Office Ladies — "Office News & Blackmail" (March 18, 2026)
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Special Guests/Contributors: Sam, Matt, Jordan Duffy, listener voice messages
Episode Theme:
A lively and affectionate catch-up where Jenna and Angela share recent Office news, highlight the Season 9 Superfan episodes, break down the “Blackmail” webisode starring Creed Bratton, answer fan mail and stories, and go deep into Office nostalgia, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and a hilarious tattoo story.
Overview
This episode is all about community and connection, from listener questions about comfort foods to exclusive Office content updates and hilarious stories from the show’s history. Jenna and Angela balance in-depth breakdowns (notably of the Creed-led Blackmail webisode) with new Office content releases, upcoming projects by Office alumni, and authentic banter — with special participation from their producer Matt, engineer Sam, and guest co-host Jordan Duffy. The tone is personal, playful, and full of “inside baseball” for devoted Office and Office Ladies fans.
Chit Chat: Comfort Soups and Sick Day Stories
(Starts ~05:04)
Listener Voice Mail – Carolyn from Vermont
Carolyn talks about sick season and shares that she makes the Italian wedding soup from Angela and Josh’s cookbook for her family when they're under the weather; asks about Jenna & Angela’s go-to sick-day soups.
The Office Ladies Soup Confessions
- Angela (06:00): “My kitchen was a hot mess. But I show up to Josh's apartment with this big pot of soup, and he says that was the moment. He was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to marry this woman. She's going to make me soup for the rest of my life.’”
- Jenna (06:20): Loves classic chicken noodle when sick, but favorite soup to make is her own creation. Learned from Kendra Adachi's podcast that you don't always need a recipe—just pick your veggies, protein, and broth, and improvise.
- Angela: “Isn’t it so rewarding when you can make soup just like on your own?” (06:51)
- Jenna’s sticky soup memory: Hated finding forgotten bay leaves in her soup as a kid.
- “My mom would always forget to take ‘em out. And then you'd go to take a bite... and you'd have to fish it out of your mouth.” (08:12)
- Matt: Swears by pozole (Mexican hominy soup) as the ultimate comfort soup. (10:21)
Notable Quote:
Jenna: “There are a gazillion Reddit threads and articles dedicated to the question, ‘Do you really need a bay leaf in your soup?’ It's like a whole thing in the soup community.” (09:00)
Soup Recipes & Fan Involvement
Angela to share Kendra Adachi’s “no-recipe” soup podcast in Instagram stories, invites fans to send soup links for “soup in stories.” (10:50)
Office News: Superfan Episodes, Office Universe Updates
(Starts ~13:19)
Season 9 Superfan Episodes Now Live
- Angela (14:03): “Dave Rogers has finished them. Superfans of the whole series. Bless his heart. That was a lot of work.”
- Where to find: On Peacock, look for “The Office Superfan episodes: Complete Collection.”
- Jenna shares insider finds:
- “Here Comes Trouble” – Andy sings Faith at the end.
- Deleted Thanksgiving scene at the office (“There is an office Thanksgiving moment now!” – Angela, 15:01)
- Extended scenes with Jim, Phyllis, and Stanley; more Angela and Trevor; Pam’s talking head about wakeboarding.
- New cold open with everyone absorbed in their phones (based on real-life cast behavior, gentle ribbing from writers).
Notable Quote:
Jenna: “They wrote that because we all used to come to set... and we were all absorbed in our phones, and I felt like it was a little, like, subtle... like they were making fun of us.” (15:50)
- Dave’s highlights: More Nate scenes, Bob Odenkirk appearances, and finale Easter eggs for dedicated fans.
Highlight: Upcoming Shows in the Office Orbit
(Starts ~19:23)
- New series “Company Retreat” by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky (Office writers/Dinner Party, Jury Duty creators) premieres Friday, March 20 on Prime Video.
- Premise: A new employee, surrounded by actors, thrown into office retreat (à la Office “Beach Games”).
- Angela: “This is what it would be like if you could go be transported into an episode of The Office.” (20:38)
- Both wish Lee & Gene congrats and predict it to be a hit.
Fan-Favorite Moments & Social Media News
(Starts ~21:50)
- Announcing “Fan Favorite Moment” for listener-submitted favorite Office scenes, featured in “Second Drinks” segment.
- Encouragement to participate via Instagram stories (Angela: “We would love to hear your favorite scenes and we're gonna talk about 'em.” – 22:37)
- Instagram “links in bio” overhaul (Jenna takes charge).
- Collaboration: Animated highlights of first six Office Ladies episodes now on YouTube — includes rare personal photos and script details (“I have my Pam document back” – Jenna, 29:53).
Notable Moment:
Jenna’s handwritten “Pam” document revealed, detailing Pam’s imaginary biggest fight with Roy and her background as an illustrator, providing deep insight into character preparation. (27:22-29:09)
Webisode Breakdown: “Blackmail” Featuring Creed Bratton
Deep Dive Segment ~30:05 – 44:48
Angela takes us through the delightfully weird “Blackmail” webisode series (on Peacock as “digital series”), explaining where to find them and breaking down each clip.
Blackmail Clip-by-Clip:
-
Creed’s blackmailing plan begins:
- Creed records threatening videos for coworkers, tries to extort Oscar with a “dirt” video… which turns out to be just a footage of Oscar getting picked up by his boyfriend—a non-scandal.
- Creed: “Blackmail is an ugly word. I prefer extortion.” (32:00)
- Oscar dismisses it, forcing Creed to move to Andy.
- Creed records threatening videos for coworkers, tries to extort Oscar with a “dirt” video… which turns out to be just a footage of Oscar getting picked up by his boyfriend—a non-scandal.
-
Andy’s scandal:
- Given a green envelope, Andy is visibly worried. He confesses to having a lower-back tattoo (tramp stamp), supposedly in another language but meaning “Nard Dog”—which he’s having lasered off.
- Banter about tattoo trends (armbands, tramp stamps) and authenticity of foreign phrases.
-
Kelly’s secrets:
- Creed’s “dirt” is her MySpace profile pic of her kissing a girl. She’s unfazed. Turns out, skipping work for a Jonas Brothers concert is Creed’s leverage.
- Creed’s escalating demands: “I want commodities. I want gold. Oil. Political capital. Four leaf clovers. Bones. Information. Uranium.” (41:33)
- Angela: “Kelly can play ball on gossip.” (41:50)
-
The office fights back:
- Oscar and team dig up dirt on Creed: “Introduced the walking snakehead fish to North America”; throws raves as “Papa Smurf.”
- Creed’s big ask: Blackmails them for $6 (postage stamps/canned goods accepted).
- Creed tries to “buy” a toy helicopter by shoving cash into his computer’s floppy disk slot.
- Final line: “He’s so excited, he’s going to fly his new helicopter to Brazil to see the world’s largest library.” (44:33)
- Angela: “It was always just a skeleton crew and a group of us on the weekends…and we got to just play around.”
Extended Tangent: Hilarious Tattoo Fails
(36:00 – 44:00, resumes at 58:49)
- The hosts (and Sam) discuss bad tattoo trends—foreign slogans, “Nard Dog” mishaps, arm-bands, Ben Affleck’s back tattoo.
- Jenna shares the story of a nameless celebrity who got an anchor tattoo he didn’t want because the artist was so cool—later revealed as Oliver Hudson from “Splitting Up Together.”
- Oliver Hudson sends in a voice memo: “I felt like insecure about making any changes... Four hours later, I have it on my arm, and it looks like a chandelier.” (59:29)
- Group reacts as Jenna receives and describes photo evidence: “It’s enormous. It’s his whole bicep... So much of his [arm]...” (62:54)
- Lots of laughter and empathy for Oliver’s tattoo fate.
Around the Town: Listener Community Highlights
(48:28 – 52:34)
- Stratford, Ontario:
Michelle G. shares news of Stratford’s food tours, theater, snow, and more. - Golden, Colorado:
Becca B. congratulates the “Goldens in Golden” event: 5,500+ golden retrievers gathered to celebrate National Golden Retriever Day.- Jenna: “The photos are incredible.” (51:00)
- Kansas City:
Natalie D., long-time bowler, scores her first perfect game after 15 years.- Angela: “That is a big accomplishment. 300!” (51:49)
Office Question of the Week:
From Nadia H. in Michigan (53:34 – 58:42)
Q: Do you feel weird seeing your face on merchandise or wallpapers?
- Both hosts candidly admit it’s always odd—especially on random things like shot glasses (Angela: “My face is on a shot glass at TJ Maxx.” – 54:25).
- They (and all cast) don’t get paid for official merch or Fortnite skins, finding it especially weird that NBC profits but not the actors.
- Contrasts “corporate merch” (weird) with fan-made/artist-made Etsy merch (delightful and meaningful).
- Jenna: “Etsy folks, we’re here for you. Keep it up.” (58:38)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Angela on webisode hunting:
“Why are you making it so hard to find these?” (Peacock navigation rant, 30:42) - Jenna’s “Pam” character study:
“If I found out that [Roy] committed murder, I would turn him into the police. He got really, really mad... I said, yeah, but not from murder.” (27:59) - On Dave Rogers’ Superfan episode work:
“Bless his heart. That was a lot of work.” (14:10) - Creed, Blackmail webisode:
“I want a helicopter... I want commodities. I want gold. Oil. Political capital. Four leaf clovers. Bones. Information. Uranium.” (41:33) - Jenna, describing Oliver Hudson’s tattoo:
“It looks like multiple anchors hanging off an anchor with like also the letter H.” (62:42)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Chit Chat/Soups: 05:04 – 11:17
- Season 9 Superfan Episodes & Peacock navigation: 13:19 – 19:23
- Company Retreat show preview: 19:23 – 21:41
- Fan participation and animated episode recaps: 21:41 – 30:05
- Creed’s Blackmail Webisode Breakdown: 30:05 – 44:48
- Tattoo Tangent with Oliver Hudson: 36:00 – 44:00; resumes at 58:49 – 63:07
- Listener ‘Around the Town’ stories: 48:28 – 52:34
- Office Question of the Week (merch): 53:34 – 58:42
Final Thoughts
This episode is a breezy, interactive recap of all things Office-adjacent in 2026, anchored by Angela and Jenna’s warmth and wit. It’s full of quick pivots between trivia, fan connections, the joy and weirdness of TV memorabilia, and inside baseball few others can provide. The feature on the “Blackmail” webisodes is a perfect tribute to the show’s ongoing legacy, and the deep-dive into personal scripts and memories is a real treat for fans. The tattoo story offers a laugh-out-loud, fittingly human finale.
For More:
- Find “Blackmail” and other webisodes on Peacock (navigate via original Office > Collections > Digital Series)
- Watch animated highlights on the Office Ladies YouTube
- Participate in upcoming “Fan Favorite Moment” celebrations on their Instagram stories
- Check the updated “links in bio” on their socials for up-to-date resources
Next Week:
More fan stories, Office universe updates, and, if we’re lucky, more confessions about ill-advised tattoos.
