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Angela Kinsey
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Jenna Fischer
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Angela Kinsey
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Angela Kinsey
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Jenna Fischer
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Angela Kinsey
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Jenna Fischer
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Angela Kinsey
Hiring Indeed is all you need.
Jenna Fischer
Labor Day is coming up, folks. And that means the Macy's labor day sale. With 25 to 60% off, you can.
Angela Kinsey
Close out the summer with the win and start the fall even stronger. And stock up on end of the season essentials. Men's shoes and sneakers, 30 to 40% off and 50 to 65% off hotel collection sheets and bedding.
Jenna Fischer
But also they're having a sale on the Sealy Posturepedic bed. You can get 50 to 65% off, plus choice of free box or adjustable base.
Angela Kinsey
This Labor Day sale is so big at Macy's, they also have sofas for great deals. Levi's, women's shoes, jewelry, I mean beauty products. It's all happening.
Jenna Fischer
They've got the Radley fabric sectional sofa for only $2,179.
Angela Kinsey
So many deals happening right now for Macy's Labor Day sale. Shop now@macy's.com or in store.
Jenna Fischer
I'm Jenna Fisher.
Angela Kinsey
And I'm Angela Kinsey.
Jenna Fischer
We were on the Office together and we're best friends. And now we're doing the ultimate Office Lovers podcast just for you.
Angela Kinsey
Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details and lot of BFF stories.
Jenna Fischer
We're the Office Lady 6.0. Hello everyone.
Angela Kinsey
Hi there.
Jenna Fischer
Today on Office Lady 6.0 Michael Scott's favorite concierge joins us.
Angela Kinsey
That's right. It's Wendy McLendon Covey, and she's in the studio with us.
Jenna Fischer
I loved this interview.
Angela Kinsey
Wendy is so hilarious.
Jenna Fischer
Well, back when we were breaking down business trip in season five, Wendy sent us some audio clips about her time on the show as concierge Marie. They were just fantastic. But today we got to have her in studio with us, and she is exactly as fun and funny as you imagine.
Angela Kinsey
And, you guys, our breakdown of business trip is such a fun episode. So if you haven't heard it, it's on our website, officeladies.com hot tip at any point, if you ever want to go back and listen to an episode, they're all on our website.
Jenna Fischer
And Wendy is just fantastic in business trip, but she's just crazy talented in every regard. Yeah, you might recognize her from her role as Beverly. Over ten seasons on the Goldbergs. She was nominated for two critics Choice awards. Or maybe you know her as deputy Clementine Johnson from Reno911, the animated show Big City Greens. And she worked with our fellow office alums Paul Feig and Ellie Kemper on Bridesmaids.
Angela Kinsey
That's right. She was cousin Rita. So funny.
Jenna Fischer
And now you can catch her on another hit television show with another member of our office family, writer producer Justin Spitzer. She plays hospital Administrator Joyce in St. Denis Medical on NBC. And it's so good, you guys, it's so good.
Angela Kinsey
The cast is phenomenal. The writing is hilarious. We are watching it and loving it.
Jenna Fischer
Yes. I love Alison Tolman. She plays sort of the head nurse. It's a beautiful show. It really is. It's so funny. But then it also really packs a punch if you're not watching it. I highly, highly recommend.
Angela Kinsey
Yes. You know, I met Allison one time, and she's so nice. We're such fans of hers, lady. I hope we get a chance to talk to her someday.
Jenna Fischer
I am angling to be on St. Denis Medical.
Angela Kinsey
Same. In fact, you guys, Jen and I are both pitching ourselves for different roles. Before we go to break, I thought we should have a little refresher about concierge Marie's scenes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So.
Angela Kinsey
So you guys remember Michael is really down because Holly was transferred. So David Wallace sends him and Oscar and Andy to Winnipeg to close a sale. And clearly this is Michael's first time ever meeting a concierge, and he is, in his own words, blown away. Let's hear it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Where's the concierge?
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Wallace said there would be one of those.
Jenna Fischer
Bingo.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Follow Moi, bro.
Jenna Fischer
Sir.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Wow. What about a nice sushi place? Maybe a place with a view. Oh, Matsuki. That's a good one. You may walk there if you wish, or you may take the number 17 bus until 9 o'. Clock. Other than that, you can take the taxi and the number is right there. Wow.
Jenna Fischer
Wow.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm blown away by this. I. This is great. Thank you. One final question. Where might you find yourself on a Winnipeg night like tonight? Oh, the Huntsman is good. The Huntsman. Down here, the financial district.
Jenna Fischer
Michael is so easily impressed. It's so cute.
Angela Kinsey
I know he's enamored by all of it, like the travel, the hotel, the concierge.
Jenna Fischer
And the way Wendy is playing the concierge, it's just like. It's so rote. Like, how many times has she recommended these restaurants and got out the map.
Angela Kinsey
And dropped the arrow?
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
Well, as the night goes on, they have drinks and Michael continues to be very impressed.
Jenna Fischer
How about this one?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's Christmas Eve and everything is closed and you need to get some dry cleaning done. 12 o', clock, midnight. Where do you go? What do you do? What do you do? Come on, what do you do? Astro cleaners on St. James Place is the only place that is open on that day. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Jenna Fischer
Michael is. He is so turned on by her knowledge.
Angela Kinsey
Unbelievable. She knows where the dry cleaners are at any point of any day. She knows where you can go.
Jenna Fischer
I love this episode. I love the storyline so much and I loved our conversation with Wendy. She's a really special person and she shared a lot and I can't wait for everyone to hear it.
Angela Kinsey
Same lady. Well, let's take a break and when we come back, Wendy is in the studio.
Jenna Fischer
I don't know if it is normal to have an attachment to a lunch meat, but I really love Boar's Head brand lunch meats.
Angela Kinsey
You're not weird, lady. You're just someone who likes a good sandwich and some good lunch meat.
Jenna Fischer
It's our go to for our kids lunches and it's our go to for our lunches Same.
Angela Kinsey
Josh often makes me a lunch that I bring into the podcast and many times it is a sandwich with Boar's Head Oven Gold turkey.
Jenna Fischer
Well, I want to throw everyone a little curveball. I just want to throw this out there.
Angela Kinsey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
Boar's Head does an ever roast chicken. You're gonna like it.
Angela Kinsey
Mm.
Jenna Fischer
When you think of sandwiches, I think you think of turkey. Ham. I'm not sure you think of chicken and I just wanted to throw it out there. That's it.
Angela Kinsey
Well, you know what? You know you're sending your kids to school with a good lunch when they've got Boar's Head in their lunchbox.
Jenna Fischer
So head to your local Boar's Head deli counter to discover the craftsmanship behind every bite. You won't be sorry. Try the chicken.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Hi, I'm PJ Vogt and I want to tell you about my podcast search engine. We try to make sense of the world one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. We will even answer your questions if you send them in. Stuff like what happens when a cemetery.
Jenna Fischer
Goes out of business? What should we do about teens using.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
AI to do their homework? Who buys luggage at the airport luggage store? Follow and listen to Search Engine in partnership with Odysee Wherever you get your podcasts.
Angela Kinsey
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Jenna Fischer
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Angela Kinsey
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Jenna Fischer
View important disclosures@acorns.com OfficeLadies.
Angela Kinsey
Woo hoo.
Jenna Fischer
Wendy, you guys, what's up?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh my head's gonna explode with happiness. Just pure cause I'm here.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah, I've been so looking forward to this.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I have been looking forward to it as. And now it's happening and I can't believe I'm looking at you.
Angela Kinsey
I know.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Lady. Lady.
Angela Kinsey
So much emotion.
Jenna Fischer
When you got here we were reflecting on the last time we saw one another in person because you were on the office but we were not in your scenes.
Angela Kinsey
Right?
Jenna Fischer
And so you remembered the last time we saw each other. Will you share?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It was Called the Fur Ball. And it was like a kitty rescue fundraiser.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And you were one of the hosts, I believe.
Jenna Fischer
Yes. I worked with Kitten Rescue, who puts on that fundraiser for years.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And that's one of the many reasons why I love you guys is cause you care about the little creatures.
Angela Kinsey
We do.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
And so do you. Because if you follow you on Instagram, Wendy, you know, your love of critters.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm always feeding something.
Angela Kinsey
And that giant hawk. What was that thing?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
They are all around our neighborhood.
Angela Kinsey
What?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And the carnage that happens in our flower beds is not pretty.
Angela Kinsey
I know.
Jenna Fischer
We were doing an edit session recently, and out my window we were. Remember Cassie, Angela, we were on Zoom. And all of a sudden it was like a bird exploded in front of my window. And I think it's because a big hawk came down, bombed it.
Angela Kinsey
That's happened in my backyard.
Jenna Fischer
Just like confetti of feathers.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, God. And there's nothing you can do?
Angela Kinsey
Nothing. That was just Mother Nature sorting some stuff out. But it's a little brutal to watch.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
I didn't know we were gonna start this way.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Hi, everybody.
Angela Kinsey
I was about to tell a story about when I watched a squirrel eat a hummingbird. And then I didn't realize squirrels eat hummingbirds. And then I decided not to tell it, and now I'm saying it out loud.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Well, listen, nature is disgusting, and I prefer it when nature stays outside.
Angela Kinsey
Keep it outside. Do your thing outside.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Do it outside.
Jenna Fischer
Nature.
Angela Kinsey
But furball isn't. What a great, great event.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And we were all there.
Angela Kinsey
I still have a teapot I bid on at that auction.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Really?
Angela Kinsey
And it's a cat. And the head comes off. And then you put it on and the water comes out its mouth. So he's like, meow.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, my goodness.
Angela Kinsey
It's so adorable.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I hope you use it all the time.
Angela Kinsey
Only for my friends when they come over. So, Wendy, when you come over, get ready.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'll remember that you said gay.
Jenna Fischer
Ok, Wendy, we know that you sent in some audio clips when we broke down your episode Business trip. But we're just so excited to have you in studio. Will you tell us again the story of how you got your job on the Office?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes. Yes. So it was kind of crazy. I had just been fired off a movie that I had auditioned. I had done all these things. They flew me out to Michigan. I was there one night, got in the passenger van to go to set, and the money guy decided I was not pretty enough to do the role. So I was put on a plane crying to go Right back to la.
Angela Kinsey
So wait, you are in the van, you get to set, and they say.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes, I'm sorry, that's it. Don't go to your dressing room.
Angela Kinsey
Holy crap, that's so brutal.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It was pretty brutal. And yet a blessing because that movie went nowhere.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And I would have had to be in Michigan for seven weeks waiting to film for only five days. Oh. Of full, intermittent days.
Angela Kinsey
No. Come on.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So that's fine. That's how the universe works, right? You know, sometimes you're in the wrong place and something horrible has to happen to get you in the right place. So when I land in la, I look at my phone and my phone's blowing up because I had gotten an offer to do the Office the next day. So thank God I got fired, right? Because nobody saw that movie. But everybody saw this.
Angela Kinsey
Can you say the movie you don't have.
Jenna Fischer
You know what? We're going to do a special podcast called Office Ladies. Burn it to the ground when we're in our late 60s. And you can come back.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes. And then I'll. And then I'll name names.
Angela Kinsey
We have some stories to tell, but we're putting them in our pocket for a few years.
Jenna Fischer
That's.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That's very smart.
Angela Kinsey
When we're really old and give zero Fs, we're gonna burn it out.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I like that.
Angela Kinsey
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I like that. I'll bring the tequila for that episode.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So anyway, my whole thing was with Steve Carell, and we were in Winnipeg, so I didn't get to meet you guys, which was stinky.
Angela Kinsey
So we're filming at a hotel somewhere in la.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, in downtown la. Kate Flannery drove by and said hello. So that was cute.
Angela Kinsey
Oh, that's so nice.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And then. Okay, so it was on a Friday, the weekend goes on. Monday, I come back and during lunch, I'm in my trailer eating. I get a call that I'm not gonna be on Reno anymore.
Jenna Fischer
Wait, what?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So I am sobbing in my trailer. Yes.
Jenna Fischer
Was on the set of the Office.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. So I was like. I mean, I was like, well, now I'm gonna get fired from this job. Cause I can't collect myself. It was terrible, but the experience was so fun. And Steve Carell is a doll. I love the way the episode turned out. I loved. Like, I'm in my full uniform but no shoes on, kicking him. Like, what did we do in there?
Jenna Fischer
Cause you've dressed already.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, I got dressed in a hurry to throw his shoes out the door. Was I just on a break and had to Go back down to my desk. I don't know.
Jenna Fischer
We want to know how. Where that hotel room came from. I guess you set that up.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Concierge Marie would have access.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Would have access.
Jenna Fischer
You didn't go to his room?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
No, it was my like little lair or something.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
You know how like though at hotels they have that room where if you have a layover and you're like, hey, can I just go shower somewhere? And there's that room.
Jenna Fischer
There is, yeah.
Angela Kinsey
Yes.
Jenna Fischer
I don't know about the layover room. I've never heard this.
Angela Kinsey
I did this once. I had a layover and I got a room like just for a few hours so I could shower. Yes, you can do this.
Jenna Fischer
What hotel chain was it?
Angela Kinsey
Well, it was right off the airport.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, she should have shown.
Jenna Fischer
Sure.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But I used to work at a hotel as well. And everybody knows like, okay, let me look up. Oh, there's a room on the corner that nobody's in if you want to go have a hookup. And the employees would do this. Oh, disgusting. But yes, they would do that.
Angela Kinsey
That is some good hospitality gossip.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Very unsavory.
Jenna Fischer
What did you do in the hotel business?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I was a secretary back when they called them secretaries. And then I became like a salesperson for corporate sales. I tried to get people to come and stay in our little hotel. I'm sorry, can. I swear.
Jenna Fischer
You can.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay. So this was. I worked at a place near Disneyland. It was like the third worst Ramada in Anaheim. And it was just far. It was literally across train tracks from the rest of where everyone goes to stay. Yeah. Where tourist Anaheim turns into industrial Anaheim.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So this was basically a trucker hotel, but we were trying to make it into a destination property, so we couldn't. It was terrible.
Angela Kinsey
How do you put a bow on that? That's a sell.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
We put a waterfall in the front. Hey, you know, to really offset the fact that we didn't have hallways, just like outside corridors, you know, next to the rock breaking factory or like the gravel factory. Yeah, it was horrible. But boy, did we try.
Angela Kinsey
I read though that when you were doing that, you would then drive 35 miles to LA to take classes at the ground links.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yep, Yep. Wow. Yeah. And I'm still too stubborn to leave that area. So I'm down in Long Beach. I've never left.
Angela Kinsey
Oh my gosh.
Jenna Fischer
Oh my goodness.
Angela Kinsey
You drove all the way here from Long Beach.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But that's cause I'm too stubborn to leave. My parents are nearby. My mother in law's nearby. Everybody's nearby. I'm not leaving. Yeah, but. Yes. Could I make it more difficult? I guess I could if I, like, moved to San Diego. But, yeah, it's a haul.
Angela Kinsey
Listen, if my family lives somewhere here, I'd be where they are, but they're just all the way in Texas, and so I can't.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You can't.
Angela Kinsey
I get that.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
Oh, well, thank you so much for driving so far with us today. I had no idea.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
No, I'm honored. Are you kidding?
Angela Kinsey
But wow. So you were doing that drive to go take classes at the Groundlings, and.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Sometimes we would get so nervous that we would just drive right past and go home.
Angela Kinsey
Stop it. Yeah, you'd make it all the way to Melrose and just say, I can't.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I can't get out. Yeah, I'm too nervous.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah, I took classes there. What year were you there, Wendy?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I started in 97. And you know how long it used to take? It would take like two years because the waiting list was so long.
Angela Kinsey
For so long. I think we bounced around, around the same time.
Jenna Fischer
What is your kind of like actory backstory, Wendy? Where are you? How did you get here? Are you from Long beach originally?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. That's the only place I've ever lived. I never went away to school. I'm very boring.
Angela Kinsey
You're born and raised.
Jenna Fischer
Long Beach.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Stayed there. Long Beach. Long beach, yeah.
Jenna Fischer
When did you get, like the acting bug or the comedy bug?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Very early in life. But I didn't start really pursuing it in earnest until I got married at 26. So that's when, you know. Cause my husband was like, yeah, do it, do it. I believe you can do this. No one else in my life thought I could. So he was working a couple of jobs while I was taking classes at the Groundlings. And he would sit there and let me cut wigs on him and run lines with me and all this stuff. So I did the Groundlings a lot. I took classes at South Coast Rep, but I didn't go through the whole rep program. And then I just figured, well, I'll stay in this Groundlings thing until they vote me out. Cause that's how it works there, you know.
Angela Kinsey
I didn't make it that far.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
How far did you go?
Angela Kinsey
Lab. Right. Is before you go to. And then I had to. I got put on a list to repeat Lab. And I just never went back. I went to Improv Olympic. I started doing long form improv. The Herald at Improv Olympic while I was on the wait list, thinking I would always go Back like, oh, I'll do this while I wait. And then I just kind of met my people, and I loved it. And then I just stayed there and rode that out. And I was still doing shows there even when the Office started. And that's where I met Kate Flannery. Cause we were in a shit together called Bitch Planet.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Ooh. What?
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, my God. I bet that was edgy.
Angela Kinsey
Sundays at 10pm no parking.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Don't you miss those days, though? Like, it was so fun. It was so fun doing these silly little shows and begging people to come and, you know, getting so many parking tickets. But, yeah. So I.
Angela Kinsey
So you were gonna just stay there and ride it out?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. And, like, when my time's up, my time's up. But then I got in the company, which was nice. But then I started working, and I couldn't do as many shows as I wanted to, so. But that's how that happened. And then I was very frustrated because I thought, well, maybe I started this too late. Not really getting anywhere. I don't have an agent. Everybody would be in the dressing room talking about all the auditions they were going on. And I was like, well, I didn't even get a phone call. Cause I. You know, I don't have anyone repping me. And anyway, so I subbed for someone in a show. And that's how I got discovered to go audition for Reno.
Angela Kinsey
Right.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And that worked out.
Angela Kinsey
How old were you when you got Reno?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So I was probably 32.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Does that feel kind of like a big milestone break? Like, things really changed.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That was a big deal.
Jenna Fischer
It's so funny, Wendy. Thank you. I'm such a fan.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But it was like, you know, basic cable. No one thought. I mean, it was like just going and doing arts and crafts with your friends, you know?
Angela Kinsey
But I feel like people keep finding it, don't you?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's never been off the air. Yeah. Like, your show will never be off the air.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So people keep coming to it in waves, and it's always a new discovery. And is it coming back? Is the office coming back in a new form? Okay.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah. It's like the documentary film crew has found a new subject. And it's a small newspaper company that's.
Angela Kinsey
Kind of just dying this paper industry.
Jenna Fischer
So it's like the idea is that it's like the same people who made the documentary of Dunder Mifflin or making this documentary of the small paper company and following the employees the way they did before, but there's not currently any. Like, it's not our characters. Like Pam Beasley doesn't show up.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah. So the through line is the documentary crew, not the people from Dunder Mifflin.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, that's interesting.
Angela Kinsey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
I feel like Reno911 also has the benefit of being very like. You can make really fun clips out of it. It pops up on my Instagram all the time. I. How many times have I seen your bit where you're doing the. You know what I'm gonna say? Probably the dancing dui. Dui.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
The DUI thing. Yeah. And that was one of the first things I ever did for that show.
Jenna Fischer
Really.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Which is crazy.
Angela Kinsey
That lives everywhere.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That lives everywhere. That lives everywhere. And then we got to. You guys remember when Quibi came out, right? Oh, sure. Oh, right.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
So we got to resurrect it a little bit. And because of that, we, you know, we did a bunch of other episodes that folded while we were on set. Oh, my gosh. But the checks were. It went out of business whilst we were filming, but we just kept going. Cause we figured, well, someone's gonna pick it up. So then we knocked out a bunch of episodes and two more movies. So it's like the gift that keeps giving and whatever. I mean, I'm thrilled that I get to, you know, hang out and play with my friends, but it's just weird how things are cyclical like that, and I don't know. Yeah, very fun.
Angela Kinsey
Well, I have a question for you. It comes from Christine M. In Ann Arbor, Michigan. She says, for this episode, did you have to handle a lot of Steve Carell's ad libbing? And if so, do you recall which was the scene that was the hardest for you to get through? Like, did you guys break?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I don't remember breaking. I do remember him ad libbing a little bit while we were. While he was just asking questions. Cause he was so thrilled to be with a concierge, you know, and her.
Angela Kinsey
Vast knowledge of, like, where you can.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Get your dry cleaning of Winnipegian, you know, hot stuff. Well, you know, and after I visited Winnipeg, that whole thing became so much more funny to me because there's just nothing there. But I remember thinking, don't break, because you are lucky to be here. So do not break.
Angela Kinsey
And Steve never breaks.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
He never breaks.
Angela Kinsey
He never breaks. And Oscar never breaks. And you had to be in scenes with both of them. Ed Helms will break.
Jenna Fischer
Ed does.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
But those two are like statues.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And Oscar is a machine.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Because he had a recurring thing on Reno.
Angela Kinsey
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And he would say these things, and I Would be like having a nosebleed, trying not to laugh. Like, I'm gonna have an aneurysm if I can't let this out. And when someone raises the bar like that, you just can't. And I'm a giggler, but damn it, I'm not gonna do it. I'm not gonna ruin a take.
Angela Kinsey
Well, we've shared, like, we had to stop making eye contact with Steve. So, like, I don't know if you can really track where our eyes were, but I would look at his neck. Cause, like, if I looked in his eyes, I was a goner.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, that surprises me. Cause you two were so, like, in the moment. I don't know. I'm very surprised to hear that you guys were a lot of.
Jenna Fischer
There's a lot of footage, really, that they have for the blooper reel with me and Angela. Cause we would crack up a lot.
Angela Kinsey
Well, we couldn't be next to each other. It was that sort of cumulative thing. Cause if I even felt her shoulder, you know, I'd be like, oh, yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You know, like.
Angela Kinsey
So then they just started putting us apart.
Jenna Fischer
I feel like Concierge Marie and Pam have a similar thing, which is that we had to play it totally straight against Steve's zaniness, you know, like, we had to just, like, stare at him. And you stare at him so well. But why do you think she hooked up with him? We actually got a question about it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Here. Somebody said a few people wrote in Tara F. From Tustin, California, said, I need to understand more about Concierge Marie. Why was she in the bar alone? Why is she attracted to Michael? Was she having a bad day at the concierge desk and Michael made her feel seen?
Angela Kinsey
Well, there is this moment.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
To all of that. You nailed it.
Angela Kinsey
There is a moment when you go back and rewatch it, when he says, you know, after meeting Concierge Marie, that if you ever get to meet a concierge, it is intoxicating. And the camera rack focus and pushes in on you, and you look bored out of your fucking mind. You are just like, it's so great.
Jenna Fischer
It's so perfect.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Well, I think the listener who asked that question really nailed it. And again, in hotels, I used to see employees just drinking alone after work. You know, when you don't have anything to do and you can't make the drive home before you get a drink? You gotta get a drink at 5:01. You know what I mean?
Jenna Fischer
I mean, and the bar is right there.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's right there. And you get a discount and something might happen, you know, I think it was boredom. I think it was like, well, there are worse things I could be doing. But then I, you know, listen. She threw his shoes out into the hall. I think it didn't go well once.
Angela Kinsey
They got behind that door.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Empty calories. Oh, yeah.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Did you do a little bit of a Canadian accent for concierge Marie? We got mail, and I think I heard it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Well, there is that kind of. I was trying to do how I hear it.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And that French Canadian accent is a little nasal.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And okay. Dry cleaners. Like, it's clipped in a weird way. Now, maybe I just sounded like someone with a speech impediment, but that's how I hear that accent. So I don't know. I'm not saying it was good. I'm saying that I did that. Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
No, I liked it. I liked it. I one time did a press junket in Montreal, and the gal that showed us around had sort of a similar sound.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
And it was kind of a way she went up on the end of her words.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
You know?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah. I thought it was great.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you. I'll put that on my. The special skills section.
Angela Kinsey
Special skills. Put it right next to roller skating. And those are my special skills. They're so fat.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Always.
Jenna Fischer
Do you have special skills, like back in the day when you had that resume? What were your special skills?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I am a pretty good roller skater.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That's not a joke. I am, too. I love roller skating.
Angela Kinsey
I love roller skating.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
What kind of skates do you have?
Angela Kinsey
Girl, I got my roller skates. Holy crap. In the 90s in Huntington beach at a roller skating shop that I'm sure doesn't even exist anymore. And they're like the old brown suede stop. And I'm on my, I don't know, third set of wheels. I'm Southern. Sometimes I'm on my third set of wheels, and they're the wide ones because I like to be outside on my skates. Indoor skates are more slick, and that's fine. I'll go to a roller rink. That's fine. But I like the wheels that are made for outside. And then I have the big front stopper on the front, and then I have the little one on the back. I don't use it as much.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You have one on the back?
Angela Kinsey
Yeah. That you can drag if you're going, oh, wow. I know that's hardcore, but I don't use it very often.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I have some pink suede moxies oh, moxies.
Angela Kinsey
Those are nice.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
I mean, I have a few other pairs too. I have some sparkly ones that Jessica Simpson sent me. Did you know she made roller skates?
Jenna Fischer
I did not.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
My mind is blown.
Angela Kinsey
Uh huh. Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Ladies, can I say something right now?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes.
Jenna Fischer
Is there like a movie, like part improv where you play sisters who roller skate? I mean, is this meant to be?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, my gosh, Jenna, you are onto something, right?
Jenna Fischer
I'm seeing it. You're seeing a vision.
Angela Kinsey
I don't know. I mean, I will come skate through the halls of St. Denis Medical with you.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I mean, and we want this.
Angela Kinsey
You do.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Look at you.
Angela Kinsey
Look at us. We should be skating together. We should be.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay, sorry.
Angela Kinsey
I got very excited. I got very excited about roller skating. This show is sponsored by Squarespace. And as you guys know, we use Squarespace to do our Office Ladies website.
Jenna Fischer
Yes. And you know, we've been making some little Updates to the OfficeLadies.com website. We've had to add new links to our TikTok pages and our YouTube pages.
Angela Kinsey
That's right. We now have a dropdown just for our books, for the book Jenna and I wrote together, for Jenna's book that she wrote about acting, and for my cookbook.
Jenna Fischer
It's very exciting. And thanks to Squarespace, making all of these changes and updates has been super easy. Squarespace gives you everything you need. They have cutting edge design tools. I mean, honestly, if I can use it, you can use it.
Angela Kinsey
And Squarespace has domains. You know, they make it easy to find the best name for your business at one fair, all inclusive price. No hidden fees or add ons required.
Jenna Fischer
Check out squarespace.com officeladies for a free trial. And when you're ready to Launch, go to squarespace.com officeladies to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Angela Kinsey
We're going to talk to you a little bit about Instacart.
Jenna Fischer
I'm very passionate about Instacart, so buckle in.
Angela Kinsey
I would say almost every single time Jenna leaves me a message after a trip, we always let each other know if we landed, if we made it safe.
Jenna Fischer
Yep.
Angela Kinsey
Jenna's like, lady, I landed. And I'm just doing my Instacart so that when I get home, my groceries are going to be there so I don't come home to a house with no food. And we've had a long travel day. And so you'll talk to me while you're doing your Instacart.
Jenna Fischer
This was one of my favorite Discoveries. Because when you travel and then you, like, are coming home, sometimes you get home really late, especially if there's been a travel delay. And that can be very stressful because you're thinking, I have no milk for tomorrow, Right? Well, with Instacart, you can get everything you need. And then I get home, groceries. Yay. We go to bed, wake up the next morning, fridge is full. Instacart brings convenience, quality and ease right to your door. So you can focus on what matters most. Download the Instacart app and use code officeladies20 to get $20 off your first order of $80 or more.
Angela Kinsey
That's code officeladies20 to get twenty dollars off your first order of eighty dollars or more. Offer valid for a limited time. Excludes restaurants. Additional terms apply. Here's the thing. What does feeling safe at home really mean to you? I think for a long time I thought it meant having, you know, strong locks or maybe an alarm system or something that would make noise if someone actually broke in. But I think I learned that true security, well, it takes like a system, right? It's a system that prevents break ins from ever happening in the first place.
Jenna Fischer
Lady, are you talking about SimpliSafe?
Angela Kinsey
Oh, did I not say that at the top?
Jenna Fischer
You didn't, but I think we all know.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, good.
Jenna Fischer
You love it. You set it up yourself. You're not a techie person.
Angela Kinsey
I'm not a techy person. Josh and I, we did a combo platter. He and I set some of it up and then there was a few things we needed help on.
Jenna Fischer
You're talking about SimpliSafe because SimpliSafe is the company that has active guard outdoor protection that helps stop a break in before they happen.
Angela Kinsey
That's right. It is security that is proactive, not reactive.
Jenna Fischer
Monitoring plans start at around $1 a day and it comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. Visit simplisafe.com officeladies to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free.
Angela Kinsey
That's simplisafe.com officeladies. There's no safe like simplisafe.
Jenna Fischer
You know, speaking of St. Denis Medical, we got a lot of letters from people who are fans of the show and of you specifically. We have started watching it. We love it.
Angela Kinsey
It's so good.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you.
Angela Kinsey
Phenomenal cast.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you.
Angela Kinsey
Yes.
Jenna Fischer
You just got picked up for season two.
Angela Kinsey
Congratulations.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Jenna Fischer
What can you tell us about working on it?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Well, you guys know Justin. Justin Spitzer and he is the loveliest man.
Jenna Fischer
So wonderful.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Such a sweetheart.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And for your listeners that have watched St. Denis, Justin was in our episode where we had a guy, a performer, come and do something for our pediatrics ward, and he's the one that did a somersault and juggled and then walked off stage. That was our Justin.
Jenna Fischer
I need to ask you about in the very first episode where you do a cartwheel, right?
Angela Kinsey
And everyone makes an audible like, yes.
Jenna Fischer
Was that scripted? No, you just can do cartwheels. I'm so impressed. Well, I can't do a cartwheel.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But you can. You can if you just decide to do it and you do it. Cause what had been told to me by our showrunner, Eric, he came in and whispered in my ear, just be a real cheerleader about it. So I said, okay, I used to be a cheerleader, so that's what I'll do. So that's how I interpreted it. And he said later. Well, that's not what I meant. But that was funny.
Jenna Fischer
I mean, you really went for it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, I went for it.
Angela Kinsey
You do sell it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Well, listen, when you are trying to motivate a staff because you did something really dumb like buy a mammogram machine that you forget, oh, wait, maybe A, we can't afford it, and B, oh, yeah, I have to plug it in. And I don't know if we can handle all this stuff. You're gonna do anything to divert away from your stupidity, right? So she's being a cheerleader. She's trying to get everybody out there. Come on, let's be happy. Let's put on our game faces and heal some people.
Jenna Fischer
It's so great. But it also, like, it breaks your heart sometimes. Like, it gets real, real. You know, in a way, that is something that I always loved about the Office, too. Was that undercurrent of, like, real?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, yeah. I've cried so many tears watching the Office, because there's always something at the end that's like. And it's just a look or a turn of phrase where you're like, oh, that got me. That got me. These are real people. This is a real situation. Like, work families, it's important. You know, those are. You spend more time with your work family than you do with your real family, unfortunately. But that's good.
Angela Kinsey
You know, even in the pilot, Alison Tolman's character, which I met Alyson one time, we both went to the same university, not at the same time. I know. I'm a dinosaur.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Stop it.
Angela Kinsey
Stop it. You're very young, but she is so talented. And she's struggling throughout her day to try to make it to her daughter's play. Right? And boy, did I feel that. I felt that so hard.
Jenna Fischer
It was like I felt it viscerally like the stakes. And I think that's what I like about the show is that there are real stakes. But then it's so incredibly funny. I mean, what a gift.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It was pretty delicious. When I read that pilot script, it was like, yeah, I think I gotta do this. I think I gotta do this. This is funny.
Angela Kinsey
So funny. And I have to ask you about working with Steve Little because I worked with him as well on Haters Back Off. And it might be I told Jenna this when I was doing that show at the time. Maybe of all the other times I've laughed so hard, which would have been in a conference room in the office when Steve Carell was doing his thing and we could all barely keep it together. The second hardest I've ever laughed on a set was with Steve Little when him and I had this weird romance and we had a date in a bathtub, but there was no water in a bathtub. And we were. Anyway, it was ridiculous. But he is so funny. He's so amazing.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
He is so funny. And he was my good luck charm at the Groundlings. He really was in the Sunday Company if I was struggling, I knew if I write something with Steve, it will get on and it will be a hit. I knew this, and I just love that guy. Like, I've tried to bring him wherever I am. Like, wherever I can shove him in, I try to do that. We did like a dramatic film and played husband and wife. It's called Blush. It was just a little festival film. But he's so such a gift. And like every time I. You know how sometimes you recommend people and you think, oh, God, maybe I shouldn't have done that. Maybe. I hope they don't embarrass me or anything. Every time I recommend him, I get thank you calls from people like, oh, he just elevated everything we did. And yeah, he's so great. I love that you love him. He's a good guy.
Jenna Fischer
Wendy, I can't believe we haven't discussed your kissing scene with Steve Carell where Michael and Concierge Marie are just making out in an alley at night. I know what is going on, which.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Was delightful and I highly recommend it. He is a good kisser. And for the audience at home, one thing that you don't want to be doing. And I'm sure you guys have experienced this. When you've had to make out with people on different sets is like, sometimes. How do I want to say this? There's like, an unspoken thing of, like, don't shove your tongue in somebody's mouth. Just. Just make it look like you're chomping.
Jenna Fischer
Stage kissing.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Stage kissing. Some people don't know how to do that.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah, yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And you. And you leave going, oh, gross. What am I gonna. Oh, God. I gotta go to the doctor right away.
Angela Kinsey
Where's the mouthwash?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Where's the pine sol? I don't know. But, yeah, he was delightful. And it was, you know, quick and dirty, and it wasn't uncomfortable at all. And, you know, you always feel weird when you're married and someone else is married. Like, it's a character thing, but still, you don't want to step on toes. No.
Jenna Fischer
So you're just like, hi, nice to meet you.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Nice to make out with you.
Angela Kinsey
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
I did a kissing scene with a very famous and handsome actor once. And so I went to do the scene. The way they kissed me was really odd. Oh, no. And it was like this, like, sort of like, it was like, I mean, I'm gonna do it for you guys, but nobody can see it. But it's like, oh, like he was.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Eating a steak a little bit.
Jenna Fischer
Like, there was, like, a person, like a. Like, really pursing the lips out.
Angela Kinsey
This is like a horse going for a carrot.
Jenna Fischer
That's what I'm seeing. Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
Like when it nibbles at something.
Jenna Fischer
And I was like, that is so weird. I have seen this person kiss in other things, and it always looks real smoldering. And so I went home and I told Lee about it, and he said to me, you know what? I bet this looks killer on camera. Because, of course he's seeing it as a director, right? And I was like, do you think so? So we got out a phone and we kissed, me and my husband, the way we would normally kiss. Right? The one that gives us all the feels.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Right.
Jenna Fischer
And then we filmed ourselves doing the arm wrong kiss.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Right.
Jenna Fischer
And we watched it back. My husband was right.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Really weird.
Jenna Fischer
Like, lip kisses looked so sensual and amazing, but to do it was, like, not at all fun or would never lead me to want to in real life.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It would lead you to leaving.
Jenna Fischer
It was correct. And we were stunned. And then when I saw it on screen, I was like, oh, really?
Angela Kinsey
I have two thoughts as this story is washing over me. One is, wouldn't you maybe just give someone A heads up, like, hey, I'm gonna kiss you.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Kind of.
Angela Kinsey
It's kind of like a over pronounced kiss. Just get ready for it. I promise it looks good on camera. So then you're prepared because otherwise, like, what's it like on the receiving end of the horse bun?
Jenna Fischer
Yeah, well, it was. Listen, it was one of those things where like in Wendy's situation, it was a one day job. Like I had to show up, I had to kiss somebody, I had to get out of here.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But that's very interesting. Like the, the weird chomping carrot eating, street corn eating. That looks good on super hot. And you tested this in your own laboratory, which I appreciate. You know, it is. You've proven that's amazing.
Jenna Fischer
Go home and try it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm gonna.
Angela Kinsey
As you were talking about all that, I mean, Wendy, I want you to know, I. This morning, with like my cup of tea in my robe, under my blanket, with all my weird rescue animals, I watched this YouTube clip called Best of Rita from Bridesmaids.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, yeah.
Angela Kinsey
I was laughing so hard. And you know, my husband's an early riser. I'm not. He's already been to the gym and the grocery store and he's coming in all gym, sweaty person. And I'm sitting on the couch in my robe with a cup of tea, surrounded by animals, and I am laughing my ass off. And it's early. And he's like, what are you doing? And I was like, I'm just watching Wendy, like the outtakes. You say this line, which is what made me think of this. You say to Ellie's character, you're talking about being married and having sex and stuff. And she said, so you guys don't really have sex anymore? And you were like, oh, no, we have sex all the time. He hasn't kissed me in five years. And it just cracked me up. Yeah, those are so delicious, those outtakes from Bridesmaids.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you.
Angela Kinsey
That looked like so much fun.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I forgot about that. That was very fun. That was very fun. And you guys got to work with the glorious Ellie Camper, who I have not seen in 12 years or whatever. But, you know, she seems to be doing well.
Angela Kinsey
She's doing great and she's the sweetest. But it looked like they just set the camera up and let it roll on the two of you and how many times you guys riff different things. It's just brilliant.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's brilliant comedy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Jenna Fischer
Paul Feig. Paul Feig was such a big part of the Office as well.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And Paul Dresses so well that you feel like, well, I have to listen to you. I know you're the best dressed person here.
Angela Kinsey
He is the best person I know in my life. Like, consistently best dressed.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I wish I had that kind of confidence in myself or I don't know how to even say it. Like, I wish I cared that much. To get up and put on an.
Angela Kinsey
Outfit every day, just the willpower to make it happen every day is kind of amazing.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Amazing.
Jenna Fischer
Well, as we are kind of getting ready to wrap up here, we're going to ask you our call sheet questions. But you've been in so many things, Wende. Is there any. Anything that stands out to you? A favorite memory or project or person you've worked with? Oh, I mean, there's so many.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, I listen, I'm so lucky that I got to have George Segel as my dad for eight seasons on the Goldbergs. I was so lucky that I got to do that job at all. You know, I don't have kids. I got to have kids and get that out of my system. I got to live through the 80s again and I got to work with probably 200 of the most amazing people that I will ever meet in my life. So, like, that was such a blessing. But having George Siegel, the legend, be my dad and I got to stare into those big blue eyes on camera like, oh, I will be eternally grateful that I got to do that. That was really fun for me.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah. And that show was ten seasons.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah. I mean, I feel like we talk about this. Cause a lot of life happens in that amount of time. Just you really do become a family. The cast and crew.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. Oh, yeah. And so many. I mean, you guys know, marriages, divorces, people getting sober, people having kids, losing family members, losing pets. Like, you're in it for everybody. And it's so special that you crave those people when you're on hiatus.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You're like, I can't wait to go back and tell so and so from Transpo that I watch this game on tv. You know, like, you just. They're your buds, they're your buddies. So that's what I wish for every actor out there is to be able to have an amazing work situation like that. A long running thing where you really get to bond with people. Cause it's very, very special. It is.
Angela Kinsey
And then you rap and you miss each other, and anytime you get to see each other, it's just like unbelievable. And then you text your best friend and you're like back and forth when.
Jenna Fischer
Can we work together again?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then there's the reality of God. You really want to see everybody all the time, and you really mean to get in touch, and then five years go by. Well, yeah, it's just you pick up right when you left off. You do.
Angela Kinsey
That's the beauty of it.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
All right, well, here are our call sheet questions. Let's start with number one. What was your first entertainment job?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
My first entertainment job? I believe I was. Oh, it was a music video. It was a music video.
Angela Kinsey
What music video?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
This is so dumb. I was an extra in a Carmen Electra video.
Angela Kinsey
Oh, my God, that's amazing. That is amazing.
Jenna Fischer
What did you have to do? Did you have to dance? Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And we had to audition. It was like there were auditions and callbacks just to be extras to Club Dance in the background. It was so silly. And I believe I was paid $100 in cash, you guys. And that's not nothing.
Jenna Fischer
Uh, were you a clubber? Did you have that in your life? Not really. Full on. Faking it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I was faking it.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I was faking it.
Angela Kinsey
But you know the Long beach club scene.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Not really. And there were a lot of clubs, but I just never had any money.
Angela Kinsey
Oh, yeah, it's expensive.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's expensive to go out and drink.
Angela Kinsey
And, like, pay for the high price cocktails.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Forget it.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
All right, number two, do you speak any other languages?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I have taken German and French and I can read it pretty well. I can't understand it if someone's speaking it, unfortunately.
Angela Kinsey
But you can read it?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I can read it.
Jenna Fischer
Has that come in handy ever?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I did get to go to the Olympics this past summer, so, yeah, it came in a little bit handy, but I was also, like, too nervous to trust my instincts, so luckily we had guides and everything.
Angela Kinsey
Okay, number three, what's a place you've been to that you absolutely loved?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I love New Orleans so much that I talked my husband into buying a condo there. Oh, wow. So we have the tiniest little condo in the French Quarter. I love it. It's like living in the middle of Disneyland. I mean, it's so fun.
Angela Kinsey
That town just has a whole energy.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
To it, doesn't it?
Angela Kinsey
It's just so cool.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, I love it. And we go as often as we can. And I mean, I love that you walk out in the morning and there's music playing.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
People dancing.
Angela Kinsey
And people just might start dancing down the street.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
I was fortunate enough. I did two movies there, but I have family from Louisiana. I just loved on the days that I had off, I would just go walk. And you always saw something. It's kind of like when you tell me stories, Jenna, about Manhattan. Like, you always see something.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah. Do you have a favorite food from there? Like, are you into the cuisine as well?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm not into the cuisine.
Jenna Fischer
That much cuisine. A little.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I don't eat shellfish or fish of any kind, so that takes a lot of it off the table. But listen, just give me some red beans and rice, and I am happy.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I do like really hot food.
Angela Kinsey
There's really good chicken gumbo. Cause you don't always have to have the gumbo with everything in it. There's a great gumbo at Herb Saints. It's my favorite restaurant in New Orleans. Steve Zahn turned me onto it because he did treme there for, like, ooh, seasons. I tell every single person that I know going to New Orleans to go to Herb Saints.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, okay. We're gonna go next time.
Jenna Fischer
Would that be your dream? A job like that would be so fun. Where you live there?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I don't think I could live there.
Jenna Fischer
For a long time for it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
My sister and I went. We just needed to have a sister's weekend, and she had been there. She said, oh, you're gonna love it. I went there with my sister, had the most amazing time, but also felt like, did I live here in a past life or something? Something about it felt very familiar to me. And I like walking down the street, and you kind of feel like, you know everybody. I can't explain it, but there's.
Angela Kinsey
There was like.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
There's just so many freaks there. Yeah. I love people who are just, like, super friendly, and I don't know. I'll take it from there. I won't take it from everywhere. Yeah. But every time you walk down the street, to your point, there's something weird going on. You're gonna see something that you weren't expecting always, you know? And is it haunted? Yes, but we won't get into that now.
Angela Kinsey
That's a different podcast.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
But, you know, a friend of mine has this theory. He's a comedy writer, and the first time he went to London, he was like, I kind of like, I can't explain it exactly, but I felt it in my bones. Like, I think my people were here at some time. He said, I just felt so grounded in this place that I've never lived in. And I don't know, I feel like.
Jenna Fischer
That'S how I feel about New York City.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Really.
Jenna Fischer
I don't know what it is. I didn't go there Till I was 26 years old. I didn't fall in love with it till my 30s. But there's a piece of me that makes sense there, and it's never made sense anywhere else in the world.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Have you lived there ever? Or did you? You did.
Jenna Fischer
I have a little bit.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah. But short periods of time. But I hope to retire there. It's my happy place.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's a magical place, too. And it's the center of the universe. I mean, let's be honest. New York City, everything you need is there.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah, it's true. It's such an amazing town.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It really is.
Jenna Fischer
All right, question number four. What do you like to do on the weekends?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I love to putter around at home. I'm not that exciting. I love my animals. You know, I got seven rescue cats.
Angela Kinsey
Seven?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
What are their names?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Butters is the most dominant. He has to be kept away from the other six.
Angela Kinsey
He's very, very featured on your Instagram.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And he demands it. He is the host.
Jenna Fischer
What color is he?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
He is buttery colored.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And when you come over for skating, he will command your attention, and you will need to compliment him because he expects it. Okay, I got three Siamese, a mom, and two of her babies. So that's Mocha, Cotton, and Gerber.
Jenna Fischer
Are they talkative?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Not really. Oh, not really.
Jenna Fischer
I've always shied away from Siamese because I thought they were very vocal.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
They are. Mine are not. Okay, so I don't know what that's about. Or maybe they only talk when I'm not there.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Angela Kinsey
My aunt had a really chatty Siamese she named Nuisance, and she'd be like, nuisance. Stop it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That's the greatest name for a kitty I know. Oh, man. Nuisance, no sense. We have a tripod named Wabi Sabi. We have a fat, fat ginger named Obi Wan. He was found strolling the streets of Hollywood as a kitten. Someone gave it to me. And. Oh, little Jack's we have a little tiger. Boy was the runt of the litter. Aww, Jacks. I think that's all of them. Yeah. So, yeah, I love just puttering. I like sewing. I'm really getting into sewing more.
Angela Kinsey
What do you sew?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Clothes.
Angela Kinsey
You make clothes?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
My dream is to sew something that I wear on the red carpet and.
Jenna Fischer
Say, I want this dream to come true.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. I want to make a show about it.
Jenna Fischer
I hope that you will.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I want there to be a Rachael Ray.
Angela Kinsey
And you say, me, Me.
Jenna Fischer
I'M wearing me.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you. Okay. You're gonna be on this show.
Jenna Fischer
I'm on it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
Bring me on, I think.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Cause getting dressed for special events is a big pain in the ass.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Right. So why shouldn't we know how to sew our own stuff? I'm sorry. My mom used to sew all my formal gowns, and I always had the best gowns.
Angela Kinsey
My mom would sew all of our, like, Easter outfits. And she sewed for so long. She will still. She still makes stuff all the time. Like, I'm constantly bringing, like, pot holders and things over to Jenna's that my mom, like, was like, I had extra fabric. Here's a potholder.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, you know, that's so sweet. That's such a mom thing to do. It really is.
Angela Kinsey
I was so bad, though. My sisters and I don't sew. And we're like, one of us needs to carry on this tradition. One of us needs to learn how to do it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It's so meditative, really. I love cutting patterns, and I've learned how to drape on a mannequin and stuff.
Jenna Fischer
That's huge.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But I need to. It's like, I do things in fits and starts, so I need to, like, really devote some time to it. But, you know, I watch a lot of TikTok, so I think, oh, now I'm a do it yourselfer. So I make a lot of messes or I start a lot of projects that never get finished.
Angela Kinsey
That's the show I wanna watch is the DIY people that start, like, I have an IKEA hack. I'm gonna make a library in my foyer. And I have all this crown, my molding, and then they're just like it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah.
Jenna Fischer
And they bail halfway through.
Angela Kinsey
That would be me.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
That is absolutely me. A half built house. Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
A half built library.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
As you walk in with all our.
Angela Kinsey
Clutter and stuffed in it.
Jenna Fischer
St. Denis Medical, season two, up fronts. Can your outfit be ready?
Angela Kinsey
Challenge.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Challenge accepted. Challenge accepted. Let me see what I can do.
Jenna Fischer
Maybe TCAs. That's later in the year, so you have a little more time.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'll do it.
Jenna Fischer
Yes.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm gonna do it.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Angela Kinsey
Jenna is.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I'm so gonna do it. Okay.
Angela Kinsey
She's a motivator. She'll give you a date and you're like, all right.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
TCAs that I can make happen.
Angela Kinsey
Oh, that's exciting. Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
All right. I'm doing it.
Jenna Fischer
We're gonna feature this outfit on Office Ladies.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I sure will. All right.
Jenna Fischer
Sure.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It'll be taped together.
Angela Kinsey
No one's gonna see that. Tay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
No, they're not in the back.
Angela Kinsey
All right, number five, this is the final question.
Jenna Fischer
Final question.
Angela Kinsey
Do you have a favorite midnight snack?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
No, because I don't eat after, like, seven.
Angela Kinsey
That's very good for your body. I have read.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
I do have a midnight drink that I have, which is very silly. I'm not a good sleeper. I'm a terrible insomniac. So my sleep, I have to, like, really be regimented about it. But there's this magnesium drink, this berry flavored magnesium drink that is delicious and it makes you feel like hot butter melting in a pan. You just, like, drift off and it's called Tru T R U. I've heard of this.
Jenna Fischer
I also struggle with sleep. And there's always the debate. Magnesium or what's the other thing?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Pot.
Jenna Fischer
Gummies.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
A gummy.
Jenna Fischer
Melatonin.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Melatonin, yes. Melatonin takes too long. It's gotta build up in your system.
Jenna Fischer
Okay, but this magnesium drink, it's game changing.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
It really is. You gotta take it, like an hour before you're ready to go to bed.
Angela Kinsey
Lady, I wrote it down for you.
Jenna Fischer
Thank you. Thank you.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah, there you have it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You're welcome.
Angela Kinsey
We're ladies. In a certain season, we need our sleep.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. Otherwise, what are you gonna do? Stay up at night worrying?
Angela Kinsey
No.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thinking about all the things you shouldn't have said during the day. That's what I do.
Angela Kinsey
This is you, Jenna.
Jenna Fischer
I know. We're the same.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You gotta just.
Jenna Fischer
We're the same.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Melt into the sheets.
Jenna Fischer
Now, will this keep you asleep all night as well? Cause you keep you awake. No, keep you asleep.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah, you wanna be asleep.
Jenna Fischer
Will this magnesium drink keep you asleep? Because one of my problems is, like, oh, sure, I'll fall asleep, but in.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Three hours, you're gonna wake up.
Jenna Fischer
I'm gonna wake up from a hot flash.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, then it's a whole.
Jenna Fischer
We start the whole game, the game calls, fall asleep again.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yeah. I would guarantee you're gonna get at least four good hours.
Jenna Fischer
Okay.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
Yeah.
Angela Kinsey
That's nothing.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Hot flashes are its own devil. Do you turn the air on? Do you?
Jenna Fischer
So I sleep with a fan blowing on my side of the bed.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
It's this big standup fan.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Okay.
Jenna Fischer
We need to put a piece of glow tape on it because. Oh, I need it positioned, like, really kind of right in front of the bed, but it's also right in the walkway to the bathroom.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Oh, so you run into it all the time.
Jenna Fischer
Well, I don't, but if my husband has to go to the bathroom, he runs into it. If the kids come in in the middle of the night, they run into it.
Angela Kinsey
So, like, this is, like, ridiculous.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And that's gonna wake you up too, isn't it?
Jenna Fischer
It really is. It really is. So we just. We need to. I don't know. And at night, I'll say, hey, everybody, don't run into the fan if you have to come in. Don't. Remember, don't run into mom's fan.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Right.
Angela Kinsey
And then they all just use. Gosh.
Jenna Fischer
There we go.
Angela Kinsey
That's hilarious. Wendy, thank you so much for being on our podcast.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you for having me. Thank you. I didn't bloviate for too long.
Angela Kinsey
You did not bloviate at all. You were just. You're just a badass. You are so funny and so smart, and we are just thrilled to just have had this time with you.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You are talking about yourself. You are talking about yourself.
Angela Kinsey
You stop it.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
You are the badasses.
Jenna Fischer
I really appreciate how vulnerable you were in talking about, like, how you've been fired. I've shared on the podcast before how I've been fired.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
And.
Jenna Fischer
And it's like. Cause I think people look at you and we see all the successes. We see 10 seasons of the Goldbergs and Reno 911, and you don't see all the lows. And I think it's really helpful for aspiring artists to know there are ups and downs, and you just keep going, and you never know, and new, wonderful things will find you. And, I mean, now, here, St. Denis.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Medical, you know, there's like, an actor's checklist. Like, you're gonna get fired. Yeah, you're just gonna get fired. Check it off the list. Someone's gonna tell you you're ugly. Check it off the list.
Jenna Fischer
Yep. Got that one.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
None of this stuff is true unless you think it's true.
Angela Kinsey
Right?
Wendy McLendon-Covey
But it's probably not true. Like, just. Just get used to it. Make friends with it. If you're not supposed to be somewhere, sometimes it takes something terrible to move you away from it. That's just how it goes. And so then it makes you question, do I really wanna keep doing this? And if the answer is yes, buck up and just keep going. And a lot of times, your biggest breakthrough won't happen until something catastrophic happens. That's like a hallmark of good things to come. So all you guys out there that are feeling like you want to do this, it's not easy, but it is very fun. The good times are really, really good.
Angela Kinsey
And you appreciate them because of the Journey. It's a journey.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Yes.
Angela Kinsey
Yeah.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Aw.
Jenna Fischer
Thank you so much.
Wendy McLendon-Covey
Thank you for having me.
Angela Kinsey
Thank you.
Jenna Fischer
Well, everyone, that was our chat with Wendy McLendon Covey, and I loved it.
Angela Kinsey
She's just so funny, like, just in person. Just like how she talks and her stories and anyway, wow, what a treat.
Jenna Fischer
And of course, Angela is going to share all the links to all the things that we talked about. And you have to check out St. Denis Medical.
Angela Kinsey
It is a phenomenal cast, a great show, and we are so excited for season two.
Jenna Fischer
All right, everyone, thank you for writing in your questions and we will see you next week.
Angela Kinsey
See you then.
Jenna Fischer
Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.
Angela Kinsey
Office Ladies. Office Ladies is a presentation of Odyssey and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey.
Jenna Fischer
Our executive producer is Cassie Jerkins, our audio engineer is Sam Kieffer, and our associate producer is Ainslie Bubaco.
Angela Kinsey
Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese Dennis.
Jenna Fischer
Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz.
Angela Kinsey
Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton.
Jenna Fischer
As a young adult, finding the right path to your future can feel overwhelming.
Angela Kinsey
It starts with Year Up United's tuition free job training program, Career Pathways.
Jenna Fischer
If you're without a bachelor's degree but have a high school diploma or ged, you can get skills first training to succeed in the industries you're passionate about, all while earning a weekly educational stipend to offset basic expenses.
Angela Kinsey
From there, you'll have access to internships and hands on experiences with Fortune 500 companies. And with Year Up United's job placement services and personalized coaching and mentorship, you can put your knowledge, skills, and most importantly, confidence into practice.
Jenna Fischer
Apply to Europe United today and take the first step toward achieving the career you want. Visit europe.org to learn more.
Podcast: Office Ladies
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Guest: Wendi McLendon-Covey
Date: August 27, 2025
In this lively and heartfelt episode, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey are joined by the hilarious and multi-talented Wendi McLendon-Covey. Known to The Office fans as Concierge Marie from season five’s “Business Trip,” Wendi shares her fascinating journey in Hollywood, from heartbreaks to career triumphs. The episode is full of behind-the-scenes stories from The Office, insights into her time on Reno 911 and The Goldbergs, and a peek at her latest role on NBC’s St. Denis Medical. Wendi, Jenna, and Angela dig deep into the actor’s path, women supporting women in comedy, and why loving animals will always be in style.
[10:04–13:00]
[12:44–15:40]
[15:40–18:00]
[16:42–21:00]
[21:00–23:48]
[25:08–26:43]
[27:24–29:18]
[36:06–41:23]
[41:23–44:22]
[47:35–65:12]
On resilience:
“Sometimes you're in the wrong place, and something horrible has to happen to get you in the right place.”
— Wendi McLendon-Covey (13:54)
On the downside of Hollywood:
“So, yeah, you're gonna get fired. Check it off the list. Someone's gonna tell you you're ugly. Check it off the list... None of this stuff is true unless you think it’s true.”
— Wendi McLendon-Covey (64:28)
Why Concierge Marie hooked up with Michael:
“I think it was boredom. ... Empty calories.”
— Wendi McLendon-Covey (29:00)
On navigating laughter on set:
"I’m a giggler, but damn it, I’m not gonna do it. I’m not gonna ruin a take.”
— Wendi McLendon-Covey (26:28)
On Paul Feig’s style:
“Paul dresses so well that you feel like, well, I have to listen to you. I know you’re the best dressed person here.”
— Wendi McLendon-Covey (47:08)
[50:17–65:12]
This episode blends laughter, honesty, and nostalgia in classic Office Ladies style. Wendi’s candor about career setbacks and triumphs will resonate with aspiring and working artists alike. The warmth and quick rapport among the trio make the conversation a joy to follow, while stories about the realities of comedy and TV work provide unique insight for fans. The love for animals, improv roots, and the value of work “families” is a touching throughline.
Recommendation:
If you love The Office, behind-the-scenes stories, or are curious about the winding path to comedy success, this episode is a must-listen—equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply human. Don't miss Wendi's takes on Steve Carell, comedy improv, and why rejection can be a blessing in disguise.