Livin' the Dream, Pt 1, with Michael Imperioli

Summary

Podcast Summary: Office Ladies – "Livin' the Dream, Pt 1, with Michael Imperioli"

Episode Overview In the September 18, 2024 release of Office Ladies, hosts Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey delve into "Livin' the Dream, Pt 1," Season 9, Episode 22 of The Office. This episode marks significant developments for key characters, including Jim Halpert's focus on his marriage, Andy Bernard's bold career move, Angela Martin's personal struggles, and Dwight Schrute's pursuit of martial arts mastery. Additionally, the episode features a special guest interview with Michael Imperioli, who guest-stars as Sensei Billy.

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Key Plot Points and Discussions

1. Jim Halpert's Focus on Marriage Jenna and Angela open their discussion by highlighting Jim's decision to take time off from his role at Athlead to dedicate himself to his marriage.

Jenna Fischer [02:46]: "In this episode, Jim is taking time off from Athlead to focus on his marriage."

The hosts express relief and happiness for Jim and Pam's strengthened relationship, noting that their decision brings a sense of stability and contentment to their lives.

2. Andy Bernard's Career Pivot A major plot development is Andy Bernard quitting Dunder Mifflin to pursue his dreams, be it hosting a food show, dancing, or acting.

Angela Kinsey [02:56]: "Big deal. Finally, Andy quits Dunder Mifflin to pursue his dreams."

Jenna underscores the unpredictability of Andy's ambitions, commenting on the myriad possibilities his newfound freedom could bring.

3. Angela Martin's Personal Struggles Angela faces turmoil as her cats are confiscated, leading to emotional distress.

Jenna Fischer [03:12]: "Angela is mourning the confiscation of her cats. All her cats get taken away in this episode."

Jenna empathetically relates to Angela's situation, emphasizing the emotional weight of losing beloved pets.

4. Dwight Schrute's Martial Arts Journey Dwight is set to receive his black belt, a culmination of his dedication to martial arts.

Jenna Fischer [03:31]: "Finally, Dwight is going to receive his black belt in the place he loves most."

The hosts discuss Dwight's relentless pursuit and the humorous intricacies of his black belt ceremony.

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Special Guest Interview: Michael Imperioli as Sensei Billy

Casting and Character Insights Michael Imperioli shares how he was cast as Sensei Billy, highlighting the producers' search for actors with a black belt.

Michael Imperioli [04:41]: "Rain told me that they googled actors who were black belts and your name came up."

He appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the show, finding the role both humorous and enjoyable.

On-Set Experiences and Improvisation Imperioli discusses the dynamic on set, particularly his interactions with Rainn Wilson (Dwight).

Michael Imperioli [07:19]: "He's trying his best to keep composure because that's what a martial artist does."

He recounts how some scenes, like the belt thrusting, were improvised, adding authenticity and humor to the character interactions.

Martial Arts Authenticity Imperioli delves into the realism of martial arts portrayed, explaining the significance of hip movements in techniques.

Michael Imperioli [07:03]: "A lot of the movements in martial arts come from the hips."

He reflects on Dwight's understanding and execution of martial arts, blending it seamlessly with comedic elements.

Behind-the-Scenes Anecdotes The conversation touches on behind-the-scenes moments, including Dwight's poofy hair and Michael's recognition from fans.

Angela Kinsey [07:38]: "At 3 minutes and 39 seconds, this might be the poofiest hair Dwight has ever had."

Imperioli shares amusing incidents, such as managing prop mishaps and maintaining character amidst laughter.

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Fan Interactions and Theories

'Pam's Lucky Sweater' Theory A fan-submitted question explores the theory that Pam's pink cardigan signifies recent intimacy with Jim.

Jenna Fischer [25:55]: "Pam has a pink cardigan, and apparently if she wears it, it means that Jim and Pam have recently had sex."

The hosts analyze various instances of the sweater's appearance, debating its significance and exceptions within the storyline.

Budget and Wardrobe Insights The hosts reflect on their own experiences with headshots and wardrobe, drawing parallels to the characters' professional lives.

Jenna Fischer [49:32]: "My first Los Angeles headshot."

They share personal anecdotes about their early careers, adding depth to the discussion of character development and behind-the-scenes preparation.

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Episode-Specific Highlights

Dwight's Black Belt Ceremony The culmination of Dwight's martial arts journey features a comedic yet heartfelt ceremony where he presents his black belt to Sensei Billy. The scene includes improvised humor, such as Michael Imperioli laughing on camera, which was noted by listeners as a charming blooper.

Jenna Fischer [75:52]: "Spotted a single trailing drip of something on the wall behind Dwight's head at 20:58."

Character Interactions and Developments

• David Wallace and Andy Bernard: Their interaction underscores Andy's internal conflict and eventual decision to pursue his dreams.

  Angela Kinsey [63:16]: "Andy, of course, thinks this is Daryl's way of saying goodbye."

• Jim and Pete's Bonding Attempt: Jim attempts to connect with Pete, highlighting workplace dynamics and character relationships.

  Jenna Fischer [63:25]: "Jim's like, I bet you kind of miss Clark, huh?"

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Concluding Insights

Themes of Ambition and Personal Growth The episode and discussion emphasize themes of ambition, personal growth, and the balance between professional aspirations and personal life. Andy's bold move contrasts with Jim's prioritization of family, presenting viewers with diverse approaches to career and happiness.

Emotional Resonance and Humor Jenna and Angela adeptly balance emotional moments, such as Angela's loss, with humor, exemplified by Dwight's antics and improvised scenes. Their chemistry and insider perspectives enrich the analysis, making the summary accessible and engaging for both fans and newcomers.

Guest Contributions Enhance Understanding Michael Imperioli's insights provide a deeper understanding of Sensei Billy's character and the show's comedic elements. His reflections on martial arts authenticity and on-set experiences offer fans a unique glimpse behind the scenes.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Angela Kinsey [00:57]: "It's a lot to hold."

• Jenna Fischer [01:03]: "Listen, I think accessing gratitude is so good for your mental health."

• Michael Imperioli [04:41]: "Rain told me that they googled actors who were black belts and your name came up."

• Jenna Fischer [06:49]: "She just went for it."

• Angela Kinsey [25:09]: "Maybe the writer of the Talking head knows more."

• Michael Imperioli [07:19]: "He's trying his best to keep composure because that's what a martial artist does."

• Angela Kinsey [43:23]: "We may never know."

• Jenna Fischer [56:25]: "He is here to sell paper."

• Angela Kinsey [64:17]: "That made me laugh."

• Jenna Fischer [83:44]: "You know, I have to say, when you try to do something like this, it does serve you to have a little delusion."

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Conclusion In "Livin' the Dream, Pt 1," Office Ladies hosts Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey provide an insightful and entertaining breakdown of The Office episode, enriched by their camaraderie and the special guest appearance of Michael Imperioli. The detailed discussion of character arcs, combined with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and fan interactions, offers a comprehensive overview that captivates both long-time fans and new listeners alike.

Transcript

[Angela Kinsey]

Get ready, everybody, because Macy's Black Friday starts now.

[Jenna Fischer]

Shop early and score the best deals before they're gone.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love to get all of my shopping done early. I have a list that I make and this year I am going to Macy's.com to get all of those great deals and then I don't have to worry the rest of the holiday season.

[Jenna Fischer]

That is my favorite thing. It makes December so much more pleasurable to me when I can get my gifts out of the way.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, shop early and score the best deals before they're gone. Visit macy's.com through November 23rd for early black Friday deals. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

I am grateful for therapy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

That's Better Help. H E L P.com officeladies.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm Jenna Fisher.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm Angela Kinsey.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

We're the Office ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hello. Hi there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Should we tell everyone how we walked in today? It was ridiculous.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's that thing, I think when you're friends with someone, you start to, like, dress alike. Because we both showed up with our.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hair in braids carrying giant boxes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then we realized they're the same exact box of items.

[Jenna Fischer]

Which we'll get to later.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, but you said we should title this episode Braids in Boxes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Braids in Boxes. Here we go. The actual title of the episode that we're breaking down today is Livin The Dream Part 1 It is Season 9, Episode 22, written by Nikki Schwartz Wright and directed by Jeffrey Blitz. Would you like a summary?

[Angela Kinsey]

So much.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right. In this episode, Jim is taking time off from Athlead to focus on his marriage.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

Big deal. Finally, Andy quits Dunder Mifflin to pursue his dreams.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's gonna be something. He might host a food show. He might dance. He might act. There's so many options for Andy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Anything goes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Anything could happen.

[Jenna Fischer]

Angela is mourning the confiscation of her cats. All her cats get taken away in this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

Two Sax Worth.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know. I remember that. That made me laugh.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

And finally, Dwight is going to receive his black belt.

[Angela Kinsey]

Finally in the place he loves most.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. All right, to kick things off, we got a fan question from Emma Elle in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, who said, I want to know everything about what it was like to work with Michael Imperioli as Sensei Billy. I think his storyline and chemistry with Rainn Wilson is pure genius. How did he come to be cast in this role? Well, Emma, we are very excited to let you know that we got to interview Michael Imperioli. We did all about his time on the show, and his interview is our fast facts 1, 2, and 3 today.

[Angela Kinsey]

So here you go. We're so thrilled to have you.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, thank you. I'm glad to be here.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was so crazy when I was watching this episode, and then all of a sudden you popped up on my screen. And it was just the week before I ran into you on the street in New York.

[Michael Imperioli]

It was right after that. Yeah, it was pretty wild.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was such crazy timing. So thanks for being with us today. We'll just hop right in. So we always ask our guests, how did you get your job on the Office?

[Michael Imperioli]

Rain told me that they googled actors who were black belts and your name came up, and my name was on a list, so I don't know how many other actors they went through before they got to me who had black. Maybe Chuck Norris and I don't know who else. And that was really it. And then I got the script, and I thought it was really funny. And, I mean, the show's great and really funny, and that was it. That was how I got it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Had you watched the show before?

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, like everybody on the planet. Pretty much. Yeah. I thought it was really funny, and it was really a fun sequence, you know, a fun part of the episode. It's just so ridiculous. It was really fun to watch it again because I hadn't seen it in quite a long Time. And I was like, it's even funnier than it was when I first saw it. And when I did it. It stands up pretty well to be ridiculous and funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

It really does. I loved Sensei Billy, like, how calm he was. And just matter of fact, when Dwight's doing all this crazy crap. Well, listen, there are three scenes that you're in. One of them is the very first montage where Dwight's trying to kick the board, which is hilarious. Did you give Rain any tips, or did he just, like, go for it?

[Michael Imperioli]

No, he just went for it. You know, I've done Korean martial arts, mostly taekwondo, for, like, 22 years. And sometimes you do break boards. You know, that's. That's part of, like, usually on a test, when you're going up a level or something, you do that as a. You know, you're testing your kind of accuracy and speed and things like that. And I've never gotten kicked in the balls doing that, but I've held boards for other people testing, especially for kids. Kids aren't as accurate as adults sometimes, and they'll kick your hands and, you know, holding boards for people. I've gotten my hands pretty banged up, so that's kind of accurate. That really happens. But he just went for it. You know, I don't remember if he told me that he trained or not.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm pretty sure he had not trained.

[Michael Imperioli]

He had not trained. Yeah. It didn't seem like he did, but he just went for it. And, I mean, it's just so silly and fun.

[Angela Kinsey]

So silly. And then the next one is the belt ceremony in the office, the place he loves the most. Right? And then you couldn't get the belt off him, and he's kind of awkwardly thrusting at you, and you're so. Sensei, Billy's just like, this isn't gonna work. Okay.

[Michael Imperioli]

He's trying his best to keep composure because that's what a martial artist does, right? He's, you know, he doesn't let his anger get the best of him. But, you know, in martial arts, a lot of the movements, most of them really come from the hips, from the center of the body. You know, that's really where you get your power if you're throwing a punch. You know, if you watch, like, wow, athletes, like golfers or baseball players or tennis players, you can see it. Those. Yeah, those motions with the arms.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. I have a really good forehand. I don't want to brag, but I have a really. Well, now I'm bragging, but I have a really Good forehand at tennis. And I'm short. And people don't expect it because it's all in that twist, that torque from your hips.

[Michael Imperioli]

So a lot of the movements in martial arts come from the hips. Like punches and blocks and kicks even. Right. So I think that's what he was. He was figuring, I have to use my hips here, you know, even getting the belt. Like everything we do comes from the hips. And it wasn't necessarily. That's my theory at least.

[Jenna Fischer]

Do you remember like breaking at all in that scene? Cause I remember watching it and I think there's no shots of me in this sequence because they had to avoid me. Cause I couldn't keep it together.

[Michael Imperioli]

No, I lost it a few times. It was just so, you know, he's just so committed.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know, fans wrote in and pointed out every time someone broke and it's were all they clocked everybody except you.

[Jenna Fischer]

My memory, Michael, is that you were very good at keeping it together. Are you an actor that breaks a lot? Because I was so impressed if it's really funny.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, sometimes. You know, on the Sopranos, the time everybody broke was when it was the mother Livia's post funeral gathering at the Soprano house. And everybody's there, the whole family and all the gangsters and all the friends of the family. They're talking about this woman that everybody hated, really, and who hated everybody, trying to find nice things to say. And then they play her favorite song, which was this really schmaltzy love song from Carousel sung in this very high pitched voice. And when they put that song on, everybody just lost it. And they tried to do it again. And every time that song came on, everybody just lost it. And then they realized, well, we can't play the song, so let's just pretend we're listening to it. And that still didn't work. To the point where the director started yelling at people. Was totally out of character for him because he had directed a lot of our episodes and he was the sweetheart. But he just couldn't do the scene because we were just. It just became this thing that was just too ridiculous.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's hard to come back from that too. When you're gone. You know, when you're in that kind of laughter fit, you can. It's so hard to come back.

[Michael Imperioli]

Stop. You have to cut. You need some time. Well, they, you know, the Brits call that corpsing. You know that, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

I do.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know that.

[Michael Imperioli]

That's what they call it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because you're just dead.

[Michael Imperioli]

They call it Corpsing when you just can't stop laughing. Which is a weird expression, right?

[Angela Kinsey]

It is, but I love it. That happened to Jenna and I when I had to tell her that Dwight put sprinkles in my freezer, and I had to ask her if Roy had ever mercy killed one of her pets. We couldn't. Every time I had clawed the peas, like the bag of peas, because the cat was trying to get out of the freezer, we couldn't get. They broke us for lunch. They were like, you're gone, you're corpsing.

[Michael Imperioli]

You need time.

[Jenna Fischer]

Forget it.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah. Because at that point, everything's going to be funny no matter how. Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

How you approach it.

[Michael Imperioli]

And it's infectious and it's uncontrollable. It's an interesting phenomenon, and you can't really explain it to anyone unless you're really. Because you're acting. You're not supposed to laugh. Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

But which makes it worse, I think.

[Michael Imperioli]

Makes it worse. Yeah. It's like, don't think of the word elephant or something. It's kind of like that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, speaking of laughing, after the belt thrusting, we get to Dwight's demonstration.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Which is so incredible. I have to ask, with all of your experience, is anything he's doing in this scene accurate in any way? Is he doing any actual moves here?

[Michael Imperioli]

You know, some of the basic techniques he's executing, but he doesn't really know how to do them properly.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. Is Sensei Billy giving him a black belt? Like, sort of patronizing? Has he earned his black belt, in your opinion?

[Michael Imperioli]

I think he's earned it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well.

[Michael Imperioli]

He said he's one of the most tenacious people he's ever seen. So true. I think that tenaciousness, you know, a black belt in martial arts, you have to remember, is you're not competing or comparing your level of skill and your development to anyone else. It's about your progression. So you can have a black belt, two black belts that have trained them out the same amount of time, and one's a super great athlete and one's not. And they're going to be very different martial artists, you know, because natural athleticism and stuff. You know, I mean, I'm 58. I still train, but, you know, you see some of these kids at 25 doing stuff that's just incredible that I. I'm. I'm not going to do. I mean, I have basic techniques that I've worked on for many years that I. I'm comfortable with. I like the fitness of it, but even the. The belt levels and that kind of thing is about your own progress and what you've done. So I guess sensibility, I love that we're talking about this, like sensibility. Billy said he's very tenacious and he trained with someone for 20 years who ripped him off. Right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Michael Imperioli]

And I think sensibility feels like that gives martial arts a bad name because sensibility really believes in it and thinks this is, this is horrible because martial arts is, you know, is a great legitimate form of art or fitness and training and all those things, you know, And I've seen people who were black belts who had zero athleticism, but they worked really hard and they did have their basic techniques and they were able to kind of fulfill the requirements that the different levels offer, you know, so it's really about your own progress.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think that's really beautiful. And it's also making me feel like maybe I could be a black belt if it really is about me. Like if I really took this seriously.

[Angela Kinsey]

And put the time in.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. Like truly inspired by this idea of this journey, of this physical, mental, spiritual journey, committing to this thing.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

That is like so beautiful that this is open to all people.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did not know that. And I absolutely love it.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah. You know, my main teacher, Grandmaster Tae Sun Kang has been teaching for, I think it's over 40 years. And he's dedicated his life to this. Right. He just got inducted into the Taekwondo hall of fame. Right. This lifetime achievement. But he has a lot of students that have been with him for many, many, many years. And this last test, they have a black belt test twice a year and he has a couple of schools in the New York area. The last test, three women all over 50 got fourth degree black belts.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's awesome.

[Michael Imperioli]

The highest testers of that batch last, that was last November, December were three women over 50, close to 60.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow. Well, as a woman who just turned 50 this year, I just think that's so beautiful.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, it was really cool to see that last winner. Those three women get, you know, as the highest testers and get all getting 4th degree black belts, which means they've all been training, you know, 20 years, maybe 20 plus years.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow, that's so cool. That inspires me.

[Angela Kinsey]

My sister in law, who's around our age, Jenna, got her black belt this week and I was so proud of her. She's in Colorado, but she's been studying a long time. And so it was just sort of really cool that we were talking to you today and Sensei Billy and all of that. So I told her. I was like, way to go, girl.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, it's a really great way to stay fit. You know, for me, when I started, I was really out of shape. I was smoking cigarettes, I was drinking and I wasn't exercising at all. And my kids started going and I would go pick them up and watch and stuff. And then I, you know, this is 22 years ago. And then slowly I started and I eventually realized I can either I had to choose one, smoking cigarettes or doing taekwondo because they didn't, they didn't go together. And, you know, it started me on a path of health. There's a humility to it and the thing of respect and think about meeting goals and exceeding goals and challenging yourself and what I liked. I always had problems committing to a gym program because I would get bored doing, you know, like weight machines and things like that. This is about learning a skill, you know, and for that hour that you're doing a class, you can't think about anything else. It's not like you're on a treadmill watching CNN or, you know, list, you know, checking emails. Yeah, you can't really think of anything else except what you're doing in the moment because it takes all that concentration. And that was really helpful for me.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love that. I feel the same way. On a tennis court, you can't think. You don't have your phone, you can't think of anything. I take my watch off because I don't want it buzzing or anything. Yeah, yeah, that's great. Well, Michael, do you have any memories? I know you were only on set that one time, but do you have any memories from being on the set with us or any behind the scenes thing about your time on the set?

[Michael Imperioli]

I was kind of surprised where it was. It was this really out of the way in the middle of nowhere, wasn't it?

[Jenna Fischer]

It was. We loved it.

[Angela Kinsey]

It was across from train tracks. There was like a junkyard dog on a chain. It was.

[Michael Imperioli]

I thought I was going to like, you know, the Sony lot or some kind of, you know, Hollywood kind of legendary. I like those big legendary old lots. It's kind of fun, right?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, they're pretty.

[Michael Imperioli]

But it wasn't anything like that.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, no, no.

[Angela Kinsey]

One time we went to the Universal Studios lot for, I don't know, like a photo gallery shoot or something and we were like, guys, there's a cafeteria, there's a gym, there's a gym.

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, some of them have everything.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, we shot a lot in the surrounding area and they Kind of tried to find a part of LA that didn't all the palm trees so that we could just walk out onto the street and do exterior stuff. So I think that was kind of part of it.

[Michael Imperioli]

Kind of industrial and not at all West Coast. Yeah, it did have that feel a little bit.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I have to ask, do you ever get recognized as Sensei Billy? Does it come up really a lot?

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's so crazy, too.

[Michael Imperioli]

A lot. Because it's such, you know, I mean, it's such a popular show.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, it's got to be Christopher first, right?

[Michael Imperioli]

Christopher first. Because that's, you know, what I'm known for. But, yeah, people remember me from that. I mean, and sometimes I have some, you know, when go to openings or events or stuff like that, people have, you know, they have waiting for you with photographs. Sometimes they're sensibilities. Photos.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, really?

[Michael Imperioli]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I kind of love that. It was very memorable.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, we were so delighted.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, it was a really, really cool thing that you came and did that. That was really neat and really cool that you came and talked to us about it today. Thank you.

[Michael Imperioli]

Thank you. Yeah, it was a really good time. He's a very good actor. I mean, it was really fun to work with Rain. He's very, very committed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Very committed.

[Michael Imperioli]

Very much like his character, isn't he? Yes, very committed and just so, so funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thanks so much, Michael. This was wonderful. Thank you.

[Michael Imperioli]

Thanks for having me. We'll see you soon. Take care.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Bye.

[Michael Imperioli]

Bye.

[Jenna Fischer]

How great was that?

[Angela Kinsey]

So fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

I just love that he is a black belt in real life.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love that the majority of that conversation was about martial arts.

[Jenna Fischer]

Me, too. Well, listen, Michael, thank you so much for stopping by Office Ladies. You know, he has a movie coming out in December. It is called O Canada, and it's directed by Paul Schrader. It is starring Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Jacob Elordi and Michael Imperioli. And he said it's great.

[Angela Kinsey]

He said it's one of Richard Gere's best performances ever. I can't wait to see it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, listen, why don't we take a break and when we come back, we will dive into Living the Dream, part one, and you'll find out what's in our giant boxes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, you will. Let's go. Peloton.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

Find your push, find your power with [e-mail] We've been talking about the SimpliSafe home security system for a long time now and I'm very excited because SimpliSafe is now offering our listeners 60% off. Just visit simplisafe.com officeladies well, you guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

This is their best offer of the year. Head to simplisafe.comofficeladies that's simplisafe.com officeladies there's no safe like SimpliSafe. This podcast is brought to you by Squarespace. We have talked to you guys a lot about Squarespace. It is an all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or managing a growing brand, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful website, engage with your audience and sell anything from products to content to time. All in one place. All on your terms. You guys know we use Squarespace. We have for years. We love it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, we've been using Squarespace for over five years and in that time Squarespace has added so many cool new features. For example, Squarespace can help you set up seamless checkout for your customers with simple but powerful payment tools. Accepting all credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay. Squarespace also has the tools you need to create and sell your own online course. You can charge a one time Fee or sell subscriptions.

[Angela Kinsey]

Squarespace can also help you with email campaigns. Head to squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch, go to Squarespace to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. We are back. It's Living the Dream, part one. And before we start breaking down the episode, we have a special guest here today. We want to give a shout out. We've never had this done before, but Kate Arthur, the editor at large at Variety, is joining us.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hi, Kate.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hi, Kate.

[Kate Arthur]

I didn't know I was getting a shout out.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's incredible. Of course you are.

[Jenna Fischer]

You're here. You're our guest. Our guests get shout outs.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Kate Arthur]

I'm so happy to be here.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, we heard that you and your son listen to Office Ladies in the car sometimes.

[Kate Arthur]

We sure do. Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Sorry for all my bull cards.

[Kate Arthur]

Oh, that's okay. He likes it.

[Angela Kinsey]

But we put together a little bag of nifty gifties for your son.

[Kate Arthur]

That is so lovely. Thank you. He's going to love it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kate, we really are so excited that you're here today. We've been excited, and we're just so grateful that you're gonna shine a light on Office Ladies. Thank you.

[Kate Arthur]

Thank you for your service. It's provided us many hours of joy, well beyond the joy that our family experienced watching the whole show together. All nine seasons, which we finished last year. Sometime. I think so. Then we started listening to the podcast to relive it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, that's been our goal.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right.

[Jenna Fischer]

This whole time.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, when the article comes out, we'll be sure and share. And why don't we get down to breaking this episode down?

[Jenna Fischer]

All right. Jim and Pam are gonna arrive to work, and they are, dare I say, blissfully in love. This trot through the parking lot. We haven't seen this in a while.

[Angela Kinsey]

They have a super cute joint Talking head together. I'm pointing out all the talking heads as these final episodes play out. And this one is facing out. Jim and Pam are facing out to the future of their life.

[Jenna Fischer]

Although maybe they should be facing in, since Jim is coming back to Dunder Mifflin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hmm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Maybe the talking head knows more than they do at this moment.

[Angela Kinsey]

Maybe the writer of the Talking head knows more.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Jim is going to share that he's taking time off from Athlead, and the guys in Philly have been calling nonstop. But all that matters is the two of them being together. And they've had some great days together. And Pam says, and a nice morning too. And then Jim's like Beasley.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm. Well, we had a fan question from Anto P. In Brooklyn that so intrigued me. Anto said, are you aware of the, quote, Pam, lucky sweater theory? No, I was not. Thankfully, Anto linked to this theory. The theory is that Pam has a sex sweater.

[Angela Kinsey]

No.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. It is a pink cardigan, and apparently if she wears it, it means that Jim and Pam have recently had sex.

[Angela Kinsey]

Get out.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Did you, like, go back and look at episodes?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. So in the carpet, she's just returned from the Poconos with Roy, and she hesitates to answer when Michael asks if she got lucky.

[Angela Kinsey]

Is she wearing the pink sweater?

[Jenna Fischer]

She is.

[Angela Kinsey]

Stop.

[Jenna Fischer]

And later, she has to tell Jim, like, oh, well, we didn't ski much. Like, she's all, like, shy to be like, no, we actually didn't ski much. So. Okay, then I guess she wears it again in pda. That's the episode where her and Jim hook up in the closet.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then she wears it in this episode too. Now, she wore it one other time. She wore it in Customer Loyalty, and that's the one where Cece has her recital and she breaks down crying.

[Angela Kinsey]

So maybe that one throws the theory off a little.

[Jenna Fischer]

It does. But don't they always say, oh, that's the exception that proves the rule? Isn't that that saying, in order to prove a rule, there's always one exception?

[Angela Kinsey]

One exception?

[Jenna Fischer]

Is that what that sentence means?

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm gonna be honest with you.

[Jenna Fischer]

We don't know. Why are we asking each other?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't really know what it means.

[Jenna Fischer]

We don't know what it means. But anyway, fans wondered if maybe that was a nod to the private moment that she's gonna share with Brian in the end, that there was still intimacy, even though it wasn't sexual intimacy. This is how the fans justified it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, there are a lot of theories out there about different, like, parts of the show. This one is the most surprising to me, that she's got a I got lucky sweater. Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is a way too personal question. Do you have an item of clothing that might tip someone off to the fact that you just got lucky?

[Angela Kinsey]

Look at me.

[Crew Member]

What?

[Angela Kinsey]

Look how I rolled in here today.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I'm thinking maybe you didn't get lucky this morning, but if you had gotten lucky, what might you be wearing?

[Angela Kinsey]

I got lucky with three kids at school. Drop off. Now's the time.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's not what I'm asking. I'm just asking. Let me Tell you. I'll tell you. If you see me in pajama bottoms at 2:30 in the afternoon, it's because maybe I had some afternoon delight. That's all I'm saying.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

If I've put my pajama bottoms on by 2:30, it's because we had some hanky panky. I took a shower and I was like, well, I'm not gonna get dressed at this point. I'll just put my pajama bottoms on and I'll roll through the afternoon into bedtime. That's your tell. If you stop by my house at 2:30 and I have pajama bottoms on, that might be a.

[Angela Kinsey]

We all know now. I guess for me it'd be like if I show up with wet hair.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, oh. I feel like I've seen that a lot. Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Because I have run out of time.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, I have just gained an inside.

[Angela Kinsey]

Also. I just had this moment of like. Our kids cannot listen to this episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, they cannot. No, they cannot.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right.

[Crew Member]

Well, the phrase proving the existence of the rule.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Crew Member]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

So are you going to tell us what it means?

[Crew Member]

The argument states that if an exception exists or has to be stated, then this exception proves that there must be some rule, in which case is the exception. So the phrase special leave is given for men to be out of the barracks tonight until 11pm the exception proves the rule means that this special leave implies a ruling requiring men except when the exception is made to be in earlier. The value of this interpreting statues is plain.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, you had me. You lost me. But I'm gonna go back to when you had me and I think I get it.

[Crew Member]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think the fact that we have to say there's an exception to this rule proves that a rule exists in the first place.

[Crew Member]

Exactly. So if there's a sign in a shop that said pre dom delivery required for refrigerators would be that prepaid delivery is not required for other objects.

[Jenna Fischer]

Right. That's the exception to the rule.

[Crew Member]

Exactly.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know what, what's happening in my brain right now? It's like if you take the A train from Boston and you leave at 2:00. It's that problem. It's that math problem. Yeah.

[Crew Member]

When do you meet?

[Angela Kinsey]

When do you meet up if you meet in Ohio? I don't know. I don't know.

[Jenna Fischer]

You don't know?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't want to figure it out.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, well, listen, where are we?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, well, Andy is about to approach Jim in the break room to ask his opinion on ties he says, which tie makes me look like a guy who likes sofas? His agent is putting him up for a furniture commercial.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Jim says definitely the blue tie.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then we learn that Jim might have a new nickname. No longer Big Tuna Carpaccio because he's.

[Jenna Fischer]

Been spreading himself too thin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thinly sliced tuna.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have a few things here that I'd like to point out.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right. I have a background catch from a fan. Where do you want to start?

[Angela Kinsey]

First of all, I love that we find out that Andy has work makeup, and there were a few candy bag alts for this.

[Jenna Fischer]

Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

Uh huh. And I'm going to share the one I love. Ok. Andy says, tell me about it, Big T. Between this job and my acting, it's like I've been living a double life. Like, who even am I right now? Sofa buyer number two or Andy Bernard? I couldn't tell you.

[Jenna Fischer]

I like that line.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then I have a background catch. Well, I think it's why we both brought these big boxes today.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, well, yes. My background catch came from Haley S. In Knoxville, Tennessee, who noticed that in the vending machine in the break room behind Jim there is a package of chips and they are flavored baby back rib chips.

[Angela Kinsey]

They are. That was my catch. If you go to 1 minute, 33 seconds in the A1 slot, are these chips that say baby back ribs. I had to know, is this a real chip?

[Jenna Fischer]

Same.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then we both bought boxes of them. Here's the thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

They only come. At least they're regional. They're hers chips. They are a real chip. And the only way we could get them here to the west coast, at least the only way I could find was by ordering a giant variety box of hers chips.

[Angela Kinsey]

Same. So guess what, you guys, Today everybody gets hers chip. But we have to try. Where is it? Where is it? Jenna? We have to try the baby back ribs chips.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, everyone, y'all in the sound booth, you can have your own bag or share. There are so many.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, guys, are you ready?

[Jenna Fischer]

Opening bag. Will these taste different than just barbecue chips? Is my big question. Here we go.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here we go. Oh, my gosh. They taste like ribs. They really do.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, near the. Oh, I kind of liked it. And then I didn't.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my God, I love them.

[Jenna Fischer]

What is.

[Angela Kinsey]

They make me want to have ribs.

[Jenna Fischer]

What does everyone else think? I'm gonna eat another one.

[Crew Member]

I mean, they're fine.

[Jenna Fischer]

Fine.

[Crew Member]

It tastes like barbecue.

I was worried they were gonna have meat in them. Cause I'm vegetarian.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, no. But they don't it says artificially flavored.

[Crew Member]

Yeah, they're not bad, but, yeah, there's like, a lingering vinegar taste to it, I think, but.

[Angela Kinsey]

Kate, did you try one?

[Kate Arthur]

I like them quite a bit.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do too.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I'm still eating them.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was gonna say Jennifer, someone who was like, I don't know how I feel about it. You just ate five. You just have to sit there and quietly chomping on your chips.

[Jenna Fischer]

So sorry.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right. Well, was that worth us both purchasing and carrying these giant boxes to work today? I don't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, we're gonna have Herr's chips for a while.

[Jenna Fischer]

Here we are. I'm excited because there's some sour cream and onion in the box, and I actually love her's sour cream and onion.

[Angela Kinsey]

You do?

[Jenna Fischer]

There's also. I just wanna say something called jalapeno popper cheese curls. And Lee had a bag and said, they're delicious.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I'll be trying that after this.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Not sponsored by hers, but maybe we.

[Angela Kinsey]

Shouldn'T be someone writing. Maybe we should let them know. I have to tell you that I found some amazing gems in my digital clutter.

[Jenna Fischer]

Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. And I went old school back to the days of when I used to do note cards, and I made two note cards, and, Jenna, you get to pick which one I'll share first. I will share both of these digital clutter items in this episode, but these are your choices. Read them out loud.

[Jenna Fischer]

Dorks in a trailer. Wedding bells. Aw. I'm going to choose dorks in a trailer. But I just. I got a little bit sentimental seeing you bring in these note cards that we. You know, we're getting near the end here of our rewatch, and I haven't seen a note card in a while, and it just made me sentimental.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know I used to bring in, like, 45.

[Jenna Fischer]

You did? All right, tell me about dorks in a trailer.

[Angela Kinsey]

I will. One second while I find it. So I have been going back, you know, looking at each week we film an episode, I go into my email. As you know, I never delete emails. So I have a ton of old emails. And in one of my emails, I found a video that I made in your trailer at lunch about this episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh. A video.

[Angela Kinsey]

A video. So the week we did this episode, I guess I made a video maybe for NBC.com on my phone, and I still had it. And wait till you see us, lady. We are such dorks. But it made me so happy to see this. I'm so Glad I still had this in my email. I'm going to play it for you. But everyone out there can hear the audio. But you'll get to see the video and I'll also share it in our stories. Hi, everybody, it's Angela Kinsey from the set of the Office with Jenna Fisher.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hi. We just want to let you guys know that there are two episodes of the Office airing tonight. Brand new, one full hour. The first half hour is a lot of Dwight fun wacky comedy. And the second one is one of my favorites of the year. Some big stuff for jam. So check it out.

[Angela Kinsey]

Check it out people. Check it out. Woo. This is.

[Jenna Fischer]

We are still the same.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Do you know when you see videos of kids and then they're the same as an adult, like we are still the same. I am just, I'm gonna give you the information that NBC.com put in the memo that they asked us to relay and then you're like, whoop.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm like, check it out. Yep.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw. We're still going strong.

[Angela Kinsey]

We're still dorking it up. Okay. And then I will play wedding bell card later.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love it. Well, Angela is gonna arrive to the office now. She is disheveled. She looks miserable.

[Angela Kinsey]

I looked up in the shooting draft how it was described.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, I was going to ask you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here's what it says. Angela enters the office looking like a wreck. She's in jeans, an inside out sweater with the shoulder pads exposed and she sips from a Big Gulp cup. She looks like.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, Oscar is concerned. He asks if she's okay. This is when she tells him that the county took her cats.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, I do want to point out the moment I walk into the office, like sipping on that Big Gulp. Yeah, that is one of my memes that I see in the world.

[Jenna Fischer]

I bet.

[Angela Kinsey]

And people usually like post it and they write something like heading into Monday, like, and it's me sipping on a Big Gulp.

[Jenna Fischer]

We did get a question about your hair. Oh yeah, Martha B. From Malta, we've heard from Martha before, would like to know, did you have your hair back combed every day? That must have been hard to deal with.

[Angela Kinsey]

Martha. What Kim did is she had me turn my head upside down and then we just kind of shook it and teased it and then she sprayed it and had me flip back over and then we crunched it and sprayed it again. You know, I was looking through old photos and it's really not much different than how I used to do my hair in the 80s in Texas. It's kind of the same. I'm just missing the wall bangs.

[Jenna Fischer]

Right. I really felt for Angela when she told Oscar that they took her cats when she was out, because I really felt the violation of someone coming into your home and taking something precious to you, like your cats. Oscar kind of expresses some sympathy, but Angela is. She's not ready for sympathy. Right. And then the scene ends with her kind of trying to brush all this cat hair off her sweater. And then she sniffs it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm. Yeah, that was all scripted. It says, Angela pulls out a slicker brush and combs lumps of cat hair off her sweater, forms it into a ball, and sniffs it wistfully. And here's the thing. I had a whole wardrobe fitting for this episode, Right. And the sweater they gave me, it wasn't real cat hair. My memory is it was like this mohair kind of fluff. You know, that mohair kind of stuff.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

But it did float up in the air around me. It's, like, got stuck in my lip gloss. Like, I was. There were a few times where I was like. And I just loved it. I loved everything about this look. You know, Alicia, our costume designer, was really thoughtful about it. I loved that my sweater actually didn't end up having shoulder pads, but we made sure it was inside out. And it had those little ribbons that you attach to the hanger.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, that was my favorite detail.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, I love that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Was that those ribbons? Now, when I get something, I snip those out immediately. Those things drive me absolutely nuts. Does anyone actually use those?

[Angela Kinsey]

You know what? I have one dress that's like the one shoulder. Do you know what I mean?

[Jenna Fischer]

Where it's useful.

[Angela Kinsey]

Where it's useful. Otherwise, I cut them out. Or they just flop around and they poke out from your armpit. Whole thing.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, they drive me crazy.

[Angela Kinsey]

They drive me crazy.

[Jenna Fischer]

But I loved them as this detail on Angela's sweater.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do have a background catch at 2 minutes and 52 seconds. I'm calling it a full circle, full circle moment here. If you look at the glass partition between Angela and Kevin, you can see the back of the yellow post it note. It's the one that I made in the pilot episode inviting everyone to Sprinkle's birthday. As you guys know, I've shared. When I gave it to Brian as Kevin, he taped it to the partition. It stayed there all nine years. And you can see it in this shot.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love that. And then you got to take that. When the show ended and it ended.

[Angela Kinsey]

Up in our book, it is Brian saved it all that time.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, now Dwight is going to arrive to work and he is going to call for everyone's attention because there are four new weapons in this office.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's his arms and his legs. My favorite line in this, It's a total throwaway line. It's my favorite line when he says, this morning, after hours of combat with some of the city's best teenagers, I earned my black belt.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right. He then has a talking head where he talks about how he had to part ways with Sensei Aira and he found a new dojo and a new sensei. Sensei Billy, who felt he had more than enough training to take the test. Yes, because as it turns out, most students don't spend 20 years and $150,000 to get a black belt.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have two things. I got so tickled in this. Okay, at 3 minutes and 39 seconds, this might be the poofiest hair Dwight has ever had. It's still the zipper part, but it's so poofy. I took a screengrab, I was laughing so hard and Rainn, I want to apologize in advance for how this screen grab looks. It's just where your face stopped when I hit pause. Look at his hair.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's very, very poofy.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is my favorite thing. I'm going to set it as his picture in my contacts now. I will share that in stories. And then I was really curious about what it costs to get a black belt. Were you curious about this? I was fascinated. So I guess Dwight has spent 7,500 a year to get his black belt. Okay, well, I texted my sister in law in Colorado because she's been taking martial arts for a very long time and I said, is this anywhere in the ballpark of what you spend? And this is what she had to say. It varies widely based on discipline, but for taekwondo it's been about four years for me for first degree, then each degree up is at least that number of years spent at the prior belt rank. So two years minimum to second degree, three before third, etc. You're constantly working towards it. And then there's the cost of the gear and tournaments and all that other stuff. So you're looking at about 4k for 2 years of training.

[Jenna Fischer]

But would 2 years of training at 4k get you to black belt? Because there's a lot of belts.

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't know.

[Jenna Fischer]

So we have you mom Detective.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm mom Detective. I missed one last question, which would be, do you have your black belt?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we may never know.

[Angela Kinsey]

We may never know. I mean, I could text her and.

[Jenna Fischer]

Ask her, but it's better this way.

[Angela Kinsey]

But maybe we leave it. We leave it like this.

[Crew Member]

I just looked it up and according to the karate grading system, the average time takes around five years.

[Jenna Fischer]

So it takes five years. And if we use your sister in law's logic of about 4,000 per year, he should have been able to do this for 20 grand.

[Angela Kinsey]

4,000 for two years.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, 4,000. So 2,000 a year.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Crew Member]

Also, I love the premise. This is how mom detectives end. You go, you know, maybe we'll never know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, we'll never know.

[Jenna Fischer]

We'll never know.

[Angela Kinsey]

And we've stopped investigating. We've moved on. We lost interest and we've moved on. Well, Dwight is going to invite everyone to his black belt ceremony here in the office at lunch. Lunch not provided. I love that. That's when Phyllis turned away. She's like, I'm out.

[Jenna Fischer]

By the way, I'm going to point out early that when we do get to the scene where Dwight is doing his black belt ritual, Leslie, as Stanley is eating at his desk. It is lunchtime.

[Angela Kinsey]

It is perfect.

[Jenna Fischer]

He did eat his lunch.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know when Jim shouts fireball and Dwight throws his briefcase.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

They purposely put me to the edge of Oscar's desk so I wouldn't get hit with it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Very smart. You do not want to be anywhere near Rainn Wilson when he is throwing a prop.

[Angela Kinsey]

You do not?

[Jenna Fischer]

No.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have a background catch during this scene. I noticed there are two framed certificates by front reception that I had never seen before. Maybe you guys caught them.

[Jenna Fischer]

Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

I zoomed in and they are for the speed dialing and memo sorting competition.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's been there a long time.

[Angela Kinsey]

You saw it?

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, yeah. Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

When?

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, I mean, a while ago.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, seasons ago, I think. That's great to say.

[Angela Kinsey]

Erin came in fourth one year, and then one year she won and got her picture. My question is, who's in this competition? Who's she beating to win this? Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Who's running it?

[Angela Kinsey]

Who's running it? Who's she competing against? Who's also speed dialing and doing memo sorting?

[Jenna Fischer]

This is a great question.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Is it for the building? Is it a regional thing?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Anyway, does it come with a giant check?

[Angela Kinsey]

Probably not.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, then it's not worth much, is it?

[Angela Kinsey]

I just want to know who's in it. I would have loved to seen a scene of it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we may never know. I don't know what to tell you.

[Angela Kinsey]

David Wallace is going to arrive, and he's going to ask Erin if Andy is in. Erin completely panics because she's been juggling Andy's audition schedule, and it's really hectic, and she's having trouble managing his calendar. She's super relieved to see that Andy is actually in the office that day. And Andy greets David. He said, david walrus in his natural habitat.

[Jenna Fischer]

David Wallace has a talking head where he explains the reason that he's here is to fire Andy. Yeah, it's just been too much.

[Angela Kinsey]

Too much. He wanted cheek implants, and he wanted the company to pay for it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And apparently he also found out that he used company funds to buy a color printer to make headshots. Fan question from Jenna F. In Los Angeles.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, Jenna F. Wrote in.

[Jenna Fischer]

She did. She noticed that in this very quick little moment, this little B roll under David Wallace's talking head, that we see a shot of Andy at this color printer, and he is holding his headshot composite.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Jenna F. Said, this is my favorite comedic prop from the whole show. I literally spit out my coffee when I saw it. Please tell me everything about this prop. So it's just brilliant. I mean, I truly did spit out my coffee when I saw it. I was taking a sip of coffee, and I choked on it. It is so perfect to me. I reached out to Ed. Cause I had to ask him about this. He clearly had to take all these pictures of all these different characters. Here's what Ed had to say.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, Jenna, I saw your text. So I don't remember a lot of details about that composite headshot, but I agree, it is really damn funny. And I just remember we wanted to kind of, I don't know, nod to what it's like to be starting out as an actor and especially a comedy actor. And I don't know about you, but I definitely had a composite headshot like that with a bunch of different characters. When you're starting out, it's sort of what you think the casting business wants from you, which is, like, a lot of options and a lot of variety. And sometimes we try a little too hard when we put those headshots together. I don't even know if young actors today even do headshots, that everything's so online these days. But it was definitely a fun nod. And I remember brainstorming like, well, okay, if we're doing a composite headshot, like, what are the different characters? And so we just tried to come up with a good variety. And of course, there's always, like, a nerd character. A jock. And then what else did we do in that? A judge. And then there's just like the cool guy right in the middle. So, yeah, it's just a nod to classic, you know, actors starting out, trying to get that headshot to get those parts. I guess that's what it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

I just love that. It is so true. We all did it.

[Jenna Fischer]

In honor of Andy's composite headshots, I went through my drawer and I have brought in my first headshots.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then Jenna told me to do the same.

[Jenna Fischer]

So we're gonna have a show and tell.

[Angela Kinsey]

We are.

[Jenna Fischer]

So my very first headshot was Cassie has stood up to see this. People are standing up. Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. I mean, I have a stack. I only brought two. Did you bring them all?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, I brought three.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

My very first headshot, which I did not bring, was actually taken by my tech theater teacher in college. His name is Ron Rybkowski. I love this man. And something he did for any actor who needed it is he brought his camera in and he set up, you know, a backdrop and he took a picture for each of us when we graduated for free so that we would have something when we went out to become actors. It was a great picture. It got me in the door a lot of places. But of course I get to LA and I get in my head about it and I think I need to hire one of these LA headshot photographers to take my picture.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

The big thing you ask yourself is, what do I wear in this headshot?

[Angela Kinsey]

What do I wear?

[Jenna Fischer]

What do I wear? The advice I got was just wear something you're comfortable in, something that you're going to be able to be yourself in. So I wore my favorite outfit, which was at the time a pair of brown corduroy overalls and Doc Martens. And here is my first Los Angeles headshot.

[Angela Kinsey]

How cute are you? You're so cute.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay. This headshot is super cute, but it didn't help me get many auditions.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I got some notes from agents saying you're kind of sitting in kind of a closed off way. You're kind of hugging your knees. Let's try to be maybe more open. Why don't you try again? So my hair had grown out a little bit. It was a little longer. So I hired a new photographer and I thought, let's do this again.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

You might ask yourself, did you change your outfit? Did not. Did not. Sit in a less closed off way.

[Angela Kinsey]

You're doing the same pose, basically.

[Jenna Fischer]

Same pose, same outfit, slightly longer hair. That's all that's happened. Yeah, that's it. I was like, I'm gonna get this right. I cut my hair again. And I was like, I'm not gonna make this mistake again.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Third session. Didn't end up using this one, but did have it blown up into an 8 by 10. Why? Why am I sitting on a stool like this?

[Angela Kinsey]

It's so weird. It's so awkward. It's so awkward.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why is my zip down sweater tucked into my jeans?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't know. With a belt? What's happening with a belt? She took a hoodie, a zipper sweater, she tucked it in jeans with a belt and then straddled a stool.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so awkward. It's awful.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I have so many awkward ones too.

[Jenna Fischer]

There are many more before I got it right. And I actually have a whole chapter about it in my book, the Actor's Life. And you can see them all, but I'll share these online.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, well.

[Jenna Fischer]

But it got worse before it got better.

[Angela Kinsey]

Same here. Because you told me you were bringing yours in. I was like, okay. I was in New York in my early twenties. This is when I was interning on the Conan O'Brien show and I was taking acting classes and I was going to move to la and one of the gals was like, you have to have a headshot if you're moving to Los Angeles.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was like, okay. So I was like, what do I wear? And she said, I would wear something denim.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, no. What is wrong with us? What did you wear?

[Angela Kinsey]

She was like, do you have a denim vest?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, she didn't.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I was like, I do, I do. Actually. She goes, well, denim vest or a denim jacket? Well, I didn't have a denim jacket. This is peak 90s, guys. Then the photographer, I think just see, he zoomed in. It's like, neck up. This is my first headshot.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, you look cute. And it doesn't look like a vest, it looks like a denim shirt.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, then this is in New York. Then I move to Los Angeles and I'm like, they're all like, well, you've got to get a real more body headshot, right? Like not just your head, you need a like three quarter, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, that was the thing. That was a big thing. You were supposed to have like a headshot and a three quarter shot, right?

[Angela Kinsey]

So I was like, okay, let's do this again. Did I try a new outfit?

[Jenna Fischer]

Did you?

[Angela Kinsey]

No. What is wrong with us? I wore the denim vest again and oh, I cut my hair this is so funny, lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did not know this about you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Two photo shoots in the same denim vest. What is happening? What? This is the most. Look how uncomfortable I look.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm like, your thumbs are in your pocket.

[Angela Kinsey]

What is happening?

[Jenna Fischer]

And we wonder why it took us so long to make it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, we will share those in stories because they're special. All right, Corduroy overalls, denim vest. Let's go.

[Jenna Fischer]

We were meant to be besties.

[Angela Kinsey]

We were.

[Jenna Fischer]

That is clear. Well, Andy is in his meeting with David Wallace, and David is about to launch into his sort of why I have to fire you speech. But Andy stops him. He's like, I need to stop you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Let me interrupt you right there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Every minute that I spend here is time not spent making audition videos for reality dating, cooking, or singing shows. I got a real shot here.

[Jenna Fischer]

David is like, wait, are you. You're saying that this job is, like, taking your focus away? You feel like you're too focused on this job? And Andy's like, yeah, he was so distracted at his last headshot session because he was wondering what he was missing at work. Turns out Andy is going to quit Dunder Mifflin because, quote, I am pursuing fame of any kind.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. He said he owes it to himself and his future fans.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. With this documentary about to air, this is the time, basically. So David is relieved.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's like, yeah, that worked out. And then Creed says, you know what? Pretty much anyone can be a star. The postman, the night janitor at the office. But Andy, no charisma. Black hole.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Well, Jim is going to approach Clark now, and he's gonna ask for his desk back, please. But Clark feels like maybe he's earned it, and maybe Jim should sit in the annex.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did love when Jim's like, well, the whole reason I'm back is to, you know, be with my wife. And Clark goes, I'm here to sell paper. And he, like, taps his desk.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love that.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's what I'm here for.

[Jenna Fischer]

That was such a great line. You know, Natalie C. From Fort Smith, Arkansas, loved that line because of Clark's very hard, very Arkansan R in the line. I'm here to sell paper. Natalie went on to say, I love being able to catch all of your accents. And to hear one that is so clearly from my own home just makes me love the scene so much more. Well, you know, Clark was born and raised in Arkansas. And I have an audio clip. Natalie. Here you go, Clark.

[Michael Imperioli]

I'm actually here today.

[Crew Member]

Surprise. So I was wondering if maybe I.

[Jenna Fischer]

Could have my desk back.

[Michael Imperioli]

Right.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. But, you know, I've actually been working.

[Michael Imperioli]

Pretty hard here on a daily basis.

[Angela Kinsey]

So I kind of feel like I've earned this. I mean, you know.

[Michael Imperioli]

You totally have. You have earned it.

[Jenna Fischer]

But maybe I could be with my wife.

[Michael Imperioli]

That's kind of the whole reason why I'm here.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I'm here to sell paper. There it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

Piper.

[Jenna Fischer]

Paper.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm here to sell paper. I love Clark. We were just emailing. He's gotta come on. He's very excited.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, Ainsley knows Clark.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, small world. I know he's coming on.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, why don't we take a break? And when we come back, I will share my wedding bell's note card and Andy's gonna have a big announcement to the bullpen.

[Jenna Fischer]

I like it. I don't know if you're getting your wardrobe ready for the cold of winter and you're stocking up on some new cozy sweaters or maybe you're looking for something just a little sparkly for a party coming up. You can check out Quince.

[Angela Kinsey]

Quince has such good deals. We've talked about this before. We have shopped on Quint's. You can get a cashmere sweater for $50.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yep. I got this really cool weighted blanket from Quince in this kind of rust tone. I love it. It's so cozy and really good quality.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, and a weighted blanket just makes you feel so snuggly.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know. Most of the time, the items on Quince are priced about 50 to 80% less than similar brands.

[Angela Kinsey]

That includes beautiful jackets, cotton cardigans, soft denim, and so much more.

[Jenna Fischer]

They're able to do it by partnering directly with top factories and cutting out the cost of the middleman. And then they kind of pass that savings on to the consumer. And they only work with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices.

[Angela Kinsey]

Get cozy in Quince's high quality wardrobe essentials. Go to quince.comofficeladies for free shipping on.

[Jenna Fischer]

Your order and 365 day returns. That's Quincy. To get free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Angela Kinsey]

Quince.comofficeladies you know, when you're traveling during the holiday season, it can be stressful. Especially if you're traveling and you lose an item of luggage or a person. Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, there's that if you get separated.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Like at an airport. Well, you can stress less this holiday by stocking up on Life360's tile trackers.

[Jenna Fischer]

You can easily find your family's lost or stolen stuff by just ringing your tile when something goes missing and then track down its location on the map. And Life Tracker360 is the first and only tracker with an SOS button. So if you triple press the button in the center of the tile, it will discreetly send an SOS alert to everyone in your life 360 circle.

[Angela Kinsey]

It is family friendly. You can add your tile Tracker to your Life 360 and see your family and all your family stuff in one spot.

[Jenna Fischer]

Family Proof your family with Life360's Tile tracker. Visit tile.com today and use code OfficeLadies to get 15% off.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's tile.com code OfficeLadies.

[Jenna Fischer]

Do you know a website I can get completely lost on in the best way I do? Wayfair. I know there is so much stuff that is so good. I like to get a bowl of my mini cheese crackers and pick out new stuff on Wayfair.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know you can walk through every room of my house and there's one item from Wayfair in each room.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is so true. I feel like we're not telling people anything they don't already know. But Wayfair is the place to shop for all things home. Literally everything from sofas to spatulas. You name it, they have it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Here are a few items from Wayfair in my house right now.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

A cozy chair. Two kids desks in their bedroom. Two nightstands and two bed frames.

[Jenna Fischer]

Everything you need for your living room. Outdoor areas. We didn't even talk about that. Bedroom. And more. Wayfair makes it easy with fast and free shipping, even on the big stuff. And they'll even help you set it up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right now you can shop Wayfair's insane holiday deals and get up to 70% off during their Black Friday deals.

[Jenna Fischer]

Don't miss out on saving big with Wayfair this holiday. Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's W A Y F A I R dot com. We are back and I have a note card for you titled Wedding Bells. It is because while we were filming this episode, we threw a. Oh, I remember.

[Jenna Fischer]

Go ahead.

[Angela Kinsey]

We threw a surprise bridal shower. This was the email I found. And then Steve Burgess also sent me pictures from the bridal shower. It said, hello office friends. As many of you know, our first ad, Kelly Cantley has met her mate and is getting married. We will be throwing her a surprise bridal Shower at the catering tables during lunch. Please help us keep this a secret. We invite everyone to come for cake and sparkling cider, and anyone who wishes to bring a gift may drop it off at the production office. And here are her registries. Please email Angela or Steph with any questions and we'll see you there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sweetest thing.

[Angela Kinsey]

So sweet. I just love that we were a family and that's why we're all still in touch. And I love finding little emails like this. I hope you guys like hearing it because it really was a special, special group of people.

[Jenna Fischer]

It really was. Well, next up, Andy is going to make a very big announcement to the bullpen. He is taking a lifetime leave of absence from Dunder Mifflin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Everyone assumes he's been fired. He's like, no, no, no, no, no. I've chosen this. I'm leaving because he is going to pursue his dreams.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. He said, see you on the red carpet.

[Jenna Fischer]

And everybody is like, oh, Andy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Phyllis has a talking head. She says, Andy sings beautifully, and, you know, he's good at dancing and speaking, but there's something there you just don't want to look at.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Her talking head is facing out.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, now we're headed to the annex. Jim and Pete are working, and they are kind of, like, trying to be buddies.

[Angela Kinsey]

They're trying to, like, dude, bro bond. Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Jim's like, I bet you kind of miss Clark, huh? And Pete's like, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, Pete is so honest.

[Jenna Fischer]

He is.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then Jim's like, go, Phillies. And Pete's like, no, it's not happening. He doesn't watch baseball.

[Jenna Fischer]

The two gyms are not gonna bond.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then I love. Clearly. But I love that Toby once again has to, like, live through this moment. He does. He's always in the background of all these people's conversations.

[Jenna Fischer]

Next up, Daryl is going to go into Andy's office and really try to talk some sense into him. But Andy misinterprets this.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Darryl has one of my favorite lines of the episode. He said, listen, let's say you get a job, which you probably won't. They're not going to cut you any slack, and you're meant for a job with lots and lots of slack.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

That made me laugh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Isn't that that principle that we read about that one time, the Peter principle?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

That feels like people who need a job with a lot of slack.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's right. Andy, of course, thinks this is Daryl's way of saying goodbye. Right. He says, the male is a funny species. We don't just tell each other how we feel. That's chick stuff. So instead of saying, hey, Andy, I love you, man. I don't want you to leave, you say something like, hey, Andy, you're making the worst mistake of your life. You're not talented. Well, right back at you, Daryl.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's like, right back at you, Daryl.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, buddy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. So Andy gives Darryl a big hug and says, I'm going to miss you too. Now we're going to hear from some other folks in the office. They're going to tell us how they feel about Andy's big dreams, starting with Stanley.

[Angela Kinsey]

He says, what happened to the generation of shut up and do your work and die quietly from a heart attack? He's over Andy's generation, who thinks they all should be famous. What would Stanley think of TikTok? Oh, he would not be having it.

[Jenna Fischer]

That would be a no. Mm.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Especially because, you know, it's all Michael would be doing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Do you know how many TikTok dances we've all learned under Michael?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh, so many. So many. Michael Scott would have the whole bullpen doing some TikTok dance.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, I learn TikTok dances in my free time, and I just never post myself doing them.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know this about you, and you're really good. Well, I can't dance. I certainly can't do a TikTok dance. They move so quick.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm not great. I'm not. You're being kind. You're being a good bff.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm actually not. You're really good. That last one you sent me was so good. I wish you would share one.

[Jenna Fischer]

It all started with me learning the tap dance routine to Footloose. That kind of kicked it off. It's great exercise. It really is. Just learning these TikTok dances. And the latest one I learned was the one from the show Chicago.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, everyone's doing that one.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I figured it out. I did it. Yeah, I'm proud of it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I think you're really good at it.

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't think I'll ever post it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love the part where you don't.

[Jenna Fischer]

Think it's gonna end up on Office Ladies this week, but I like the.

[Angela Kinsey]

Part where you did your hands that way and then you did your hands this way. It was, like, really fast.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know what? It was really hard for me to figure that out.

[Angela Kinsey]

I thought it was so good.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was hard for me to figure.

[Angela Kinsey]

Out I could not do it, and.

[Jenna Fischer]

It got my heart rate up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, there you go.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I enjoyed myself.

[Angela Kinsey]

There you go.

[Jenna Fischer]

That was a tangent I wasn't expecting to go on.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, now people are gonna wanna see it, so it'll never see the light of day.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's for me, it's my joy and for you. Cause I send them to you. I love that you're my audience of one.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I think you're phenomenal.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Sensei Billy and Dwight are about to begin the belt ceremony. Dwight kinda is, like, thrusting his hips towards Sensei Billy, which is making this very difficult to take the belt off. They're just gonna have to cut it off.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know we talked about how much fun it was to shoot this with Michael, but I wanted to point out this fan catch from Courtney C. In Torrance, California, because she noticed we did get a giant break on camera. Courtney said David Wallace is definitely laughing and breaking when Dwight presents the scissors to Sensei Billy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Andy lost it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh. Angela. It's full. Mindy. It's like he's just literally, he's just laughing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Laughing on camera.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And he was really usually pretty good about it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, he was?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, wait. Kate is waving from the sound booth. Kate, do you have something to add about this scene?

[Kate Arthur]

Fan catch from Kate as Dwight begins his karate black belt routine. You, I believe, as Angela Kinsey, not Angela Martin, are fully laughing in the background. And so is everyone. No one is looking at all serious as he begins this very serious proceeding.

[Angela Kinsey]

I do remember that I saw you, like, smirk, Jenna. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Here's the thing. I mean, we talked about this. This was very hard to get through. We have bloopers of it, you know what I mean? And I'm not surprised. I mean, we made our best effort, but yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, good fan catch from Kate.

[Kate Arthur]

Thank you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Angela is now going to have a talking head. This is a talking head. I get quoted to me. I've had to sign it. Like someone wanted me to write it out one time. Basically, we learned that Dwight has been practicing karate for years and that Angela used to help him with his strength training. When they dated, he would strap her to his chest in a Baby Bjorn made for fat babies and do lunges across the farm. She felt like she was flying. Here's what I remember about this. There was a serious moment of conversation where they wondered if we could do this.

[Jenna Fischer]

Like a B roll.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like a B roll. And that.

[Jenna Fischer]

No.

[Angela Kinsey]

And that they would cut to it and I would be strapped to Rainn's chest and you'd be doing lunges. There is no way it never happened, but I was tickled that they were trying to figure it out. This does bring me to some mail we got. Remember when I played my bull cards for the Farm?

[Jenna Fischer]

I do.

[Angela Kinsey]

And we told everyone if they had a bull card to play that they could write in. And we set up a folder on our website.

[Jenna Fischer]

I do remember.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm. Well, we got one for this episode, and here it is. It's from Karen C. In Texas. And in the subject for what episode, she wrote this. I'm not sure the episode number, but it's the one where Angela lost everything and has to move in with Oscar.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. And here's her bull card. And I thought she brought up a good point. I call bull on Angela's downfall, because before the senator, she was making enough money to have a house. She still should have enough money to at least afford an apartment. And I know other people wrote this in, but here's the part where I thought she made a good point. In Pennsylvania, it is practiced. It is not a mandate, but it is practiced that in a divorce, everything is 5050 division of marital law. So Angela would have gotten some sort of settlement. So bull on her downward spiral.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, so I know we've discussed this. We got so much mail about this and whether or not people believe that Angela is so destitute. We did get an interesting comment on our Office Ladies POD Instagram that I saw. Cassie, can you look it up? She kind of talks about her theory. It's a nice rebuttal to this.

[Crew Member]

Yeah. This is from Susie, and she said, I used to work for a divorce attorney. And let me tell you, that divorce is expensive. I imagine that Angela was probably spending a lot more money on her wardrobe and other things as she viewed herself as the first lady of Scranton. Also, any divorce attorney worth his salt would have told the senator to get a paternity test before they settled. Child support. Angela had a job before and during the marriage, so she might not have qualified for spousal support. Even if they didn't use a divorce attorney, she may not have had a lot of savings, and childcare cost a lot.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, I like that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

I like both of these contributions to this storyline and why Angela might be struggling.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. I could see how her money and assets or any potential money she might get from the divorce might be tied up as well. Like, maybe she's not getting these payments yet. This is very fresh.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm. There's a lot going on.

[Angela Kinsey]

And the senator might have been sneaky.

[Jenna Fischer]

And like, oh, the senator was 100% sneaky, for sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my God. Creed Bratton is trying to call me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Answer.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I missed it. Do you want me to call him back?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, sure, because I love when he calls us when we're in the middle of podcasting.

[Creed Bratton]

Hey, pumpkin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Credo. You called. We're podcasting. You're on with me and Jenna again.

[Creed Bratton]

That cat.

[Angela Kinsey]

That cat. That cat video you sent. I mean, seriously, that's gonna haunt me. That's what it did. I'll have to share it. Creed, what are you up to?

[Creed Bratton]

You know, running. Running my sets here, trying to figure out the comedy bits for Europe and Ireland and England and stuff. And I got a call. Can we talk? I got a call. LA Times is doing a. An article on the album.

[Angela Kinsey]

Awesome.

[Creed Bratton]

And they're asking office mates of mine to make some comments about what it was like when I was playing music. So Rain and Brian are going to do equipment. I'm calling you to see if you would talk to them.

[Angela Kinsey]

100%, Creed. 100%. You can give them my phone number.

[Creed Bratton]

Okay. Can I give your phone number to my publicist and she can coordinate it with them?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. When does your tour start?

[Creed Bratton]

I think October 3rd or 5th in Nottingham.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Creed Bratton]

And then second show is in England, so in London, rather.

[Angela Kinsey]

You heard that, office? Ladies, listeners, Creed is coming to Europe. You have to go see his show. He's fantastic.

[Creed Bratton]

And free fish and chips.

[Angela Kinsey]

Free fish and chips?

[Jenna Fischer]

Really?

[Angela Kinsey]

No, no. I got really excited. All right, Creed. Well, we're gonna do the podcast, but we love you and we miss you.

[Creed Bratton]

Oh, go do that podcast.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hi, Jan. Hi, Creed. I told you my cat's reaction when I played that video.

[Creed Bratton]

Well, I wanted to see. I wanted to see. Was too late now. It wouldn't react the same way, but if I could have had a video. Oh, my daughter, Ami, she's walking out to the car to go to the chiropractor, and the phone's in her purse, and all of a sudden, she gets in the car. It's back.

[Michael Imperioli]

Back.

[Creed Bratton]

The back seat. She hears that noise there. It went off. She hit it. Somehow it starts playing the cat out the windows. She's looking out the windows for that sound, where it was coming from.

[Jenna Fischer]

Creed. I'm gonna try. I'll play it again, and I'll see if my cat reacts the same way since it's been a few days, and I'll send it to you. I'll send you a video of his reaction.

[Creed Bratton]

Oh, please do.

[Angela Kinsey]

Please do.

[Creed Bratton]

I mean, my God, I don't think that's. That's lightning in a bottle, that thing, you know?

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, Creed, we love you. I'll talk to you soon, okay? Okay, hon. All right, bye. Aw, it's my favorite neighbor, Creed Bratton. He's going to Europe. Yeah, 80 touring.

[Jenna Fischer]

Amazing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Amazing.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, everyone, it is official. Dwight is a black belt.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. He has an elaborate. What would you call it, routine he does throughout the office.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. We talked about this with Michael. It is a truly never ending display. And Steve Burgess told us that we did bring in a stunt coordinator. It was John Medlin, who was a specialist in karate and hand to hand combat. He worked with Rainn before the shoot. But it's also true that Rainn kind of made up this whole sequence for himself on the day.

[Angela Kinsey]

I feel like the choice to headbutt the plant was all Rainn.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. That little stare down between Pam and Jim at the end was not scripted.

[Angela Kinsey]

I loved that. I loved it when he was doing his, like, hand motion and Pam is like, no, not today, Dwight.

[Jenna Fischer]

Exactly. In fact, the only scripted scene description was this quote. Dwight kicks around the office a little too close to Clark and Phyllis. That's it.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's it.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's what it said.

[Angela Kinsey]

It also said that Esther proudly, like, jumps and wraps her legs around him.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, scripted.

[Angela Kinsey]

They just did a hug. And then we find out that she calls Dwight shrewberry blue. Cringe.

[Jenna Fischer]

Super cringe. I'm so glad you said that. I didn't like it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm sorry. It's super cringe.

[Jenna Fischer]

No. And you know what? Dwight is not. He doesn't want to be called those baby names.

[Angela Kinsey]

No. And also, you know what? If you call your partner a baby name, save it for out of the office. I don't need to know it. No, no.

[Jenna Fischer]

Would you have preferred that she call him lover?

[Angela Kinsey]

No, no. Please don't loop me in.

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, I'm really so glad that we got to talk to Michael about these scenes. He is seriously the nicest guy. And you know, Angela, this story of how me and Lee ran into him on our summer vacation on the streets of New York City.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. You guys were like, at a red light, you and Lee standing next to him and his wife.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was a New York moment, truly. We had both come out of the same, like, art house movie theater. We hadn't seen the same movie, but we were coming out at the same time. We get to chatting. They are so lovely. We're talking about the movies we saw. We're talking about how, oh, Michael and I both did rewatch podcasts. You Know, his wife Victoria, and he. They just opened up a bar in New York. She did all the interior design for it. Has, like, live jazz music on Mondays. We're like, oh, my gosh, we're gonna have to check this out. All of this happens, right?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

We never mentioned the fact that he was on the Office. This doesn't come up. Then I get home from our summer vacations, and I'm like, oh, what's our first episode back? I pop it on, and there he is. It's him.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's Sensei Billy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I was like, oh, my gosh, this is so weird. I just ran into him.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then you reached out and he was so gracious. Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

He was like, sure, I'd love to chat about it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I really want to go to his club.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, lady, for sure. Jazz music on a Monday night in New York City. Are you kidding me?

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm in.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Angela Martin would not be in, but I am in.

[Jenna Fischer]

We are in. You know what? I'm going to tell you the name of it. Everybody in New York or traveling to New York. You should check it out. It is called Scarlet. It is in Manhattan at the corner of 83rd and Amsterdam.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

And they have a special drink. Apparently, that is a nod to the White Lotus. Oh, you know. Cause he was on season two.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, Jim and David Wallace are now gonna have a chat in the conference room. David is impressed that Jim would set his personal goals aside to focus on his marriage.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Isn't this when he says he knows some people who, like, wouldn't change their golf schedule for their marriage?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

How are those marriages?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. How's that working out for you? That's my question. Clark is watching this. He's very suspicious of Jim. He's like, you know what? I bet he came back here to take over the job, like, not to be here with Pam. And Dwight defends Jim and says, no, Pam is actually really cool.

[Jenna Fischer]

I loved that.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did too.

[Jenna Fischer]

It was so sweet.

[Angela Kinsey]

And this is where Dwight shares that, you know, he used to want to be the branch manager, but he's made too many mistakes and he thinks Jim would be a fine manager. So we're seeing this really just full circle for Dwight of, like, his journey and wanting this position.

[Jenna Fischer]

But then back in the conference room, David shares that he's considering Dwight as Andy's replacement. And Jim says it should absolutely be Dwight.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. David had had a sidebar conversation with Sensei Billy during Dwight's whole routine. And cincin, Billy said he was one of the most loyal, dedicated, odd guys that he'd ever met. But I think David's really seeing how much Dwight loves and cares for this company.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Now we're gonna have a scene that I found very curious simply because of the pairing of people that enter Andy's office.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. This is an odd grouping that we've never seen before. We have never seen Nellie and Kevin in cahoots in a way.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. They have teamed up to confront Andy and again try to convince him not to leave Dunder Mifflin. They sort of say, what if you stayed here and you really gave it a go? You could achieve the fame and immortality simply by being the best manager in the history of this branch. How about that? No.

[Angela Kinsey]

No. Andy's not hearing it. And then Oscar's going to have a talking head. That I thought was so hilarious because Oscar Nunez's performance was perfect. Oscar says, no, I don't think he can make it as an actor, but also he can't make it as an employee in an office, so why not go nuts with it?

[Jenna Fischer]

That's very funny.

[Angela Kinsey]

And he is also facing out.

[Jenna Fischer]

Did anyone face in? It doesn't sound like it.

[Angela Kinsey]

In Living the dream, part two, someone is facing in. I will save it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Save it. All right, now we're gonna have a scene at Pam's desk. Jim is going to come up. He's kind of just. It's a flirty excuse to come talk to her. It's very cutesy. He's asking about some sticky notes, But I believe it's going to reveal a very big thing about Pam.

[Angela Kinsey]

What is that?

[Jenna Fischer]

Is Pam the sauce lady of the office? She has a salt packet in her desk. I feel like she's one ketchup pack away.

[Angela Kinsey]

She's the sauce lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

She might be. Aw. I want you guys to know that there was a very big note that went to both John and I before we started this episode. And the note came from Greg, and it was that Jim should be 100% happy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

There is no hint of regret, no hint of strife between this couple that this whole episode, Jim and Pam, but particularly Jim, is very happy with this decision to be back at Dunder Mifflin. We wanted this to be very clear. You're not wondering.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's absolutely how it read to me. And I was happy. I was, like, relieved. I feel like, as an audience member re watching. I was so stressed about Jim and Pam that in this episode, I could relax.

[Jenna Fischer]

That was the idea.

[Angela Kinsey]

Dwight is now gonna go into the kitchen where he meets Andy and they're both sort of congratulating each other, you know, like, hey, Dwight, this is a big day for you. Andy's like, it's a big day for you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. They both enter the kitchen whistling. That's how excited they are about their lives, I guess. And I wondered if the whistling was scripted. It was.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh.

[Jenna Fischer]

It says they both enter whistling.

[Angela Kinsey]

Dwight is also now going to try to talk Andy out of going. He says, listen, I have everything to gain by you leaving, but don't go, please. I've seen you perform. Dear God, don't quit your day job. And then Andy has this response, which I just love Ed Helms so much. This made me laugh. In a very Cockney accent. He says nothing is impossible to him. Who will try Alexander the Great if he were cockney. I cannot do a very good Cockney accent, but Ed's is great. And I just love that that's how he chose to say that quote.

[Jenna Fischer]

And then Andy has this talking head where he says, I'm gonna make it. Every person that has been on Conan has a crazy story about how they made it. Every person? Yeah, that's because every person who's on Conan made it. You know, I have to say, though, when you try to do something like this, it does serve you to have a little delusion. I mean, nothing makes you get in your car and drive across the country.

[Angela Kinsey]

With your denim vest on and you're ready to take the world.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right. I mean, there is. There's ambition, but there's a healthy amount of delusion. So Andy's not wrong.

[Angela Kinsey]

And you do have to be your own champion. Even when other people don't see it in you, you have to see it in yourself.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's true.

[Angela Kinsey]

I thought a lot about my early days watching this episode. I remember telling my manager at 1-800-DENTIST that I was gonna quit 1-800-DENTIST to focus on my one woman show.

[Jenna Fischer]

Anne.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did.

[Jenna Fischer]

You were Andy.

[Angela Kinsey]

I was Andy. I wrote a one woman show full of characters and then a whole bunch of characters. Oh, gosh.

[Jenna Fischer]

I remember that I was at a job interview, and in the interview, I wanted to be very honest and upfront about why I was really here. And it was not to be part of media sales. And so I said, I do feel like I need to tell you that, you know, I'm really here pursuing an acting career. So that is gonna be my main focus. I'm really here for that.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And the person literally said, I think that'll be fine. If it becomes a Problem. We'll deal with it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, like, sort of like, okay, we'll.

[Jenna Fischer]

See you tomorrow at night. Don't think I'm going to have to worry.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, my manager at 1, 800, Dennis said, Anytime you want to come back. No, you're welcome. I was like, okay. And I remember, like, driving in my car, leaving there, being like, I'm never gonna go back. You'll see. My one woman show is gonna be the talk of the town. All my characters.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my goodness. Well, most people didn't maybe totally support our delusions. Aaron certainly does not support Andy's.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Andy says, I'm gonna ask you. You're honest. Aaron. Right. Aaron cannot tell a lie.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And she says pretty bluntly that she's worried that he might become homeless or even starve.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. And this is gonna finally take the wind out of Andy's sails.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm. Andy walks into the conference room, and before he could even say anything, David says, you know what? You can stay on as a salesman.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And I'm sad for Andy. He was so excited at the beginning of this episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, don't worry.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know there's part two coming.

[Jenna Fischer]

Part two is coming. We're going to end on a big cliffhanger. David Wallace is going to call Dwight into the conference room.

[Angela Kinsey]

Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun.

[Jenna Fischer]

To be continued. Yes, we did get a fan catch for this very final moment of Dwight shutting the door behind him. It's from Xenia W. In British Columbia, and also summer P. From St. Charles, Missouri. They have a Mom Detectives moment for us in this very final shot of this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

What is it?

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm gonna tell you. I'm also gonna tell you ahead of time. This one is gonna go unsolved as well. Oh, okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

So nothing new.

[Jenna Fischer]

Correct. At 20 minutes and 58 seconds, as Dwight closes the conference room door to talk to David Wallace, there is a single trailing drip of something on the wall behind Dwight's head.

[Angela Kinsey]

Ew.

[Jenna Fischer]

They can't tell what it is, and it's driving them crazy. They want to know, is it coffee? Is it chocolate sauce? Is it part of a deleted scene?

[Angela Kinsey]

Is it head high?

[Jenna Fischer]

It's about. Yeah, it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

Was it perhaps splattered there from a crew member and no one caught it? Jenna, Angela, can the mom detectives solve this?

[Angela Kinsey]

I will go back and rewatch it. I'll zoom in on it.

[Jenna Fischer]

I looked at it. I have a picture of it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, let's see it.

[Jenna Fischer]

See if it'll help you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I almost drew a circle around it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, I think it looks like Sharpie.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, it looks like a drip. No, there's a drip at the bottom. Look at it. There's a little bubble of drip where.

[Angela Kinsey]

The ink makes the bigger dot.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why would someone draw a Sharpie on the wall?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't think they meant to.

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't think it's Sharpie. I want to look at it again.

[Angela Kinsey]

It looks like black Sharpie to me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh. When you really zoom in on it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

I see what you're doing there. Okay, well, my theory is a Sharpie, Summer. When you zoom in on it. I don't know. What if when it's a video, it's moving?

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm gonna have to rewatch it. To be continued.

[Jenna Fischer]

To be continued. Just like this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

Just like this episode. I do want to give a shout out to the writer of this episode, Nikki Schwartz Wright. She's fantastic. We traded text and I told her how special this episode is to me because I loved, loved getting to see the range of emotion in Angela Martin. A lot happens for her in this episode, and it had to build and grow. And I thought Nikki wrote it so well. And she wrote me back and said that she has bronchitis or she would have left us a voice memo.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw.

[Angela Kinsey]

But in the text, she praised our writers room and said they truly wrote these episodes as a group. And she didn't want to take any of the credit. I know. So sweet. She was really happy that they brought me joy, and she's just so talented in a class act. And I just wanted to say, Nikki, I hope you feel better. And thanks for giving Angela Martin such a great episode.

[Jenna Fischer]

And it's really just going to get even better too, in the second half in terms of that Angela Martin emotion. Some big stuff is coming. I cried. We'll talk about it next week.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, I want to give a big thank you again to Michael Imperioli. And one more shout out for Michael and Victoria's bar, Scarlett. And also I want to thank Ed Helms for chatting with us about those headshots. You know, season two of Ed's podcast, Snafu is out now. Snafu is a podcast about history's greatest screw ups. And this season, they are deep diving on Medburg, which is the story of a daring heist that exposed a colossal FBI snafu.

[Angela Kinsey]

Ooh.

[Jenna Fischer]

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Angela Kinsey]

And also a big thank you to Steve Burgess for answering our behind the scenes questions. Annie gave us great photos from the set this week, including one of Kelly's bridal shower and some of Sensei, Billy and Dwight in their scenes. We'll share those all in stories.

[Jenna Fischer]

And thanks to all of you for writing in with your questions and comments. We'll see you next week for Living The Dream Part 2. Who knows, maybe.

[Angela Kinsey]

Creed will call again.

[Jenna Fischer]

He might.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, have a good one.

[Jenna Fischer]

Have a good one. Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

Our Executive producer is Cassie Jerkins, our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer, and our Associate producer is Ainslie Bubaco.

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

Office Ladies is mixed and mastered by Chris Basil.

[Angela Kinsey]

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

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Narrator]

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