Office Ladies — "Second Drink: Ben Franklin"
Podcast: Office Ladies
Episode Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Main Theme
In this special “Second Drink” retrospective, Jenna and Angela revisit "Ben Franklin," Season 3, Episode 14 of The Office. The discussion is a lively mix of deep-dive analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, fan questions, memorable moments, character insights, historical tidbits, and even direct audio responses from Andy Daly, who played Ben Franklin. The tone is classic Office Ladies—warm, nerdy, tangential, and filled with both laughter and intimacy between the friends.
Episode Breakdown
1. Rewatch Overview & Episode Recap (08:18–10:00)
- Jenna and Angela express their genuine love for “Ben Franklin,” calling it one of their favorites.
- Summary of Episode:
Michael plans parties for Phyllis’s wedding—Jim is tasked with hiring a stripper for the women, Dwight for the men. Jim instead hires a historical Ben Franklin speaker for the ladies’ party. Karen confronts Pam about her past with Jim.
2. Fun Facts and Deep Dives
Ben Franklin 101 (10:00–12:36)
- Ben Franklin had 16 siblings; only two years of formal education; was a vegetarian.
- Invented the glass harmonica, which both Mozart and Beethoven used.
- Franklin started the first volunteer fire station in Philadelphia and contributed to creating America’s first public library by donating books to Franklin, Massachusetts ([05:07]).
“Of all of my inventions, the glass harmonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.”
—Ben Franklin, read by Jenna, [12:17]
Mythbusting Prima Nocta (25:47–29:17)
- Angela delivers a history lesson: Prima nocta, mentioned by Michael as a "tradition" for Phyllis’s wedding, is a myth—never actually practiced.
- The myth’s true history reflects how bias enters historical record-keeping.
“Who writes the history, writes the history.”
—Jenna, [27:32]
Sweater Dimples & “Shoulder Nipples” (03:05, 36:04–38:13)
- Angela does a deep dive on “sweater dimples”/“sweater shoulder nipples”: lumps in sweaters from hangers, drawing on a fan observation.
- Offers emergency de-creasing tips: mist with water, blow-dry, tap out with fingers.
“Why have you not consistently referred to them as shoulder nipples? That’s my favorite one.”
—Jenna, [37:32]
3. Behind-the-Scenes Stories
Bloopers & On-Set Laughs (30:00–30:07, 73:28–74:02)
- Steve Carell improvised lines every time he entered the room during party planning scenes, causing multiple outtakes.
- Jenna sneezed a lot on set, once captured at [31:49].
Prop & Wardrobe Details
- Stripper’s breakaway blouse was one of Pam’s old retired shirts ([75:03]).
- Proof of set’s cold temperatures: Rashida Jones (Karen) sits with a blanket wrapped around her in a background shot ([87:27]).
SAG Award Feels (18:08–21:16)
- The Ben Franklin episode was filmed after the cast received their first SAG Award nomination—shared emotions, stories about celebration and camaraderie.
- As Andy Daly recalls:
“There was a lot of talk of dresses and tuxedos...Everybody seemed so happy and to really realize how lucky they were to be on such a great, well-written show.”
—Andy Daly (audio), [18:48]
4. Casting Deep Dives
- Andy Daly shares stories: auditioned for Ben Franklin despite thinking he was “all wrong”—“in the shape of my life, got a swimmer’s body.” Auditioned for the role because “why not me?” ([14:13–16:07]).
- Elizabeth the Stripper (Jackie De Botton): Jackie was cast last minute from comedy circles, still working in NYC; wardrobe needed to quickly convert Pam’s blouse for her scene ([16:49–17:44, 75:03–76:44]).
5. Notable Quotes & Moments
The Ben Franklin Scene
“Actually, I was never president.”
—Andy Daly as Ben Franklin ([48:37]); Andy elaborates:
“If that’s your pickup line—you need to work on it. That’s like the bare minimum requirement...not something to brag about.” ([48:37])
Angela & Meredith’s Snap
“Under no circumstances should a man take off his clothes at the office.”
—Angela Martin
“Shut up, Angela!”
—Meredith ([35:03–35:09])
Michael’s Innocence
“Michael is really just so innocent in so many ways.”
—Jenna ([34:07])
Pam and Karen’s Tension
“It’s like her computer shut down. None of what she says after this makes any sense.”
—Angela on Pam after Karen confronts her ([72:02]–[73:28])
Cherry Stem Scene
“Absolutely not. That is not something I’ve even ever tried to do. That’s crazy.”
—Andy Daly on tying a cherry stem with his tongue ([65:07])
Ben Franklin Interrogation and Actor Prep
“Are you nearsighted or farsighted?” – improvised by Rainn Wilson.
“Both. That’s why I invented the bifocal.” – Andy Daly, perfectly prepped ([84:53–86:29])
6. Fan Catches & Questions
- BJ Novak (Ryan) Breaking Character: At [02:27] and [05:00], confirmed as BJ breaking, not the character.
- Pam’s Hair Color: Family debates! Pam’s hair is declared “auburn—reddish brown” ([41:25–42:08]).
- Missing Oscar: Fan questions why Oscar isn’t present—timeline confusion remains ([79:07–79:16]).
7. Tangents, Confessions, and Sisterly Chat
- Massage parlor stories, underwear habits at the spa, “happy ending” close calls ([54:44–58:13]).
- Angela and Jenna’s “mom detective” show idea ([53:06–53:44]).
- Jenna’s failed audition for Sydney Bristow on Alias ([52:08–53:01]).
- Discussion of physical limitations: pole climbing, failed cartwheels, tap-dancing, and “stripper pole” trends ([91:16–92:13]).
Key Timestamps
| Segment | Time | Notes | |---------|------------|--------------------------------------------| | The "Breakdown" Begins | 02:17 | Episode-specific male/female party planning | | BJ Breaking | 02:27–02:59 | Ryan seen smiling—actor breaks character | | Historical Ben Franklin Facts | 09:38–12:36 | Franklin trivia & anecdotes | | Ben Franklin’s Glass Harmonica | 11:20–11:49 | Real-life musical invention discussed | | SAG Awards Mood | 18:08–21:16 | Cast’s excitement after first nomination | | Steve Carell Bloopers | 30:00–30:07 | Multiple Michael entrances | | Sweater Dimples/Nipples | 36:04–38:13 | Angela’s wardrobe deep dive | | Sneeze Catch | 31:49 | Jenna sneezes during filming | | Cherry Stem Scene | 64:25–65:07 | Ben Franklin’s “talent” | | Ben Franklin "Never President" | 48:37 | Andy Daly’s favorite scene | | Truth about Prima Nocta | 25:47–29:17 | Debunking the myth | | Stripper’s Blouse from Pam | 75:03–76:44| Wardrobe story, eagle-eyed fan catch | | Karen & Pam Confrontation | 71:34–73:28 | Tense, pivotal scene | | Ben Franklin Interrogation | 84:09–86:29 | Improvisational triumph |
Tone & Style
The entire episode is infused with the hosts’ affectionate teasing, storytelling, and loving tangents—balancing serious trivia dives with playful laughter. The conversation is peppered with both feminist commentary (“It’s called misogyny, everyone”), nerdy enthusiasm, and the uniquely real voice of women who actually lived inside one of TV’s great comedies.
Memorable Quotes
- “Why not you? That’s what I always say.” — Angela, on acting ([16:19])
- “It’s sweater shoulder nipples. Say the word.” — Jenna ([37:42])
- “Michael is really just so innocent in so many ways.” — Jenna ([34:07])
- “Of all of my inventions, the glass harmonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.” — Ben Franklin, as read by Jenna ([12:17])
Not-to-Miss Moments
- Andy Daly’s stories about his unexpected casting and the behind-the-scenes costume struggles ([14:13, 46:30])
- The insight that “retired” main character costumes often get reused for guests ([75:03])
- Angela’s personal sweater “shoulder nipple” photo (promised for Instagram—[38:13])
- Origin and (non-)existence of prima nocta explained in detail with historian rigor ([25:47])
- Tangential gold: massages, “mom detective” TV concepts, stage “footloose” tap-dances ([53:15, 92:13])
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
The “Second Drink: Ben Franklin” episode is a treasure trove for both die-hard Office fans and newcomers to the podcast. Beyond a simple rewatch breakdown, it explores historical myths, on-set memories, the actors’ processes, and juicy, relatable tangents about real life, all with the genuine warmth and wit that make Jenna and Angela must-listen podcast hosts.
For Behind-the-Scenes Images & Extras:
Check @officeladiespod on Instagram for Angela’s historic shoulder-nipple pic and more episode treats!
This summary covers main discussion points, notable moments, and memorable speaker quotes using timestamps and attributions, following the friendly, informative, and humorous tone of the hosts.