Office Ladies – Second Drink: Women's Appreciation

Episode Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey

Episode Overview

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, co-stars of “The Office,” take a “second drink” deep-dive into the Season 3 episode “Women’s Appreciation.” They reminisce about filming, share behind-the-scenes stories, and include commentary from fan bloggers who visited the set during the 50th episode celebration. Both comedic and candid, the conversation explores women’s experiences, boundaries, and some of the show’s raunchiest content.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode Introduction and Context

• Writers: Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg
• Director: Tucker Gates
• “Women’s Appreciation” originally aired May 2007 as a super-sized 50th episode.
• Plot Summary: After Phyllis is flashed in the parking lot, Michael takes the female employees to the mall. Meanwhile, Andy and Dwight try to catch the flasher, and the male employees lounge in the women’s restroom.

“Everyone start right now. Think of a woman you appreciate.”
— Jenna Fischer [10:22]

2. Standards and Practices: How Did This Get on the Air?

• Discussion about how some of the episode's risqué content, especially Michael’s antics involving sexual innuendo, made it past network censors.
• Standards & Practices required that when Michael mimes a penis with his finger, the camera clearly shows his hand entering his pants to make it obvious it’s not real [32:32].
• Surprised at the amount of language and sexual references allowed compared to earlier episodes, e.g., “boner” in Season 2 required a warning, but not this.

“You know, we do say penis a lot.”
— Angela Kinsey [03:32]

3. Iconic Quotes, Blooper Moments, and Merchandise Ideas

• The infamous coffee mug suggestion:

“I don’t have time for your old man penis.”
— Angela Kinsey, joking about merchandise [04:05, 49:02]

• Michael’s alternative gift list for Angela at Victoria’s Secret (from the shooting script) included classics like “skort nightie,” “farthingale,” “merry widow,” leading to a sidebar on historical undergarments [05:21–06:50].
• Steve Carell’s (Michael) improv aimed at breaking Angela during the Victoria’s Secret scene, especially his gross 'Santa' line (“Santa would like to buy you a pair of panties, little girl”) [07:39–08:12].

4. Personal Stories and Real-Life Inspiration

• Angela shares that she really experienced an office flasher during her 1-800-DENTIST days; this story partially inspired the episode [12:44–14:53].
• Jenna and Angela both recount times they saw or were flashed, discussing the lasting impact and humor as a coping mechanism.

“Women out there listening, they're just creepers. ... I have been flashed.”
— Angela Kinsey [47:21]

“The unsolicited dick pic text is the modern day flashing. If a woman doesn't ask to see your dick, don't send a pic.”
— Jenna Fischer [49:39]

5. Filming at the Mall – Studio City Fashion Square

• The episode was filmed at their local mall, which the cast actually frequented [19:16].
• Food court scenes filmed very early in the day; public sections of the mall open to real shoppers during filming.
• Victoria’s Secret was closed for the shoot.
• The cast snuck in some real shopping during breaks; Angela admits she still owns items from that day [22:46].

6. Behind-the-Scenes Fast Facts

• The 50th episode celebration: Super-fan bloggers Jenny Tan (OfficeTally) and Cath (Give Me My Remote) visited the set and shared exclusive blog insights [16:00–18:37].
• Call times for cast were brutally early, especially for Angela and Kate Flannery (4:30 AM) due to limited hair and makeup resources.
• Jenna sometimes wore sweatpants and Uggs below the waist when only being shot from the waist up [18:07].
• Many background actors in early scenes, but by midday they were filming among real mall patrons.

7. Favorite Guest and Fan Moments

• The background of Meredith’s van: Purposefully filled with trash, air fresheners (which made Jenna and Kate ill), half-eaten food, and junk to create a “lived-in” look [61:45–63:34].
• In the commentary, Jenna admits breaking character repeatedly during Meredith’s chip-eating/littering scene [64:10].
• The women’s bathroom set was not a working bathroom, but visitors didn’t always know:

“A visitor used our fake toilet... Can you imagine if you’re a big fan of The Office and... you’re the visitor that took a dump in the fake toilet?”
— Angela Kinsey [67:08]

• Potpourri and plush furnishings in the women’s lounge: “This is our only sanctuary away from Michael.”
  — Jenna Fischer [66:12]

8. Breakdowns of Key Scenes & Gags

• Dwight’s Anti-Flasher Plan:
  From sensible (floodlights, cameras) to absurd (banning bananas, dress codes).

“Won’t that just shed more light on the penises?”
— Dwight (Rainn Wilson), [37:42]

• Dwight Eating Bananas During Takes:
  Rainn made himself sick by committing to eating a new banana for every take [43:57–44:22].
• Banana/Bathroom Humor:
  The series often uses food for comedic effect—e.g., Dwight’s commitment to eating a banana mirrors his pancake-eating scene in another episode [44:33].

9. The Mall Sequence

• Michael tries to connect with the women but keeps making inappropriate comments.
• Angela leaves for the “doll store” to avoid Michael's oversharing about Jan [72:04].
• Michael eventually decides to break up with Jan, supported by the women.

10. Jim & Dwight's "Flasher" Sketch

• Pam’s sketch of the flasher is obviously Dwight, which Andy gleefully exploits.
• The show's prop department created real “Pervert” flyers with Dwight’s face; the phone number rung to a hilarious Dwight voicemail [54:25–55:22].

11. Fan Blogger Set Visit Highlights

• Greg Daniels’ attention to detail: e.g., Melora Hardin’s inappropriate nail polish in a scene as Jan was replaced before filming [85:34].
• Writers sought feedback from fan bloggers on alternate endings for Jan’s meltdown, using their insights for the final cut [86:16].

12. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I watched it right up until they started talking about penises. And then I turned it off.”
  — Angela’s grandmother Lena Mae, on the episode [30:12]
• “I’m the candyman. Santa’s come early. Santa would like to buy you a pair of panties, little girl…”
  — Steve Carell (Michael), cracking Angela up [07:39–08:12]
• “You just have one secret, and the secret is the bras kind of suck.”
  — Jenna Fischer on Victoria’s Secret [07:15]
• “If a woman doesn't ask to see your dick, don't send a pic. It's not difficult.”
  — Jenna Fischer [49:39]
• “I don't have time for your old man penis.”
  — Angela Kinsey, (merchandise suggestion & running joke) [49:02]
• “Dunder Mifflin slash sex predator hotline. This is Dwight Schrute.”
  — Rainn Wilson (via Jim's prank phone call) [87:42]
• “I think we hang out an appropriate amount of time.”
  — Paul Lieberstein (Toby) in the women’s restroom [76:37]

13. Tag Scene: The Flasher Revealed

• Inspired by camera operator Randall Einhorn, Jim calls the “sex predator hotline” to prank Dwight, leading to a perfectly executed mustache-on-mirror gag [87:46–88:48].

14. Fun Extras & Running Gags

• Tracking Pam’s plant containers at reception, and a running “penis count” for the episode (six utterances) [89:28].
• Extensive improvisation and alternate lines, with Steve Carell going off-script to break his castmates.
• In-character fan interaction: real phone numbers would lead to Dwight’s voicemails.

15. Episode Reflections

The hosts discuss how revisiting the episode deepened their appreciation for the blend of outrageous humor and realistic, sometimes awkward, explorations of workplace dynamics and women’s experiences.

“Most guys want their women in high heels with cleavage... but I think a woman looks best absolutely naked.”
— Michael (Steve Carell), writer Lee Eisenberg’s favorite line [75:36]

Conclusion

“Women’s Appreciation” remains one of The Office's boldest and funniest episodes. Angela and Jenna’s podcast delivers exclusive behind-the-scenes details, confessional laughs, and the distinct camaraderie fans cherish. The episode ends with an enthusiastic teaser for the next’s rewatch of "Beach Games."

Segment Timestamps (Select Key Moments)

• [03:34] — Merchandise joke: "I don’t have time for your old man penis"
• [05:23] — Michael's Victoria's Secret shopping list
• [12:44] — Angela’s real-life flasher story
• [19:16] — Mall location reveal
• [29:04] — Angela’s grandmother’s reaction
• [32:32] — Office Standards & Practices details
• [38:07] — “Won’t that just shed more light on the penises?” (Dwight’s line)
• [49:39] — Jenna on modern-day “flashing” (dick pics)
• [61:45] — Meredith’s van: prop details
• [66:12] — The women’s bathroom set
• [69:10] — Meredith’s parking lot stunt
• [72:04] — Angela heads to the doll store, real vs. scripted scene notes
• [87:46] — Jim & Dwight’s sex predator hotline prank/tag

Final Takeaway

With stories about set antics, commentary on sensitive subjects, and comedic chemistry, Jenna and Angela provide fans with both heartfelt nostalgia and unfiltered, witty perspective on an episode that pushed comedic boundaries and sparked strong reactions from viewers and even the cast’s own families.

Next Week: “Beach Games”

(With special audio from writer Jen Salata!)

For more exclusive content and merchandise (sans old man penises), visit: officeladies.com