Office Ladies: "Fly on the Wall with Jenna Fischer"

Podcast: Office Ladies
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This special episode of Office Ladies features highlights and commentary surrounding Jenna Fischer’s guest appearance on Fly on the Wall with comedians David Spade and Dana Carvey. The episode is a heartfelt and hilarious journey through Jenna’s experiences on and off The Office, her passion for theater, memorable encounters with SNL legends, her friendship and partnership with Angela, and a deep dive into the mechanics and magic of the show that has meant so much to millions. The conversation moves seamlessly between showbiz anecdotes, life lessons, and the personal decisions behind balancing art, career, and family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Mic: Life Changes and the Office Ladies Team

(02:32 – 08:09)

• Jenna shares about her move to Chicago for her play Ashland Avenue at the Goodman Theatre and the challenges of balancing an intense rehearsal schedule with podcast recording.
• Angela reflects on how the Office Ladies team (including producers Cassie and Sam) all rally to support one another’s creative pursuits.
• Both hosts speak candidly about the importance of taking space for meaningful, sometimes "bucket list" creative work, and how life experiences (including recent personal challenges for Jenna) shape their choices.
• Quote (Jenna, 06:10): "While I am not worried about kicking the bucket, I saw the bucket. And it really put my life in focus. And when this opportunity came along, I thought, I want to do it now."

2. Jenna’s Appearance on Fly on the Wall: Setting the Stage

(08:09 – 10:00)

• Angela discusses how she missed joining Jenna for the Fly on the Wall interview due to a commercial shoot, and their mutual admiration for Spade and Carvey.
• Jenna jokes about old rumors of dating David Spade and describes her nerves and excitement at meeting Dana Carvey.
• Jenna recalls a 30-minute private post-interview chat with Dana, calling it "a highlight of my life."
• They tease the upcoming interview content: The Office, SNL, and more.

Fly on the Wall Interview - Highlights with Jenna Fischer, David Spade & Dana Carvey

3. Life Before and After The Office: Humble Beginnings and Car Stories

(15:22 – 20:45)

• Jenna describes driving cross-country in a beat-up car with no radio and why she prefers driving in silence.
• Each shares their first "big paycheck car" story, including the realization that Los Angeles traffic makes fancy cars mostly useless.
• Quote (Jenna, 18:18): "The problem with LA is that you get this awesome car, and then you can only go like 32 miles an hour in it because you're always stuck in traffic…"

4. The Art of Collaboration & Podcasting Partnerships

(22:54 – 24:37)

• Spade and Carvey probe about working as a duo—could Jenna have done Office Ladies solo for double the money? Jenna insists she couldn’t imagine it without Angela’s humor and quirkiness balancing her own spreadsheet-like approach.
• The group agrees that true friendships enhance their podcasts, making the chemistry authentic for listeners.
• Quote (Jenna, 23:26): "People are always very surprised to learn that we are best friends in real life. I could not have done the podcast without her… So Angela brings all of the funny and quirky and weird observations. We’re a pretty good pair."

5. Molly Shannon’s Life-Changing Advice: Persistence and Payoff

(25:27 – 29:53)

• Jenna recounts sneaking into a Television Critics party, meeting Molly Shannon, and getting the advice: "Don’t give up. It took me 10 years to get on Saturday Night Live."
• The story comes full circle when, exactly 10 years later, Jenna shares this moment with Molly at the Walk Hard premiere.
• Quote (Jenna, 27:49): "She looked at me, took me by the shoulders, looked me deep in the eyes and said, 'Don't give up. Whatever you do, don't give up. It took me 10 years to get on Saturday Night Live…'"

6. Sex Scenes & SNL: Blades of Glory and Comedic Legends

(31:17 – 32:31)

• Discussion of Jenna’s notorious sex scene with Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory—the oddity and discomfort, noting the extensive wardrobe required for modesty.
• She shares the humor and professionalism on set, poking fun at the pre–intimacy coordinator era in Hollywood.
• Quote (Jenna, 31:29): "That was terrifying. And Will was so polite when we shot that scene. He had to like, grab my boobs several times...but I probably had on more clothes in that scene than I normally wear. I felt so covered, it was crazy."

7. Revisiting The Office: New Insights and Enduring Appeal

(33:09 – 38:56)

• Jenna reflects on rewatching all 201 episodes for Office Ladies and realizing the show was strong throughout, even after Steve Carell’s departure—a narrative that wasn’t always shared by the cast.
• She discusses the structure, meticulous writing, and the collaborative, improvisational energy on set.
• Quote (Jenna, 34:12): "My biggest takeaway from having rewatched it was that it's really good the whole time...some of my favorite episodes were in seasons eight and nine after Steve had left..."
• Reveals the show’s famous “documentary” style was achieved by ex–Survivor camera operators, led by Randall Einhorn, and real-time, shoulder-cam shooting.

8. Improvisation vs. Script: The Office’s Unique Approach

(37:20 – 38:56)

• Jenna clarifies that while improvisation was encouraged, 90% of what ended up onscreen was tightly scripted, down to the beats for camera whips.
• Heavy emphasis on subtle, nonverbal acting and allowing "mistakes" (boom mics, missing marks) to lend authenticity.

9. Jim & Pam, John Krasinski’s Genius, and Post-Office Life

(47:22 – 48:29)

• Interview touches on the Jim-and-Pam phenomenon and how John Krasinski’s move into successful directing ("A Quiet Place") surprised no one on set.
• Jenna predicted John "would be our Tom Hanks"—an actor whose TV roots would be a mere footnote in his versatile career.

10. Humble Jobs, Psychic Readings, and Real Life

(48:48 – 51:35)

• Jenna humorously recalls working as a car wash attendant, at Long John Silver’s, and receiving her “psychic” prediction of becoming famous in "the world of religion."
• Both hosts and guests riff on the oddness and unpredictability of creative career paths.

11. Ashland Avenue and the Joy of Theater

(52:01 – 56:10)

• Jenna’s upcoming play, its world-premiere at the Goodman Theatre, and her deep love for live theater.
• Describes plays as uniquely magical: "You get to tell the whole story and go on the character’s journey every night…Each performance is slightly different and you have it. And then just like, only the people who were there got to see just is, like, really magical to me." (Jenna, 52:31)
• Discusses the bittersweet transition from Pam to new characters, and being typecast.

12. Balancing Career and Family: The Artist-Parent Dilemma

(57:10 – 61:44)

• On the “necessary selfishness” of art, and the conscious choice to be a “kid-centered” parent versus a “parent-centered” home.
• Shares therapy advice about family structure, illustrated with an eloquent river/stream metaphor.
• Quote (Jenna, 60:43): "She said, imagine your family is flowing like a river. Rather than diverting the whole river to the movie, you just take a little stream by yourself, do the movie, and then rejoin the river later. But the goal is to keep the river doing its thing."

13. Pre-Show Rituals, Live Mishaps, and the Thrills of Live Performance

(62:55 – 66:32)

• Jenna, Spade, and Carvey swap stories of stage mishaps, pre-show superstitions, and the exhilaration of connecting with a live audience.
• Jenna recounts improvising onstage when another actor missed his entrance—“The playwright said people thought I wrote those lines; that was just terrible improvisation!”
• On the difference between theater and TV: the audience is your partner and every show is unique.

14. Landing the Role of Pam: “Dare to Bore Me”

(67:06 – 69:21)

• Casting director Allison Jones’ unusual advice for the audition: “Dare to bore me”—to which Jenna attributes her success. She played Pam’s honesty and restraint instead of flashy humor.
• Quote (Jenna, 67:14): "Don't come in looking hot. Don't come in all done up...my advice is, dare to bore me."
• Jenna reveals her minimalist audition—“Do you like being a receptionist?” Pause. "No."—won her the role.

15. The Healing Power of Comedy: How The Office Got Jenna Through Hard Times

(69:43 – 70:41)

• Jenna shares how Larry Sanders Show was her own comfort watch after a serious injury, and how meaningful it is now to know The Office is that for others.
• David Spade ties it back to Ricky Gervais’s Larry Sanders connection, creating a showbiz full-circle moment.

16. SNL Dream Fulfilled: Nerves and Nostalgia

(72:19 – 73:25)

• Jenna describes being a "groupie nerd" guest on SNL for Steve Carell’s monologue and the awe of seeing Lorne Michaels at work.
• Her proudest small-talk moment: 30 minutes discussing prepping for the apocalypse with Lorne at the after-party.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jenna on the importance of creative fulfillment:
  "You just kind of realize that life is short and that things can change at any moment." (06:09)

• On Angela & Jenna’s friendship:
  "I could not have done the podcast without her...My version would be very informative, but way less entertaining. Angela brings all the funny, quirky, weird observations." (23:26)

• Molly Shannon’s advice:
  "Don't give up. Whatever you do, don't give up. It took me 10 years to get on Saturday Night Live..." (27:49)

• Jenna on awards and self-doubt:
  "Some of the award nominations stopped after season three so I think maybe we got in our heads and thought, oh, I guess we're not creating as great." (35:19)

• On growing as an actor:
  "There's a type of selfishness and self involvement that is necessary for being an artist...But that lane is not compatible with the kind of parent I want to be." (57:10)

• Jenna on The Office's enduring appeal:
  "It's just amazing. Amazing thing to have been a part of. I still can't believe it. And just what it means to people, too. Like, that's so cool..." (69:43)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------- | | Discussion of Jenna's theater schedule and Office Ladies team | 02:32-08:09 | | Setting up Jenna's Fly on the Wall interview | 08:09-10:00 | | Car stories: Humble beginnings & Hollywood purchases | 15:22-20:45 | | Angela/Jenna partnership; podcast chemistry | 22:54-24:37 | | Meeting Molly Shannon: "Don't give up" | 25:27-29:53 | | Blades of Glory, Will Ferrell, SNL anecdotes | 31:17-32:31 | | Rewatching The Office: Surprises & insights | 33:09-38:56 | | Improvisation & filming technique on The Office | 37:20-38:56 | | Jim & Pam, John Krasinski's directorial rise | 47:22-48:29 | | Early jobs, psychic readings, life paths | 48:48-51:35 | | Ashland Avenue: Theater passion | 52:01-56:10 | | Work-life balance, parenting, family structure | 57:10-61:44 | | Play rituals, stage mishaps, live theater stories | 62:55-66:32 | | Auditioning for Pam: "Dare to Bore Me" | 67:06-69:21 | | Comedy as comfort, connecting with fans | 69:43-70:41 | | SNL backstage, meeting Lorne Michaels | 72:19-73:25 |

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode is marked by warmth, humor, gratitude, and a candid exploration of both the glamorous and mundane sides of creative life. Jenna’s blend of heartfelt vulnerability and eager curiosity shines, while Spade and Carvey balance with comedic timing and seasoned industry wisdom. Angela’s admiration and friendship overflow throughout. The episode is a must-listen for Office fans, creatives, and anyone navigating the intersection of ambition, art, and everyday life.