the Office was like, my number one wish list. So, yeah, so. So. And I get to come on and Just play myself. And so that's how that happened. And I was so excited about it. It was like a dream come true.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw.

[Angela Kinsey]

So fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Dave said that she was super sweet and very talented. Dave also said she was so friendly and really warm. But then when the cameras started rolling, she had to just switch into just, like, pissed off. And he said it was a really funny thing to watch her have to do that.

[Angela Kinsey]

I can relate.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I have more audio clips from Santi that I'll play later in the episode. But now, Angela, it's over to you for fast fact three.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Okay, so you guys know that I have been watching the Office a look back. It's the bonus feature on disc four, season nine. I have some more to share from it. I am titling this first part feeling all the feels. Okay, here's the cast talking about the show. Very cheesy music. Just wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

We knew we were a part of something different and new, which was always thrilling. And.

[Angela Kinsey]

Go ahead.

[Jenna Fischer]

I can't think of another thing that I've done for this long that is so important to me.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was on the set for this finale, and I was looking around, and I was just struck by the fact that there's no way you could assemble.

[D]

This type of cast again.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was just my absolute pleasure to be a part of this show. I'm really proud of what we did.

[Jenna Fischer]

I've been waiting here for 45 minutes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And the people are amazing.

[Jenna Fischer]

What's great about the show, that at.

[E]

Its heart, is an optimistic show, and I think that that is its legacy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh, Angela. I was trying to eat a snack while you played that clip, and then I got choked up. I couldn't swallow.

[Angela Kinsey]

I watched it all happen. It's pretty emotional to watch this. Okay. And then I wanted to share a second part, which is just us reflecting on will it hold up? And then also sharing the fact that we were entering those weeks where it was like, our last table read, our last hot snack, our last time in hair and makeup, and it was really hitting us all.

[Jenna Fischer]

I hope it holds up. You know, I turn on Nick at night and I see Roseanne or I see Everybody Loves Raymond. They're great. Seinfeld holds up. Years later, you watch these shows and they still make you laugh. And I just hope we're one of those shows. I don't think anybody thought we would.

[Angela Kinsey]

Go over 200 episodes. It is very emotional right now on the set. Everything is the last something. And I have one more thing to share. It's from my Digital clutter. It's dated May 10, 2013, which was after this episode aired. And it's from Dave Rogers. Hey, gang. I just wanted to thank everyone again for really kicking ass and doing what you do to make AARM such a truly special episode. I could not be happier or more proud of what we accomplished. And I am thrilled with the amazing feedback we've been getting from fans and critics alike. I am so honored to have earned the opportunity and trust to direct and edit such a pinnacle episode. Greg, Claire, and I are deep into the finale, and I can tell you that that too will be an unbelievably spectacular send off for one of the greatest television shows of all time. See you soon, Dave.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw, that's really sweet. You know, in that first clip, I guess I said something about how I didn't think I had been involved in something for so long that had such an impact on my life or something like that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I remember thinking that. I remember thinking like, how my memory of high school or my memory of college, those years are like, were so influential on my life and were so formative. And the office was both of those put together. Like, that's how much time we spent there.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. A lot of life happened. Well, that was fast. Fact three, I'll be sharing more next week.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

So get your tissues ready for next week, lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, I'm not ready for next week.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. I'm not either. I'm not.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, why don't we take a break and we'll be back to break down AARM Part two.

[Angela Kinsey]

Part two. Let's go. Peloton.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, sweet Peloton. I love my peloton. Peloton has workouts for every mood. My general mood is I don't feel like doing this, but Cody Rigsby, he gets me there.

[Angela Kinsey]

You love Cody. Here's what I like about peloton. I love the variety of training programs because I'm not going to want the same workout that Josh wants. We're super different. And peloton has something for both of us.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, there's so many ways to challenge yourself if you're training for a 5K, a 10K, a marathon. They have programs for strength training. They've got boot camps. Oh, my gosh. They have pilates. They have just great stretching.

[Angela Kinsey]

And their coaches are really motivating. They keep you going.

[Jenna Fischer]

Find your push, Find your power. With [e-mail].

[Angela Kinsey]

We are back. This episode starts over. In accounting. Oscar is holding Philip. Philip's being a little fussy. And Dwight comes over and offers to hold him, and immediately Phillip stops crying. I want you guys to know this really happened. If you notice, there's no cutaways, because when Rainn held the baby, the baby actually stopped crying instantly. It was really amazing. And if you watch Oscar's reaction, it's really earnest. He's like, wow, I'm impressed. Rain is the baby whisperer.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this was a callback to the viewing party episode in season seven, when Dwight is the only one who can calm Cece. That was, like, a plot point of that episode. But when we got on set, we found that it was also true that Rainn Wilson could calm babies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. It's just so wild. I mean, he is a tall person. I think maybe they feel safe in his arms. He's kind of like a big person to wrap arms around you.

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's the baby whisperer.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yep.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, now Dwight is gonna take Philip into his office. He's actually on a mission to find out now if maybe Philip is really his son. So they're going to play a game called Truth or Consequences.

[Angela Kinsey]

How great were our toddler actors, Vince and Evan?

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

So cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, so good. Well, you know, in this scene, Dwight is trying to get Phillip to choose between a dirty old beat or a check for a million dollars. And I don't know who appeared in this scene if it was Vince or Evan, but he was only supposed to point to the beat. But he said beat.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, so cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

And Dave said he was so excited.

[Angela Kinsey]

I bet. But just everything. He put his little hand in his jean pocket. It was so. Gosh, it was so cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, you know, lady, I was a producer on this season, and one of the things that's really cool about that is that I have a lot of digital clutter.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

And so I'm gonna get out a little producer digital clutter for you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yay.

[Jenna Fischer]

So I'm not very good at saving personal emails, but when I've produced things, I keep very detailed folders for my producing work.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

So I went into my folder, and I found a document titled Shruti Things Baby Philip can do.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

So sometimes the writers would do a breakout room.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Where they would just pick a few writers to go into a room and sit there and pitch ideas on a very specific thing. So here are some of the things that were pitched that did not make it. The baby crushes an empty soda can in his hands. Philip eats dirt from Dwight's potted plant. Angela says he has never eaten Dirt before Dwight realizes the dirt in the plant is from Schrute Farms.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

This one I really liked. The baby keeps walking into the manager's office. People joke that he really wants to be manager.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

And Dwight notices. This one also made me chuckle. Pam's mom brings her baby Philip into the office. And Jim's Philip pranks Dwight's Philip. And finally, Dwight has a spare mustard colored shirt hanging on the back of his office door. Philip pulls it down and covers himself with it like a blanket.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's cute too.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know, but this was like a three page document of all the different things that baby Philip might do to reveal that he's actually Dwight's son.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our writers were the best.

[Jenna Fischer]

The best.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's what they would also do with talking heads.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And that's how we would get candy bags. Our next scene takes us to the break room. I absolutely love this Daryl Renner in this episode where everyone wants to spend time with him, they're really bummed he did the Irish exit. And Aaron says, okay, listen. For the next 12 hours, we each get 90 minute segments with Darrell. And Darrell's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Okay, maybe I made the mistake of sneaking out of here. That's on me. But I'm not gonna spend the rest of the day here doing stuff with you guys. Cause you're feeling sentimental. And they're instantly like, no, you have to. So Darryl said, fine, pick one thing. One thing. And I'm going to do it with all of y'all. We don't know what that thing's going to be, but they've got to go figure it out.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, now we're going to check in on Andy Bernard. The last time we saw him, he was frustrated because he felt like there were certain contestants who had feel good stories and they were getting more attention than the other people in the line.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. So Andy was going to make sure he had a feel good moment.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's gonna rejoin the line dressed as an older man. He has put on age makeup, but.

[Angela Kinsey]

Casey Dean just recognizes him immediately. And Andy's like, no, no, no, I'm an old man. She's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And she's like, you are shorter than before. And he's like, yeah, I took my lifts out because this character is my real height, unlike Andy Bernard.

[Angela Kinsey]

Lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

This sent me on a Google search. I became really curious about lifts in your shoes and how those work.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, there's a lot in Hollywood.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, that's why I Got curious about it because I've heard that. I've heard that the male stars wear the lifts in their shoes if they're a little shorter. Yeah. But I'm like, how does it work? Well, I guess that you can wear a regular shoe and it's just like how you imagine there's like just a little wedge that you put inside the sole and then it bumps you up a little bit.

[Angela Kinsey]

Also, you might see some of your shorter male actors in a lot of cowboy boots.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because they have a little bit of.

[Jenna Fischer]

A heel that's a natural lift. Right. Like just the shoe gives you a lift.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I guess one of the problems with putting lifts in your shoes is that if you go more than, I mean, a half inch, then your heel pops out the back of your shoe. So you can actually, like, end up walking out of your shoes. So they invented something called elevator shoes that look like a regular shoe, but they're more like a woman's wedge. Like a wedge heel.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I'm sorry, are you talking about a sneaker that might have a little heel built in?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, no, not what I'm wearing. Not. That is not an elevator shoe. Because I can see. See that it has an exaggerated heel.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, it's sneaky.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, the elevator shoe. I watched a whole YouTube video on it by this guy who was reviewing the best elevator shoes. He was riveting. And yeah, it looks like a beautiful. I think it's even an Italian made leather businessman shoe. But on the inside, I don't know. It's like the way they designed it, it just looks like a shoe, but it makes you like two inches taller.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's a lot.

[Jenna Fischer]

It is.

[Angela Kinsey]

I would be like five, three.

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't know. Maybe you need an elevator shoe.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have questions. What's it like to walk in them? Can you turn your ankle easily?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, it's easy to walk. According to the video, they're really comfortable and easy to walk in. And actually better than putting a lift in your shoe because this forms around your foot. The lift, this guy was saying, is actually kind of dangerous because you can walk out of your shoe, you can twist your ankle. You're not actually getting good arch support. So, gentlemen out there, if you're looking for a lift, I guess the elevator shoe is what you should look into.

[Angela Kinsey]

Is your way to go.

[Jenna Fischer]

Now, the lift, obviously you can put in and out of different pairs of shoes, which I guess gives you variety, but I don't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Andy Bernard probably would love an elevator shoe.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think he would but not for this character. Not for old man.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, not for old man.

[Jenna Fischer]

Old man is shorter.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, you know, Andy dressing up as an old man isn't gonna help him, because someone that works for the show comes out and says, you know what? We're done taking auditions. They need everyone in the line to go home. And Andy is furious. He's like, no. And he runs past the security guard into the building. Casey's gonna help him out. She's gonna form a distraction. She jumps on the security guy's back, and I love her last moment where she's like, you won't be seeing the last of Casey Dean. We love Casey Dean. But Andy makes it inside.

[Jenna Fischer]

He does the audition. Moderator who gave the bad news is Ryan Bailey. He's been on Chicago Med, Arrested Development, and How I Met yout Mother. And, you know, last week, we had these great audio clips from Jessica St. Clair, who played Casey Dean. And she told us an amazing story about this scene right here. You have to hear it.

[E]

Something that was funny and weird was that I was, I believe, like, four months pregnant, but I hadn't told anybody. And so I. I did share it with the makeup artist because I was like, sorry, my face is so puffy, and I look a little bit like the Hulk. But, you know, I'm. I'm pregnant. I haven't told anybody yet. And so she's like, okay, okay. And there is a scene where I have to jump on the back of a security guard who's trying to, like, drag me off the. Off the set. And I really wanted to impress, you know, the director and, you know, and all this one of my favorite shows. And so I really went crazy, and I, like, launched myself onto this gigantic gentleman, like a. Like a cat. Like a rabbit cat. And after the second take, the director ran out, and he said, I don't want to step into your personal space, but the makeup artist is. Let me know you're pregnant. You might not want to throw yourself onto that man so violently. And so I did spend a couple of takes going, God, I hope I didn't. I hope I didn't knock that baby out of me. That'd be a real shame. Maybe it would have been worth it for the show.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, Jessica, she is so funny to me.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. I think she's one of those people that can just read the phone book, and I'd be laughing.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Is that still an expression? People don't even say it anymore because.

[Jenna Fischer]

We don't really get phone books anymore.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, Insert. Read. Boring Item. And I'd still be laughing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, she also sent us in an audio clip just about her general takeaway from getting to do the show. And I want you to hear that, too.

[E]

So I was so excited to be with Ed in a scene. Anytime I get to be with someone from the ucb, it's very easy. It's like super easy lifting because you kind of know each other's rhythms, and if somebody improvises, you're ready to improvise back with them. I can't remember if there were too many things that were actually improvised. They were short little scenes, but I'm sure there were little bits and bobs back and forth. One of the things I love about Ed is he's not only wildly funny, but he's quite charming. So I didn't have to act too hard. You know, he's a real gentleman and a scholar. So it was really fun to get to have, like, a little romantic moment with Ed. And I remember being very panicked that I had to sing. I do that strange, like. But, like, I'm not a singer. I mean, I'm pretty sure I was kicked out of my college acapella group, the Mischords, because instead of singing the harmony like I was supposed to, I would just sing the melody. And they finally. They were like, we're not hearing any alto. I'm like, and you never will, bitches. Because I don't know how to do that. So I remember being a little nervous about singing. I just had to sort of go for it and hope that it wasn't too offensive to anybody's ears.

[Angela Kinsey]

She's so funny. Everything about that clip is so funny to me.

[Jenna Fischer]

If you guys wanna hear more from Jessica, you have to listen to her podcast, the Deep Dive that she does with June Diane Raphael, or download her audiobook, the Art of Small Talk that she did with Casey Wilson. Because it's more of that.

[Angela Kinsey]

So funny.

[Jenna Fischer]

So funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, now Dwight is going to return Philip to Angela. Oscar's going to ask Dwight if he got Philip to eat. He said he won't take the bottle. And Dwight says it's because he's of superior intelligence. He knows when he's being tricked out of a real breast. And that's when Kevin says, well, yeah, he's not that smart. He doesn't know where I hid his toy duck. Yeah, Kevin, I know he's still jealous.

[Jenna Fischer]

Now we're going to go to Jim's desk.

[Angela Kinsey]

There is the biggest envelope ever. This is a bull card for me.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was gonna play a bull Card.

[Angela Kinsey]

Really?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I was gonna finally play a bull card here. You know, last week, we talked about how Jim seemed to, on the fly, get an idea that he needed something from the documentary crew, and they immediately agree to whatever favor he needs. Now I'm like, how many hours have passed and they have somehow assembled this disc for him?

[Angela Kinsey]

Nine years of footage. Nine years of footage they edited together so quickly. Well, my bull card wasn't so much about that. It was more. I titled it Big Envelope Cringe. Why?

[Jenna Fischer]

Why is your bull card about the size of the envelope?

[Angela Kinsey]

Because it's, like, laughable to me. It is a giant gray envelope, and then written in huge letters, it says Jim Sharpie. It's like, Cameron, did you catch the envelope? Okay, let's make it bigger. It's, like, almost the size of, like, an iPad.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. The size of the envelope did not bother me in any way it felt appropriate for a disc.

[Angela Kinsey]

So we're playing two bull cards.

[Jenna Fischer]

I guess so. I mean, I just want to know how they got through all of this footage so quickly. I mean, impressive.

[Angela Kinsey]

Very impressive. Well, big envelope or not, Jim is very happy to have it.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're going to go back to the auditions. The last person is on stage. It's a young woman.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. She's very talented. She's singing Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, and it's going very well for her.

[Jenna Fischer]

So this gal who's singing, her name is Rachel Crow, and she was a contestant on the first season of the X Factor when she was 13 years old. I have an audio clip now. I love you but I gotta stay true My moral got me on my.

[Angela Kinsey]

Knees I'm begging please stop playing games I mean, that's amazing.

[Jenna Fischer]

She brought down the house. She went all the way to the quarterfinal round, and after that, she went on to star in the TV series Skooled. She did our show. She's done a fair amount of work in animation. In fact, she's the voice of Tip in the Netflix show Home Adventures with Tip and O. She's phenomenal.

[Angela Kinsey]

What a voice.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I was gonna point out one other person in this scene, and that is Clay Aiken. I was really rooting for him in American Idol. I will never forget his performance of Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, right.

[Angela Kinsey]

So good.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I brought a clip of that.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm loving today. Light of bridge over trouble water I will ease your mind Like a bridge over troubled water I release your mind.

[C]

Your mind.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that still packs a punch.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, I get chills. It's so Beautiful.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow. Wow. Well, let's see. I've got a little location breakdown for you. We shot this on location. All of us had the day off. It was two days off. Ed filmed these scenes. They were in Burbank. And we did not get to meet any of these folks on the day.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, we didn't.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Andy is going to try to sing for them, and it does not go well at all.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, he enters as the old man, but it's very clear he's not really an old man. Aaron Rodgers calls him out, but he's gonna go ahead and start singing. He's gonna sing, you're never fully dressed without a smile. And you know what? They aren't feeling it.

[Angela Kinsey]

They're not feeling it. So he quickly switches gears and he starts singing the Cornell fight song.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was curious if that is the actual Cornell fight song.

[Jenna Fischer]

I assume it was.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I found a compilation of Cornell acapella groups singing it. Well.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[F]

Cornwall Canugas waters with its waves of.

[C]

Blue and I Ovula Gloria to you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that's precious.

[Angela Kinsey]

How perfect is it, though, that they're a cappella groups? Andy would be so proud. But the judges are not impressed.

[Jenna Fischer]

They're not. And then Andy has a full meltdown.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. I can see them all trying not to laugh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

All of the judges are trying not to laugh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I asked Santigold about this. Here's what she had to say.

[C]

I think for me, probably the funniest part and the hardest part to hold it together was when I said to him that he couldn't just sit there and cry. And he's like, I can't sew. Just sit here and cry. And he's like, really yells it just now watching it. I watched it, and I forgot the whole thing. And it's so funny. I mean, he did it differently every time, so every time was, like, new opportunities to crack up laughing. So. But I think that's part of the fun of it. To have to hold it together is also the fun of it. And. And to come up with, like, other things to do besides laugh. But I really enjoyed it. I mean, it was kind of like everything that I. I thought that I wanted it to be, it was. And I remember talking to my friend who was like, my main friend that we love the Office together, and I told him that I was on the Office, and he didn't believe me. And he's like, you kidding me? You know, because it was like a dream for that to be the first thing to do. And also, because it's so many years later now, and a lot of people had no idea that I was ever even on there. And, you know, the Office has had such a continually growing fan base. It seems like it had a whole new life all over again, which is great. It's like a legacy. And so people have discovered me on the end. On the end episodes and been like, oh, my God, are you in the Office? It's really funny because it's so unexpected and it's such a nice surprise. So it just keeps. It keeps surprising people all these years later.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, Angela, since I knew that this was Santi's first on camera acting job, I just kind of asked her in general, like, how was that, like, coming onto the set? And she told a story that I think you'll enjoy. Here it is.

[C]

Yeah. So the day. The day of. I remember coming there, they told us to wear our own clothes because we're supposed to be playing ourselves. So that part was simple. And we just got, you know, just got out of hair and makeup and then went in. And it was just me, Clay Aiken, and Aaron Rodgers. And I knew who Clay Aiken was, but I did not know who Aaron Rodgers was. And I don't know anything about football. So I asked him, I said, oh, what do you do? And he's like, oh, I'm a football player. I said, what team do you play for? And he said. I believe he said, the Green Bay packers. If that's a team, I'm so bad. I still don't know about football, but. And then I asked him, what city was that? And he told me, and for some reason, I thought he was joking, and I was like, no, for real, what city is it? And he was like, no, that really is it. So it was kind of a funny intro. And we ended up getting along really well and having a lot of fun throughout the day. But, yeah, it was. I mean, I remember that they were changing the lines a lot, which made me feel a little bit anxious because I'm not used to that and obviously didn't have any experience with that with. I mean, with any of it at all. It was also new, but, like, the improvisational aspect was so actually fun to be in and watch. Ed Helms just master. He was so funny. And, yeah, it was hard not to laugh, but at the same time, it was fun to just be in it with him and just get to experience it and not. And not fall apart. But we did it, obviously several times, and every time he did it different, and every time it was like hilarious. And so I always, I don't know, I always just really have a fun time watching people who master their crafts and just being able to just be a witness of it. So I remember the experience being more like me getting to watch him and really, really enjoying that and just being part of it at all. You know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Lady, I just love this runner of people asking Aaron Rodgers, what is it that you do?

[C]

Oh, football.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's so neat. Like, I don't know why, it's just very funny to me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, in my experience, he was really kind in the moment.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Dave Rogers said all three of these guys were so great to work with. He remembered that Clay Akin was really funny and had a great sense of humor. And he said he was really great at doing improv. Dave said that Aaron Rodgers was really down to earth, super friendly. He came in really prepared. He knew all his lines and gave great reactions. He really came off very relaxed and natural. And he said that our editor, Claire Scanlan, was a huge fan of Santa Gold and was so bummed she couldn't be there. So Dave asked if Santi would mind writing her a note and autographing it and giving it to Claire. And Claire was over the moon.

[Angela Kinsey]

That is so sweet of Dave and so thoughtful.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

But also so nice of Santi Gold to be like, sure, no problem.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know. Well, I want to give a big thank you to Santi for sending in all those audio clips. You know, she has a podcast as well, Ang. It's called Noble Champions and here is how it is described. Noble Champions is a modern day salon created and hosted by the multi platform visionary artist Santi Gold. In each episode she sits down with some of today's leading artists, authors, activists and progressive thinkers who stand up, stick up and speak up for important causes. The first season is out now and she's going to have new episodes premiering this fall, so check it out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Great, we'll put that in our stories. I would love to give her a shout out as well. I love NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series and Santi Gold's is so great. So if you're a fan of that series and haven't seen hers, it's a great watch and I'll put that in stories as well.

[Jenna Fischer]

Great.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, why don't we go to break because when we come back, Philip and Kevin are finally gonna make amends.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I wanna go to break because Angela, you brought in like two coolers worth of food today and I've been waiting patiently to get to eat it. Will you tell everybody what it is?

[Angela Kinsey]

Y so Josh and I sold a cookbook. I've shared that with you guys. And this week is the cookbook photography. And what that means is we're making like 11 recipes a day. And then professionally, food styling and taking the photos. It's turning out so fantastic. But it also means every day Josh is bringing home, like, 11 recipes. My fridge was so full, so today I said, you guys, I'm bringing in food for everyone. I have lasagna rolls. I have an amazing chicken and rice soup. I also have brisket with all the sides. I also have chocolate chip muffins. I have millionaire bars. No Bake chocolate and oatmeal drops. An almond cake. So we're going to have a feast at lunch.

[Jenna Fischer]

You told me about this last night, and I've been distracted because I can't wait any longer.

[Angela Kinsey]

The coolers are sitting right next to me.

[Jenna Fischer]

We'll be right back. Well, lady, what a year it has been.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, this is a really good time to kind of step back and look at your life and think about, is there something about this past year that I should commemorate with something beautiful? Do you see where I'm going with this?

[Angela Kinsey]

I do.

[Jenna Fischer]

I am talking about buying yourself something jewelry.

[Angela Kinsey]

We're big fans of buying yourself a little something because you made a finish line, you made a goal, something in your life you've been working towards that you want to celebrate by gifting yourself something beautiful.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we celebrated our first 100 episodes of Office Ladies with Jewelry from Blue Nile dot com. We each got a set of very beautiful diamond stud earrings. And I treasure those.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do, too.

[Jenna Fischer]

And when I look at them, I think of our accomplishments.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here's the thing. Their website is amazing. And if you have any questions, Blue Nile's jewelry experts are on hand 247 via phone or chat.

[Jenna Fischer]

Whether you're looking for a bit of special sparkle for yourself or to give the best holiday gift of all time, Blue Nile offers some of the highest quality standards in the industry at prices significantly below retail.

[Angela Kinsey]

Go to bluenile.com to shop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999. That's blue nile.com blue nile.com Are you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Struggling for a gift idea? I'm going to help you out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

With Masterclass, your loved one can finally become a better cook, writer, entrepreneur, or artist, just like they've always wanted. That is the gift of masterclass.

[Angela Kinsey]

Let's say you have a family member that loves to tell a joke, and maybe they want to craft their own stand up. Guess what? You can take a class with Judd Apatow.

[Jenna Fischer]

And classes really make a difference. 88% of Masterclass members say that they feel like Masterclass made a positive impact on their lives. And there's no risk because every new membership comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.

[Angela Kinsey]

So you can give your loved ones a year of learning with masterclass.

[Jenna Fischer]

Masterclass always has great offers during the holidays. Sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to masterclass.com officeladies for the current offer.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's up to 50% off at masterclass.com.

[Jenna Fischer]

Officeladies masterclass.com officeladies We've been talking about the SimpliSafe home security system for a long time now. And I'm very excited because SimpliSafe is now offering our listeners 60% off. Just visit simplisafe.com officeladies well, you guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Know I've been using SimpliSafe for years. It just brings me peace of mind. I like knowing that my home is protected 24 7. And with SimpliSafe they have active guard. So that can actually prevent break ins from happening. It can prevent package theft and vandalism because there's live monitoring agents who can speak to and deter any suspicious individuals outside your home before they even get the chance.

[Jenna Fischer]

Simplisafe is offering our listeners exclusive early access to their Black Friday sale this week. Only you can get 60% off any new system with a select professional monitoring plan.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is their best offer of the year. Head to simplisafe.com officeladys that's SimpliSafe. There's no safe like SimpliSafe.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, we are back. Our bellies are full. I just ate the most delicious brisket with potatoes and carrots and then I had a pecan cookie for dessert.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, Josh, you fed us all today. Thank you so much.

[Jenna Fischer]

And all of these things that I just ate are going to be in the cookbook, Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is gonna be a good cookbook.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's looking so beautiful too. I'm really excited about it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we're gonna head over to accounting and Oscar and Angela, they need to try to smooth things over with Kevin. So they're gonna present him with a gift from Philip.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Philip got Kevin a $25 iTunes gift card. There's only $7 left on it. Yeah, but it's from Philip. And Kevin is very moved by this.

[Jenna Fischer]

He has a talking head where he says he and Philip are going to be best friends.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, he's kind of standoffish at first, but, you know, he likes you when he starts buying you things.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, this is the advice that they give you if you're going to have a second kid. They say, have the baby buy a gift for the first kid.

[Angela Kinsey]

I've never heard butter them up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, you didn't know that?

[Angela Kinsey]

I didn't.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh. I mean, I remember I was 5 years old when my little sister Emily was born, and she gave me in the hospital. When I visited her, my parents were like, emily got you this? And it was a little dog, and I named it Prancy, and it was my favorite stuffed animal. And I still have it on my shelf in my office today.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I guess when you're that little, you're not like, oh, the baby can't walk or speak.

[Jenna Fischer]

No.

[Angela Kinsey]

But bought me a gift.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. I mean, I immediately liked her. I was like, this kid is terrific.

[Angela Kinsey]

This kid is really good at giving gifts.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, that says a lot about Kevin, where he's at.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know Rennie about a five year old.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Well, the whole group has decided what they want to do with Darrell. They have decided they all want to dance with him. And Daryl says, all right, you're going to need some good speakers. Let's go. I do have a bull card to play here in Daryl's office.

[Jenna Fischer]

What is it?

[Angela Kinsey]

Daryl left. He got his things and he left. And he had no plans to come back to his office, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, guess what was sitting in the corner.

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

His fakie bass fish thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that he brought up from the warehouse to this.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. He left it behind along with a box of some other things. But sitting right there is the fakie bass thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know what I'm gonna say he did that on purpose.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's not. He's not taking it with him.

[Jenna Fischer]

Maybe he doesn't need that in his snazzy new athlete office.

[Angela Kinsey]

I guess not.

[Jenna Fischer]

Maybe he's going for a new decor now that he's like a big deal agent guy.

[Angela Kinsey]

So he just left it. He's like, anyone want it? It's here.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Maybe. Dwight has called Angela into his office. He tells her to close the door and have a seat. He believes Philip maybe a shrewd. And as such, Philip is entitled to a farm, an inheritance, and the right kind of upbringing, you know, under rigorous, shrewd traditions.

[Angela Kinsey]

He also says that Angela will be compensated with a marriage proposal as well. It's kind of an afterthought to his speech. And there was a lot to play in this scene?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

At first, Dave wanted me to be excited about the idea of Dwight raising Philip. But then when he says, and of course a marriage proposal will be also offered to you, I'm supposed to then turn and be like, no, that's not how I want this. And so once again, Angela says, philip is not your son. And she leaves.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Meanwhile, in the break room, Jim has brought Pam in, and there's a laptop sitting on one of the tables and a dvd. And it's clear, you know, he's gonna play this DVD for her. But Dwight interrupts him.

[Angela Kinsey]

He throws the now bean bag at Jim's head and hits him right in the head.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Serious.

[Angela Kinsey]

Serious. So is Dwight just walking around with beanbags in his pockets?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, yes, I believe he is. So Dwight says, I'll be right back. And Pam waits for a second, and then she is like, no, I gotta see what this is. I'm gonna put this DVD in the computer.

[Angela Kinsey]

She doesn't wait that long.

[Jenna Fischer]

She doesn't. And now we're gonna cut back and forth between this scene with Jim and Dwight and what Pam is doing in the break room.

[Angela Kinsey]

I loved this scene, how it cut back and forth. I thought it was so beautiful. I loved seeing the footage of early Pam and Jim. It was really emotional to watch. It was emotional to watch as someone who worked on the show and was in these scenes, to see the progression of the characters. But then as a fan and then as someone who's been rewatching them with her best friend, it was very layered emotion for me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Well, we got a few fan questions about this montage that Pam is watching. One from Randy C. In Columbia, Maryland, who said, jenna, when filming the sequence where Pam watches the dvd, was there anything really on the screen or was it put in during post production?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, we also had a fan question from Angela K. In Los Angeles.

[Jenna Fischer]

What did she say?

[Angela Kinsey]

Jenna, were you actually watching the footage in the video? And may I also add that your performance in the scene is beautiful and made me tear up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Love it. Well, I'll have you both know, Randy and Angela K. I was watching it, and I was watching it for the first time.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

When they started rolling, oh, I knew what was coming. I knew I was gonna see this montage of us as Jim and Pam, but.

[Angela Kinsey]

But there's no way to prepare yourself for it. There's so many wonderful moments.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sarah R. From Cleveland, Ohio, wanted to know who created the video. It was Claire Scanlon. She collected the images. Dave Rogers gave her a few Suggestions? There were a few suggestions in the script. She picked out the song Open youn Eyes from Snow Patrol. Dave said that he believes John Krasinski came in and worked on it a little bit with Claire. He knew what was on it, but I did not. But this was the last scene that we shot for this episode. So this was a Friday. It was evening. It was just us on the set. It was very quiet. Really kind of reminded me of when we did Casino Night when everybody else had gone home and we had like a. For this really emotional moment between these two characters.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I'd also love to give a big shout out to Dave Rogers for how he directed this, because I thought it was really beautiful that you watched all of this. Just heartfelt emotion from Pam. And then Jim is talking to Dwight about Pam at the same time, and Dwight is thinking about Angela. When Jim tells Dwight to forget about fear and doubt and do whatever he can to get the one woman who's going to make everything worth it to just do it. And he says, you love Angela. You probably always have. And Rainn as Dwight, his performance is brilliant, too. He's tearing up and he tells Jim he's a good assistant. So there's so much emotion happening in these two moments. I thought it was really well done.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this whole thing ends with Jim walking back into the break room, seeing that Pam has watched the video and handing her the original teapot note, the.

[Angela Kinsey]

One he took back and put in his pocket all of those years ago.

[Jenna Fischer]

We got a fan question from Laney B. In Westerville, Ohio, who said, was it always the plan to revisit the teapot card Jim wrote for Pam, or was it something that the writers remembered and wanted to incorporate into the episode? Lainey, it was not always planned. Like, not from when we did that first Christmas episode. Did anybody say, one day we're going to reveal what was on this note? It sort of took on a life of its own. People became so curious what was in the note that Jim didn't give Pam. And I've told this story before, but when we were pitching to Greg about season nine, I said, greg, we have to read the teapot note.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, it's the greatest callback of the whole series. It's brilliant. This is a fantastic idea. Did they lose their minds when you pitched it?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I felt like I kind of had to convince them a little bit because what. Here's the thing. Greg said, I don't think we'll ever be able to write anything that would satisfy everybody's imagination of this note after all these years. Like, the beauty of the note is that as the audience member, you've written the perfect thing on the note.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's brilliant. I mean, he's so smart, right? That is a very smart take. But it's enough for me to just see it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, that was the thing. We didn't have to read it to you. You just needed the satisfaction of Pam getting it. She finally. Pam reading it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then you still get to fill in the blank, but you get that closure. I've told this story before too, but John Krasinski wrote the note. It was a private note that he.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wrote to you as Jenna.

[Jenna Fischer]

Correct.

[Angela Kinsey]

About being your scene partner all those years.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. So it was kind of like a goodbye, thank you note. I still have it. It's private. I'll never reveal what was in it, but it was a beautiful, beautiful note from one scene partner to another. It made me cry. So when you see me crying in the episode, those are my real tears.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did notice when you were reading it, it seemed like some genuine surprise that you didn't know what was going to be given to you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. They told me they were gonna let John write the note, but I thought he was gonna write it as Jim to Pam. So as I'm reading it and I'm realizing that it says dear Jenna.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then it's just this beautiful letter about what it has meant for us to work together and be these scene partners. And, you know, it's like to be Jim and Pam, you know?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was like, oh, my gosh. Oh. Oh, my goodness.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. You see your face goes through a bunch of realizations.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And I think you can see John watching me read it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think you see him be like, okay. I'm standing here as she reads this letter.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I agree with Greg. I'm glad you've never shared what you actually read, what was from John to you, because I don't want to break that fourth wall. I want to imagine this moment between Jim and Pam and I want to imagine what I would have wanted Jim to say.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, as a wrap gift at the finale, I wanted to return the favor. So I bought a little teapot and I wrote a note to John from Jenna, my own little teapot note to him, thanking him for all those years working together and what it had meant to me. I mean, I'll never have a scene partner like that again. I feel like I have a work partner and a creative partner like that here with you. Angela, this is like another moment of, like, chemistry that you just. You can't plan for it. It just like, it's perfect. But to go on a nine year journey with another actor in such an intimate and vulnerable way as our characters do, it's pretty special. I mean, we're bonded for life, for sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

For sure. It's nine years. Yeah, I feel the same way. And, you know, we reached out to Dave about this episode and he shared something about this scene about how they would cut from Jim and Dwight back to Pam. And it's something he fought for. And that was to keep the music playing under the cutaways. And at first, I guess Greg wanted to take it out whenever they cut to Jim and Dwight, but Claire agreed with Dave and they said it would be a great tool that the documentary filmmakers could use to underscore these two moments. And he really felt like it tied the two scenes together. And ultimately Greg agreed and they kept the music throughout both scenes. And I do think it tied them together beautifully.

[Jenna Fischer]

So there's one more thing about this scene that caused quite a stir after it aired. And it all has to do with a little mistake that they made. You know that very first slide of the little slideshow where Jim has written a note to Pam.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. He wrote Beasley, you think I'll have regrets. I asked the Dot crew to help me show you why I won't. Dot, dot, dot.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm. Well, when this episode first aired, Pam's last name was misspelled. It was spelled B, E, E, S, L, E, Y. But that's not how you spell Beasley. You spell it B, E, E, S, L, Y, no E, no E. And fans were like, Jim misspelled his wife's name in the Love tribute video. But then people started arguing over what is the correct spelling of Pam's last name.

[Angela Kinsey]

There's been several versions online.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, here's what I can tell you. In the very first page of every script, there's a cast list. And from script number one to script finale, Pam's last name has always been spelled B E, E, S, L, Y. That's how Greg intended it. However, it is misspelled a couple of times in early episodes and then in this episode. But in business school at her art fair, it's spelled correctly in the credits for Threat Level Midnight. It's spelled correctly on the big poster outside their wedding where they misspell Jim's last name. Halprit. Her name is spelled correctly. So that is the correct spelling.

[Angela Kinsey]

You heard it here, you heard it here.

[Jenna Fischer]

And Angela when you made us those matching blue hoodies, you spelled it correctly.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did.

[Jenna Fischer]

So I have a hoodie with beasley on the back. I don't know how this happened exactly, but it has been corrected. So they corrected it for the DVDs, they corrected it for syndication, but on the first viewing, it was spelled wrong. But, you know, there were some people who tried to justify it by saying, hey, Jim didn't make the video. The doc. The Doc crew didn't know they got on. Spell her last name. Yeah, but also doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the Doc crew to get everything right. I mean, literally, what they're supposed to do is just document.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, let's move to the bullpen because Erin is queuing up the music. There are disco lights. It is time to dance. And I thought you might like a breakdown of this dance sequence, please. When the music starts, the kitchen door opens and Daryl is standing with his back to the bullpen and a leather jacket with his collar up. He spins around. His first dance move is with Stanley. They do a series of handshakes and then chest bump. Then Daryl and Nellie have a very sexy dance.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was like, that's a couple I hadn't thought of before, but okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Then Daryl and Toby do a dance where. What are they doing? Are they pretending to ride a ponytail? Are they pretending to rope a cow? Well, it's like the la.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Are they lassoing one another?

[Angela Kinsey]

One another? I don't know. Then Daryl and Phyllis do a really fancy choreographed kickball change spin, then a dip move. Phyllis was having fun in real life, in that moment for sure. All of her dancing days coming back. Then Daryl does air guitar with Creed, and then with Meredith. Daryl doesn't really dance, but Meredith waves her hand over his crotch and then spanks his butt. And then at 17 minutes and 23 seconds is my favorite, it is Daryl, Kevin, and Oscar. They're doing a very Madonna vogue kind of dance moment. It is epic. Then Pam and Jim and Daryl and Aaron form a line and dance. Kind of like a. I don't know what that was. A Congo line kind of thing, kind of. And then it ends with Daryl and Erin spinning in a circle holding hands in front of reception.

[Jenna Fischer]

We got a lot of fan questions about this. People wanted to know if music was really playing or if we had to do that thing where you're dancing to silence.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Music was really playing. It was playing low, but we had it so that we could dance to the beat. But there were two rehearsals for this. Our Resident choreographer Marianne Kellogg came in and she worked with. With each person on what their dance with Daryl might be. So that was all planned. It wasn't like we just did impromptu moves or anything. Dave said it was actually a fairly complicated scene. It had to be carefully choreographed with camera and with Daryl's movement through the office. He wanted to make sure that everyone was in focus and had their moment. We had a fan catch that I know about from personal experience. It was Kelly Y. From Carver, Massachusetts, who said, I have been waiting nine seasons to tell you this background catch that I notice every time I watch this episode. At 17 minutes and 45 seconds, when Jim and Pam are dancing in the background, you can very clearly see John mess up his dance move and mouth the words, oh, Kelly said, this makes me crack up every time. Kelly, John and I were added to this dance scene at the very last minute. I don't know why, but we had not been at the other rehearsals. And so on the day we got our dance moves, and we were so clumsy and we kept messing up and we were cracking ourselves up because we were like, why can't we do this simple dance move? But this is just such a wonderfully joyous moment.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

In this finale, before the finale, and.

[Angela Kinsey]

Daryl has a talking head where he says, you know, leaving quietly seemed dignified. But having Kevin grind up on his front while Aaron pretended to hump him from behind as a more accurate tribute to his years there, he said, he's really gonna miss these guys.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Well, now everyone's leaving for the day, and they say, we'll see you at Poor Richard's. Cause remember, everybody's gonna gather at Poor Richard's because the documentary is airing tonight.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oscar says, I'll drop Philip off at my mother's.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love that Oscar's mother is Philip's babysitter.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

How cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

And he says, angela, you can't come with me because I don't want my mother to know I'm living with a straight woman and get her hopes up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

So Angela is going to drive to poor Richards by herself. But, oh, boy, Dwight comes out of nowhere. He's got a siren on top of his car and a bullhorn, and he's shouting at her to pull over.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I have a lot to say about this scene. We wanted it to feel as real as possible.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. Well, we have a fan question from Rachel S In Shetland, Scotland, who wanted to know, how did you do this driving scene and pulling over? Because I think that's you in the car, Angela. Am I right? It looks like you.

[Angela Kinsey]

You are correct. So we did a combination, and I have a lot of pictures from this particular scene. I brought my camera to set that day, and also Steve Burgess took a bunch of pictures. We did a combination of my car being pulled where I'm not driving. That's in the straightaways. And then where we pull off the road is really me.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's what I thought.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, that's really me.

[Jenna Fischer]

When he cuts you off and kind of forces your car off the road.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right, because we had it. It had to be us, because I get out of the car so quickly. And they had cameras everywhere. They had cameras mounted to the car. They had lipstick cameras inside so they could catch a bunch of different angles. And then we also did have stunt drivers for when the cars were going really fast on the straightaway.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, when you get out of that car, Angela, Talk about coming in hot. Well, you are pissed.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm pissed. I just got run off the road. I mean, you'd be pissed off.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

So here's the thing. When we did the first take of this, it just felt a little stiff, right? And Dave and Brent were like, you guys, why don't you, at the beginning, improvise to get into the main beat of the scene to the Proposal? So we were like. Okay. So I thought I would play you the scene, and then I'll tell you the parts that were improvised.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, great.

[Angela Kinsey]

Pull over. What?

[Jenna Fischer]

Move to the side of the road.

[Angela Kinsey]

Why?

[D]

Over.

[Angela Kinsey]

Why do you. Dwight. Dwight, what the is your problem? Who drives like that?

[Jenna Fischer]

I love you, and I don't care that Philip's not my son.

[Angela Kinsey]

I will raise a hundred children with.

[Jenna Fischer]

A hundred of your lovers if it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Means I can be with you. Can you put that down?

[Jenna Fischer]

Pizz expresses how loudly I love you.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's too loud.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is a ring taken from the buttocks of my grandmother, put there by the gangster patriarch of the Coors dynasty, melted in a foundry run by Mennonites.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. Yes. Yes, I will.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love you.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love you. And I lied to you.

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

Phillip's your son.

[Jenna Fischer]

What?

[D]

Why would you say that?

[Angela Kinsey]

I just needed you to want to marry me because you wanted to marry me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Get out. I'm a dad.

[Angela Kinsey]

You're a dad.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, it's so good.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's so fun to rewatch that I have to tell you guys, we really. Man, we put our hearts out there for that scene. So the parts that are improvised are. Dwight, what the is your problem?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then him saying, shut up, woman.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then me saying, who drives like that? And him saying, listen to me. Then we start the scripted part with I love you, and I don't care that Philip's not my son. I improvised. Can you put that down? And it's too loud. And then Rainn riffed off a scripted line about that's how he expresses his love. And then after Angela says she will marry him, we kissed. And I said, I love you. And that wasn't scripted. And Dwight said, I love you. And then we went into the beat where I shared with him that I had lied to him. And the scene was supposed to end with Dwight just saying, get out. But then Rainn improvised I'm a dad. And I said, you're a dad. And then we kissed again.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, Angela, we did get a fan mail flurry here. People really want to know, how do you or the writers justify the fact that this DNA test said that Dwight was not the father? People want to know, did Angela pay them off? Did Dwight take the wrong diaper? There were a lot of babies at the family portrait studio. Tell us what you think.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I understand the fan mail flurry over this because it was set up that it might not be Dwight's child. Right. Very clearly. This is how I always made it make sense for me. When Dwight takes the diaper, Angela doesn't know if he got Phillips or not. She goes with him. She's very invested. This could end her marriage. And although she loved Dwight, she thought it was over for them. They had missed their moment. And she had built this whole life with the state senator, for better or for worse. So she sat there with him and waited for the results. And they held hands because I think it was as big for her as it was for him. She didn't know if he was going to find out the truth that she knew all along.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she didn't say anything because she wasn't ready to tell him. And then when they said, it's not your child, she is relieved because now she can keep her life intact. And there's a lot of sadness for her as well.

[Jenna Fischer]

But what you're saying is that. And you've said this before, that she never really consummated her relationship with the senator. The only person she was sexually active with was Dwight. This was Dwight's baby. But somehow something sort of serendipitously happened in the testings, but somehow something went wrong in the testing facility. Or maybe he grabbed the wrong diaper. I think he did. And that's why the test result said.

[Angela Kinsey]

That I think he grabbed the wrong diaper.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

There were a lot of babies there that day.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

I think he grabbed the wrong diaper. But Angela couldn't be sure, and that's why she followed him there. And then I think there were many times she wanted to tell him, but she thought he had moved on. And then I think she didn't know how to tell him. I just wanted to add one final thing about this scene that I will never forget. After we did the take that we knew was the one, you know, we were both crying. Rain and I were both tearing up. Dave yelled, cut. And I looked over to our first assistant camera operator, Chris Workman, and he was wiping tears away from his eyes. And it just made me so happy, you know, Our crew was rooting for this couple. Rainn and I were rooting for this couple. And I asked Brent Forrester, our writer, what it was like to write this proposal scene. And here's what he had to say.

[D]

There were moments on the office where it seemed like something sacred had happened on set. Jim and Pam getting married at Niagara was a moment like that where everyone who was there seemed like they had been transformed by a scene, seeing it live. And another moment like that was Dwight proposing to Angela. In the second to last episode. We knew in the writers room that we had created something clever with Angela's lie to Dwight. But we didn't know how it would play until the actors showed up on set. Well, Angela Kinsey and Rainn Wilson had been playing these characters for nine seasons. And there was so much real emotion pent up. When Dwight proposed to her and she accepted, there was this feeling of joy on set. And then she reveals that he's also a father now. Rainn Wilson is a father. And the joy of that moment seemed to hit him by surprise. And it rippled through him and Angela and the whole set. The director called cut. And everyone just looked at each other with these gentle smiles on their faces like they had seen something sacred. The writers set it up. The actors bring it to life. And when the actors bring to life real sacred emotions of joy and love, I think that's the highest that our art form can achieve.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, that's beautiful.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

What a wonderful thing to say, Brent. Thank you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I know there's something crazy about this day of shooting. This must have been very emotional for you, Angela, because this day of shooting started with this scene, this proposal scene. Then y'all broke for lunch and we read the finale. We had a giant table read with.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hundreds of people yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

So you went from that to the final table read to then all of.

[Angela Kinsey]

Us being together at poor Richard's to watch the beginning of the documentary airing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was a hot mess all day. Sure. I cried off and on all day. I remember being so tired that night. Just emotionally so tired. I have pictures, Jenna, of you and I walking in together to that final table read, holding hands. Holding hands. We were so. Oh, man. Just overwhelmed by the moment. And we walked in together holding hands.

[Jenna Fischer]

Next week, I'm going to play an audio clip of Greg's speech to us before we read that final episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's really beautiful.

[Jenna Fischer]

But I mention all that because when we go to this next scene where we're all gathered at poor Richards as a group and we're going to watch the documentary, all of us are coming off of that very emotional table read. And I'll just never forget sitting in that group scene together. It was kind of perfect.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

It really created that moment in us. And I have a picture of you and me and John and Rain from the bar.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sitting there. It's one of my favorites. So here's what happens. Angela and Dwight arrived at poor Richards, but the bartender is refusing to put the documentary on because there is a college baseball game on.

[Angela Kinsey]

Can I give the bartender a shout out?

[Jenna Fischer]

Please do.

[Angela Kinsey]

The bartender is played by Scott Robinson. He is a longtime friend of Kate Flannery and I. He is an amazing improviser and performer. In fact, he and Kate had a hilarious lounge act. They did for. For years.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, it's so good.

[Angela Kinsey]

So good. It's called the Lampshades. It was described as America's favorite dying lounge act. They even at one point had their own single called out of Space. You gotta hear it. She packed my bags last night. Pre flight flight, zero hour, 9:00am.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Gonna be as a kite by then.

[F]

By then, by then, by then, by then, by then.

[Jenna Fischer]

This show is so funny. I saw it two times, maybe three times. I can't get enough of it. Kate would wear this jumpsuit, this crazy wig, and she would do this like full squat, deep, deep squat, and then pop up and do a high kick. It was incredible.

[Angela Kinsey]

Very athletic in a red romper.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep.

[Angela Kinsey]

And Scott was such the perfect scene partner in the Lampshades. His character is hilarious.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, it's what you imagine. Just like slick back hair, like pencil mustache and his little cigarettes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth the entire show.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep. So this episode is going to end with Andy entering, which was so great to have Ed Helms back with us in this big group scene and he's going to be the tie breaking vote that's going to get the bartender to switch it from baseball to the documentary. And it begins.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And it begins with the first few lines of the pilot. We had a fan question from Amy A. In Pasadena, California, who asked, were we actually watching something or was that audio added in post? No, Amy, we were actually watching it. Dave put together a short video so you saw the logo that came on before the documentary. He said if you look closely at the names and the end credits from like the previous show, he put his nephews Jaden and Owen on there. So sweet. But we were really watching that first scene of Jim in Michael's office and it was really sentimental.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. That is AARM part two, everyone.

[Jenna Fischer]

I can't believe it. I want to give a big thank you to Santi Gold, Steve Burgess, Brent Forester, Dave Rogers, Jessica Sinclair. And now next week is the finale. Guys, before we go. Oh, before we go. Brian Salengo or Salenjo sent in a.

[Angela Kinsey]

Song he wrote about the podcast.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think it's very sweet.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh.

[F]

Joy can come from places unexpected from ladies who Google and become mom detectives. We hung on every tangent, tidbit and tell all the ladies who were there Got to walk us through it all like the times that we went behind the scenes to see just how you planned it like the wedding in Niagara or the failure to save Bandit. Deep dives and fast facts. All the office content you'd ever want in a podcast. Birthday and interviews and oh my God, how perfect is Keanu. We've learned a million things along the way like the undisputed genius of the late, great Phil Shea, all the candy back lines that made us laugh. It's all the little stories that were in the shooting draft. The purchasing of music rights right down to the penny. It's how the hell did Steve Carell never win an Emmy? Deep dives and fast, fast. All the office content you'd ever want in a podcast. Birthday and interviews and oh my God, how dreamy is Keanu.

[Jenna Fischer]

It all seems so very arbitrary. I started this job at a podcast network because they were hiring. I took a desk behind an old shower curtain because it was empty. But no matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift of making that place their home. A podcast is such an ordinary thing, but there's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?

[F]

It seems this rewatch podcast is coming to an end. But every office fan knows we can just listen again to the deep dives and the fast facts. All the office content could ever want in a podcast. Birthdays and dinner views. Office Ladies, by now you know we love you. Whatever's next, you know, follow that too.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow. I don't even know what to say. That was so. That was so beautiful, so nice.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was so lovely. Well, and I love that Keanu made it in. That was so wonderful. Thank you, Sam, for sharing that with us.

[C]

Sure.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you to Brian for reaching out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, that was really, really lovely, Brian. Thank you.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know that it would have meant so much to Phil to be in that, so thank you for giving us that too. And we're not going anywhere and we're also going to keep trying to get Keanu on this podcast. So we can't give up. We can't finish this out until we speak to that man.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. But we have lots and lots of more office fun stuff coming your way and we're excited to start sharing about it with you all. Thank you so much. I'm so emotional for this community. You've meant so much to Jen and I.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, see you next week.

[Angela Kinsey]

See you next week.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Office Ladies is a presentation of Odyssey and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

Our executive producer is Cassie Jerkins, our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer and our associate producer is Ainsley Bubaco.

[Angela Kinsey]

Audience Odyssey's executive producers are Jenna Weiss Berman and Leah Reese Dennis.

[Jenna Fischer]

Office Ladies is mixed and mastered by Chris Basil.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton. Klarna is your smarter everyday spending partner for the holiday season. Shoppers can use Klarna's Pay in 4 product to split their purchase into four interest free payments.

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

Arranged pursuant to a California Finance Law License NMLS number 135319. Klarna balance account required. Klarna may get a commission. Limitations, terms and conditions apply. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance, too. With the name your price tool from Progressive, it works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote [e-mail] to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law.