Second Drink: Branch Closing with Charles Esten

Summary

Office Ladies Podcast Summary Season 3, Episode 7: "Branch Closing" Featuring Charles Esten
Release Date: June 30, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey

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Introduction to "Branch Closing"

In the second drink episode of Season 3, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey dive deep into "Branch Closing," the seventh episode of The Office. They unpack key plot developments, character dynamics, and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes that enrich the viewing experience.

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Fan Letters and Observations

Letter from Yusuf A. [02:35]

Yusuf wonders if Josh, the manager of the Stamford branch, is wearing the same suit as Michael Scott did in his birthday episode.

• Jenna Fischer [02:56]: "They are both wearing dark blue pinstriped suits with, like, white pinstripes... They are not the same. They are not identical, but wow."
• Angela Kinsey [03:22]: "Do you think there's a chance he saw Josh and Stamford wearing this ensemble and he went out and bought something similar and then wore it on his birthday?"

Response: The hosts confirm the similarity in suits but clarify the differences, suggesting Michael may have been inspired by Josh's attire.

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Notable Episode Moments

Stanley and Creed's Rare Interaction [05:32]

Harshita V. points out that Stanley and Creed only interact once throughout the series, exchanging four words in "Branch Closing."

• Angela Kinsey [06:17]: "When you're close to someone, you can read them like a book. Michael's book is titled 'Something Weird Is Going On: What Did Jan Say? The Michael Scott Story by Michael Scott with Dwight Schrute.'"

Key Insight: This rare interaction highlights the show's attention to character relationships, offering fans a glimpse into seldom-seen dynamics.

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Character Dynamics: Angela and Roy

Fan Question from Patricia Kennedy [43:02]

Patricia inquires whether Angela has a crush on Roy.

• Angela Kinsey [43:20]: "Yes. It seems like Angela always had a thing for Roy."

Jenna Fischer's Analysis [43:57]:

Jenna traces the flirtation between Angela and Roy through various episodes and webisodes, confirming that the writers intended it as a recurring subplot without significant development towards a romantic relationship.

• Charles Esten (Guest) [45:06]: Discusses his experiences portraying Josh and interactions with the main cast, emphasizing the authentic and collaborative environment on set.

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Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Extended and Producer’s Cut Versions [11:42]

Jenna reveals that "Branch Closing" has an extended producer’s cut version available on streaming platforms, which includes additional scenes not aired on NBC's initial broadcast.

• Jenna Fischer [12:51]: "This producer's cut speaks to how much stuff we used to cut from episodes... It also marked one of the first instances of exclusive web content for the show."

Impact on Storylines:

The extended version allowed for deeper exploration of character arcs, including Meredith's storyline about her pact to sleep with someone on her last day and Creed's attempts to sell office equipment.

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Technical and Production Details

Talking Head Placement [16:08]

Jenna explains the significance of background settings in talking head segments, noting that in "Branch Closing," all characters have windows showing the outside world, symbolizing their contemplation of life beyond Dunder Mifflin.

• Jenna Fischer [16:39]: "Talking heads with windows to the outside represent characters contemplating their futures."

Costume Choices: Pam's Low Ponytail [25:06]

Angela discusses Pam's new hairstyle in this episode, detailing the intentional change to signify her personal growth and experimentation.

• Angela Kinsey [25:52]: "We needed to see some physical representation of the fact that she's attempting to break out of her shell."

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Guest Interview: Charles Esten

Introduction of Charles Esten [55:39]

Charles Esten, who portrayed Josh Porter, joins the podcast to discuss his experience on The Office.

• Charles Esten [55:56]: "You could not have been kinder. Both of you were sincerely the only two nice people there."

Origin Story:

Charles shares how his prior work with Rainn Wilson led to his casting on the show, emphasizing the importance of improvisation and chemistry with the main cast.

• Charles Esten [58:37]: "We made it funny enough that they ended up shooting a pilot of it... I had fallen in love with the guy that is Rainn Wilson."

Memorable Moments:

He recounts fun moments on set, such as scenes involving Call of Duty, and how his character's arc culminated in leaving for Staples, adding depth to the Stamford branch storyline.

• Charles Esten [61:31]: "Shadow with Josh Porter and how he leveraged his job offer... It was thrilling."

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Behind-the-Scenes Bloopers and Improvisations

Michael and Dwight's Visit to David Wallace [73:56]

Jenna and Angela discuss how Rainn Wilson's improvisation during a scene led to genuine laughter and the retention of those spontaneous moments in the final cut.

• Angela Kinsey [84:45]: "We often could add a line at the end and let improv happen there."

Creed's Friendly Dog [74:14]

They reveal the anecdote about the friendly dog featured in the episode, explaining it was intentionally added to convey a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos of the branch closing.

• Angela Kinsey [75:43]: "That dog made me want to get another dog. And we already have two dogs and two cats."

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Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Jenna Fischer [02:48]: "They are both wearing dark blue pinstriped suits with, like, white pinstripes... Very similar."
• Charles Esten [36:02]: "Working on a show with you guys is like being on..."
• Angela Kinsey [07:06]: "I feel like we need to ask them about that."
• Jenna Fischer [11:00]: "Fast fact number one is that this episode now streams as a super sized episode."
• Charles Esten [56:14]: "It was like winning a radio contest to be on a show that I already loved."
• Angela Kinsey [43:20]: "Yes. It seems like Angela always had a thing for Roy."
• Charles Esten [67:03]: "I just walk in there and say goodbye. My guess is that Andy is not strong enough or brave enough to do anything but go, great, nice."

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Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode

Jenna and Angela wrap up the episode by reflecting on the rich content of "Branch Closing" and expressing excitement for upcoming episodes, including an interview with director Ken Kwapis about the iconic "Casino Night" episode.

• Jenna Fischer [89:15]: "Next week we have a very special episode... revisit our Casino Night episode with special guest Ken Kwapis."

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Final Thoughts

"Branch Closing" serves as a pivotal episode in The Office, setting the stage for future developments and introducing key dynamics that resonate through subsequent seasons. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey provide an insightful and entertaining breakdown, enriched by their firsthand experiences and exclusive guest appearances.

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Notable Quotes:

• Angela Kinsey [01:11]: "Smile Generation reimagines oral health as the gateway to long term confidence."
• Jenna Fischer [16:09]: "This producer's cut speaks to how much stuff we used to cut from episodes."
• Charles Esten [61:45]: "Being on a show that I already loved was like winning a radio contest."

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This summary captures the essence of the "Branch Closing" episode as discussed by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey on the Office Ladies podcast, providing fans and newcomers alike with a comprehensive overview of the discussions, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories shared during the episode.

Transcript

[Angela Kinsey]

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[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Jenna Fischer]

Visit smilegeneration.com officeladies for full terms and to book now. Hello and welcome to our second drink of Season three, Episode seven, Branch Closing.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is a great breakdown. We got to talk with Charles Estin who played Josh. You know, the manager of the Stanford branch.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And he's just such a great guy.

[Jenna Fischer]

He really is. Well, I thought I'd kick off our second drink with a letter from Yusuf A who said, is Josh wearing the same suit Michael wore in his birthday episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

Is he. Did you go check?

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, you know, I love a side by side photo.

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't know anyone that loves them more.

[Jenna Fischer]

I went to both episodes. I grabbed photos.

[Angela Kinsey]

Let me see.

[Jenna Fischer]

And I'll tell you what I see why Yousef is asking this question. They are both wearing dark blue pinstriped suits with, like, white pinstripes.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

They are both wearing, like, blue, bright blue shirts, and they're both wearing a tie that has, like, white, blue, and kind of black in it.

[Angela Kinsey]

So very sort of similar.

[Jenna Fischer]

Looks very similar. But here's my side by side. And they are not the same. They are not identical. But wow.

[Angela Kinsey]

The shirt looks the same. The tie, that looks different. Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

And the suit as well, I think is slightly different.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And the pinstripes in Michael's suit are more prominent, whereas Josh's suit, they're a little more subtle.

[Angela Kinsey]

But that's the same shirt.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's the same idea. And you know how Michael always admires people he thinks are cool. Do you think there's a chance he saw Josh and Stamford wearing this ensemble and he went out and bought something similar and then wore it on his birthday?

[Angela Kinsey]

For sure.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think so too.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, a fun part of this episode are all of the reactions from people when they find out that the branch is closing. And there's a series of talking heads. And the writers must have really liked writing these because there were a ton of candy bag alts for them.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. I found mine for Pam.

[Angela Kinsey]

Same. I found mine for Angela. Okay, so the Angela one that made it into the episode was the one in the original script. This is Angela's reaction to the branch closing. Let's hear it. I don't want to blame anyone in particular. I think everyone's to blame. It's very on brand for Angela to point fingers at everyone. So here was the candy bag alt for that talking head. Some of these people are in for a rough time. Not me. The world always needs accountants. But the stage direction says she doesn't look so sure of that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Mm. Okay, so here is the Pam talking head that made it into the episode. It's a blessing in disguise. Actually. Not even in disguise. In my fantasy, I always thought I would slap someone, make a big speech, and storm out forever, but this is good too. All right, so that was actually my candy bag alt. My candy bag alt made it into the episode. The original talking head that was in the shooting draft actually said this. It's a blessing in disguise. Or actually, it's not even in disguise. Sometimes when I'm home, I answer my phone. Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam. So I'm hoping that'll stop now.

[Angela Kinsey]

I like that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Me too. So finally we got this letter from Harshita V. That said, not a question, but something I thought you might like. Over the course of the entire nine seasons, Stanley and Creed only talk to each other once, and they only say four words to each other. And. And that happens during this episode. Branch closing lady, did you know that was a thing? I googled it. I looked everywhere. There are threads on Reddit that are all about how Stanley and Creed never speak to one another.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did not realize that, but I'm now I'm trying to play scenes in my head, and even though sometimes they're sort of in proximity to one another, they're not really interacting. You're right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. So there is a scene in Fun Run where they're interacting. They have gone off the course with Oscar and they're having lunch together. Oscar, Creed, and Stanley. They don't have any lines to one another, so they're all seated at the table, but they don't share any dialogue. So I thought that in honor of their only time saying words to one another, maybe we should hear it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's from this episode. Stanley has a talking head where he says he's extremely about the branch closing and how he's gonna take an early retirement package. Creed is walking around the bullpen taking photos of people, and here's what they say to one another.

[Charles Esten]

Feeling nostalgic.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, nostalgic.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow.

[Jenna Fischer]

Four words.

[Angela Kinsey]

We have to ask them about that.

[Jenna Fischer]

I feel like we need to. It's really funny. I was trying to think if there were other characters that just never really seemed to interact or have dialogue together. And for a very long time, it was Pam and Meredith.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, also Jim and Angela. They hardly ever speak to each other. Yeah, very rarely.

[Jenna Fischer]

I would get paired with Kate for background work. So you would see our characters together, but we never really talked.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

So. Interesting, huh?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I love it when people write in with these observations.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

The show keeps on giving lady.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's pretty cool.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, everyone, please enjoy our breakdown of branch closing.

[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 you.

[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. Hi, folks.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hello, everybody.

[Jenna Fischer]

I'm sorry. I feel like I just shouted. I won't do that again.

[Angela Kinsey]

If you shouted, then what did I do?

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't know. I don't know. I'll pull back. We're a little amped up today, guys. We're excited about this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

We're amped up. We're excited about this episode. Also, seeing my BFFs face and Sam and Cody, like, the four of us is kind of just like one of the highlights of my week.

[Jenna Fischer]

Every week, it's one of the highlights of my week. Yeah, it's true.

[Angela Kinsey]

Let's talk about the Office.

[Jenna Fischer]

This week's episode is branch closing. It is season three, episode seven, written by Mike Schur and directed by Tucker Gates.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Tucker Gates directed four episodes, one of which people, like, absolutely flip out over. Is the threat level midnight? We'll get there.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. Oh, yes. All right, here's a summary for this episode. Jumping right in, Jan tells Michael that the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch is shutting down. Michael, of course, shares this news with the rest of the Office, even though Jan told him not to.

[Angela Kinsey]

I mean, what, are you going to tell Michael something and expect him not to just blurt it out? He's, like, emotion driven. The guy cannot hold anything in.

[Jenna Fischer]

No, he can. He can hold nothing, basically.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

So everyone is wondering what their new life will be like. They're talking about it. They're thinking about it. Meanwhile, Michael and Dwight drive to David Wallace's house in hopes of ambushing him and saving the branch. They're going to. They're going to save us, guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Even if they have to be aggressive. Like, what? They're going to show up at this guy's house? What are they thinking? Thank God he didn't come home.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we eventually learned that Josh from Stanford leveraged his position to get a new job at Staples, and the Stanford branch will now be closing. The Scranton branch will absorb some of their employees, which means. Guys, Jim is coming back.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, Jim is coming back.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's a big episode. That's a lot of information we find out in this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

So much information. And it sets up the rest of the season, really.

[Jenna Fischer]

It really does. Yeah. We're gonna. And this is. We're gonna get our new characters now. Ed Helms, Rasheeda Jones, Angela. We're finally next week gonna be able to interact with those Stanford people.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. And they really. They really get under people's skin. It's so fun.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right. But we're getting Ahead. We're getting ahead of ourself.

[Angela Kinsey]

Jenna. Now, you and I were being chatty on the phone yesterday. Jenna, you were a little, I don't know, braggy to me on the phone yesterday. You said you had fantastic fast. You wouldn't tell me. So what do you got? What do you got? You were a little braggy.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was a little braggy. Because I am actually really proud of these fast facts. The first one is a little soft. I'm gonna just preface it now that we've built it up, but fast. Fact number one is that this episode of branch closing, it now streams as a super sized episode. It's longer than a regular episode. It runs about 30 minutes, but when it first aired, it was a regular episode. This ran on NBC as a shorter episode. But immediately following the airing on television, NBC released what they called a producer's cut, where they put back some deleted scenes. And that is the version that now streams today. This producer's cut, lady.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's a very solid first fast fact.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, well, thank you so much.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, that's really good. I forgot that. I forgot that. And when I watched it, I noticed it was longer. And I was like, we always had a big announcement about our super sized episodes. Remember, it was always usually at the end of the season. And I was like, how did this one get in there? That's how.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, first of all, I think that this really speaks to how much stuff we used to cut from episodes, because when you watch this episode, it feels awesome. You're like, oh, yes. And it kind of shows all the things that we used to have to cut out. And as we go along, I'll point out some of the things that only got to stay in because of this added time. I'll mention the things that were cut for the network airing. But I think this also speaks to a time historically when websites and the idea of web traffic or exclusive web content, it was just blowing up. This is the very first kind of exclusive web content of the Office that NBC put out this producer's cut. And it was because NBC wanted to drive traffic to their website.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Which is also why we did those webisodes. We started doing more and More content for NBC.com I started doing a thing called Adventures with Angela where I would go around the set and make these videos. And they put it on NBC.com, because they were really starting to see, hey, this Internet thing is probably gonna be the way to go.

[Jenna Fischer]

And this was still before social media. This was still before Instagram. Twitter was around, but it was very much just starting, and it wasn't what it is today. But, yeah, this now, you almost expect it. I feel like now you watch a television program and you're like, where's my extra content? Where's my behind the scenes? Where's my extended cuts? But this was, like, just the very beginning, and branch closing was part of that.

[Angela Kinsey]

I find that fascinating, Jenna. And also, yeah, you're right. This is a timestamp, right? If we're tracking old tech and our show started before there was streaming.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, Angela, Fast fact number two is a major old tech tracking. You're gonna love this. What? All right. On January 9, 2007, Apple introduced the first iPhone. I don't know if you remember this, but it was unveiled during a presentation by Steve Jobs. We got some mail from Erin McDonald with what might be my favorite tip off ever. He said that the cold open from this episode was the first ever piece of video played on the iPhone, and it was done during that presentation by Steve Jobs.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow. We were part of this global moment, like, without even knowing it.

[Jenna Fischer]

It blew my mind. Here is something even more crazy. I watched the whole presentation. Also during the presentation, Steve Jobs, when he's showing you how the music stuff works, he plays the Green Day song, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Angela, in season six of the Office, Dwight and Andy sing Boulevard of Broken Dreams in the Secret Santa episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

What are you trying to tell me, Jenna? What is happening? Is this an episode of Lost? Is this an episode of Lost?

[Jenna Fischer]

Group mind.

[Angela Kinsey]

Group mind's time portal. What's happening?

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't know. Don't you think it's crazy that both a video of the Office and that Green Day song were both part of this presentation? And then later, that same Green Day song shows up on the Office? It's so many coincidences. What's happening?

[Angela Kinsey]

I think it's a collective of amazing creative minds.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's a group mind of great stuff. You've got an iPhone, you've got the Office, you've got Green Day. It's group mind. I don't know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, all right, what's next, Jenna?

[Jenna Fischer]

Fast fact number three. There are a ton of talking heads in this episode. Did you notice?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, yeah, because everyone's reacting.

[Jenna Fischer]

I did notice that everyone's talking about, oh, what am I gonna do now that the branch is closing? And then when we find out the branch is not closing, everybody talks about, oh, here's my reaction to that news. Do you remember when we talked about how our cinematographer Randall Einhorn, chose the placement of a talking head based on whether or not people had a future outside of Dunder Mifflin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

To refresh everyone's memories, we learned that most characters have the office of Dunder Mifflin behind them. Behind them in that window as they're giving their talking heads. And the reason behind this was that that meant people were stuck. They didn't really have a future. They were kind of stuck in the world of Dunder Mifflin.

[Angela Kinsey]

Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

However, very often, Jim would have a talking head all the time, and his talking heads had a window to the world behind him.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

The point of that was because he had a future outside of this company.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Right. He was going places.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Angela, in this episode, after the employees get the news that Dunder Mifflin Scranton is closing, every single one of the talking heads have a window to the outside world behind them.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, they don't.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, yes, they do. Wait. When they find out that the branch isn't closing, all of the talking heads switch back to having the bullpen behind them.

[Angela Kinsey]

I did not catch that.

[Jenna Fischer]

You have to watch it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have to go back and watch it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Angela, you have a talking head where you're talking about Dunder Mifflin closing and outside world behind you. Same with Pam. Same with Ryan. Same with Phyllis. Same with Stanley. And then when we find out that we're still stuck at Dunder Mifflin, Dunder Mifflin is behind us.

[Angela Kinsey]

That is so wild, because I really don't think I ever had talking heads on that wall ever. I mean, I'm trying to think back. I think maybe one time when I was sitting next to you when we were both pregnant. Right. But, like, wow, Jenna, that is a fantastic fast fact.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's subtle, but it's layered and it's there. Everybody watch branch closing again just for the talking head. That's it. That's what I got.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm giving you some claps all around.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was really proud of that one. Cause I tracked that one myself. So I'm giving myself a real pat on the back for that. I'm raising my glass to myself. I don't know if you can see. I'm raising my coffee mug to myself.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm raising mine back to you. You do. As you raise your coffee mug, I notice you have a tattoo on your wrist that you normally don't have. I was fascinated and fixated on it. Did your kids give you a sticky tattoo?

[Jenna Fischer]

You know, Angela, in this pandemic, we have brought back some real oldies but goodies at our house. And one of them has been the temporary tattoos. Yeah, this is something my kids were interested in when they were like 2 or 3 years old. And they're now 8 and 6. And we found this drawer of temporary tattoos, and we're tatting up.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know what we found? It's not as exciting as your tattoos. We found in the shed. A bin of unopened play doh. And it was still good. Our kids are 12. 12 and 10. They're not. You know, that's when you sort of phase out a Play doh. They brought it back. There's a chicken that poops. Play doh. It's made a comeback, lady. Those fast facts were so good. I mean, where do we go from there? We should probably take a break.

[Jenna Fischer]

Let's take a break and then we'll dive into this episode.

[Angela Kinsey]

It sounds great.

[Jenna Fischer]

Angela, do you have a favorite sandwich? I'm not gonna let you answer. I'm gonna answer my own question.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love Boar's Head Honey Turkey. This is my go to sandwich. It is my only sandwich. My son takes this sandwich to school. My husband eats this sandwich every day for lunch. We love Boar's Head Honey Turkey. It is on our shopping list every single week. £1 boar's head honey Turkey.

[Angela Kinsey]

You know, me and ham. I mean, my nickname was Ham bone in high school. So I love some Boar's Head smoked master uncured ham. Put it on a sandwich, eat it off a plate without any bread, roll it up with some cheese. I'm gonna eat it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, they wanted us to talk about Boar's Head, and we sure are doing it. For over a century, Boar's Head has been dedicated to craftsmanship. Hand trimmed meats, carefully selected spices, and authentic cooking techniques like slow roasting and fire grilling. And that is what makes every bite unforgettable.

[Angela Kinsey]

Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli counter.

[Jenna Fischer]

Boar's Head, committed to craft since 1905.

[Angela Kinsey]

Hey, what's up, flies? This is David Spade.

[Charles Esten]

Dana Carvey.

[Angela Kinsey]

Look it, I know we never actually left, but I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall.

[Charles Esten]

Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be on video. Every Thursday, you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities.

[Angela Kinsey]

And every Monday, you're stuck with just me and Dana. We react to news, what's trending, viral.

[Charles Esten]

Clips follow and listen to Fly on the Wall.

[Angela Kinsey]

Everywhere you get your podcasts.

[David Spade]

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[Jenna Fischer]

All right, we're back, guys. We're gonna start breaking down this episode of branch closing. We're gonna start with that cold open that we told you ran during the unveiling of the iPhone.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. So this is a classic gym prank. He has found a way to prank Dwight even from the Stanford branch. He is sending a fax very early in the morning. Karen enters. She's a little curious, like, what are you doing? And he's like, it's too hard to explain. And we see a talking head where Jim says that he stole some of Dwight's stat Mary before he left. And he occasionally sends Dwight a fax from Dwight's future self.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so good.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's so perfect. It's so perfect. And that morning, he said, don't drink the coffee. Might be poisoned. Right? Something to that effect. So Dwight's like, oh, my God. And he sees Stanley about to take a sip of coffee, and he, you know, practically tackles him to the ground. He's like, you'll thank me later. So Dwight thinks he is getting faxes from his future self. This is classic Jim.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so good. It's so good. The first thing I thought after I watched this cold open was, did Mike Schur write this episode? He did, because that's Mike schur. This is 100% from the brain of Mike Shore. He did such a good job of writing these Jim Dwight pranks.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, he's so smart, Jenna. He's so smart.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

He's smarty.

[Charles Esten]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, so then we move into the episode, and Michael is at his desk. Jan enters. Oh, Michael again, Like, three hellos. Just call me Levinson in the morning.

[Angela Kinsey]

Levinson's.

[Jenna Fischer]

And, you know, Jan has news to deliver. But first she has to sit through this barrage of awkward hellos from Michael, and she finally tells him, dunder Mifflin Scranton is closing. You are a severance package person.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, you're not gonna make it. Starts crying, and then he starts, like, moaning. Like, how awkward. Jenna, can you imagine? Like, in this moment?

[Jenna Fischer]

No. And of course, it's so loud, everyone from outside the office can see and hear that something is going down in his office. Everyone's very curious.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Because he's like. Like, he's moaning.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kevin comes over to Pam's desk, wants to know what's going on. We had a fan question.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, I'm gonna let this fan question go. And then I have a card that just says, what is it?

[Jenna Fischer]

What? Hadley Horton is wondering, why is Pam's hair different? What's up with the low pony?

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, that's a separate card called low pony question mark.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, where should we start? Should we start with what or low pony?

[Angela Kinsey]

Let's start with what and then go into low pony.

[Jenna Fischer]

Great.

[Angela Kinsey]

Pam calls Kevin Kev, and then buddy, and they fist bump. What is happening? What is happening?

[Jenna Fischer]

The fist bump was a reluctant fist bump, though, Ange.

[Angela Kinsey]

I know, but Kev, Buddy, she's being condescending.

[Jenna Fischer]

She's being totally condescending. She's trying to put him off. She's like, kev, buddy, fist bump. Leave my desk. I mean, she's trying to get through it. That's my interpretation.

[Angela Kinsey]

My interpretation was that he's like, a little kid.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

So she's like, okay, Kev, she's Patrick.

[Jenna Fischer]

Budding him for sure.

[Angela Kinsey]

But you just don't often hear Pam sort of become that casual with Kevin or, you know, I feel like she saves that part of herself for Jim and everyone else. She's sort of just aloof to a little bit. So it just kind of was startling to me that in your low ponytail, I mean, what the heck?

[Jenna Fischer]

Here's the deal with the low pony. I think it was a swing and a miss. I wasn't crazy about it when I saw it. We were trying to change things up. You might notice as well, Pam has got a little bit of, like, a pinkier, sparklier eyeshadow on in this episode as well. And a little lip gloss.

[Angela Kinsey]

There's so much pink. She has pink eyeshadow, pink lipstick, pink sweater. But. But then the low pony with the Clip. Not even a ponytail holder. I can't wait. Wait, I sounded so southern. It's very hard for me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Holder.

[Angela Kinsey]

Anyway, it's a clip holding your hair. Not even a ponytail holder.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, well, the clip is humongous. Here's the thing. The conversation in hair and makeup was that Pam would be experimenting a little bit because she's going to her art classes, she's living on her own. We needed to see some physical representation of the fact that she's attempting, even in small ways, to break out of her shell right now, to break out of her routines. So there you go. We offer the low pony. I'm gonna say, I think you never see it again because it wasn't great. Can we just say it wasn't great?

[Angela Kinsey]

It's a clip, low pony. A clip, low pony. I now I kind of wish they'd really gone for it next week. You would have had a banana clip. Remember those things? Oh, God, they gave you like a mohawk.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, it was a moment in time. It was something we tried. Unfortunately, it's there for us all to see again and again.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, don't. Don't say unfortunately to me. Do you see how many low ponies my character has? Like, all the crazy hair?

[Jenna Fischer]

I don't have a problem with a low pony. I don't have a problem with a low pony in general. I'm just saying this particular low pony was because of the giant clip. It was odd.

[Angela Kinsey]

We're back in Michael's office and Jenna, I don't know if you've ever had to fire someone. I have. Or if you've ever been fired. But I couldn't imagine getting the news Michael got. And Jan's like, well, you know, they believe that Josh Porter is going to have a big role in the future of the company. And Michael goes, what kind of role? King of the stupid universe.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Could you imagine, like, firing someone basically who's. Who's having this kind of a spiral?

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, could you imagine firing someone or being fired and then having their wind up mechanical teeth?

[Angela Kinsey]

Was that in the script?

[Jenna Fischer]

It was an accident. And by the way, this points to what amazing actors Steve and Melora are, because they just in the moment and reacted to it as if that was meant to happen. It was not meant to happen.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's brilliant. And could it be more brilliant that you're firing this guy who's so incompetent on so many levels and his clacky teeth go off?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. Amazing. All right, I'm gonna move us along. Michael has a talking head where he says, let's see Josh find another Stanley, Phyllis or Kevin. Show me that farm. Show me that farm. And during that talking head, we kind of. We see Creed eating his mung beans at his desk. We see Phyllis knitting. And we had a fan question from Stephanie Miller in this episode, when we see Phyllis knitting, can she knit in real life? Did she knit that whole scarf her character is working on? You guys, she is a hundred percent fake knitting. Phyllis cannot knit. Didn't she do so good?

[Angela Kinsey]

They had a basket full of knitting stuff. They'd made it part of her character. It sat next to her desk all day. Nine seasons, and it just sat there. And sometimes if she had to do background stuff. But this was a great panning shot because, you know, Michael says, there is no Stanley tree and he's napping. And then they say, do you think the world is crawling with Phyllis's and she's knitting? So it was this great visual. But no, Phyllis can't knit.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. No, no.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's one of my favorite talking heads, though. I love that one.

[Jenna Fischer]

I do, too. I do, too. So then Michael is walking around the office. Dwight can tell something's wrong, but Michael isn't spilling. And this is my other favorite talking head from this episode, which is Dwight's talking head, where he says, when you're close to someone, you can read them like a book. And he says, michael's book is titled Something Weird Is Going On. Colon. What did Jan say? The Michael Scott Story by Michael Scott with Dwight Schrute. All right, that last part is not in the script, and I could kind of tell that there was an improv there because whenever Rain improvs at the end of a talking head or the end of a scene, I feel like you can see him smile just a little bit in the corners of his mouth and his eyes. So I reached out to Mike Schur, and he told me that he and Rain expanded on the book title on the day on set. They kept throwing out ideas. The original was just supposed to be something weird is going on. What did Jan say? And Mike threw out the Michael Scott story. And then Rain added with Dwight Schrute.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, for sure. I mean, I feel like we all have tells. And Rain, when he has an improv that I think he's really happy with, has a little bit of a smirk. He's kind of proud of the moment.

[Jenna Fischer]

He amuses himself in the moment while saying it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Now things are really getting heightened over at the Stanford branch because Karen breaks the news that The Scranton branch is closing to Jim. And, oh, my God, Jim's face. He's like, what?

[Jenna Fischer]

You notice he doesn't reach out to Pam. Pam and Jim never call one another or text one another in this whole day. It's kind of weird because in Diwali, we see that Pam was texting Jim, and they had that phone call at the end of grief counseling. But what's going on? Why no communication?

[Angela Kinsey]

It makes perfect sense to me. You know, they're both sort of struggling with where do we go from here? And I'm sure Pam's first instinct is to reach out to him, but she doesn't feel like she has that kind of access to him anymore. She rejected him. So, no, it makes perfect sense to me that they don't communicate. What I thought was weirder, and we're gonna get to it, is that Roy finds out from accounting. So Pam didn't even tell Roy.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

So now Michael approaches Pam at front reception. He's acting really strange. She clearly knows something is up because he was moaning in his office, and Jan visited. So Pam's like, what's going on, Michael?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I have a fan catch from this moment, okay. At 6 minutes, 21 seconds, Celeste Demas says, if you freeze and look closely on that big board that's hanging by accounting On Tuesday the 5th, it says, one of many Emmys, Steve was robbed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, that's a great fan catch. I promise I didn't write it.

[Jenna Fischer]

We shot this episode about two weeks after the Emmys, and I guess someone had written up on the board a little congratulations to us. And we also needed to say that Steve was robbed because he did not win that year for Michael Scott. He never won for Michael Scott, which is ridiculous. Yeah. Well, I have a Jenna catch, because since Celeste turned me on to looking at this whiteboard, I found something else on the whiteboard on the top line, written under Thursday, written in multiple colors, it says, in case you haven't noticed, there is a lot of colorful Huey on this board. Anyway, guys, for the future, I think it could be very fun to freeze on this whiteboard because they did change what they wrote all the time.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I love that. I love the little subtle shade towards the television academy. Totally about Steve not getting the Emmy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Totally.

[Angela Kinsey]

Coming up next, Michael has a talking head, and then he does something immediately after, and it's. It's one of these classic Michael moments that I live for. It always makes me laugh so hard. Michael says that all he can do is put on a brave face. And be our leader. And then he says to the whole bullpen, it's over. We are screwed.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

Like, really, buddy? That's the brave face you're putting on for us? Okay, thanks.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, I mean, he really. He offers no comfort. He. He sort of begins to ugly cry. Angela is asking about the employees, asking about their jobs.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have two catches here.

[Jenna Fischer]

I have something I need to say. Angela. Okay, go at 7 minutes, 18 seconds. Your sweater.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's a sweater vest. Okay, so I actually have some photos of this sweater from a wardrobe fitting that I saved. So I have a button down shirt, and then over it I have a sweater vest, but it's like a tank.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's like a teeny, tiny, very odd sweater vest. It's like another one of those failed Project Runway contests.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, 100%. And then our wardrobe designer, Carrie Bennett, took the buttons off the sweater vest and replace them with those cat faces.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's really a work of art.

[Angela Kinsey]

It really is. All right, well, I have a catch. At 7 minutes, 27 seconds. This is one of the most famous Michael Scott memes. It's Steve making that face like he's about to cry. Or maybe he smells dog poop. You know, the face. And he says, this is the worst. And people use it a ton to respond to other people. Like when they get some news that they're like, no way. All of a sudden, I see in my feed Steve's face.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, on office ladies pod, will you please post the pictures of your cat buttons and of this meme?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, of course, of course.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, good, because I want everyone to have these visuals.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think it's important.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have a script question, Jenna, because I know you have this. The scripts. So Toby admits that he knows that this was going to happen. Michael calls him a traitor, says he wants to see him in his office. They start to walk in and Michael says, oh, my God, you walk so slowly. I feel like that was Steve improvising.

[Jenna Fischer]

I had that same feeling. And I did. Look at the script. None of that part of him calling Toby into his office was scripted. So him. That whole bit of him calling Toby in his office, say he's walking slowly, and then Dwight guarding the door and putting his hand up to the camera. None of that was in the script.

[Angela Kinsey]

Amazing, Amazing. And I love that everyone just went with it. They just were like, oh, Steve's doing his thing. We're gonna let this play out and participate.

[Jenna Fischer]

Because I looked, I was like, wait, is there a lost scene of Toby in Michael's office? Is there A conversation that didn't make it. No, no, that was just Steve on the day.

[Angela Kinsey]

Wow. And you know, speaking of how Rain gets the little smirk when he improvises at 7 minutes, 52 seconds when he won't let the camera crew in and he shuts the door, he has the smirk.

[Jenna Fischer]

I noticed it too.

[Angela Kinsey]

Uh huh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, we had a fan question from Mary Poulton, and actually a lot of people wrote in with a similar question. She wanted to know, when we got the script for this episode, did any of us worry that the show was being canceled or did we know that this was just an idea for an episode? And she was asking, and a lot of people were asking because we've said before, sometimes plots are revealed to us at these table reads. And they were shocking. And they wanted to know as we sat down and got the script, as we were reading it, were we thinking, wait a second, what? Scranton's closing. Are we all out of jobs? No, guys, we knew that this was a plot point. None of us were worried. We had all had our contracts renewed for all of season three.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And so we knew that we would be producing 24 episodes in season three. And we also had been tipped off to the fact that eventually there would be a merger episode and that those people from Stanford would be coming to join us. So we didn't have any kind of surprise or anxiety when we got this script?

[Angela Kinsey]

No, we were just excited because it meant finally after this episode, we could all be in one room together. So we were excited. At least the Scranton branch, we were excited. I don't know, maybe Stanford was like, we like our schedule, but we were excited to have everyone back.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, so now Angela, we move into Orion talking head. And he's holding up his business cards. Right.

[Angela Kinsey]

Are they his calling cards?

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, boy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Uh huh.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's holding up his business slash calling cards. 8 minutes. Notice here it is. Talking head, exterior window behind him.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, nice.

[Jenna Fischer]

This is the beginning of the exterior window talking heads. Because next up, Angela has a talking head and Kelly has a talking head. We have with the mascara on her face, all exterior windows.

[Angela Kinsey]

She's gonna track it. All right, so now we're going back to Stanford and Andy is leading everyone in a chant. Stanford, Connecticut. Right. He's getting everyone worked up. So while everyone's chanting, at 8 minutes, 23 seconds, you will see someone who is beloved by our office cast and crew. Her name is Lori Socks. She was our stand in. Her and her husband Steven, they were like a stand in duo team. And she's in the background in the. And it just made me so happy to see her.

[Jenna Fischer]

I saw her, too. I saw her, too, and I loved it. Well, maybe we should explain what a stand in is if we haven't before. So after you rehearse a scene with the actors, you bring in people to stand in for the actors while the crew sets the lights and the camera angles. And this is an opportunity for the cast to go and get their makeup fixed or change their outfit or any number of things, rehearse their lines. And then when we're ready to start rolling, the actors come back in and stand in their positions or sit at their desks. So Laurie would stand in for all the women, and Steven, her husband, would stand in for the men. But every once in a while, you'll see them pop up in the background of scenes. And that's what happened here.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, they're wonderful. And we all became very close. And anyway, I was very excited to see her there.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know they were the loveliest. And they had two kids. Laurie got pregnant twice over the course of the show. Everybody who worked on our show became part of the family. And they were part of our family.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, absolutely.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, back in Scranton, Meredith goes into Michael's office to let him know that she is still down to sleep together.

[Angela Kinsey]

She's still down to get down?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Because, you know, they made a pact years ago that they would sleep together on the last day of work. And Michael is like, I have no idea what you're talking about. Okay. This storyline, which is gonna keep playing out of Meredith trying to figure out who she agreed to have sex with on her last day of work. This was an example of one of the storylines that got cut from the original NBC airing.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh.

[Jenna Fischer]

So we were able to keep this storyline in because we got the extra time with the producer's cut.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh. And see, I love it. I feel like it fills out the picture.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, completely.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Jenna, your character has a pretty big talking head coming up. You know, it's interesting to see how the branch closing is affecting everyone. I mean, Stanley is elated, Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

He's going to retire early.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah. Stanley's elated. Ryan says this worked out great, and Pam is really happy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, yeah. And we express all of those emotions with an exterior window behind us. Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Pam says that she always thought that maybe she would make a big speech and slap someone and storm out. So dramatic.

[Jenna Fischer]

I know.

[Angela Kinsey]

Who would she slap? It would have been me. She would have slapped me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, she's eventually going to slap Michael So maybe that's who she means. But it's definitely either you or Michael, right? Yeah, Yeah, a hundred percent. Okay, so now Angela, we're over in accounting, and Angela and Kevin break the news to Roy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Why? Why do Angela and Kevin break the news, huh? Why hasn't, I don't know, said anything? I think this really shows how disconnected Roy and Pam are, by the way.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, he seems very concerned that Pam might be one of the Connecticut transfers. But Angela kind of misreads his concern and thinks that he's worrying about himself. And she's like, oh, Roy, you'll be fine. You're so strong and capable.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, don't worry, Roy.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, don't worry, Roy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Kevin finds this hilarious. Angela tells him to grow up.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, he totally storms off. We got a fan question from Patricia Kennedy. Patricia wants to know, Angela, when you're talking to Roy. It seems like Angela has a thing for Roy. Did she?

[Angela Kinsey]

Patricia, this is a fantastic question. All right? Many of you out there have speculated about Angela and Roy. Jenna, I have been asked this question a lot, and there's all of these threads online about it. So the answer, Patricia, is yes. It seems like Angela always had a thing for Roy.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love this question, Patricia, because this has given us an opportunity to track it. We're going to track this Angela, Roy flirtation, because it is real and it is happening. All right? Early on, there are a few episodes that kind of hint at this. Roy, Angela flirtation. I believe it starts in the fire. This is season two, remember when the members of the Office are playing the game, who would you do? And Michael asks Roy, who would you do? And Roy says, what's the name of that tight ass Christian chicken? The blonde, sort of referring to Angela, right?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. And I'm standing right there and I'm like, my name is Angela. And he's like, hey, Angela. So definitely it starts there and then in the Secret, when Angela and Phyllis are in the kitchen and they're cleaning out the fridge. Phyllis asks Angela who she'd pick if she were in Pam's shoes, Jim or Roy. And Angela's like, oh, I don't want to participate in this. Right? But then she gets this kind of weird look on her face and she goes, roy, weird look.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's like a confession. It's like, well, Roy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, but then this just keeps building, right? And it's further fleshed out in the first ever the Office webisodes. Jenna. Yeah, so the webisodes were called the Books Don't Balance. It featured the accounting Department. And if you watch it, go to episode five, titled Someone in the Warehouse. The accountants are wondering if maybe Roy took the missing money. Angela says, absolutely not, that he has too much character. And Kevin asks Angela if she has a crush on Roy. And Angela gets very, very flustered.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, whoa.

[Angela Kinsey]

She gets so flustered, she, like, sort of messes up her words, and then she sort of storms off. And you can find this on the DVD set. It's on season two, disc four, as a bonus feature. But yeah, so that happens in the webisodes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Okay, well, then in season two, Casino Night, there's a scene where Michael addresses the crowd in the casino, and he says, old friends, new lovers. And if you look in the background, Angela and Roy are sitting next to each other at the bar. And you guys kind of exchange a look. I know this is one of the things that's been pointed out on the message boards. What's the look between Angela and Roy at Casino Night when Michael says new lovers?

[Angela Kinsey]

And why are they sitting next to each other? Right.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why are they?

[Angela Kinsey]

I don't know. And then, of course, in this episode, Branch Closing, we have the scene at 10 minutes, 33 seconds where Angela, like we said, is trying to confront Roy, tells him he's strong and capable.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. And then also, if we skip forward to the Cocktails episode in season three, you will briefly hear audio of Roy asking everybody at the bar if they want a drink. And you can hear Angela say something like, oh, no, thank you, Roy, I'm. And everybody thinks that maybe that's your character kind of coyly talking to Roy.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, it's kind of odd that it's left in if you watch it, because it's off camera and I'm like, oh, no, Roy, I'm a. And it just kind of trails off. So it's like, what is that about? And then my personal favorite in the episode, the Negotiation, this is also season three, Roy is coming in to get his very last paycheck. And Angela keeps having everyone in the office retell her about the moment Roy tried to attack Jim and Dwight intervened. I mean, there's a scuffle, and she just keeps wanting to hear about the scuffle. And it seems like she's just as turned on by Dwight's, like, being a hero as by Roy sort of being this aggressive dude.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, this is Angela the character's fascination with a sort of alpha male display of. I don't know what you would call it. Just testosterone. She loves a big display of testosterone.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. Don't forget she mentions that she has had two men have duels over her.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, she loves all of this.

[Angela Kinsey]

She loves all.

[Jenna Fischer]

Roy is 100% in her wheelhouse. Okay, so we've tracked it. But, Angela, you went to Greg and to Paul, the writers, to get their intentions behind this whole thing. What did they tell you?

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, yes, I went to Paul because he wrote the webisodes, and it is so plainly spelled out that Angela has a thing for him in those. And I went to Greg as well, because I just felt like he had this overall view of everyone's relationships. This is what Paul said. We never really entertained it going anywhere. We just thought it was funny that Angela liked this rougher, less tolerant guy when the rest of the world was thinking he's kind of a jerk. And they're all rooting for Jim. So they sort of liked that foil. Right. That I was team Roy. And then this is what Greg said. Greg said Roy and Pam were more of a traditional relationship, and Pam needed a more modern, equal relationship. But it made sense that Angela would be attracted to Roy. It could have turned into something. But Roy had to get in line behind Dwight and Andy.

[Jenna Fischer]

I love it. Oh, I love it. All right, so then Michael is down in the warehouse. He's talking to Daryl. He finds out that Bob Vance has bought the warehouse. And Michael really starts to spin out. And he tells the office he is not going to take this lying down. He and Dwight, they are going to go confront the cfo and they're gonna save the branch.

[Angela Kinsey]

How? What do they think they're gonna do? But I do have an old tech alert. Old tech track at. What is it, 12 minutes, 50 seconds? Dwight says, hey, he's. You know, David Wallace isn't in the office. Don't worry, I have his home address. And he goes to his flip phone. Jenna, do you see how he has to toggle to find the addresses? Do you remember that?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then he says, don't worry, he's on my Christmas card list. I loved this so much, Jenna. I love to think about, what is Dwight's Christmas card? What is he sending out?

[Jenna Fischer]

It must be a picture of the beet farm. I feel like it's in some way also a piece of advertising.

[Angela Kinsey]

Maybe it's Moe's holding up a bunch of beets.

[Jenna Fischer]

I have a fan catch from Nico Martin. When Michael and Dwight are driving to David Wallace's house, the temperature in the car says it's 80 degrees outside. Why are Michael and Dwight wearing trench coats? Well, Nico, that's because we shot this episode in August, but it aired on November 9, and we always tried to match the season in which the episode would air. So that is also why you're going to see pumpkins outside at David Wallace's house. We placed them there even though it was August, to make it seem like it was fall.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, we place them there and hope they wouldn't explode from the heat.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, let's talk a little bit about the CFO's house, because we got a lot of questions about it.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's a very nice house. We filmed there. I was. I. I did a few episodes there, and it's a really beautiful home.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, well, well, I'm rubbing off on you. I know. Charlynn Guevara asked, was that someone's actual house or was it random? And Dixie Heydrich said, whose home was used as David Wallace's house, and where was it located? Well, of course, I went to Kentopedia, and he told me that David Wallace's house is located on Lomita Drive in Pasadena, California.

[Angela Kinsey]

It's a beautiful neighborhood.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, it's a beautiful neighborhood. It was three houses away from the house used on the TV show Benson. That's just a little bit of trivia for it. So just a little bit more about this house. Jennifer Hodge and Whitney Graysic wrote in and said, At 14 minutes, 13 seconds, why does David Wallace have an H monogrammed welcome mat? Shouldn't it be a W? And Anna Worthington said, are they at the wrong house? Is that part of the joke? Did Dwight and Michael go to the wrong house and that's why there's an H instead of a W? Well, Kent told me that it was the doormat of the people who owned the house, and no one noticed the mistake until after they were in the editing room. And you'll see in the future, this is David Wallace's house. They just forgot to replace the welcome mat.

[Angela Kinsey]

The welcome mat and also the golden retriever that's in the backyard.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, no, That's a whole story. That golden retriever was placed there. I'll get to it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. Well, I am intrigued, Jenna. So wrong doormat, but real dog. We'll get to it. Maybe we should take a little break right now. And when we come back, guys, we have a really fun guest. Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

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[Jenna Fischer]

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[Angela Kinsey]

We're really doing this, huh?

[Jenna Fischer]

Thankfully, Carvana makes it easy. Answer a few questions, put in your VIN or license, and done. We sold ours in minutes this morning and they'll come pick it up and pay us this afternoon.

[Charles Esten]

Bye bye Truckee.

[Jenna Fischer]

Of course, we kept the favorite.

[Charles Esten]

Hello other Truckee.

[Jenna Fischer]

Sell your car with Carvana today. Terms and conditions apply.

[E]

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[Jenna Fischer]

All right, guys, we are back and we are in Stamford. And Jan has called Jim and Josh into Josh's office and she announces that Josh will be heading up what is now called Dunder Mifflin Northeast. Jim will be his number two. This is exciting news. Jim is excited. Until Josh says, Jan, I have actually accepted an offer from Staples.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And he's gonna take it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Senior management position at Staples. Jan is ticked off. She's like, you leveraged this new position to get the Staples job when we orchestrated this whole merger just so we could keep you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. So guys, this is it. This is the last time we see Josh Porter. This character has Been with us for three seasons. He first came up in the pilot. We don't see him, but he's mentioned in a scene where Jan and Michael are talking about downsizing. We finally meet him on Valentine's Day, and now he's leaving. And, guys, Josh Porter. We've talked about this before. Was played by Charles Eston. He appeared in eight episodes of the show.

[Angela Kinsey]

He did a weird pilot with Rainn Wilson.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. We never got to work with him, but he's an awesome guy. And to commemorate his time on the show, we reached out to him and we got to chat with him a little bit.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, we're so excited to have him here. Let's play the interview. Hey, it's Chip.

[Jenna Fischer]

Hey, Chip.

[Charles Esten]

Ain't no party like a Scranton party.

[Jenna Fischer]

Because the Scranton party don't stop.

[Angela Kinsey]

So great to see you.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you so much.

[Charles Esten]

Are you kidding me? It is so great to see you guys. You know how it is. You do a show with somebody, and then there's just. You don't overlap again. And I'm in Nashville now, so I haven't been able to see you guys ever since then. And all I can say quickly is you could not have been kinder. Both of you were sincerely the only two nice people there.

[Jenna Fischer]

We know. Yeah, unfortunately, a bunch of jerks.

[Charles Esten]

And then everybody was nice. But you two were remarkably so, considering we had no scenes at all together. You were very, very kind, and I appreciated it.

[Angela Kinsey]

We were so excited to have you guys. And we. You know, Jen and I were talking about this, that we had major FOMO because it seemed like all these great stories were coming out of the Stanford branch and funny inside jokes, and we were like, dang it, we want to go to Stanford.

[Charles Esten]

Well, picture it from the other direction, where you're the guy that gets to go be on the office, but you don't get to go in the office. You're on another branch somewhere, and you don't get to. You don't get to be with everybody, but you do get to be with Jim, and he was awesome. John was fantastic.

[Angela Kinsey]

And you got to wear fancy biker shorts.

[Charles Esten]

Those were mine. I just showed up to work in those. And no. Yeah, I played the good boss.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, you know, we've been trying to get a hold of you. Jenna was trying to slide into your DMs, but she must have DM'd some other strangers.

[Jenna Fischer]

So you are not Chip Eston from Germany.

[Charles Esten]

No, I am not. By the way, charlesesten and I have so many famous leading ladies from classic Sitcoms trying to talk to me on Instagram that I have.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, it's so many.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay. So we usually ask people on the show their origin story about how they came to be on the Office, like, what was their audition process, and we would love to hear yours.

[Charles Esten]

First of all, I was a British Office fan, like so many, from the very beginning. So I recall very, very well, watching it, loving it all. And then I heard they were trying into the United States, and, like, a lot of people went, oh, wow, okay, good luck. But then I had known. Then I heard about Steve and Rain, that they had been cast, and I was like, that's. That's a heck of a good start. They might have a shot at this. Now, Steve, I don't know how I knew. We just knew each other from being in LA for a while. I think improv circles, maybe, something like that. I don't think we ever work together, but he's somebody I'd see at the mall and Sherman Oaks. Hey, man, I love that you see.

[Angela Kinsey]

Him at the mall.

[Jenna Fischer]

That tracks for Steve. That tracks.

[Angela Kinsey]

Steve. Steve used to, like, talk to Jenna and I about, like, really good buys that he found over the weekend.

[Charles Esten]

Well, he was working at Brookstone at the time. No, I'm kidding. He wasn't.

[Jenna Fischer]

I was gonna be shocked. I was like, this is a piece of trivia. I didn't know.

[Charles Esten]

Holy moly. He was trying to sell me a massage chair. No, he never. As far as I know, he never worked there. Anyway, I would see him. But the way I knew Rain is the interesting part that got me to the show. Rain. And I. I'm going to say six or seven years, it's all a blur. Before that, had been at an audition at NBC, you know, right across from the main place in Burbank was that little casting hut across the street there by the park. And we were reading for this thing called the Expendables. And the Expendables were androids that solved crimes. These two guys. That's why they were Expendable, because who cares if they get. You know, you can't beat them. You can't defeat them.

[Angela Kinsey]

Chip, I did read about this. I did read about this, and I got so tickled. So go on, go on.

[Charles Esten]

So I remember it was pure chance because they literally said, you with you. You read with you. Because it's two guys. And so they. They paired us up, and somehow just kismet. Rain and I got chosen to be together. And I remember, forget. We went outside and we had script was. There was Some things to say, but we went outside and said, let's just have fun with this. And by the time we came back in, first of all, I had fallen in love with the guy that is Rainn Wilson. Inst. We just clicked like that. I was like, what an incredible guy. What a mind. So we went in there and basically improvised on top of the script and ended up getting the job. And then we all had a table read at NBC, right across the street in the big building. I'll never forget, there's this long conference table, and we're all just reading the script, and we're still messing around. We're still just being these two androids and just looking vaguely like. So somehow we made it funny enough that they. They ended up shooting a pilot of it. And that's where I really got to hang with them the most. So in any minute we shoot that, we have a ball. It does not get picked up.

[Angela Kinsey]

Shocker.

[Jenna Fischer]

Shocker.

[Charles Esten]

So I get to the audition, and it's going well. I'm doing well enough, I guess. But I think the separating factor was one of them says, so I hear your. I think it was Michael. I. I hear you're.

[Jenna Fischer]

You.

[Charles Esten]

You. You're friends with Rain. And I was like, yes, I am. And I said, did. Did. Did Rain ever tell you how we met? And they're like, no, he didn't. I bet he didn't. And I said, we met playing naked androids on a detective show. And they were both like. And I said, and on top of that, if you give me this job, I show up day one with a DVD of that pilot.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, nice.

[Charles Esten]

I'm not even to my car. And I'm like, hello. Oh, cool. That's the fastest I ever got a job. So it had nothing to do with my abilities or acting otherwise. It was purely that I had this on Rain. And so that's my origin story. And it's kind of special to me, because who could imagine that point? I was already a fan. It was. It was like being on. It was like winning a radio contest to be on a show that I already loved. I was very uncool about it because I was just so happy to be there. But you guys were all very cool about it.

[Jenna Fischer]

So, Chip, after you got the job and you started working on the show, we said, like, it looked like you guys were having so much fun. What was it like to get to do these scenes with, like, Ed Helms and Steve Carell and Rashida Jones? Like, do you have any. Any episodes in particular that you have fond memories of.

[Charles Esten]

There is the one episode where Josh gets very mad at Jim because Jim is playing Call of Duty and uses the sniper rifle, and he just starts screaming at him. And of course, Ed was amazing. And that scene goes off. And so what I didn't realize is that everybody was playing that game for real on the breaks on the set. Did you guys have that same thing in yours? I believe. Right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Charles Esten]

Your computers were actually hooked up and everybody was playing Call of Duty. So they just wrote it into the show. Everybody. I had to. I hadn't played that much. I was like, now what rifle were they using? They explained everything to me. And then we went and we. We did it, and it was so much fun, man.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. Our writers and editors were really into that. We didn't get to do that on set. We were always a little bummed. But they were playing it all the time. And on the DVD commentary, they did mention that John mentioned that's like, one of the hardest times he had to work not to laugh was in that scene with you and Ed, and you guys were just going off on him about Call of Duty.

[Charles Esten]

That's the thing, is you're in this business so long, and you're in things that are pretty good. You're in things that are not good at all. And you're always. This funny thing after the show is. I can remember people would walk up to me and go, I saw you in the office. You're very funny. And I knew that what it really was is I didn't say that many. I wasn't the funny part of. I was more the situation than the comedy. But I did get some great, very, very funny lines. Here I was just in a room with Ed and John and Rashida and trying not to laugh or just watching Michael Scott when he says, I love inside jokes, like to be a part of one someday. That's just as good a line as anybody can write. And all I had to do was stand there and just do the thing where you don't laugh and you're kind of, you know, the cringe. And I couldn't believe I was. It was thrilling.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, so what is it like for you now? Like, the Office has had this new life on Netflix, and it's everywhere. Do you get stopped? Do you get recognized for being on the show?

[Charles Esten]

What it mostly is, is on social media is that I was on other things since then. Like when I was on Nashville, I played a character called Deacon, and I was. People would watch it, and it was a very dramatic Very sort of. He was. He was an aa and he was. He was trying not to drink anymore, and he loved this woman. So it was always very dramatic, very heartfelt, played music, did all these things. So inevitably, I would see a tweet that would say, just realized that Deacon from Nashville is Josh from Stanford. And then it always had that hashtag, mind blown. So that's mostly where it happened. It used to be that the Office was a little bit more niche. Like, somebody go, I know you're from the Office. But now it's. You're right. There's just a resurgence. There's a second thing. The best evidence of that is my own kids. When I was doing the show, they were. They were in junior high, elementary. Maybe one of them was in high school. No, they weren't. They're all in junior high. So they didn't know what the Office was really. They didn't watch it. Television. But now, going back, how many years has it been that this research is three years more. Whatever it is.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, gosh. It feels like in the last three or four years.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, the last three years.

[Charles Esten]

I think it was always on in our house. I think I told Angela it was on in the summer. More than the air conditioning. It was just. And they fell in love with it. They knew it so well. So that was maybe the first time when it was really cool that they. They were cool, chill about it. Like, yeah, you're on it. But I could tell it meant a lot, and it means a lot to me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that is so cool.

[Charles Esten]

The other rabbit hole I fall down with you guys is the. What do you call it? The bloopers. The bloopers on Netflix. If I start watching one, I'm there all the time. And I think that's because it's the best of remembering the parts of the show you love so much, but then getting to see how authentically funny it struck you guys. Like, sometimes you'd be watching, you go, this is insane. They don't seem to think this is funny. I mean, I'm an actor, and I would think that. And then you come away and you would see where everybody did break up at that line or where there would be lines that you just could not get out to save your life. And those always killed me. And also the scenes that never made it. I had a great scene with Melora that didn't. That didn't make it in. We were at the convention, and at the end of the night, all this stuff has gone on. I'm walking Jan and Josh are walking towards the elevators and basically Jan stops and invites Josh on up for the night.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's on the DVD set. She totally hits on you and you're like, nah, I'm good.

[Charles Esten]

Nah, I'm good. I'm good. I'm gonna go to Staples.

[Jenna Fischer]

Exactly. I know you talked about how you were the good boss, but in this episode at the end, you sort of serve up the ultimate betrayal and you leverage your job for a position at Staples. What did you think when you read that? Were you disappointed at all in Josh or did you. Were you like, I get it. I mean, who wants to work with this group of loonies?

[Charles Esten]

At that point, I was just more disappointed for Chip than I was because I knew that Ed and Rashida were moving on over. And I knew it. I always knew that it wouldn't work to have the other boss there with him. I just saw something the other day, Janet, that look, I've done a lot of drama. There are moments, the moment where he admires your painting so much and he says, that's our office, and you're just looking at him and you hug him. That's to me, as emotional and as real and as heartbreaking as any drama anywhere. So that's another thing I've always loved about it. And you guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, Steve broke my heart many times on this show, just with his sort of childlike innocence as Michael, Even though he was a lot of times just a real, like, I don't know, like idiot. Like, he was also this very pure hearted person and complicated.

[Charles Esten]

Yeah. And I look now and I know how hard that is for writers. We see now things on different shows that go another season, another season. It's like, how do they keep it all together? Because that's always the tension when you have the fool, when you have the more honor people. What makes them funny is how out there they are. What makes them human is the grounding of that and giving up the other side. That tension between those two things, it's so hard to ride where you don't make them not funny anymore because now they're just superhuman and kind and don't we love them? Or other times you just leave them like they don't have any arc at all. They're just that same person they always were. The way that they did that over the seasons with you guys is just. It's very unusual and special.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, your character of Josh had a great arc.

[Charles Esten]

Yeah, I did. You thought I was the perfect guy. That is the other thing is That I always thought, this is charismatic. It all comes very easy to him. And in the end, he does that. Oh, I had one other fun thing when Ed was on my final episode. Josh is the reason that Branch is essentially going to be shutting down. And so at that point, he doesn't think he has a job anymore. He's just flipping out. Andy is. So there's that. There's a scene in the kitchen they had, and all the scene was, was Andy walks in there, he's pouring some coffee or something, and all of a sudden we get that first hint of that Andy Bernard anger that he later has to deal with, and he just flips out and sort of destroys everything and stops. And that was the scene. And I was real proud because I said, what if Josh, the guy that's the cause of all it, walked in right after that. That. And just to say goodbye. My guess is that Andy is not strong enough or brave enough to do anything but go, great, nice. It was awesome. Great. And just, you know, he would have to cover his fury immediately and be sort of the wuss that he was in that moment. And. And they said, yeah, let's try that. So that was a lot of fun. He destroys that room. And I walk in there and I go, listen, Andy, it's been great. And he's like, yeah, awesome, man. Well, good luck and everything like that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, my gosh, that was very cool. That was your pitch.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love that. I love that. You know, Chip, we talk about this a lot, that we had this creative collaboration that we could, in the moment, pitch something to the writer on set, and we were heard. And that is so rare, truly. And we were so lucky to have that relationship with our writers. And I love that we didn't know that. We didn't know that was your pitch. That's so cool.

[Jenna Fischer]

And also furthers the Andy character because Andy was always just white knuckling his anger, you know, and suppressing it until eventually, you know, he's going to punch the wall. But you love seeing him try to contain. That's such an Andy thing, too.

[Charles Esten]

So that's kind of cool that I. That I get to see that and you get to see. And also the other thing, how cool is it when you have a little idea, a little pitch, and you're surrounded by people that are going to make your pitch amazing. I've been in other places where you make a pitch and they try it and it just doesn't get sold the way that you had it in your head, but that got sold out and beyond anything I could imagine what he did with it.

[Angela Kinsey]

So that totally did. And it absolutely just crystallize who Andy was. You know, just all of that moment says who he is. That is fantastic. I love that story.

[Jenna Fischer]

Aw, Chip, thank you so much. Thank you for coming on here and sharing about your time on the Office. We are so glad that we got ahold of you.

[Charles Esten]

Thank you, guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Where can we find you? Tell us where you are on Instagram.

[Charles Esten]

I'm at Charles Underscore Estin. I'm also charlesesten on Twitter and Facebook. Okay.

[Angela Kinsey]

And, Chip, you're also. You're on a show right now called Outer Banks on Netflix.

[Charles Esten]

Yeah, we were number one on Netflix, including a little show called the Office for a quick minute there. Yeah, it's something else. It's really kind of amazing. We shot it last summer. It's sort of a young adult thrilling adventure. Has this amazing life all its own. As I said it, we knocked Tiger King out of first place.

[Angela Kinsey]

Tiger King says something. That says something. And then I have one more thing to share with everyone. You do a weekly Saturday Facebook live stream, and it's called Quarantine live stream. Is that right?

[Charles Esten]

Yeah. Because of the show Nashville, I have to pay a lot of music on that. So that's why I'm still here in Nashville. I get to do very cool things like play at the Grand Ole Opry or the Bluebird or the Ryman.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, wow.

[Charles Esten]

Around and make music. So I'm on Spotify too. But in any event, so I just play a couple songs on the show on the Quarantine live stream, and then I do another thing where I do a duet with somebody. I send them video of me singing. They listen and sing along, and we put them together in a video. So there's always a duet. And then I do interviews as well, just like you're doing right here. Oh, this was it last week. Yeah. Last week was Old Dominion, the band Old Dominion, I interviewed.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, Chip, thank you so much. This was such a delight.

[Charles Esten]

Oh, thank you guys very much for having me. I love that you're doing this. Everybody loves that you're doing this. This thing is on fire, this podcast, because what would they want more than discuss these things with you guys? So well done. And hopefully I get to see you down the road in some other sit. But thanks for having me.

[Angela Kinsey]

Thanks.

[Jenna Fischer]

We love you.

[Angela Kinsey]

Love you.

[Charles Esten]

Love you too. Bye, guys.

[Angela Kinsey]

Bye.

[Jenna Fischer]

All right, so that was amazing. Thank you so much, Chip. That was really cool. I'm glad we were able to commemorate his Time on the show.

[Angela Kinsey]

And to all of you other chipscharleses out there that Jenna slid into your DMs, we apologize.

[Jenna Fischer]

That's right.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, Jenna, where are we?

[Jenna Fischer]

So Dwight and Michael are still outside of David Wallace's house, and they've decided that they're going to practice. They're gonna role play what Michael is gonna say when he sees David walking up, Right?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. They gotta be prepared.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. So I traded some messages with Mike Schur, and he told me that there was an element of the scene that was improvised, and it made everyone laugh so hard that they were able to keep it in. But they had to cut at this one moment, because right after that moment, like one second after that moment, everyone started breaking. So during this scene, when they're role playing, Dwight is pretending to be David Wallace. And he's doing a good job. He's making good arguments. So Michael gets frustrated and he has this line where he says something like, just go back and start over and be more intimidated by me. Okay. That's where it was supposed to end. That was the scripted ending of the scene. But when they shot it, Rain walks back in And Steve says, Mr. Wallace. Rain goes, ugh. Kind of like he's terrified. That was the moment Mike said it was amazing. And we literally couldn't go one frame later because they both started laughing hysterically.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. I love that. Cause Steve, as Michael is like, be more scared of me and don't touch me.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. It was so good. It was so good. All right, so now, lady, do you want me to tell you about this dog?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, I want you to tell me about the dog. Because I saw the doormat and I was like, oh, yeah, they just forgot. They forgot. And then I saw the dog and I was like, well, then that's. That's those people's dog, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, it's crazy. All right, so there's a scene where Dwight is sifting through the garbage. And by the way, this scene of him looking through the garbage, this was another one of those scenes that had been cut for the regular network airing of this episode. We got a ton of questions about this scene. Jocelyn Beecher wrote in and said, at 19 minutes at David Wallace's house, there's a dog in the yard. Did they specifically cast for a dog, or did that dog belong to the people who own the house? All right, the dog in the backyard was something that they added. And they added it because they thought that there might be more of a feeling of jeopardy involved if there was, like, this guard dog. Or this watchdog standing behind Dwight as he sifted through the garbage.

[Angela Kinsey]

That was the friendliest looking dog ever. That dog was wagging its tail. It looked like it just wanted to play fetch. That dog made me want to get another dog. And we already have two dogs and two cats.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, I know Kent told me they hired a dog trainer. They hired this dog. And he was so, so sweet. He just wanted to play. He just wanted to, like, lick your hand.

[Angela Kinsey]

That's what he was like, in no.

[Jenna Fischer]

Way intimidating, just like you said. Yeah, but they. They stuck with it. They stuck with. They're like, this dog is gonna be in the shot. We paid for this dog.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, the dog looks so friendly to me. I just thought the owner's dog got out in the back of the shot and they left it in. That's what it looked like.

[Jenna Fischer]

Totally. All right, well, listen, back in Scranton, Phyllis is bummed out. She's trying to organize a group lunch.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, yeah. And of course, you know, she goes to the fun stopper, Angela Martin, and they're throwing out some things, DJs, which, by the way, DJs is a hoagie shop. And then there's Cogino's Italian family cuisine. Right. And Angela's like, I don't want to drive to Dunmore. Jenna. I looked it up. Scranton to Dunmore, nine minutes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, you don't want to drive nine minutes?

[Angela Kinsey]

Nine minutes. And then Kevin's like, what about Cooper's? And she's like, no seafood. And I want you to know Brian and I have been to Cooper's when we went to Scranton, and they gave us, like a little hat that looks like lobster. What do you call them?

[Jenna Fischer]

Claws.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, they gave us each hat. I have photos of Brian, and I like drinking beers with these lobster claw hats on. It was really fun. But yeah, Angela Martin's very against secret food. And then I can't even believe Kevin suggests Hooters to her. Are you kidding me?

[Jenna Fischer]

I know. In the middle of all this, Phyllis just walks away. She's like, never mind.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah. You guys are the worst.

[Jenna Fischer]

Forget it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

At the same time, Creed is walking around, he's dealing with this by selling everything in the office. He's selling the equipment, the fax machine, his personal computer. And I think if you look on the wall behind him, the Dustbuster off the wall, it's gone.

[Angela Kinsey]

I have a hair catch for Creed. I think this episode debuts a new hairstyle for Creed. It's poofy. It's like they blow dried it straight up. In the air and then, like, used a rolling brush. I want you to look at his hair. It is so poofy. It made me laugh.

[Jenna Fischer]

Lady. I noticed the same thing. I had the same note. Creed hair.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

I wrote down what's up with Creed's hair.

[Angela Kinsey]

Did they use the rolling brush on him? Like, what's happening?

[Jenna Fischer]

We're gonna have to track it because I want to see if that continues in future episodes. This new way of doing Creed's hair.

[Angela Kinsey]

The poofy.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so poofy. Yes. By the way, that whole storyline of Creed selling stuff, that was the other thing that was cut out originally and was added back for the extended cut. So the three main things were the Meredith storyline, this Creed storyline, and Dwight going through the trash.

[Angela Kinsey]

Got it. With the friendly dog.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes, with the friendly dog.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right, so now Jan enters. She's looking for Michael because things have changed. Josh Porter threw them for a loop. They've had to reorganize, restructure, and she wants to let him know that now Scranton is staying and Stanford is going to be merging into Scranton, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

But Michael. Michael has been ignoring phone calls. And, lady, we have some major Phyllis sad.

[Jenna Fischer]

What's the Phyllis Sass?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, it is at 20 minutes, 40 seconds. She looks at Jan and she goes, we know the branch is closing. And she gives Jan the snarkiest look. It's so amazing. It cracked me up. And I was looking online for, like, sassy office moments. I just wanted to see if this had been clocked.

[Jenna Fischer]

Jan.

[Angela Kinsey]

Okay, on May 16, 2020, which is just a few days ago from this recording, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

There is a new YouTube video collage that someone made called Sassiest Moments on YouTube. Sassiest Moments from the office. I think they have been listening to the podcast because. Because all of a sudden, there's the Sassiest Moments collage on YouTube.

[Jenna Fischer]

Angela, you 100% started SaaS. You started it early with Angela Sass. And if anyone is out there using sass or sassing or referring to something as Sass, I want everyone to know that you started it. Well, 100%. You should have trademarked it.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, I just couldn't believe there's now. Just now, like, just this week, there's a YouTube collage called Sassiest Moments of the office. Anyway, there's major Phyllis Sass here. So, yes, Jan tells everyone the Scranton branch is safe for now. There's a lot of mixed emotions. Some people are really happy. Some people are sad. Kevin and Angela have a huge hug.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, lady, we got a fan question about that from Phoebe Tome. When Kevin hugs Angela and picks her up, it looks like Angela got crushed a little bit, and she wants to know if you got hurt.

[Angela Kinsey]

No, I did not get hurt. That was just, I think, Brian having a little bit of fun because he is such a big guy and he can pick me up really easily. And when would our characters ever hug or be this happy together? So that was just something he added. It wasn't in the script, and he and I cracked up. I think you see me, like, I think I'm genuinely laughing because it. It made us laugh.

[Jenna Fischer]

So also in this scene, Angela, Pam asks Jan, is anyone coming back to Scranton?

[Angela Kinsey]

Mm.

[Jenna Fischer]

We know who she's thinking about.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Jenna Fischer]

And over in Stamford, Andy is asking Jim if he's gonna go back to Scranton, and he sort of says he doesn't know yet. He's not sure. He's. He's thinking about it.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then Ryan in the kitchen is like, I'm a little, you know, nervous about Jim coming back. I just hope it's not weird. Pam, of course, totally internalizes this. Like, oh, my God, he knows. He knows. And he's like, I took his job. I sit at his desk. It's. It's more about. It's all about him, right?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah.

[Angela Kinsey]

And so Pam's kind of relieved in that moment.

[Jenna Fischer]

Next, Ryan's gonna have his talking head where he knows he'll be saying, at Scranton. Here's the moment. 23 minutes, 6 seconds. From here on out, all of the talking heads are facing back into the office.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, lady, this is your proudest podcast. Deep dive moment. Maybe next to. I think.

[Jenna Fischer]

I think it is.

[Angela Kinsey]

I think this ranks right up there with your alpha womb. Deep dive.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, I did enjoy Alpha women.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, you did. Yes, you did. Then over in Stanford, Karen is saying, you know, she would move to Scranton if they offered it to her. Jim gives this poor woman so many mixed messages. Okay, I have some beef with Jim because he's like, why would you do that? Just go to New York? I mean, you're 45 minutes from New York. Why would you go to Scranton? Right? And then he pivots back the other way at the end and tells her to take the job. Job.

[Jenna Fischer]

I feel bad.

[Angela Kinsey]

I feel bad for her.

[Jenna Fischer]

I feel like these mixed messages are going to play out through the whole Jim Karen relationship. Actually, yeah. Jim is very wishy washy with her, in my opinion. In this scene, at 23 minutes, 17 seconds, I have a Lee, catch.

[Angela Kinsey]

Your husband Lee.

[Jenna Fischer]

My husband Lee. We were watching this.

[Angela Kinsey]

You're like, what other Lee am I talking about? Like, yes, my husband Lee. Okay.

[Jenna Fischer]

Why Catch And Lee, we watched this episode together. And he said, oh, my gosh. Look at the sign behind Karen's head during this conversation about whether or not she should move to Scranton. Do you know what it says?

[Angela Kinsey]

No.

[Jenna Fischer]

It says, window of opportunity. An obstacle to one is an opportunity to another.

[Angela Kinsey]

Whoa.

[Jenna Fischer]

I just thought. We thought this was interesting. Cause I was showing him all the talking heads, and he was like, oh, look. Look at what's behind Karen. It's a window of opportunity.

[Angela Kinsey]

Layers. Layers.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, back in Scranton, Meredith is congratulating Creed on his business venture. He's made twelve hundred dollars. And finally, Gary Trundle calls. He calls Meredith. Do you know why he used to work at the Scranton branch. And he says, I heard the branch was closing. Do you still want to make good on our agreement? Meredith found her guy. She did make a sex pact with someone.

[Angela Kinsey]

She almost confesses the branch isn't closing. And then she's like, can you meet me at my place in 20 minutes?

[Jenna Fischer]

We had a fan question from bailey aspenson. At 24 minutes, 30 seconds, when Meredith is talking on the phone, who is she talking to? Do you know?

[Angela Kinsey]

Of course I don't know.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kent Sabornak.

[Angela Kinsey]

Finally, Kent.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kentopedia.

[Angela Kinsey]

Finally, Kent.

[Jenna Fischer]

Kent Siboranak played the voice of Gary Trundle.

[Angela Kinsey]

He was gonna be my first guest. Yes.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes.

[Angela Kinsey]

So Dwight and Michael are in the car, and they're reminiscing now about their favorite memories of Dunder Mifflin. Because they've ignored phone calls, you know, and they don't know that their jobs are safe. And Dwight says to Michael, what's your favorite memory? You know? And he goes, all of it. All of it. And then Dwight goes, even the part where the branch was closed. And he's like, dwight, was that part scripted when Rain said it was?

[Jenna Fischer]

Yes. That scene in the car is almost word for word scripted.

[Angela Kinsey]

All right. I didn't know if that was like Rain tagging the end of the scene. So I love that.

[Jenna Fischer]

It's so funny, Angela. Because the reason I know that is because I had the same thought when I watched it. And I checked. I wanted to know, is that scripted?

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, here's the thing. We often could add a line at the end of a scene. That's the easiest place to improvise. Cause it doesn't really mess up the context of the scene. So whenever I see these little throwaways at the end, especially by Steve and Rain, I always wonder.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah. Nope. That one was totally, totally scripted.

[Angela Kinsey]

Well, now we're back at Scranton, and the gang is going out for shots. Creed is buying because Creed made some money today. Jenna, did you notice as Angela leaves what a big wave she gives to Roy?

[Jenna Fischer]

No, this is more. More of. More of Angela.

[Angela Kinsey]

Oh, my gosh. It's almost awkward. It's almost awkward. At 26 minutes, 35 seconds, she walks by and literally goes like this. You guys can't see me, but I'm gonna do it for Jenna.

[Jenna Fischer]

Oh, that's a big wave.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes, it's a really big wave. So she for sure is like, bye, handsome.

[Jenna Fischer]

Well, Pam now has her talking head facing into the office, I will say. And she is giddy. She's giddy. She's saying stuff like, oh, you know, it's good because finding another job is kind of a pain, and there are reasons to stay. But underneath, all she is thinking is, Jim is coming back. Jim is coming back. Jim is coming back. Jim is coming back. That's everything. Everything. And you're so excited for her. And then we go to Stamford and Jim tells Karen he thinks she should take a job in Scranton too.

[Angela Kinsey]

And Karen just lays it all out for the camera crew. She's just like, hey, I'm happy you said that. I don't think he's into me, but I'm kind of into him. So there's that.

[Jenna Fischer]

Wow.

[Angela Kinsey]

This is like someone who sort of unapologetically into the sky. I dig it about her. I like it.

[Jenna Fischer]

Jim doesn't even tell her, apparently, about what went on with Pam. So she's walking into Scranton and she has no idea that he kissed the receptionist. She has no idea that there was this four year flirtation. She's just like, I like this guy. I'm gonna go to Scranton and see what happens.

[Angela Kinsey]

I'm gonna take it one step more and say she has no idea that he said I love you, hello, I love you to the receptionist.

[Jenna Fischer]

We are being very team Karen Filipelli right now.

[Angela Kinsey]

We are. Because Jim. Jim is spiraling. Let's be honest.

[Jenna Fischer]

I mean, listen, I can justify Jim's choices and his behavior. He has a broken heart. He's confused. He's crushed. We've all been wishy washy. We've all, all. You know, we've all kind of done versions of this in our life and had versions of it done to us. All right? So moving on. Dwight and Michael are still outside David Wallace's house. He's never come home. It's dark they're hungry, but Dwight won't let them leave. But finally he says, yes, we can go. And as they're leaving, Dwight checks his phone, clearly gets a message that their jobs are safe and this is delightful.

[Angela Kinsey]

They're like, we did it. We did it.

[Jenna Fischer]

They're like, wait, what are like bumping chests?

[Angela Kinsey]

Yeah, but they literally are like, we did it. Like, what did they do? And even at the end, I think Steve, as Michael is like, wait, what'd we do?

[Jenna Fischer]

Like, yeah, how did this happen? I'm so confused.

[Angela Kinsey]

And then the whole.

[Jenna Fischer]

But I love it.

[Angela Kinsey]

I love it too. They're so happy. And then. And then the whole episode ends with Toby saying, well, I guess I won't go to Costa Rica. I'll just. It'll be there when I'm 65.

[Jenna Fischer]

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Oh, guys, there you have it. That's branch closing.

[Angela Kinsey]

That is branch closing.

[Jenna Fischer]

Guys. Next week we have a very special episode of Office Ladies. We are going to revisit our Casino Night episode with special guest Ken Kwapis.

[Angela Kinsey]

Yes. The director is coming on to give us all of the behind the scenes stuff. This was such a big episode and so many of you wrote in that we thought, let's revisit it with the director, answer some of your questions, and talk a little bit more about it. Thank you so much for calling in, Chip. And thank you guys for tuning in. We'll see you next week.

[Jenna Fischer]

Thank you for listening to Office Lady's second drink.

[Angela Kinsey]

This episode was initially created and collab collaboration with Earwolf.

[Jenna Fischer]

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

[Angela Kinsey]

Our executive producer is Cassie Jerkins and our audio engineer and associate producer is Daniela Silva.

[Jenna Fischer]

Odyssey's executive producers are Jenna Wise Berman and Leah Reese. Dennis.

[Angela Kinsey]

Office Ladies is mixed and mastered by Chris Basel.

[Jenna Fischer]

Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratton.

[Angela Kinsey]

Sam.