All About Jan Levinson (Gould) with Melora Hardin

Summary

Office Ladies — All About Jan Levinson (Gould) with Melora Hardin

Release Date: April 29, 2026
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Guest: Melora Hardin

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Episode Overview

This “All About” episode of Office Ladies is dedicated to Jan Levinson, the iconic and complicated character from The Office, as portrayed by Melora Hardin. Jenna and Angela are joined by Melora herself for an in-depth, candid conversation addressing fan questions, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights into Jan’s evolution. The episode explores Jan’s most memorable storylines, Melora’s process, and her unique dynamic with Steve Carell. They also touch on Melora’s broader career (including Back to the Future and The Rocketeer), her outlook on success and failure, and favorite Jan moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

[03:36] Introducing the "All About Jan" Episode

• The episode celebrates Jan Levinson, prompted by strong fan demand.
• Jenna shares: "Jan Levinson is one of the most brilliant creations in TV history." (03:20, Lauren W., letter)

[04:55] The Office “Show Bible” on Jan

Jenna offers a rapid-fire rundown of Jan’s canonical traits:

• Full name: Janet Levinson
• Stressed out; smokes or sniffs candles
• Good at public speaking (per Jan), great limbo dancer (per Michael)
• Dislikes Dwight, hates that he has her cell number
• Loves Liz Claiborne blouses, Ann Taylor earrings
• Divorced and a victim of identity theft in the same year
• Sees a psychiatrist, heavy drinker (prefers martinis, vodka tonic)
• Scrapbooks, drinks soy milk, enjoys videotaping sex, had breast implants
• Becomes a single mom via sperm bank and works at the White Pages
• “She is divorced and was a victim of identity theft all in the same year.” (05:45, Jenna)

[07:06] Favorite Jan Moments (Extended Roundtable)

Jenna, Angela, Matt Beagle, and Sam Kiefer share top Jan scenes, with Melora reenacting or commenting:

Jenna: Jan’s Emotional Confession to Michael

• “[Jan] can barely get out ‘be with you’ … there’s this big pause and then it just comes out: be with you.” (08:41, Jenna)

Matt: Jan Discusses Divorce at Chili’s

• “You were really brave. I mean, you put your arms out there, you slit your wrist. That’s true. You said, world, this is my blood. It’s red, just like yours.” (09:43, Michael/Jan)

Sam: Jan & Michael’s Tense Bathroom Scene

• “No means please don’t slam me up against the wall right here. ... You’re acting inappropriate, Jan. I’m acting inappropriate?” (10:48–11:09, Jan/Michael)
• Angela: “The two of them are so good together.” (11:20)

Angela: Jan’s Wild Spiraling After Being Fired

• Melora as Jan: “You know, my full time job could be our relationship. I could wear stretch pants and wait for you to come home at 5:15. It could work.” (13:46)
• Jenna: “Could you imagine a whole life with someone who turns on a dime so quickly like that?” (14:08)

[18:00] Reuniting With Melora in Person

• Melora hasn’t watched The Office since it aired; Jenna and Angela encourage her to rewatch, especially with her own children.
• “You are on the fan favorite list of, like, Office characters.” (19:24, Angela to Melora)
• Melora credits “lightning in a bottle” casting and collaborative energy for the show’s magic.

[22:48] Fan Q&A: Crafting Jan & Her Chemistry with Steve Carell

• Did Melora invent backstory for Jan?
  • “Jan was so visceral to me ... Steve and I had such an interesting chemistry, that distinct push-pull, attraction-repulsion.” (23:19)
• Chemistry with Steve Carell:
  • Their improv backgrounds and mutual “comfort with the unknown” made scenes electric.
  • “He could throw a ball—could be a curveball—and I would get so excited by that and catch it ... and he was exactly the same way.” (25:20)
• Jenna on Melora’s improv: “What makes Jan so fun is that you’re both [a pitcher and a catcher].” (27:15)

[29:27] Behind-the-Scenes Inspiration for Jan’s Quirks

• Melora’s real-life love of candles inspired Jan’s candle business.
• “He gave Jan the candle business because, you know, Melora loves candles.” (32:15, Melora on Greg Daniels)
• Jan’s “Warhol” portrait was inspired by a painting of Melora at home.

[33:51] Prop Keepsakes & Jan’s Legacy

• Melora kept the “Jan Warhol” painting and her Dunder Mifflin parking sign.

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Deep Character Insights

[34:00] Did Jan Really Love Michael? Who’s Astrid’s Father?

• “Jan did love Michael as much as she could. I just think she was quite broken around love.” (34:21, Melora)
• She sees Michael as childlike—a contrast to her first husband—and their imbalanced dynamic felt “hot.”
• BOTH Melora and Jenna agree the Jan/Michael relationship was honest and mutual—if deeply dysfunctional.
• Astrid’s father: not Michael (due to vasectomy storyline), not Hunter (despite fan theories), but a sperm donor.
  • “She would be very meticulous ... I bet she didn’t get the one where you can find your father.” (40:42, Melora)

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[42:46] Favorite and Dream Jan Storylines

• “Nobody can really look at Jan and not see the Dinner Party storyline being sort of brilliant.” (42:46, Melora)
• Melora loves scenes where Jan’s life tangles with other characters, like “Dinner Party” and the later scene with Pam.
• Jan’s “Mommy Song” slideshow for Astrid in Season 9 was almost entirely improvised by Melora (44:15).
  • “That is so bonkers ... I don’t know how you guys got through that without laughing.” (Angela, 44:18)
• Melora sang/improvised several of Jan’s musical moments—including the infamous slideshow song and “Son of a Preacher Man.”

On Wanting More of Jan

• Melora wishes “Dinner Party” aftermath and Jan/Michael’s home life had more room to develop:
  • “I could have watched a spinoff that was Jan in some kind of neighborhood group chat.” (51:21, Angela)

[55:42] Breaking & Bloopers

• Hardest scene to keep a straight face?
  • “Obviously the one in the dinner party ... None of us could get through that ... Steve broke, Jenna couldn’t get through that, John couldn’t get through that.” (55:55, Melora)
• “You know it’s bad when the crew stops laughing because they’re just trying to get you to stop laughing.” (57:16, Melora)

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[58:44] Most-Quoted Jan Lines

• “If you burn it, you buy it.” (58:44)
• “I guess that makes me the devil.” (58:54)
• “That’s what she said.” (of course—the deposition scene and season 3’s jokes get repeated to Melora constantly).
  • “Why is this so hard? That’s what she said.” (60:12, Jan in “Cocktails”)
  • “No, it’s really perfect. And it was quite early in the show.” (Melora on the line, 60:24)

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[60:50] Melora Reflects on Resilience, “Back to the Future,” and Failure

• Recounting how she lost the role of Jennifer in Back to the Future because she was taller than Michael J. Fox:
  • “For me to be where I am, I would have had to have failed much more than I’ve succeeded ... It’s important ... to fail.” (61:41 and following)
• Melora’s advice: “You don’t want to live in heartache. Heartache is just like suffering, like a low grade suffer. You want to live in heartbreak where you just give yourself ... and risk heartbreak. ... But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep getting your heart broken. You should.” (63:15–65:00)

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[67:05] Other Showbiz Stories: Friends, Monkeys & The Rocketeer

• Friends Guest Star:
  • Melora shares her connection with David Schwimmer and her comfort working with animals, describing the infamous monkey scene.
  • “David really didn’t like the monkey at all ... but it all went well, and we were lucky and it was fine.” (69:32, Melora)
• The Rocketeer:
  • Melora’s cameo as the South Seas lounge singer, her memorable recording session with James Horner.
  • “To be in a room like that ... it was beautiful.” (76:29, Melora tears up recalling the experience)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Jan was so visceral to me ... Steve and I had such an interesting chemistry.” — Melora Hardin ([23:19])
• “It’s playing the truth—because that’s the highest brow of comedy.” — Angela Kinsey ([27:38])
• “Jan did love Michael as much as she could. I just think she was quite broken around love.” — Melora ([34:21])
• “You don’t want to live in heartache ... You want to live in heartbreak.” — Melora ([63:15])
• “I could have watched a spinoff that was Jan in some kind of neighborhood group chat.” — Angela ([51:21])
• “Why is this so hard? That’s what she said.” — Jan, as quoted by Angela ([60:12])
• “It’s not just what is true, but what is good for us as human beings. It’s important ... to fail.” — Melora ([61:41])

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Episode Highlights & Timestamps

• 03:36 – All About Jan Introduction & Fan Letter
• 04:55 – Jan’s Show Bible Rundown
• 07:06 – Favorite Jan Moments / Clips Roundtable
• 18:00 – Melora Joins, Reflections on Cast Dynamics
• 22:48 – Fan Q&A: Jan’s Backstory, Chemistry with Steve
• 29:27 – Real-life inspiration for Jan's quirks
• 33:51 – Jan memorabilia and props
• 34:00 – Did Jan love Michael? Is Hunter the father?
• 42:46 – Jan’s Best Storylines & Dream “What-Ifs”
• 44:15 – “Mommy Song” Improvisation
• 55:42 – Breaking on Set / Funniest Bloopers
• 58:44 – Most Quoted Jan Lines
• 60:50 – Losing “Back to the Future” and Lessons on Failure
• 67:05 – Friends, the Monkey, & The Rocketeer

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Closing Thoughts

This episode is a treasure trove for The Office fans and anyone who loves great comedy acting. Melora Hardin’s perspective on Jan’s inner life, her improv process, and her gratitude for the show’s enduring impact make for a lively and heartfelt listen. She offers genuine wisdom on both performance and life—leaving listeners with a sense of Jan’s complexity, the fun chaos behind iconic scenes, and Melora’s own resilience and artistry.

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Next week: Jenna and Angela share their personal travel journals in a special Office Ladies episode.

Transcript

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[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the office with exclusive interviews behind the behind the behind the scenes details and lots of BFF stories.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're the office lady 6.0.

[Melora Hardin]

Hello.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hi lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm excited for today.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm so thrilled and Giddy. I'm actually, like, having the little body buzz.

[Jenna Fischer]

We're doing an all about episode, everyone. As you know, these all about episodes, we focus on a specific character from the show. We really deep dive into them. They were my friend Angela Kinsey's idea.

[Melora Hardin]

Thanks, lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

You said, I have this idea. We do these episodes where we dive into a character that's called All About. Fill in the blank.

[Angela Kinsey]

I wish people could see you right now because your impression of me is very jazz hands.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, you've got an idea, you've got a vision. I don't know why you've suddenly become like a director from the 1920s. I know, but that's how I'm doing you. Well, I'd like to kick things off with this letter that we got from Lauren W. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who said, hi, Jenna and Angela. I'm sure I'm not the first person to suggest this, so I'll add my name to the list. We need an All About Jan episode. Melora Hardin is absolutely amazing, and the character of Jan Levinson is one of the most brilliant creations in TV history. Well, Lauren, we couldn't agree with you more 100%. So today is all about Jan Levinson.

[Angela Kinsey]

Gold without the gold.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, exactly.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, so normally our all about character breakdowns, we pick an area of interest to discuss about that particular character. But we're going to do this episode a little differently because, Lauren, many people just like you wanted an All About Jan. In fact, when we put up our folder for questions, we got so many. And we thought, you know what, let's just take them right to the source and ask Melora. She is going to join us to answer them all and we don't want to waste any more time. There is so much to talk about.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. As you all know, we had her on the podcast when we broke down the Client in season two. She told us how she got her job as Jan and a whole bunch of other fun stuff. Definitely give it a listen if you missed it. She is such a great storyteller and we're so excited to have her back on the podcast because now she's going to answer even more questions about her time on the show. But first, we got a letter, Ethan G. From France, who said, we know that you have lots of information in the show Bible about characters. What does the show Bible say about Jan?

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, it wouldn't be an all about without a show Bible moment.

[Jenna Fischer]

Exactly. So I looked it up and here's what I got for you, Ethan. First of all, according To Michael. Her name is Janet. Jan is short for Janet. Jan smokes or smells her candles when she's stressed out. She's stressed out a lot.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Jan claims to be good at public speaking. We don't ever really see this, but she does do a good job of shutting down the idea of unionizing in the warehouse.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

According to Michael, she's a great limbo dancer. Jan does not like Dwight. The show battle says that Jan does not like Dwight. Also, Jan hates that Dwight has her cell phone number. She likes blouses from Liz Claiborne and earrings from Ann Taylor.

[Angela Kinsey]

So specific.

[Melora Hardin]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

She is divorced and was a victim of identity theft all in the same year. She sees a psychiatrist who believes she has some self destructive tendencies. She often drinks heavily. She specifically likes martinis.

[Angela Kinsey]

She also ordered a vodka tonic.

[Jenna Fischer]

I watched it said in the show bible she makes her assistant buy her vodka. She also missed her yoga class because she drank too much. Jan eventually dates Michael and moves in with him, but has never told him she loves him. She enjoys videotaping their sex. She got breast implants but complains she has lost nipple sensitivity.

[Angela Kinsey]

I can't believe that is in the show.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's in the show bible. She likes scrapbooking and soy milk.

[Angela Kinsey]

I didn't see scrapbooking coming.

[Jenna Fischer]

After breaking up with Michael, she becomes pregnant. After going to a sperm bank, she becomes a single mother to a little girl, records a Doris Day cover album. Then she works as a hospital administrator before becoming an executive at the White Pages and starting a sexual relationship with Clark. We know she refuses to give Dunder Mifflin the White Pages account and that Dwight does eventually get them. But not much is known about what happens to Jan after that. That is what the show bible had to say.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I loved all the nuggets in there. There were some good nuggets.

[Jenna Fischer]

Real spirit specific stuff.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know. And before we chat with Melora, you know we do this for all the all abouts. We have to have our favorite Jan moments from the office. Ladies, Team Jenna, why don't you go first?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I love her speech to Michael in season three, back from vacation. I love it so much. Here it is.

[Melora Hardin]

Why am I here, Michael? In the last year I've gone through a divorce, an identity theft, a husband who would not communicate. This is neither here nor there. My psychiatrist thinks that I have some self destructive tendencies and that for once I should indulge them. You following me? Uh, uh, yes. I think I owe it to myself to find some kind of happiness. You know, I mean Even if it means lowering my expectations or redefining the word itself. Okay, yeah. This is the thing. You know, I am attracted to you. I don't know why I. But I am. And I need to follow my instincts. At least that's what Dr. Perry thinks I was. Dr. Perry, this is the point, okay? You're wrong for me in every way, but I still find myself wanting to be with you.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love how she can barely get out. Be with you.

[Angela Kinsey]

She can barely see you.

[Jenna Fischer]

There's this big pause, and then it just comes out. Be with you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Be with you. All right, Matt, how about yours? Do you have a Jan favorite moment?

[Matt Beagle]

I do. I love the character of Jan. This is such a great performance. And I picked the clip from the Client in season two when she's at the Chili's with Michael and Tim Meadows. The Client. I just love this scene. She's just, like, stuck with them. They're, like, doing their baby backs rib song, and she just so doesn't want to be there. But it's just like, being a good sport and playing along. So I chose this clip from that scene.

[Melora Hardin]

Well, this brings us to Jan. Truth or dare? Tell us about your divorce. Oh, no, Michael, Michael, Michael, please. No, no. Oh, really? Hey. So you're not gonna play? She's not playing. She's not playing the game. We'd been fighting for a while. He didn't want kids. I knew that going into it, but he also knew that I did. So I guess I thought that he would change his mind. He thought that I would change mine.

[Jenna Fischer]

You didn't.

[Melora Hardin]

I was stupid. No, no, you were not stupid. Gould was stupid. Right? That's right. You know, you were really brave. I mean, you put your arms out there, you slit your wrist. That's true. You said, world, this is my blood. It's red, just like yours.

[Jenna Fischer]

So love me.

[Matt Beagle]

The look she gives after he says

[Angela Kinsey]

that is just like what that is like a trio that I could watch all day.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so good.

[Matt Beagle]

The line I quote most from the office is also a Jan line from dinner party. When Pam brings her the bottle of wine, she goes, oh, great. I'll use this to cook with.

[Jenna Fischer]

This'll be great for cooking.

[Matt Beagle]

This'll be. Yeah. I say that anytime someone gives me a bottle of wine.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sam, do you have one?

[Sam Kiefer]

Yes, I do. I think it's a good example of her playing both the straight man and the ridiculous character. It's where Jan pulls Michael into the bathroom of David Wallace's house.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Melora Hardin]

Here we go.

[Jenna Fischer]

Liked your privacy. Shut up.

[Melora Hardin]

What has gotten into you? No, no, no, no. What? Come on, let's go back to the party. Come on. Wait, we're missing everything. Don't take that. No, stop it. Stop it. Jan. No, no, no. No means please don't slam me up against the wall right here. I'm not gonna slam you against anything. You're acting inappropriate, Jan. I'm acting inappropriate?

[Jenna Fischer]

Forget.

[Sam Kiefer]

Oh, yeah, it's great. She decides to play both the ridiculous character and the stray man character at once. It's great.

[Angela Kinsey]

The two of them are so good together.

[Jenna Fischer]

So good together. No, she's, like, spiraling, and so she's going to her default, which is just hookup. Just.

[Melora Hardin]

He's.

[Jenna Fischer]

Michael has enraged her, and then it just, like, turns into just. She's turned on.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Sam Kiefer]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Which is very funny because there's the whole runner with you and Andy planning your wedding on the show. And every time Andy bothers the character of Angela with, like, wedding plans, then she pages Dwight for sex.

[Melora Hardin]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is, like, kind of a common

[Angela Kinsey]

theme in the show, how, like, how people deal with stress.

[Melora Hardin]

Exactly.

[Jenna Fischer]

They sex it up. Well, Angela, what about you?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I rewatched some compilation, like, videos of Jan scenes. They were such a joy. By the way, did you guys know there's a YouTube montage just titled Jan being a Walking red flag for 36 minutes straight?

[Sam Kiefer]

I saw that. That's great.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's the title of it, which is what's amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

So her performances are all amazing, but season three is really a stellar Jan season. And my clip is from the job. So it starts at the corporate offices. David Wallace has just fired Jan. She's called him a son of a. She says goodbye to Hunter, wishes him all the best with his band, and then she's going to hop in the car with Michael, and she's starting to really spiral, and you gotta hear it.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, God. I mean, I just don't understand. I'm just so rude, you know? I mean, the absolute nerve of that guy. I am sorry about that. Oh, just, that was terrible. No, actually, I think it's good. You know, it's fine, actually. I do. I really think it's great that it happened because, you know, my work has always been the thing that's gotten in the way of my happiness, so.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well,

[Melora Hardin]

No, don't cry. It's gonna be okay. Oh, I know, I know. I just. I'm sorry. Just these painkillers that I started taking since the surgery. Oh. They make my moods totally unpredictable. Wow. What am I gonna do? Well, I guess you could come and save my condo. I think I could back out of the sale, probably get some negative feedback on my ebay profile. Live together. Actually, wait a minute. This could be great.

[Angela Kinsey]

This could be perfect.

[Melora Hardin]

You know, my full time job could be our relationship. I could wear stretch pants and wait for you to come home at 5:15. It could work.

[Angela Kinsey]

This could work.

[Melora Hardin]

Really?

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh. There's so many highs and lows.

[Angela Kinsey]

The journey through that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like, she's pissed off, then she starts crying. Then she's like, this could work.

[Melora Hardin]

And she's like, class, this is great.

[Jenna Fischer]

Could you imagine a whole life with someone who turns on a dime so quickly like that?

[Angela Kinsey]

And Michael's face as she's going through all that is like, oh, no. It's like the roles have reversed.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Now he's like, okay, I'm gonna do this.

[Jenna Fischer]

Amazing, guys. This has gotten me very excited. I think we should take a break because when we come back, we will have Melora Hardin in studio answering all of your Jan questions.

[Angela Kinsey]

I can't wait.

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Jenna Fischer]

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[Melora Hardin]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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Well, welcome back to office ladies. Melora.

[Melora Hardin]

Thank you so much. It's great to see you guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know we're in person.

[Melora Hardin]

This is super fun in person.

[Jenna Fischer]

We should confess that we have been chatting for close to 30 minutes for coming on mic. It has just been an absolute delight.

[Melora Hardin]

It has been so, so nice to see you both. I haven't seen you in person in a really long time.

[Jenna Fischer]

Both of you. I know.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, it's really nice. Yeah, it's great.

[Angela Kinsey]

I am thankful though that the cast like we will text or dm. I just am so appreciative of the little touchstones we have every once in a while. In each other's lives.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, it's good. It's sweet.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I'm rewatching the Office now with my kids.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

They're on their first watch of it. We've just gotten to season five. So you've been on my TV every night, basically, as we go through the show. So I feel like I just saw you.

[Melora Hardin]

I need to do that. You know, I haven't seen the show since it aired.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, Melora, you are so phenomenal.

[Melora Hardin]

Isn't that weird?

[Jenna Fischer]

You need to watch it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I think it's weird.

[Melora Hardin]

I literally have not.

[Jenna Fischer]

If we didn't do this podcast, I'm not sure I would have sat down and watched it. And now my kids curiosity. That's why I'm watching it again.

[Melora Hardin]

Right, right.

[Angela Kinsey]

I watched it with my kids, too.

[Melora Hardin]

My kids watched it, but I didn't watch it with them. But I should have. That's a really good idea that you did that. You're doing it together.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, first of all, like Jenna said, we did the whole rewatch, but then I spent last night just watching all of your stuff. Like the Best of Jan, kind of

[Melora Hardin]

Jan, all these clips.

[Angela Kinsey]

And you are just so brilliant. And I want you to rewatch it just to watch how great Jan is, because you have created the most amazing character. And you should know, and I know you must know this, that you are on the fan favorite list of, like, office characters.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, I love that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Jan. That's great. Makes all the lists.

[Melora Hardin]

Right, right. I love that. Well, I think the show was so amazingly well cast. You know what I mean?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

I mean, everybody on the show was, like, perfect for who they played. Really, really perfect. It's always those lightning in a bottle kind of moments where people are like, what is it that made you know, why did that movie? Why was that show? It's like all those things have to come together, and there really is no recipe for that. It is the writing, it is the casting, it is the directing, it is the lighting, it is the sets, it is the props. Like, it all just has to, like, infuse into this little special, magical moment and the fact that we were part of something that is so special and that it's lived as long as it has and that people are still as enthusiastic about it as they are thanks to streaming and the fact that we can continue to have generations that are just discovering it now. It's extraordinary to have fans that are in their 60s and 70s and fans that are 10. I know, right? It's really crazy.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's crazy. Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

And I had been, you know, in this business since I was 6 years old, and I think that when I did the author, I think I literally. I think it was my 13th pilot.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow.

[Melora Hardin]

And so I was really used to things just, you know, being on the air as long as they were on the air, and then that was it. Just going off the air or just getting put up on a shelf. No one ever seeing them or some people seeing them or maybe a few people seeing them or even when it was kind of, like, successful. But then it was over, and that's it, you know? So this was all very shocking to me, just where I was in my reality timeline of, you know, my age and stuff, and in my life. This was just a very unusual experience for me. I don't know if I told you guys about that. That I didn't even believe we were a hit. Did I tell you that? No. But I didn't even. I was like. I didn't know we were a hit until we won the SAG Award. The first SAG Award. And I don't know if you remember, that trophy is made out of bronze, and then the base of it is just a solid brick of marble.

[Angela Kinsey]

Marble, heavy.

[Melora Hardin]

And when you are a winner, right. You walk around all night. You don't carry it, like, at your knee. You don't carry it above your head. You carry it with your elbow, Ben, up here, because everyone wants to see it. So you're kind of holding it, like, right at your shoulder. Right. I woke up the next morning, and I could not lift my arm. My bicep was just absolutely, completely dead. And I literally needed physical proof. I was like, oh, I guess that means we're hit. I mean, it was just that simple for me. I don't know whether it's the dancer in me or what, but I needed physical proof.

[Angela Kinsey]

And that muscle memory of, like, all this pain means it happens.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes. It means I was carrying an award around all night, and we are a hit. It was just surreal to me. Really surreal. Anyway, sorry. You didn't even ask me one question, and I went on a rant. This is what it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is what we love. So many people wrote in, we put out a prompt. Hey, Melora's gonna be on the show. Do you have any questions for Jan Melora? We got so many amazing questions, so I'm just gonna throw a few at you today.

[Melora Hardin]

Okay, Good. Yeah, sure.

[Jenna Fischer]

Let's kick things off with Peyton W. From Hiram, Georgia, who said, when first starting the role, did Melora create any kind of character background apart from what was scripted in the show. And then Lisa R. From Plymouth Lake, California, said, what is Jan's history? We first learn about her past at Chili's. But who is Mr. Gould, and what is that backstory? Did you create any kind of backstory for Jane?

[Melora Hardin]

I don't think so. I don't remember that I did that. You know, Jan was so visceral to me. You know, Steve and I had such an interesting chemistry that when we were playing the characters, there was such a distinct push, pull, like attraction, repulsion. That was so visceral to me that I really just hooked into that. And I think that's really how Greg Daniels, the writers, you know, wrote, built the character was really from that sort of tactile kind of experience that I think the audience can feel, and I think Steve and I could feel. And I remember saying it out loud at lunch during the pilot. I remember saying, God, if we get picked up, Michael and Jan have to hook up somehow, some way. And I remember Steve laughing and Greg laughing so hard and me laughing, and we were all just like, oh, my God, that would be so wrong and so right. Like, we all just got it so early that I don't even think there was time to even think that way about this character, this role. I was hired as a guest star, possible recurring character in the pilot. I was not even necessarily gonna be a regular on this show. I had done so many guest star, possible recurring characters in my career. So as far as, like, is this gonna be some memorable thing? I just was going in with this visceral feeling I had for her, and it seemed to be working. Everybody liked it. They were laughing. They were enjoy. Steve and I had great chemistry when we were working together, and it was like, let's just go with this.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, you know, a lot of people did write in about the chemistry.

[Melora Hardin]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

And Steve F. From Bryan, Texas, said, do you remember a first or early moment on set that you knew you and Steve had great chemistry? It sounds like right from the pilot. But Steve wants you to know that your relationship on camera was truly remarkable.

[Melora Hardin]

Aw, that's so nice. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I felt it. I think Steve and I both felt it really early. I have come from a background in improv, but different kind of improv than what Steve had come from. You know, my mother was an acting teacher, and she was an actress herself as a younger woman, and then she kind of put together her own technique, and she taught young people, she taught kids. Her name was Diane Hill Hardin. She taught Leonardo DiCaprio when he was a kid, and River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel and, you know, on and on. But the point being that I think that. But the kind of improv I came from was really playing the truth. So not going for the laughs, but finding the comedy inside the truth. So that was why, as a kid, actually, I think I was thought of mostly as a dramatic actress. And then as I got older, and then comedy happened for me. People were like, oh, wow, she's really funny. But I think that's where the chemistry comes from, really. It literally is just that I say, Steve can throw a ball. It could be a curve ball, and I would get so excited by that and catch it. And then he could throw a straight ball the next time or an underhanded ball the next time or an overhanded ball the next time. And I was just always, like, ready to catch those balls, and he was exactly the same way. So I think we had a lot of fun. I certainly did. I can't speak for Steve, but it felt like we both did. But I certainly had a lot of fun tossing those balls in different ways, even subtly, all the time. And I think that does come from a comfort with the unknown, a comfort with improv.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, to continue that metaphor, I like this metaphor of the idea of, like, pitchers and catchers in improv. And I sort of saw myself on the show as more of a catcher of other people's improv. But I think you have. What makes Jan so fun is that you're both. I think Jan was a pitcher and a catcher, because I would see it.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, interesting.

[Jenna Fischer]

On set as well. Like, you'd just toss it right back to him, you know, but you'd catch it just right, too, so.

[Melora Hardin]

Thanks.

[Jenna Fischer]

What fun.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah. Yeah, it is fun. And that's a really great observation about your character. I feel like you're totally right about that. And that was what made her so special, too, because she just was so always available for that from anybody, you know? So great. So great.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. I think the thing that really spoke to me in everything you said there was just playing the truth, because that's the highest brow of comedy.

[Melora Hardin]

Truly.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's not going for the joke. That's the cheapest to go about getting a laugh is to go for the joke. But if you play the truth, it's so pure and real. And you did that so many times as Jan. I was watching you, oh, my gosh, last night. There was a moment where Jan just finally decides she's gonna get back together with Michael, even though he has sent the email to everyone. You know, Jan Tan everywhere. Jan everywhere. Like, it's gone so far. And as she's like, look, I don't know why my therapist told me, just lean into this, but clearly I'm attracted to you. I don't know why. And Michael is trying to say back to you that he agrees, but he's so excited. It comes out like. And I also henceforth do the thereby affirm this moment. Like, whatever. I'm paraphrasing it. But he says so many ridiculous things in a row, saying, yes. And then you have this moment where you just go, huh. So you. I mean, those little moments of you reacting to him are so truthful as Jan.

[Jenna Fischer]

Some of my favorites are your nonverbals, Laura.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

There's an elevator nonverbal. That's literally like, I'll do it with you when I see it. It's the one where you're like, michael, you're a good looking guy, but I just this. And you're annoying and I can't. And you say all these insults and it's just not gonna happen between us. And then he says, you think I'm good looking. And you get in the elevator and you go. And then the door is shut. And it's just like. It's my favorite jam. Nonverbal.

[Angela Kinsey]

You have so many.

[Melora Hardin]

And that one was the one where we got given the candy bag. And the scene started in Michael's office and we walked to the elevator. Continue having that argument. Get in the elevator and the doors close. And that was that scene where they basically, we're gonna rewrite the scene. We don't like it. Basically. We need you to hit this beat. You guys improvise. We're gonna go rewrite it. We'll be back. Have fun. They left, but we went off. And I do know that definitely that scene is, I would say, 90% improvised.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow. Cause they were like, so playing.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah. Cause they weren't liking the way it was playing, the way it was written. And they were just like, you know, Greg was extraordinary that way. That was the first set I'd ever been on with that much collaboration with the writers and the actors. That was just an extraordinary, like, what? You know, and even what you said, Angela. Greg was extraordinary at that in terms of weaving in the truthful things. So that there are things about Jan that are very much. Melora, like I've often said, you know, I had Greg and Paul Feig and his wife and Greg and Suzanne over for dinner one night. And I have a huge painting of myself. This was at an older house that we had that a friend of mine had painted. That was the COVID of my second album called Purr. And it was basically a nod to Gil Elvgren, who was the first pinup painter. Before they could take photographs of women like that, there were painters that would paint women that were just a little cheeky, where they'd be leaning over and picking up a garden hose and their skirt would be flying up and they'd be going, oh. And they'd have these cute little ruffly panties on. And it was sort of a nod to that. And it was. You know, my record was called Purr, and it was very kind of 50s 40s inspired music. And so I had this painting over our couch in this. This very pretty but small living room that we had with hand painted ceilings. And I remember when they came in, and I remember Greg noticing and I remember saying, you know, I often think sometimes people might come in my house and think that I think that's serious because I'm like sitting in this very provocative pose and I've got all these kittens all around me and, you know, my leg is out and my boobs are all pushed up and I'm like, you know, very smiley. And I said, but, you know, like, it's a joke. You know, it's a joke that goes with the music. It's perfectly for my record. But sometimes I think people might think that, like, oh, wow, she really thinks that. She's all that. I said, I mean, I am all that. But, you know, that was a character I was playing for the music. Anyway, so that was where the Warhol of Jan came from. And the candle thing came because again, when I came for dinner, it was just like I had the whole house lit up with candles. I mean, I'm a candle fiend. I just am, especially back then. But I really literally would just light the whole house with candles. And I just thought it was so romantic and so sexy and so beautiful. Such a beautiful environment. And I just think that he was like, taking notes. Yeah, like he was just taking mental notes. And he gave Jan the candle business because, you know, Melora loves candles. I'm so sorry. Anyway, those are funny things.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, I love all of that and I love just the through lines that they would pull back over and over again. I watched this morning when Dwight and Pam, they think they're making a sale to some unknown person, but it's actually Jan at her new job. Oh, my God. Once again, the last.

[Jenna Fischer]

That was since season.

[Melora Hardin]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

All of those paintings of Jan are back on the wall in her office. Then there's one of her skydiving, but it's just a huge one of herself. I really wondered if you got to keep any of that. If you have any of those.

[Melora Hardin]

You know what? I would love the skydiving one. No, I did get given the Jan Warhol. I have that rolled up somewhere. And then I have this parking space reserved for Jan Levinson, Michael Scott's girlfriend. Oh, that's so great. That one from the prop guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, I love that.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, that's pretty fun. And I have it in my house, up upside. Up high outside my door. And so sometimes, like, work people or like, people delivering packages, sometimes, because it's up above your eye level, you don't necessarily see it, but sometimes they'll see it. And if they see it, they are so excited because then they put that with my face, and they're just like, oh, my God, I'm delivering to Jan. They can't believe they're so excited.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, we have a question from Vicki G. In Argentina.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I actually have strong feelings about this, so I'm curious to know your answer.

[Melora Hardin]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Vicki would like to know, did Jan ever really love Michael or did she just need him? And also, a lot of people wrote in asking if Hunter is really the father of Jan's baby, because they think maybe Jan was pregnant at the dinner party, and they'd like to know your thoughts.

[Melora Hardin]

Wow. I love how deeply these people think into the storylines. That's really great. I think Jan did love Michael as much as she could. I just think she was quite broken around love. You know, she had this other husband, the Gould guy, and I think that was probably the picture perfect marriage. That's probably what it looked like. And that's what she chose, thinking that was what she should have. He had the right bank account, he had the right job. He had the right clothes. They had the right house. And I think that when she left, that the thing I always was playing, because I remember also, again, back to Greg. I mean, Greg and I did a lot of talking about Jan and a lot of thinking, and there was a lot of, like, his wheels turning, and I could see that. And I think very early on, he said to me something like, we're having a little trouble in the writers room reconciling with this idea that Jan would ever be With Michael. And I remember this was a real conversation with the writers. And I remember saying, I think that it really works. And it wasn't just because I wanted to stay on the show. I did, but it wasn't really that. It was that I could feel that chemistry that Steve and Melora had, but it was really, it was Jan and Michael. And it was like there was something that was a little broken about Jan that Michael could fill because he was very childlike, actually, he was very childlike even in his, like, his delusional, you know, thinking everything was amazing. And I think probably at the beginning of the relationship, he was like that with her. He was like, you know, how could I get so lucky to have this beautiful, talented, successful woman, Strong, powerful woman that can dominate him, which is what he really loved. I think she was quite, quite dominant of him. And I think that he was just like a puppy dog. Just like, oh my God, like he would show up at the door like a dog with his tail wagging, you know, with his tongue out, like, what are we gonna do today? And she would make the plans. And so when they say, like, was she really in love with him? I mean, you know, was it like deep, philosophical, existential love? I don't know. But for those two people, those two characters, I think they loved each other as much as those two people could love another human being. So I would fully. Yes, for that. And I wanna know your strong opinions on that, Jenna. Do you think they were.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Melora Hardin]

Okay, good.

[Jenna Fischer]

100%, for all the reasons that you said. And I love what you're saying about Greg. You know, it's funny if Jan and Michael are together, but Greg wanted to make sure it was also truthful and real that they were together. And so he was saying, we're trying to figure out, like, what's the truth of these two characters being together. We know what's funny about it. And so. But I think it is what you're saying, which is like, there was a time and place in these two people's lives where they were just perfect for one another and they did need each other. That was one of Vicki's questions. Was it just a need based relationship? But no, I think it went beyond that. I think there was some healing that happened.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, I do too, you know, and play. I think they had a lot of playfulness in the fact that her dominance and his sort of passiveness where he has to show up at work and be the guy who's in charge and be the boss, where he's really not not suited to be a boss. Right. But he is. He's the boss of Dunder Mifflin. It's hilarious. And then she's the bigger boss, and she gets to boss him around. And I think that was really hot for him. That's what I always got. That was hot for him and hot for her, because I think Gould was much more dominant, and I think that wasn't comfortable for her. I always used to say, too, that Jan sort of tossed out her femininity to sort of climb that corporate ladder, that she felt she had to sort of be masculine, she had to be kind of one of the guys. And I think that Michael reignited that feminine part of her that was dominant but playful. And I think he probably could get her to soften. In their private moments, in their intimate moments. I always imagined that they had great sex and some really sweet, tender moments, too, where I think they did have that kind of healing flavor that I think you're talking about there.

[Jenna Fischer]

I believe they snuggled on the couch and watched movies.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do, too. Snuggled on the couch and watch movies. I think they film themselves having sex. I think they did all of those things.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we know they did that.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes, we know they did that. We know they did that.

[Angela Kinsey]

But also, they have this super sweet scene where Michael is bankrupt. Basically, Jan is spending his money, but he also hasn't been good with his money. And they're sitting in the train, the empty train car.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, that's such a sweet scene.

[Angela Kinsey]

Jan says, like, look, you know, after I lost my job, like, my friends aren't talking to me. These people abandoned me.

[Melora Hardin]

No one, you know, whatever.

[Angela Kinsey]

My family, under legal, like, restraints, can't talk to me. And then she's like, but you're always here for me. And I think, you know, there was some real truth to that. Michael was always there for Jan.

[Melora Hardin]

He really was. He was.

[Angela Kinsey]

And so I think that was healing for Jan that he didn't give up on her.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, exactly.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

Aw, that's sweet.

[Jenna Fischer]

But what about the baby?

[Melora Hardin]

What about the baby?

[Angela Kinsey]

Was Astrid Kevin Malone's sperm donor baby or was Astrid Hunter's baby?

[Melora Hardin]

I think. Yeah, exactly.

[Jenna Fischer]

She wasn't Michael's baby because of the vasectomy and the double condoms that she insisted that he wear. So I think we're pretty sure it's not.

[Melora Hardin]

Definitely not Michael's. Yeah. I mean, we had played it that it was. That she had gotten a sperm donor. Kevin. No way. That would just be him, you know, being Kevin. But, no, I don't think it would have been Hunter? No, I don't think it would have been hunters either. I think that would be nice because I'm sure they had sex. But I don't think it was hunters. I think it was a sperm donor. I think she literally went and got an anonymous sperm donor's sperm. And that would be the way Jan would do it. She would be very meticulous and very cross. All the T's and dot all the I's. I bet she didn't get an open one either. I bet she didn't get the one where you can find your father.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, she locked.

[Melora Hardin]

Because I think she really kind of wanted to go back to Michael, too. I think some part of her was like, he could help me raise this kid. There's probably some part of her that had that fantasy, which was never gonna be a reality.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, I agree, because, like I said, I'm rewatching the show. We just watched Fun Run last night, and that's the one where Kevin finds Jan at the grocery store and she's pregnant. And he calls Michael. And then Michael comes down and. And you have this great conversation. It is so heartbreaking. And it just punched me in the gut where Michael is like, is it mine? And she's like, no. And he's like, but it has to be mine, because you clearly got pregnant when we were together. And you say, I did. And then he says, I can't believe you cheated on me when I specifically asked you not to.

[Melora Hardin]

That's such a great line.

[Jenna Fischer]

Such a great line. And you're like, I didn't cheat on you. And he's just like, I can't figure this out. And that's when you tell him, I went to a sperm bank, Michael. And he says, you went to a sperm bank when you were with me?

[Angela Kinsey]

So hurtful.

[Melora Hardin]

It's so painful.

[Jenna Fischer]

But then there's this great talking head where Jan explains, like, listen, if I were younger, maybe I give Michael a shot, but I can't take. I needed a great sperm from a

[Melora Hardin]

great, like, everything you're saying fast, fantastic sperm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. No shame.

[Jenna Fischer]

Great DNA.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes. She was smart. She was not messing around. And she knew this was her last shot to, like, to have a kid. Like, I'm gonna do it, and I'm gonna do it now. Yes. Oh, my gosh.

[Angela Kinsey]

That scene is amazing.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I have a question for you from Amber V. In New Hampshire. Amber says, what was Melora's favorite Jan storyline? And Rachel O. From South Dakota said, is there a storyline you wish would have played out differently or maybe have gotten more depth.

[Melora Hardin]

Hmm. I mean, nobody can really look at Jan and not see the Dinner Party storyline being sort of brilliant. As far as just what happened in that evening. The invitation of people over and all of these characters crashing together in a way that we just didn't see. I mean, most of my scenes. All of my scenes really were with Steve, and sometimes other characters would pop in and out, but nothing significant with Jan was with anyone but Steve, except in the Dinner Party. Oh, and then also that last season nine. That one was also cool. Cause that was with you. And was it you and who? Rain.

[Jenna Fischer]

Rain.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, it was you and Rain. That's right. But mostly you, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

It was mostly the two of us.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah. That's right. That's right. That was fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

You show me a slideshow.

[Melora Hardin]

That's right. Yes, I remember that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Of Astrid.

[Melora Hardin]

Astrid and I sing that song. I'm singing the song on the slideshow and I'm mouthing the words to it. That's right. Ridiculous. Absolute ridiculousness. And the song is completely improvised. That was completely improvised. Oh, my gosh. Are you kidding? Yeah, they just gave me the lyrics and they were like. And they know I'm a songwriter and a singer, so they were just like, yeah, just. I don't know. Sing it. And so I came up with a whole melody. That is so ridiculous. The melody itself, as a melodicist and a lyricist, I'm telling you, the melody of that is so ridiculous. I've had people before on Cameo ask me to sing that song, and I have to go back to YouTube and watch it. And I go, this is the weirdest melody. It's just like, I have to figure it out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh.

[Melora Hardin]

And I know I just came up with it on the spot, so.

[Angela Kinsey]

No. And it's so bonkers. I was watching this morning, and I don't know how, first of all, you guys got through that without laughing. I don't know how you did it.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was so crazy.

[Melora Hardin]

We did a lot of that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Can you play it? Can I play it?

[Melora Hardin]

You can play it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Or is it weird you're here?

[Melora Hardin]

No, you can play it.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, I'll play it.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe if I listen to it once, I could probably sing along.

[Jenna Fischer]

I remember having to sit there, and it's such a great scene because Pam's trying to get this safe. You know, she's trying to get you as a client. And it's the thing where it's like she's really trying to walk a line of Remaining a truthful person, but also flattering you, but making sure you don't feel flattered. And you call her out. You're like, don't patronize me, Pam.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so good. And I'm like, I'm sorry. I don't like it. I like it. I do.

[Angela Kinsey]

I like it. And then you're like, I like how Astrid writes her name, and Jan's like, I wrote it. You're like, she made a look like a little kid.

[Melora Hardin]

She takes everything. I know. Okay, ready?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, Mommy.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, this. You're a princess. Mommy, you're a superstar. Mommy, you're the greatest. How could I ever fail? Your shoes, Please. So much at the end. So crazy. I love this. Like, ridiculous. I mean, you could tell I did that in one take. That was literally, like, just sing it. Just me making it up. I never thought in a million years I'd have to ever sing that for anyone ever again. So it's not even. It's not even a followable melody, really. It's really not even a followable melody.

[Angela Kinsey]

Now, knowing that you made it up, it makes sense, too, because it's like you're kind of just commenting, like, on the picture. Like, she's putting on the shoe, and you're like. And it's too big for.

[Melora Hardin]

See, that's another thing that Greg wrote in, because Mindy did it first. Cause I sang. I did Les Mis at the Hollywood bowl, and I was Fantine. And that literally, that next episode, Mindy was like, you're gonna be singing. If you can sing like that, you're gonna sing. And that was when I did the baby shower episode where I came in and sang to the baby son of a preacher man.

[Jenna Fischer]

Amazing.

[Melora Hardin]

And that was Mindy that wrote that. And then Greg was like, we're gonna have her be. And then had me come in and do the astronomy, you know, song, the mommy, you know. What did you learn? You know, I learned about clocks, and that's another one that I improvised. Just. They just gave me the. They gave me the lyrics, and I just made it up and never thinking in a million years anybody would get, you know, attached to that song. But people know these songs. I just. I'm always amazed by the fans.

[Jenna Fischer]

And also Threat level Midnight.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes. Oh, yes. Exactly.

[Jenna Fischer]

Where you get to play the singer.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes, exactly. I mean, that was all Greg, sort of making my dreams come true. He's such a sweetheart that way. Like, he's like, oh, you know, you sing, we're just gonna keep on putting you in Here singing all these different ways, but they did that.

[Jenna Fischer]

They were like, oh, Ed, you play banjo. It's going in.

[Melora Hardin]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

You can play recorder. Like, just any talent that you had, they just threw it in there. Like, oh, John Krasinski, you're great at impressions. In.

[Melora Hardin]

In.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know the one, though, I used to always say, guys, could you please, like, have Meredith built out a song sometimes and be really amazing? But they were like, it doesn't track for Meredith. But Kate Flaherty is such a great voice. She did get to sing with Pam. Like, you guys got to sing.

[Jenna Fischer]

We did get to sing karaoke.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's true. But.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, well, karaoke's kind of perfect for her character.

[Angela Kinsey]

It is.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, they found a way.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah, they found a way. It's like, I'm a dancer, too, but I had to pretend not to dance. When I'm dancing to the Hunter song, you know, there's things you have to do for your character. It would have been weird for Jan to be good at dancing. And I tried to dance, like, literally off the beat a little bit. I tried to, like, when he's doing this, I was just a little, like. So in the reverie of the sex of the song and the memory of

[Jenna Fischer]

the sex, dancing in that moment is so great. And you'll remember this, Angela, because we were there, which is that you walked over to John and you were like, dance with me. And he was so brilliant because he didn't, but you then awkwardly, like, spin yourself under his seated arm.

[Angela Kinsey]

So weird.

[Jenna Fischer]

Is just incredible.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, my God. It was so much fun.

[Angela Kinsey]

We haven't talked about us breaking in scenes yet, but we need to. But when you're singing Son of a Preacher Man, I'm sitting right behind you at that baby shower. And what I wasn't ready for was when you, while holding the baby and you're sitting on the ground, you started snapping. Like, just started. Like, you were so feeling it, and everyone was just watching you. And when you started snapping, I thought, I'm gonna lose it. I am going to lose it. Oh, my gosh.

[Melora Hardin]

Well, it was such a free environment for those kinds of things, you know? Cause I think the snapping, it was just something that came to me in the moment. It wasn't like I planned that or thought that through the night before. So we're very lucky that we had that experience. It really is very special. And not always that way. It's not always an environment where that many people can make that much space for each other. People often ask how it was working with someone. What was it like to work with Steve Carell? And I always say, well, the best thing about that was just that space that we made for each other that really was very present, and we had also a great connection. To finish that question, what would I like an episode to go longer? Where would I have liked to have gone? More depth. I would say the end of the dinner party episode was so strong with her trying to put the thing back together, you know, trying to put the trophy back. Yeah. The Dundee back. And just what had gone on that night and how deep and revelatory that was for their insight into their relationship that I think I did for a long time have thoughts of where that could have gone had they continued the relationship. There were a lot of things I think could have come from that. I even had conversations with Greg about it, I think, about where it could go from there. And so I think I was a little like, oh, we could have done so much more, like, together as a little couple, and, you know, could have been even crazier and fun and we could have healed and we could have, you know, blown up. And so, yeah, that's where I would say I could have gone. I could have gone more with that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

That Michael just ends up. You guys kind of break up, and he moves in with Dwight at the farm, and then we don't see you for a while.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes, yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

But I hear you in terms of. It did feel we had just scratched the surface and how fun it was to go into Michael's private home with Jan, into that relationship that we'd only seen in little glimpses at the office. I mean, I could have spent a whole season just in that condo.

[Angela Kinsey]

Exactly. I mean, I could have watched a spinoff that was Jan in some kind of neighborhood group chat. I mean, what was Jan like in that condo community? I could have watched that.

[Melora Hardin]

Now, that could have been good. That could have been good.

[Angela Kinsey]

I loved it when Michael, like, she wants the car because she's going to yoga, the one car they share, and he's working as a telemarketer, and she doesn't know it and all this stuff. But you go to pick him up and he's. He's like, how was you? Okay. Jan goes, I didn't go. And she was like, you drive. I drank too much wine. I want to see more of Jan's life. It's so amazing to me.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, it is. It's so silly. So silly.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I'm here for the Jan spinoff. I can tell you that. So if you work in healthcare, you probably already know this. But in case you don't, it's Nurses Week this week and it's kind of a big deal. It's a time to celebrate the people who play such a big hand in keeping us healthy while also managing to be your favorite person in the the room.

[Jenna Fischer]

They're funny, knowledgeable, kind, compassionate. Nurses are just the best. And to celebrate, Figs just dropped new limited edition colors and styles that are seriously so cute.

[Angela Kinsey]

But there's even more good News. Everything is 20% off during nurses Week. From scrubs to outerwear to footwear and beyond, Figs is the healthcare apparel brand.

[Jenna Fischer]

They truly get what healthcare professionals need to look sharp, feel good, and take on just about any anything.

[Angela Kinsey]

So if you're in healthcare or you know someone who is, don't miss out on 20% off for Nurses Week happening May 6 through May 12.

[Jenna Fischer]

Go to wearfigs.com that's 20% off during Nurses Week at wearfigs.com lady, you know

[Angela Kinsey]

that I love a beautiful yard. I work a lot in my yard. It makes me so happy. So I have started using Fast Growing Trees. Trees. They are America's largest and most trusted online nursery. Their website's amazing. They have thousands of trees and plants. Their Alive and thrive guarantee promises that your plants arrive happy and healthy. No green thumb required, just quality plants you can count on. Plus, you can get an ongoing support from trained plant experts who can help you plan your landscape, choose the right plants and learn how to count. Care for them every step of the way.

[Jenna Fischer]

Right now they have great deals on spring planting essentials, up to half on selected plants. And listeners to our show get 20% off their first purchase when using the code Office Ladies at checkout. That's an additional 20% off. Better plants and better growing at fastgrowingtrees.com using the code OfficeLadies at checkout fast

[Angela Kinsey]

growingtrees.com OfficeLadies now's the perfect time to plant. Let's grow together. Use Office Ladies to save today. Offers valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Lady, have you ever invested in something that seemed really amazing at first but then did not live up to the hype?

[Jenna Fischer]

I once got this kind of fancy jacket that looked amazing in the store. But then I wore it out once and I realized it was not comfortable and now it just lives in my closet. Collector dust.

[Angela Kinsey]

LinkedIn has a word for that. Bull spend.

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

So cut the bull. Spend. Advertise on LinkedIn, the network that works for you. Spend $250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com office.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's LinkedIn.com office. Terms and conditions apply.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, so I have to ask you, because a bunch of people did write in about this.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because you had so many scenes with. Was there one in particular that you remember that was so difficult to get through because you were laughing and I know one that you're heavily featured in the bloopers then.

[Melora Hardin]

Well, I mean, obviously the one in the dinner party where he kept throwing the television that he kept the Dundee. And when he kept saying about the small TV and it's this size and pulling it out of the wall just like it was ridiculous. That was ridiculous. None of us could get through that. Jenna, you couldn't get through that. No, I couldn't get through that. John couldn't get through that. It was mostly the three of us that we can. Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wendy and Angela, they had been getting the house tour.

[Angela Kinsey]

But even Steve broken that.

[Melora Hardin]

He never breaks. And I really didn't break very much. I don't think I'm. I don't know if I'm in the room.

[Jenna Fischer]

You didn't.

[Angela Kinsey]

You didn't.

[Melora Hardin]

I didn't break much. You were good. No, I didn't laugh that much. But like, I could not get through that stupid television. And also you. When I come up to the thing to knock on the door, the bathroom, and you and John are in the bathroom.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we're up in the hallway, I think in the hallway. You're eating.

[Angela Kinsey]

Eating.

[Jenna Fischer]

And this didn't even make it in the episode.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah. Cause the osso buco wasn't ready yet.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Melora Hardin]

And I'm eating.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I had to keep.

[Melora Hardin]

You know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Cause every time we broke, we had to retake it. And I was like, you guys, I'm getting really full.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like, I can't eat any more.

[Melora Hardin]

Power bar. I feel like you were in the bathroom because I felt like we had to keep opening a door. Were we not in a bathroom?

[Jenna Fischer]

There was a second one, I think, where I'm in the bathroom and you had to knock on the door that I Don't think. Ever saw the light of day. There were all of these.

[Melora Hardin]

And every time the door opened, you or one of us would just crack up so much. So now you know it's bad because the first few times the whole crew cracks up with you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Melora Hardin]

But you know it's bad when the crew stops laughing. Stops laughing because they're just trying to get you to stop laughing so they could get through the scene. Jenna. It was like 15, 20 minutes. It was so many. Stop.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, there was this whole runner that you don't really see in the episode. It ended up getting kind of cut out, which was that, like, Pam was always trying to sneak away, eat something. She was so good, but you were just always right on top of her. And so it was like she couldn't.

[Melora Hardin]

The hostess with the mostest monster. Yes. Or without food. Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

That whole idea was so funny to us.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, God.

[Jenna Fischer]

Cause it was like a horror movie. It's like.

[Melora Hardin]

Exactly. You were just trying to get a snack.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Melora Hardin]

I have some things downstairs. It was so good.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was at a restaurant in Seattle where I was. And there was osso buco on the menu, and the waiter said to me, are you gonna get the. And, like, did a little wink, wink. And I thought, oh, my gosh. I bet Melora gets this all the time. Like, is there a quote we had a gal write in Amelia S. From UConn, Oklahoma? What is one line that gets quoted to you the most?

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, my gosh. I guess if you burn it, you by it is sort of what people tend to say to me. Or I guess that makes me the devil.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I bet you get that.

[Melora Hardin]

That one. Or just that's what she said. That's the one I hear the most, obviously, Right. It's like everyone says, you say something, and they say, oh, that's what she said. Or they say something and, oh, that's what she said.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. I thought the best that's what she said that I watched of all your clips is when.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, God.

[Angela Kinsey]

When Michael says it in the deposition.

[Melora Hardin]

The dying star. Oh, I thought you were gonna say the cocktail episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, no.

[Melora Hardin]

That is a great moment of. That's what she. I'm like, I guess I'll just get back with Michael and dissolve inside myself like a dying star. That's what she said, and it makes no sense. It's not a. That's what she said. Jan's using it wrong, and she doesn't even know what she's saying, and she's a little confused by it. It's such a freaking great. That's a really funny.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think there is a handle that leads to. That's what she said, is there not?

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, it must be here.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have it. I have it. Because Melora, I have to tell you that there is a Dunder Mifflin Reddit thread thread. And they put this prompt, one line that best captures a character. And this is what they wrote for Jan, which is from Cocktails. It's I'm taking a calculated risk. What's the upside? I overcome my nausea, fall deeply in love, babies, normalcy, no more self loathing. Downside, I date Michael Scott publicly and collapse in on myself like a dying star. Why is this so hard? That's what she said.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh my God.

[Melora Hardin]

Why is this so hard? That's what it is. That's what she said. Okay, there was a setup, but people

[Angela Kinsey]

think that perfectly encapsulates the character. Jan.

[Melora Hardin]

It does, it does. No, it's really perfect. And it was quite early in the show.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, Season three. Uh huh.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, before we let you go, you've been so generous. We got some fan mail flurries. People had questions about some non office related things. Okay. So a lot of people are curious how the recasting of Back to the Future affected you and how you persevered.

[Melora Hardin]

Well, I was 17 years old and it was a big deal because it was a two picture deal and it was Bob Zemeckis and Bob Gale and Eric Stoltz, who I had a huge crush on. We had almost worked together several times and at that time in my life, I just had a huge crush on him. So I was super excited to do this. Went and did publicity photos. It was on the backlot at Universal. It was a big, big movie. It was a big deal.

[Jenna Fischer]

Had you shot anything? Did you?

[Melora Hardin]

Because we should say like he was

[Jenna Fischer]

Marty McFly and then you were Jennifer.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Melora Hardin]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And it was all things. I mean, it was like it was a go. You were doing marketing for it. Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

So I had only done some publicity stuff. I had done some costume fittings and I had met everyone. I'd come on the set in the backlot there on Universal. You know, I was part of it. It was fun and I was excited. And I was starting like a week later and then, yeah, got a call. I remember in my mom and dad's kitchen in our house in the valley. It was a wall phone, there were no cell phones. And I remember my mom answering and saying, oh, honey, this is for you. And she was standing there next to me. And Bob Gale and Bob Zemeckis were on the phone together. And they both just said, this is just the most awful phone call I've ever had to make. And we. Amazing. And we disagree, but apparently some of the executives at Universal, you know, we've had to let Eric Stolz go. And they feel like it's emasculating to their lead actor to have a girlfriend that's taller than him. And you are quite a bit taller than Michael J. Fox, who we've hired. And so we don't want to, but we're gonna have to let you go. And we're just so sad about it. And I burst into tears. I burst into tears. I mean, I was just like floods of tears. And they sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers you've ever seen. It, like, filled this table. And, you know, and I just was. I was 17. So what do you do? How do you move on? You just move on. You know, like, a lot of people don't realize that as actors, we're not just good at what we do. We have to also be very resilient people. And you also have to be okay with all of the failure. I've done some masterclasses or I've taught some things things or done shows. And people ask me, how do you get to be where you are, especially young people? And I always say, for me to be where I am, I would have had to have failed much more than I've succeeded. There is no way to be as successful as I am or to be the person that I am without the failure. And we live in a world right now that is so obsessed with success and so obsessed with all the amazing things that are happening in everyone's life all the time. And the picture of that on social media, and it's just misrepresentative of not just what is true, but also what is good for us as human beings. It's important for us as human beings to fail. And by the way, we don't connect over our successes. We connect with each other. We connect with humanity through our failures. And so I happen to have some really amazing parents who basically gave me a lot of love for that disappointment, that huge heart heartbreak, which it was. And they held me through it and they helped me go on, and they let me grieve, and they encouraged me to go to dance class the next day, and they encouraged me to go to school, and I went to an audition the next week. And I continued. And I just went on. I went on. And that's what we all do. We move through these things and we don't crumble and we don't become just a greasy spot on the ground, you know, even though we might think we are. You know, I just was talking to someone yesterday who was saying that he hadn't had someone in his life, he hadn't had a relationship in his life for years because he was so terrified of heartbreak. And I said, we have to live. You don't want to live in heartache. Heartache is just like suffering, like a low grade suffer. You want to live in heartbreak where you just give yourself, all of yourself to everything you do and then you risk heartbreak and you are going to get heartbroken. But we all have gotten heartbroken all the time. I had to just put my dog down four weeks ago. I'm completely heartbroken about it. I cry about it all the time. I'll probably start crying right now if I keep talking about it. But I'm all right. I'm surviving and she's in my memory. So I hope that story because people are really interested in that story and I mostly hope that story encourages people to just go for everything 150%. And you might fail. And you probably will sometimes. And you might get your heart broken and you probably will sometimes. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't keep getting your heart broken. You should. It's good for us. It makes us stronger, our character as human beings stronger. And then we can bring that to our work as actors. If we're actors or your work as anything you do, you'll become a better doctor. If you're a doctor, you'll become a better secretary. If you're a secretary, you'll become a better person. So there's my little rant about heartbreak and back to the future.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, I'm tearing up because I'm just so. Just inspired by you. But just everything you said was, was such really wonderful truth. And that was beautiful, Melora. That was absolutely beautiful.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And some real wisdom.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Melora Hardin]

Thank you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Melora Hardin]

My thousands of hours of working on myself, self examination and help and great

[Angela Kinsey]

teachers and great parents.

[Melora Hardin]

Great parents, great friends, great coaches. I have a great coach. So if I can share some of that's helpful and I'm happy that it moved you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, another thing people asked about. I'm so curious to hear the answer to this. Will it be filled with as much wisdom? I don't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is a hard pivot because I know the next question. So this is a big pivot.

[Jenna Fischer]

People would like to hear about your appearance on Friends with the monkey.

[Angela Kinsey]

With that crazy monkey that was pulling your hair.

[Melora Hardin]

Well, there's more depth in you might think so. David Schwiber and I had been on a date. He went to Beverly High, I went to Grant High in Los Angeles. And a friend of ours had set us up. And when we were 17, we went on a date.

[Angela Kinsey]

A lot happened. Your 17th year.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, God. Yeah. That's interesting. Wow. Yeah, that's interesting. And we had ended up kind of, I remember, kind of kissing. I don't know if we ever did anything more than that. I think we just kind of kissed. We kind of made out a little. But very, you know, very minor makeup session. But it was very funny because when I went in for that, we had kind of remained friends. The sort of attraction didn't really go very far, but we were kind of, you know, a little crush on each other, I guess. And then David was working at the Daily Grill and I tested for five pilots that season that he got Friends. And it was the first pilot he ever tested for.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my God.

[Melora Hardin]

And it was Friends. And we were all so happy for him because we had just sort of transitioned into Friends, you know, into Friends. And he got this pilot. It was this show. Okay, great. I didn't get any of those five that I had tested for. None of those went. So I was just an auditioning actor that season. And then I think. I don't remember what season it was. Was the second season maybe of Friends or. Yeah, it might have. Maybe it was the second season of Friends. Could have been the third, but I think it was.

[Jenna Fischer]

Monkey was still around, so it was early Friends.

[Melora Hardin]

Yeah. So I think it was like the second season. And when I went in, I remember Martha Kaufman and the other producers saying that they were so impressed that in the audition I did not mention that I was friends with David and got the part anyway. And then when we were on the set, they were also impressed that David and I were friends. And I've worked with animals my whole life. Like as a kid I did a series called Clifford Avenue Kids that people can look that up. Good luck. And it was just like tons of animals. And then one of the highlights of my childhood career was this series called Thunder, about a wild black stallion that came when I whistled. Which is kind of important to this documentary that I'm going to be finishing in the next two months. I'm so excited. My decade long documentary I've been making, but people can look for that. It's called Hunter's Thunder. But my point is that I worked with so many animals on these shows as a kid that when this monkey came in, I was like, fine with him. Because I was comfortable with trainers, I was comfortable with animals. But this particular monkey was a bit wild. And I had just done an episode of Square Pegs with Sarah Jessica Parker, like maybe a year or two before that. And they had a monkey on that show which was a spider monkey 2. And that monkey actually bit me, but it bit my finger. But it broke the skin. I mean, if that was now, everyone would be freaking out and they'd be sending you to the hospital. And for whatever reason, I was just like, it's fine, just put a band aid on. We just put like some alcohol and put a band aid on. And I was fine. But I was a little tentative with this spider monkey because of that experience and yet very comfortable because of all my childhood experience. It was, you know, David really didn't like the monkey at all. Like, also the thing you learn when you work with animals is you work with animals or babies. Whenever the animal gets it right, that's the one they're gonna, that's the print they're gonna take. So you have to be on every single time because they're gonna pick the one where the baby and the animal do it right. And now looking at it, when I've seen it, I'm like. Was like hanging on my hair. It was close to my face and you just don't. I didn't think about that. I didn't think about how close it was to my face. If it had decided to bite me or just freak out because it was in front of a live audience and someone could have shouted, they could have like laughed. They could have thrown something. I don't, you know, you don't know how people are going to behave. Anyway, it all went well and we were lucky and it was fine. And then the monkey was removed and we did the rest. But that's not normally how you do three camera shows. Normally you do the whole scene and then you cut and then everyone applauds and then you move on to the next one. But in that particular one, I think we just did the monkey bit and then we moved on to the other part. It's a very short little clip. The monkey part.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. But it's full on. Hanging off your head.

[Melora Hardin]

It's hanging off my head? Yeah. Very close to my face. Yeah. Nowadays I'd probably be like, well, maybe my stand in or stunt double could do that. I don't think I would want. I don't think I'd want it that close to my face at this point. Yeah, no, I just didn't know as much back then. Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Now you have the experience of all the many things that have gone wrong on sets. Lots of things.

[Melora Hardin]

Lots of things, yes. And then, you know, ignorance is bliss in a lot of ways. I do. Like, I am happy in a way that I didn't know and that I got to just have that whatever, and it worked out okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sam, I think you have a question for Melora.

[Melora Hardin]

All right. Hi. Hi.

[Sam Kiefer]

So my all time favorite movie, it's from 1991. It's called the Rocketeer. I've seen it probably 100, 200 times.

[Melora Hardin]

Oh, my gosh.

[Sam Kiefer]

I just noticed recently you play the lounge singer in it. Yeah, I wanted to just pick your brain because this came out in 1990. So you were what, 21, 22. Just about filming it. Did you tell me you took a dress from that day?

[Melora Hardin]

Mm, well, let's see. So Joe Johnston, the director, and my brother went to film school together. And Joe had come to my parents Christmas Eve party, which we had every year. And I sing. I always sing at the Christmas Eve party, which they don't have anymore, but I would always sing. And I guess Joe kind of took a liking to me and thought I was very beautiful and loved my voice and loves music. And I think maybe threw my headshot in for the Jennifer Connelly part, but the executives, whatever, I think he was like, I could have her. And whatever executive didn't go for it and pushed my headshot aside. But I think it was really up to Joe, who could be the South Sea singer. And I remember him calling and saying, so I have this little cameo I'd like you to do, and I'm gonna make it really special and it's gonna be really beautiful. And she's gonna come out of a clamshell and both the songs will be on the soundtrack. And you'll work with James Horner and Billy May, who was this incredible arranger of the 40s. Would you be willing to go over and sing it with Billy May at his house in Burbank? He and little back studio. And I went. And he was probably 80 when we did this. And I went into his little back studio and he played piano and I sang a little bit of Begin the Beguine. And he was like, okay, great. So I think he had to sign off on me, which he did. And I remember just being on set, I remember really, Jennifer was lovely. And we both had these incredible gowns. The costume designer was extraordinary. Marilyn Vance, she was a big costume designer at the time, and she was just a quirky character. So many costume designers are like that. Like, those big movie costume designers are really interesting characters. And she was lovely. And we made this beautiful dress. And Jennifer had a similar beautiful white dress also in this scene in the South Seas Club. And I remember when they were setting up everything and Jennifer and I were dancing around like we were pretending to be partners, and we were sort of dancing and laughing, and it was cute. She was just very sweet. And we were talking and we had fun.

[Angela Kinsey]

And. Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

So I just remember coming into the recording session and Billy May was there conducting the orchestra, which was quite a large orchestra. I mean, it could have been like 50 or 80 pieces. I'm not even sure. But it was a big orchestra. And it was over there on the back lot of Disney, and it was in the big recording studio on the back lot. It was a big deal. And I walk in and I'm just like, oh, my God. And Billy goes, oh, we're about to do. Just finish up some horns. Why don't you step into the vocal booth and just sing along? Record you, but just sing along. And I had never sung with an orchestra. Now, if you're a singer and you're whatever age I was 20 or whatever, you know, it's a big deal to sing with an orchestra. I had never sung with an orchestra. So I get in the booth and I start to sing, they start to play, I start to sing, and I just suddenly hear the da, da, da, da da, and I lose the melody. I literally am like. Because the horns are doing all these counter melodies that the horns play, the strings play. And I couldn't hear the song, and I kind of, like, backed off from the mic and just stopped singing. And as we were leaving, Billy was like, you're gonna sound great. And I remember one of the violinists walking by and going, you just sounded beautiful. And I was like, really? I just lost. And she's like, you're gonna find it. And they were also confident that I was gonna find it. But I was not confident. I was, like, freaking out. And everyone left, and it was just Joe Johnston and James Horner. And James is in the booth, and he goes, why don't you just come. Come with me. We go into the recording area. All the musicians are gone. There's a piano. And James says, can you just turn the lights down? They turn the lights down. And he literally sits at the Piano. And he says, let me just play it and let's just sing it. And he plays the piano and I sing it one time and he goes, great, now let's record it. And I'll never forget that. To be in a room with like that, you know, it's gonna make me cry. It was beautiful.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Sam Kiefer]

Wow. Thank you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. It is really a special scene. And not only do you sound amazing and look beautiful, but the way you're lit, it's angelic.

[Melora Hardin]

It is. No, it's incredible. It's incredible.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

I think Joe had a little crush on me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, he made you shine.

[Melora Hardin]

He wanted to make me look, like, beautiful, and he did.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Melora Hardin]

You look great. Yeah. Thank. It really was extraordinary, the clamshell opening and walking down the thing. I mean, it was like a little,

[Angela Kinsey]

you know, old, couldn't have been wood moment.

[Melora Hardin]

Couldn't have been more beautiful. So. That's a nice question. Thank you for the question. It brings back memories.

[Jenna Fischer]

Melora, I've just loved talking with you. I could just listen to you talk forever. I feel like I have even more questions than when we started. This was wonderful. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for talking to us about your time in the office for. But also for inspiring us. This was great.

[Melora Hardin]

It's so great that you guys do this. It's so great that you've kept this, like, the lore of the office alive for people because it is still so relevant. And I just am glad that you guys really got it, that this was a thing to continue to talk about and that you did it with your special friendship that you created on the show. It's really a lovely contribution you're making to all the fans, and I just know they really appreciate it. And it's not something I could have ever imagined doing, but that's because I didn't believe we were hit, you know, like, that's who I am. I just. I love that you guys had some kind of foresight into how this would contribute and the fun that you're getting out of it too, and the friendship you've built. And it's really, really sweet. So thank you for having me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wonderful reunions.

[Melora Hardin]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

What a wonderful reunion and we are such fans of yours. So you have to let us know when your documentary is ready. We'll give it a shout out here

[Melora Hardin]

if you want to come back and talk about it. Yeah. Thank you. That's really nice. I appreciate that. It's an epic, you know, 10 year thing that I've done with my life. So that's a long time to be working on something. So I really appreciate that and I would love to talk about it at some point. It's. Yeah, it's a very healing, lovely thing. So I would love to do that. Thank you. That's very nice of you to offer.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, well, we love you.

[Melora Hardin]

Thanks you guys. Love you guys. Bye.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thanks for listening. Melora is an amazing woman.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm still so inspired by what she said about, like, how it's failure and heartbreak that connect us, not our successes. Yeah, that was a great, great interview.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you, Melora. And thank you, everybody for listening. Thank you for sending in your amazing questions that really helped make that interview happen.

[Angela Kinsey]

Next week we have kind of an interesting episode. A lot of you wrote in and said you would like to hear more of my journals. And so Jenna had this idea where she was like, hey, we're both about to take trips. Why don't we journal about our travels and come back and read them? So we did.

[Jenna Fischer]

Guys, I'm going to tell you right now, it does not disappoint. You're going to want to hear it. So we'll see you next week for travel journals.

[Melora Hardin]

See?

[Angela Kinsey]

See you then. Xoxo. Catch you later.

[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 senior producer is Matt Beagle and our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer.

[Angela Kinsey]

Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese.

[Jenna Fischer]

Dennis Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz.

[Angela Kinsey]

Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton.

[Jenna Fischer]

Did you know that you can buy your car completely online on Autotrader? Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

Just visit autotrader.com, filter and search through dealer listings for the car you want, make, model, color and all the features that matter to you. Go ahead, get picky.

[Jenna Fischer]

Whether you're into subcompacts with heated cup holders, crossovers with all wheel drive pickups with kicking sound systems, or SUVs that can survive whatever chaos your kids unleash. Just drop in your info and you'll only see cars in your budget. Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

Once you find your one and only, you can do the whole deal online and have the card delivered to your driveway. Or you can pick it up at the dealership and drive your new ride right off the lot. Really?

[Jenna Fischer]

AutoTrader makes it easy to buy your car online because the whole process is designed around your wants and must haves.

[Angela Kinsey]

Autotrader Buy your car online? Really? Who says you have to wait for someone else to splurge on you for Mother's Day because sometimes the best gifts are the ones you pick out yourself. Maybe it's been a busy season, maybe you've been showing up for everyone else or maybe you just want to something that feels a little extra special.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, consider this your sign to go for it. Macy's has so many splurge worthy options across every category so you really can treat yourself your way. Maybe you want to upgrade your beauty routine with some great new products from Miu Miu. Or maybe you're like Angela and you're going to treat yourself to some timeless jewelry.

[Angela Kinsey]

And how about refreshing your wardrobe?

[Jenna Fischer]

And if you want help styling, Macy's personal stylists are there to to make it easy. You can book a free session and get help putting together the perfect look for Mother's Day brunch or any other plans you might have coming up. And you'll even get 20% off your purchase when you shop with them.

[Angela Kinsey]

So go ahead, make this the year you treat yourself.

[Jenna Fischer]

Shop now@macy's.com or in store.