TCB Infomercial: Kate Flannery

Summary

The Commercial Break: TCB Infomercial with Kate Flannery (April 8, 2025)
Podcast: The Commercial Break | Hosts: Bryan Green & Chrissy Hoadley
Guest: Kate Flannery (Meredith from The Office)

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Episode Overview

In this "TCB Infomercial" episode, Bryan and Chrissy sit down with Kate Flannery, best known for her role as Meredith Palmer on NBC's The Office. The conversation covers the show's 20th anniversary, Kate’s journey to the iconic role, life behind the scenes, improv vs. script, her Second City roots, and vibrant post-Office activities like touring with Jane Lynch. The discussion highlights the enduring impact of The Office, nostalgia for ensemble comedy, and what it means to find your place as a character actor. Laced with candid anecdotes and sharp comedic banter, the episode offers both laughs and insights for diehard Office fans and comedy enthusiasts alike.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Legacy of "The Office" & Meredith's Place in TV History

• Kate's Relationship with The Office:

  • 12:32—"My relationship with the Office is as strong as it was in 2004. It's crazy. It might be stronger." (Kate Flannery)
  • Flannery expresses deep affection for the show and its ongoing relevance to her life.
  • She’s proud of playing a “wacky character that has nothing to do with being someone's girlfriend or mother... a rare thing on television.” (12:57)

• What Makes The Office Enduring:

  • No laugh track; repeat viewings reveal new jokes.
  • As an ensemble comedy, background work and subtle repeating character moments reflect real workplaces and human relationships. (13:46–16:42)

• Behind the Scenes—Ensemble & Process:

  • Flannery did not appear in the pilot, stepping in to replace another actor.
  • The cast was instructed to always look busy at their desks, enhancing the documentary feel. (15:41)
  • Drawing from her years at Second City and Annoyance Theater, Kate discusses the importance of being "a team player" and bringing depth to a character, even without a line. (16:24)

Road to "The Office"—Audition Stories & Early Career

• Auditioning for "The Office":

  • Initially auditioned for Jan, not Meredith. She credits casting director Allison Jones for suggesting the show was a great fit for her. (15:01)
  • Her journey: "I was actually up for SNL... one of my best friends at the time got it. And I always say, it only took 13 short years to get The Office." (00:38, 20:45)
  • Shared that she met with Lorne Michaels, had interviews and lunch, "but didn't do the final round." Now sees the ‘missed’ opportunity as redirection, not rejection. (21:00–21:44)

• Persistence and Survival:

  • She waited tables through the first season of The Office and even after landing the role. (25:32)
  • Lays bare the reality: "I didn't have an agent for a while. I was told we're passing on you because of your age and your looks. I think I was like 38 when that happened." (23:46)

Behind the Scenes of "The Office"—Scripts, Improv, & Dynamics

• How Much Was Improv vs. Scripted?:

  • “Most of it is scripted. Maybe 4%, maybe 5% is improv. Steve and Rain [Wilson] probably improvised more than most.” (18:37)
  • Points out the technique: improvising needs to support the flow and direction, not derail it, especially due to the show's pseudo-documentary camera work. (19:33)

• Early Days & Network Skepticism:

  • The first season was not an immediate hit. Flannery wondered if it was "an NBC show." The network nearly axed it, but the success of The 40-Year-Old Virgin (starring Steve Carell) helped drive interest leading into season two, a turning point. (27:53–29:22)

• Differences Between UK & US Versions:

  • "Something tender and gentle and empathetic about most of the characters in the Office that is lacking in some of the characters [of the UK version]..." (30:09).
  • British Office is harder to sustain emotionally; US version has more humanity.

Fame, Audiences, and Character Experience

• Becoming Recognizable:

  • Full-on fame hit after "Fun Run" in season four—her storyline with Michael hitting Meredith with a car. (31:28)
  • Describes being recognized on a boardwalk, adjusting to fan attention, and how gratitude grows with age: "It's a champagne problem. If you don't make peace with it, you're screwed." (33:10)

• Advice and Reflections on Character Acting:

  • "Stop counting your lines if you get a part... I wasn't the main course. I wasn't the side dish. I was like, kind of always there with some flavor, baby." (36:16)
  • Even being a supporting character can have major impact in an ensemble.

• Could The Office Be Made Today?:

  • Flannery and hosts express skepticism about the streaming era's “three seasons and out” model, and current cultural anxieties around comedy.
  • "'People making fun of other people... when I grew up, it was always a source of affection. It wasn't bullying... Comedy police... need to tone down.'" (37:21–37:48)

The Enduring Ensemble & Cast Relationships

• Friendships and Family/Fandom:

  • Kate's prior connections with cast members, including Angela from their all-female improv group “Bitch Planet.”
  • The cast remains close, with text threads and frequent reunions at fan events and college appearances. (39:39, 40:38)
  • She confirms the group feels like “family” even after the show. (39:47)

• Breakout Stars and Iconic Episodes:

  • Hosts and Kate rave about favorite episodes—Kate picks “The Injury” where Michael burns his foot on a George Foreman grill. (43:28)
  • On breaking character: "I wasn't a big breaker... I'm in a drama. I would tell myself..." (44:28)
  • Cast includes natural improv and comedic talents; Rainn Wilson is highlighted as distinct and fascinating personally as well as in character.

Life After "The Office"

• Other Acting and Touring Work:

  • Animation roles—recently on "Universal Basic Guys" after The Simpsons on Sundays.
  • Touring with Jane Lynch each Christmas (they charted on Billboard's top 10 with a Christmas album; for tour info: “Jane Lynch Official.”)
  • Appearance on NBC’s “Night Court” reboot. (45:46–50:32)

• Nostalgia & Conventions:

  • Office fan events and reunions, such as at New Jersey’s Meadowlands (August), with many cast members attending. (52:26)
  • Flannery reveals prized props: her Dundee awards and Funko Pops. (51:35–53:08)

• Potential Office Spin-off:

  • There is a new Office spin-off in development, with familiar crew involved, but Kate has not been called yet: "I'm a big mouth, so I have to watch. But you'll know when I know." (49:05–49:19)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Women in Comedy:

  • "I'm actually most proud that I'm a female and I get to play a wacky character that has nothing to do with being someone's girlfriend or mother." – Kate Flannery (12:57)

• On Resilience:

  • "Rejection is protection. If you look at it that way and just realize, oh, I'm just being redirected, there's something else waiting for me." – Kate Flannery (21:44)

• On Being a Character Actor:

  • "I was the onions. ... I was, like, kind of always there with some flavor, baby." – Kate Flannery (36:16)

• On Comedy's Changing Landscape:

  • "I think we've had some. Some comedy police that need to... tone down." – Kate Flannery (37:45)

• On Finding Peace With Fame:

  • "If you don't make peace with it, you're screwed." – Kate Flannery (33:10)

• Nostalgia:

  • "You were our friends on the other side of the screen. And I know you got me through a few hard days and still to this day, you're good for a laugh and you know, parkour. That's all I gotta say. Parkour, Kate." – Bryan Green (53:32)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:38 / 20:45: Kate’s SNL backstory—near misses and redirection
• 12:32: Kate on her still-strong connection to The Office
• 15:01: Auditioned for Jan before Meredith; joined after the pilot
• 18:37: Improv vs script discussion—less improv than fans might think
• 29:21: Steve Carell’s stardom helped save "The Office" after a shaky first season
• 31:28: Fame hits—after "Fun Run;" recognizing the shift to public attention
• 36:16: Advice to actors on "counting lines" and ensemble roles
• 37:21–37:48: Could "The Office" happen today? Navigating streaming and “comedy police”
• 43:28: Favorite episode—“The Injury”
• 45:46: Life after The Office—animation, Jane Lynch tours, Night Court
• 49:05: Clarifies rumors: “It’s a spin-off, not a reboot” of The Office
• 52:26: Meadowlands Office Reunion announcement

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Additional Highlights

• Games & Trivia:

  • Early on, Bryan and Chrissy run through a series of "Who said that?" Office quote trivia, delighting in beloved punchlines and deep cuts.

• Real-Life Connections:

  • Fun Atlanta fact: Phyllis and Kevin (actors) went to a local high school with the host’s acquaintances. (09:35)

• Audience Generations:

  • The Office’s multi-generational appeal witnessed by Bryan’s son enjoying physical comedy (“parkour!”). (34:26)

• Props & Memorabilia:

  • Flannery shows off her Dundie awards and two Meredith Funko Pops from iconic episodes. (51:35–52:08)

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The Tone and Vibe

Casual, nostalgic, irreverently funny — but never mean-spirited. The hosts riff and banter through the conversation, drawing out both serious artistic insight and lighthearted Office callbacks. Flannery is sharp, grounded, and full of gratitude, illustrating why "ensemble energy" still means something 20 years on. The episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at TV comedy’s secret sauce and a celebration of surviving a chaotic industry with humor intact.

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Useful Links & Plugs

• The Office streaming on Peacock—20th anniversary celebration
• Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery Christmas tour: Jane Lynch Official
• "Universal Basic Guys" (Fox, post-Simpsons)
• Night Court reboot, NBC
• New Jersey Meadowlands "Office"-themed convention, first weekend in August

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This episode is a must-listen for anyone who:

• Loves The Office (hardcore or casual)
• Cares about ensemble comedy and the art of supporting characters
• Wants the authentic, unpolished wisdom of long-haul career actors

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“You were our friends on the other side of the screen… Parkour, Kate.”
– Bryan Green, 53:32

Transcript

[Kate Flannery]

The deal is that this is my last hurrah. Cause I'd made a New Year's resolution that I'm not gonna drink anymore during the week.

[Brian Green]

This is equal parts scotch, absinthe, rum.

[Kate Flannery]

Gin, vermouth, triple sec, and two packs of Splenda. Call it a one of everything. Oh, my God. Hit me again.

[Brian Green]

All right, one more time around the bl. On this episode of the commercial break, I was.

[Kate Flannery]

I was actually up for snl. And I always say I didn't get it. One of my best friends at the time got it. And I always say it only took 13 short years to get the Office. It was a long 13 short years.

[Brian Green]

Did you audition for Lauren?

[Kate Flannery]

You know what? I. Lauren came to see a show. I did. I had lunch with Lauren. I had interviews with Lauren. I didn't get to do the final round, but I was in consideration. And I was just at the SNL 50s at the concert at Radio City. And it was so great. Obviously, I've had a lot of therapy because I just had a great time.

[Brian Green]

The next episode of the commercial break starts now. Oh, yeah. Cats and kittens, welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Green. This is my dear friend and the co host of this show, Chris and Joy Hoadley. Best to you, Chris. Best to you, Bob, and best to you out there in the podcast universe. How the hell are you? Thanks for joining us. It's TCB Infomercial Tuesday with Kate Flannery from the Office joining us. We have reached the pinnacle of success, Chrissy. There is no greater hill to climb than having one of the. I'd say one of the main characters.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oh, yeah.

[Brian Green]

From one of the best television shows that has ever been, ever and ever will be. I think we can all agree that the Office is hilarious in so many ways. Brilliant. For almost 10 seasons. I think it was 10 seasons. I think it was ten seasons.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I think it's eight.

[Brian Green]

But how many shootings are in the office? Nine and some bonus episodes. Okay, so. So anyway, so there you go. Kate Flannery, who plays Meredith on the Office, is going to be with us in just a few minutes. And I'm really excited about this because this is one of my favorite television shows of all time. And I don't know too many people whose. It isn't so many people I know literally watch the Office on rerun all the time. You know how I have my favorite shows that I watch at night? The Office isn't in rotation, but I do watch Office episodes pretty often. If I see Them on live tv, too. I. I was watching one the other day. I think it was a parkour episode with one of my kids. And he's like, what's parkour? I was like, well, let me show you what parkour is. And then we went to a park this weekend and I showed him parkour because, you know, parkour. I'm a parkour master, Chrissy. I don't know if you know that.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I did not know that with my.

[Brian Green]

Bad hip and my bad back and my bad heart. I just running around doing parkour all the time. So many quotable lines. And Meredith owns a few of those throughout the season. So anyway, we'll talk to her all about that. Celebrating their 20th season. The Office is available on Peacock. 20th year rewatch. Yeah, it's. Yeah, 20th year. Wow. And lest you think that Kate only did the office, she has done many other things in her career. We'll talk to her about some of that. But one of the things I think you got excited about was the Jane lit Jane Lynch Christmas variety show that they do. They do go out and sing, and they do it with a big band and coming to a town near you during Christmas season. So we're. We're only, you know, nine short months away from that. But it'll be here soon enough. It'll be here soon enough. All right, so I have a little. Let's do a little game before. Not game, but let's talk about it a little bit.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Okay.

[Brian Green]

Before we have Kate in here, what is your favorite line from the. What is your most quotable line from the office?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oh, God, I don't know. There's so many. There's the one that my sister and I used to always laugh about when Michael, he talks in his southern accent and they go down to Savannah.

[Brian Green]

My favorite office quote of all time has got to be Jan all over. Tan all over. Do you remember that when they went to Mexico and he had picture, like nude photograph. Topless photograph of her, and it was floating around the office and he goes, jan all over. Tan all over. What a great character. All right, I got a few more for you. I want you to. I want you to tell me which character said this following line. Okay?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Okay.

[Brian Green]

Sometimes the clothes at Gap kids are just too flashy. So I'm forced to go to the American girl store and order clothes for large colonial dolls. Who is that? I'll give you. You want me. Give you a choice?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

Is it Dwight? Is it Pam? Is it Angela?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I'm going with Pam. I'm sorry. Angela.

[Brian Green]

Angela. It is Angela.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

She used to dress up as those colonial her. Dwight, I think something.

[Brian Green]

No, as Angela. She was like the prude in the group, you know, she very tight wad, so to speak. I consider myself a good person, but I'm going to try and make him cry. Who said that? Was that Oscar, Michael or Dwight?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Dwight.

[Brian Green]

No, that was Oscar said that if I don't have cake soon, I might die. Is that Stanley, Dwight or Jim?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Stanley.

[Brian Green]

Of course it's Stanley. I'm faster than 80% of all snakes. Is that Dwight?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Dwight.

[Brian Green]

Okay, I don't even go any further on that. I'm not superstitious, but I'm a little stitious. Who said that? Dwight, Pam or Michael? Michael, of course he did. Yes. Let's see here. I talk a lot, so I've learned just to tune myself out. Is that Pam, Dwight, or Kelly Kapoor? Kelly, of course.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

All right, let's go a little Mindy Kaling. What's that? Mindy Kaling. That's right. Let's go a little deeper. I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Jim.

[Brian Green]

Is that Jim? Is that Michael or is that Andy?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Jim.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, it's Andy. Andy. Andy was a great character on that show. And even though he was only in the later seasons of the Office, he was a great character in that show. I did like Andy's character. One day, Michael came in and complained about a speed bump on the highway. I just wonder who he ran over. Jim. Okay, there you go. All right. Sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't even know where I'm going. I just hope I find it along the way. It's like an improv conversation. Michael. Jim or Dwight?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Michael.

[Brian Green]

Michael. That's right. Identify. Identity theft is no joke, Jim. Millions of families suffer every year. Dwight, Michael or Pam?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

It's gotta be Dwight.

[Brian Green]

It's Dwight. Okay, let's see here. Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. Michael Scott. Dwight Schrute. Which one gave?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Michael.

[Brian Green]

That's right. When you're a kid, you assume your parents are soulmates. My kids are gonna be right about that. Oh, that's a sweet line from Pam. I'm just gonna say that you guys, like, I'm really smart now. You don't even know. You could ask me, kelly, what's the biggest company in the world? And I'd be like, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Giving you the exact right answer every time. Kelly. Let's see if I can find another deep cut here. These are all great lines and I can almost remember the episodes.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oh, yeah, it takes you back.

[Brian Green]

I'm fast to give you a reference point. I'm somewhere between a snake, a mongoose, and a panther. Somewhere between.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I mean, Dwight, of course.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. Yes, the Dunder Mifflin. The Dunder Mifflin stock symbol is dmi. Do you know what that stands for? Dummies, morons and idiots. Because that's what. Because that's what you'd have to be to own it. And as one of those idiots, I believe the board owes me answers. Oscar, that's great.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oscar.

[Brian Green]

Oh, here's one from a. From a lesser known character. Oh, I don't think it's blackmail. Angela just does what I ask her to do so I won't tell everyone that she's cheating on Andy with Dwight. I think for me it would be black for it to be blackmail. I would have to put it in a former let a formal letter. That's Phyllis. Phyllis.

[Kate Flannery]

Phyllis.

[Brian Green]

Phyllis. Yes. Okay, here's a little interesting like tie in. I believe that Phyllis and. Oh, now I can't remember his name. The bigger guy in the office, like kind of the bald headed one. Do you know who I'm talking about? What was his name in the. In the office? I can't remember now. I can't. Why can't I remember office characters? Let's see here.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Stanley.

[Brian Green]

No, but it's. It's not Stanley characters. I'm gonna find this out because I don't want to get it wrong. Kevin. Oh, yeah, Kevin.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Kevin.

[Brian Green]

Okay, so Phyllis and Kevin went to a local high school here in Atlanta. And they went to school with a couple of people that I know and by all accounts were very lovely people. And so just thought I'd share that.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Just a little weird connection was from here. I did not know Phyllis.

[Brian Green]

I believe that's. I believe it was Phyllis and Kevin that was here. I know Kevin for sure and I believe Phyllis also. I think they went to the same high school. If I'm not mist. Be. But that was the story that rolled around the bars for a long time. And I knew a couple people who knew specific. More specifically talked about Kevin being a re. I say Kevin. His name is Brian, actually. Kevin and Brian. That's what. That's me and my brother's names. Yes. Talked about him specifically being a very nice guy. So there you go. If you wanted to know in real life, let's find out if Kate is a really nice person, too. Why don't we do this? Yes, I bet she is. We haven't. We've had a good streak. I'd say of the 110 guests we've had, 108 of them have been pretty good. And one of them wasn't their fault. I would have been a dick to us, too. All right, let's do this. Let's take a break. And when we get back through the magic of tele podcasting, we'll have Kate Flannery, Meredith from the office celebrating 20 years of the Office. Yeah, let's do that. What do you think?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I think we should do it.

[Brian Green]

We'll be back.

[Rachel]

Hey, it's Rachel, your new voice of God here on tcb. And just like you, I'm wondering just how much longer this podcast can continue. Let's all rejoice that another episode has made it to your ears. And I'll rejoice that my check is in the mail. Speaking of mail, get your free TCB sticker in the mail by going to tcbpodcast.com and visiting the Contact Us page. You can also find the entire commercial break library audio and video, just in case you want to look at chrissy@tcb podcast. Want your voice to be on an episode of the show? Leave us a message at 212-4333, TCB. That's 212-433-3822. Tell us how much you love us and we'll be sure to let the world know on a future episode. Or you could make fun of us. That'd be fine, too. We might not air that, but maybe. Oh, and if you're shy, that's okay. Just send a text. We'll respond. Now I'm gonna go check the mailbox for payment while you check out our sponsors. And then we'll return to this episode of the commercial Break.

[Brian Green]

Kate is here with us now. Kate, so grateful for your time today. Thank you for joining us.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Welcome, Kate.

[Brian Green]

What can we say that probably hasn't already been said a million, billion times? I have, like, one question. That is when we, when I knew you were coming on, it just was burning through my mind. You. How do you feel about the Office? Given some space between the last episode that you, you know, the, the closing of the, the office version 1 Now, what is your relationship with the Office? The thing, the show, the entity part of your life? How do you feel about.

[Kate Flannery]

Is as my relationship with the Office is as strong as it was in 2004. It's crazy.

[Brian Green]

I am so happy.

[Kate Flannery]

It might be stronger.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

You've grown to love it. You've grown to find that this is just something. You're really attached. It's such an iconic role that you have playing Meredith. This, like, in my opinion, one of the best characters on the Office is Meredith, perfectly played by you.

[Kate Flannery]

You're very kind. I'm actually most proud that I'm a female and I get to play a wacky character that has nothing to do with being someone's girlfriend or mother. Oh, yeah. Even though she's a mother and she's a floozy, but. But still, it's like she's not defined by that. And that's a rare thing. It's a rare thing on television. It's a rare thing in movies. Like, women don't get to play exactly like the boys. And so it's really fun when I'm just really proud that they let me.

[Brian Green]

Go there and they're. The entire time you were there for the entire stretch. How did you get involved in, by the way? It's 20th anniversary of the Office.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

And it's one of those shows, too, that I love because you can just watch over and over and over again and you can pick up from the very first episode or the middle or the end, whatever. I just. I love those shows. There's very few of those.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, I think we. There are. And what I love about our show, too, and why I think kids really like it, is that, you know, we never tell you when to laugh. There's no, like, wait, you know, there's no laugh track, obviously. But I also feel like you can be laughing over something and then watch the episode again and find something funny about it that you didn't notice the first time.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Absolutely.

[Brian Green]

Absolutely.

[Kate Flannery]

Kind of fun. You know, that's. And that's a rare. You know, it's a rare thing. We're all, you know, we're just so lucky because, you know, normally British shows don't translate on American television. So our showrunner, Greg Daniels, took such good care of this and was so careful and so wonderful. And he's a former Saturday Night Live writer, a former Simpsons writer, and he's also the creator of. Co creator of King of the Hill, Craig Daniels. He's amazing. He's amazing. So we were. I mean, we were in good hands from the start. And I knew Steve Carell when I was at Second City. We weren't in the same cast, but we were there at the same time. And it was just so nice to be. I mean, so incredible to be a part of his stardom, his breakout.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oh, yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

Now the whole world knows what a great actor. Smart, funny, genius Steve Carell is.

[Brian Green]

He really is. How did you. How did you get approached about doing the project? Or did you. I'm sure you had some auditions with Greg, or how did that come about?

[Kate Flannery]

I actually initially auditioned. I initially auditioned for the part of Jan. No way.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Okay.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Oh, my God. That would have been a whole different show. Yeah, yeah. It would have tan all over. I'm sorry. I just had to say it. I just had to say it right now. No, no.

[Kate Flannery]

It's crazy, right?

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

Serenity Canyons. I don't know, but. Yeah. Hunter. I don't know, but. But I think. I think, you know, the casting director, Allison Jones, said, I don't know if this is the part for you, but I feel like this show is right for you. So I actually did not do the pilot. I actually replaced somebody from the pilot that was cut out.

[Brian Green]

So very interesting.

[Kate Flannery]

Strange when you come into a project. So I did not do the first episode, but I did every other one.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, no, fair enough.

[Kate Flannery]

Because. Yeah. It's just odd because they actually asked us to bring paperwork and to look busy at our deaths. Season one. And, you know, I thought that was such a cool idea so that when the camera catches you, you're not, like, suddenly working. You know, you're actually still in progress, in process. And so it did have that documentary feel from the start. So, you know, as an ensemble person, being from Second City and, you know, I did Del Close as a. Probably for years, I worked at the Annoyance Theater. I've worked at a lot of funky theaters and did a lot of stuff where being an ensemble was really the most important part, is to make sure you're there for everybody else.

[Brian Green]

Giving everybody else. Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

Team player. Yeah. From whether you talk or not, you are in there. You're in it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

So I love being a fully actualized character, even if you don't speak, which I think is one of the most brilliant things about the Office, because we all work with people and we all went to school with people, and you did not get to know everyone equally well right away.

[Brian Green]

Sure.

[Kate Flannery]

Things were revealed slowly, and sometimes there's people. You'd be like, I didn't know that. Or you find out later. You're like, oh, my God, I had no idea that. That guy's nuts. Yeah, whatever. It's just funny. Totally. But our show, like, had a slow, slow reveal in Such a great. It was just. Everything was just well timed. And even if I didn't speak for episodes, I felt like when I did, it was totally worth the wait. I felt like something wonderful and interesting was revealed and messed up sometimes.

[Brian Green]

You know something, I read a book one time and it was mentioning Aaron Sorkin in the West Wing. The, of course, the breakout drama about the West Wing, the White House. And one of the interesting choices that they made from the beginning, and I'm sure this is a choice that was made by Greg or whoever at the time also, was that even if you're not in the scene, I want you on the set. So you'll look at where the, you know, Leo McGarry and the President are talking and in the background is, you know, Bradley Whitford or whoever. And they're shuffling paper or they're reading or they're having a conversation with someone else. It adds depth and layer and color and clarity to the whole situation. It doesn't feel like everybody just runs out of the room. It feels like an actual working office. When you watch the Office, it's a sense of reality.

[Kate Flannery]

It's a sense of reality. Yeah. It's awesome. And it's, It's. I just feel like the level of thought and intelligence that was put into every script, you know, and just having a great cast of great, great directors, great producers, great editors, you know, you just feel like you can't, you know, you're in good hands all the time. You're in good hands, so you can trust the process.

[Brian Green]

Do you. I'm interested to know how much of this is actually improv and do you have bullet points you're heading in a direction You've. You know, I can improv inside of these parameter. How much of that was improv and how much of that ended up being scripted percentage wise or what was most of scripted? Most of it is scripted.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh, yeah. I'd say maybe 4%, maybe 5% is improv.

[Brian Green]

Interesting.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah. Steve and Rain probably improvised a little more than most of us, but they also had more to say.

[Brian Green]

Sure.

[Kate Flannery]

So we would kind of like hit the actual script. And then I learned quickly that if I improvise within my lines or had like one little addition while I was speaking because, you know, you're having to deal with camera. Camera guys who are like documentarians who are moving to, you know, they know who they're going to look at, you know, and focus on. So if you're. You can't just like suddenly have an idea and railroad the whole Process. You have to be, like, in focus. And I didn't think about that. Actors.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah. But if you're. If you're. So I would say if you're improvising, even within a sitcom, you have to know the parameters so that you're actually. You're bringing a gift, not presenting a problem.

[Brian Green]

Wow.

[Kate Flannery]

Even if it's a funny idea, it has to go somehow within the lines of forwarding the action. Or. Or.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. You've got to hit a note. You've got to hit the notes. Yeah. So that you don't mess up the rest of the band, maybe.

[Kate Flannery]

Reveal. Yeah, exactly. So that's. That's the. That's the. That was the big learning curve for me, for sure. And also because I had done so much stage, I was. I constantly reminded, like, bring it down, bring it down. And I actually learned a great relationship with the camera, which I had never learned before. And I'm so grateful that they had the patience to go, okay, can you just do it one more time? Just do it a little less, A little less. Because sometimes shows, you know, that's. Oh, she didn't get it. You're done. Bye, bye. You're gone. Bye, bye, Bye, bye. So I'm grateful.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. Because what is the trajectory? You're at Second City, obviously, the. One of the most famous, if not the most famous famous improv comedy theater in the world. Right. With so many. And I know there's a couple of them, but for me, as a Chicago boy, Second City is like, you know, the gold standard.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

And that's where a lot of the SNL characters came from. So you're in Second City. So obviously you're good at this. Like, you have a talent for this. If you're sitting with the other people at Second City, then you're doing okay.

[Kate Flannery]

It's a validation. For sure.

[Brian Green]

For sure.

[Kate Flannery]

And I actually was. I was. I was actually up for snl. And I always say I didn't get it. One of my best friends at the time got it. And I always say it only took 13 short years to get the office. It was a long 13 short years.

[Brian Green]

Did you audition for Lauren?

[Kate Flannery]

Actually, you know what? I. Lauren came to see a show I did. I had lunch with Lauren. I had interviews with Lauren. I didn't get to do the final round, but I was in. I was in consideration. And I was just at the SNL 50th, at the concert at Radio City, and it was so great. Obviously, I've had a lot of therapy because I just had A great time.

[Brian Green]

I didn't have any, but like, I.

[Kate Flannery]

Was like, I should have. No, no, I was, I just was like, oh my God. Everything worked out the way I was supposed to. Woohoo.

[Brian Green]

Kate, you don't know me, but let me tell you, if I was, if Lorne Michaels, you know, had even said my name out loud, I would consider that the end of the road for me. I'd be like, that's good. I'm die. I can die happy. Like, just being in consideration for such an iconic show, right, that was the.

[Kate Flannery]

Therapy move, is like not feeling like, oh, you were up for the dream. And it's, it's like, no, no, no, you're in. You've been recognized, you've been validated, and you can just move forward. Because there's a lot of people that have been up for us now that didn't get it, that we all know Stephen Colbert. I mean, there's a ton of people, you know, it's just, it's one of those things. But you just, you know, hopefully you take, you Rejection is protection. If you look at it that way and just realize, oh, I'm just being redirected, there's something else waiting for me. Yeah, just keep it up. And I remember, you know, I started to do a comedy act in 2001 with a friend of mine from Second City days, and we did a two person dying lounge act. We did it for 20 years. We still did it when the Office ran. We did a lot of comedy festivals and comedy clubs. We did it every Saturday for five years initially, even when the Office was running. I did it for another year every week and just really enjoyed it because I also realized my friends were getting famous and they weren't necessarily calling me. And I was like, oh, I think I have to figure out how to show up on another map. Like, how do you, how do you keep yourself in the game?

[Brian Green]

Sure.

[Kate Flannery]

And you know, doing comedy live at clubs was a great way to do it. And so I kind of, we kind of found a funky way to get in. So we were sort of in the COVID band comedy world. So we were opening for people like Richard Cheese for the Dan Band, Kev's Pity Party, Garfunkel notes, like, there's a bunch of, like, there was a world of music and comedy that we were a part of. And that was, that was, it was great for me.

[Brian Green]

So Saturday Night Live, let's call it consideration. For your consideration. We just had a whole episode about this. For your consideration. Yes.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Great movie, Great movie.

[Kate Flannery]

Right. The best. The best.

[Brian Green]

So for your consideration, a short. Oh, my God. Like all of them. It's great ensembles. You talk about great ensembles. All the Christopher Guest movies. The Office is another one you think of when you. Thirteen short years later, as you put it, what does your agent just call you? And she says, I think that. I think we got this role. I think it's good for you. I want you to go and audition. Or does Greg. Dan does. How did you. How did they.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh, no, it was an audition. It was an audition. It was an audition. And, you know, it's. It's also like, I didn't have an agent for a while. I was told we're passing on you because of your age and your looks. I think I was like, 38 when that happened. I'm like, what the hell? But I was. I was doing comedy clubs. I had done off Broadway. I had, like, a big hit with a show off Broadway in that we did in LA first. It was a stage production of the movie Valley the Dolls. I have a little buzz. Like, I had some yeses. I had some attention. I felt like I was getting recognized in New York, even if it was below 14th Street. I felt like it was a. You know, our show had sort of a Rocky Horror Picture show cult following for a while. And, you know, I mean, it was. It was good. And I also sang in a band in New York with. With one of the guys from they Might Be Giants. Oh, really big in the 80s and 90s. Yeah, they had another band called Monopuff, and I was in Monopuff, and we would open for the Giants. So I had, like, a world. I was in the world. I did like a sketch on Conan. Like, I was kind of part of that. I did. I think I did some sketches on Jimmy Kimmel. I'd showed up in weird places. And then I was on Bernie Mac show and a show called. It was actually the Boomtown. I played Neil McDonough's secretary, and I was so excited because they were like, oh, they want you to recur now. You did. They loved you in your first episode. So I got the second script, and two days later I got the call that the show was canceled. So that was right before the. That was right before the Office. So it's okay, you know, you got. You know, that's all right. And then again, like, if I had been on that show, I couldn't have done the Office. So I think it worked out. Yes, it did.

[Brian Green]

You were on the Bernie Mac Show. Did you have a chance to meet and sit with Bernie Mac to talk to you.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes. I got to hang out. Bernie, he was the best man, everybody.

[Brian Green]

But he says this.

[Kate Flannery]

He was the greatest. He would have a separate lunch for all the kids and their parents in his huge dressing area, like it was like a house just for him. He was the greatest. He saw everyone. So kind, so funny, so smart. I felt very lucky to guest star. And I was still waiting tables, by the way, at a restaurant in Beverly Hills when all this was going on, by the way. And I kept my restaurant job up and through the first season of the Office. Yeah, I did. It's just like I was waiting on.

[Brian Green]

A lot of famous people, you know, I have an interesting story. So the other day I was watching reels, and a reel came up about Bernie Mac cutting a promo for the Bernie Mac show, which, by the way, I think is one of the more underrated comedies of our generation. I think it's so good. It's so good. It's so funny and it's poignant. It's poignant. He's a good dad, and he teaches. Anyway, so one of the directors of this promo is trying to get this little girl, or, excuse me, this little guy to sit on his lap or this little girl to sit on his lap. And Bernie keeps telling the director, not going to do that. Not going to. It's not appropriate. I'm not going to do that. And the director keeps pushing him until finally Bernie says, not doing the promo. I'm not having this person sit on my lap. But it was just like, Bernie had, like, a moral compass. And it didn't matter about Hollywood. It just. It just goes to, like, I'm not making a larger point about kids and who's sitting on laps and all that. What I'm making, the point is, is that Bernie was a. Like, he had a umami about him. Like this life force about him that really comes through on screen. Did you get this sense?

[Kate Flannery]

And he would fly back to Chicago every weekend because he had friends and family in Chicago that he didn't want to abandon. Like, he really. He was. He was on the move. He was always moving.

[Brian Green]

Great loss. What a great loss.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, I know. I know. What a loss. Devastating.

[Brian Green]

Did you get this sense after the first season of the Office? Didn't. Wasn't. I might be mistaken about this, but I think I remember. And, you know, because I'm like everybody else in the world have watched a million Office a million times, and behind the Scenes and all that other stuff. Am I right? That it wasn't the. It wasn't a breakout hit after the first season. It wasn't. There were. You guys were almost. You were on the chopping block. They didn't know if there was gonna be a second season. And NBC granted you that second season, and that's really when you started to hit your stride. But did you guys get the sense in the room that. That something magical was happening?

[Kate Flannery]

I knew it was a great show, but I didn't think it was an NBC show. One of the few times I improvised in season one was during healthcare. And, you know, there was a whole conversation where I said. I say, you know, to Dwight, you know, because he's trying to cut the healthcare.

[Brian Green]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[Kate Flannery]

And I say, like, uterus is different from a vagina. I still have a vagina. We have this argument about hysterectomies, but that was one of the few times I got to improvise. And I was like, oh, my God. And then I remember seeing Greg Daniels in the restaurant where I was working. He. He just happened to come in. Completely ignored that I was in the weeds and wearing a uniform, and he's like, oh, my gosh. That line that you improvised about the vagina. We're fighting with the network. We're hoping it stays. And luckily it did stay in. But it's just like that never would have happened if it was hbo. But I also feel like part of why TV changed was because Friends was over. Frasier was. Had ended. Joey was on the air and not doing well. And so that's when our first season, we were on during the time when Joey was on. And I think the NBC was just looking for something. And also 40 year old virgin. Steve made 40 year old virgin between the pilot and the second episode of the Office and when it was about to come out, which was the beginning of when we were filming season two, the buzz was like, oh, my God. Oh, my. Because the posters were everywhere. And then I remember we got to go to the premiere. We all came from the studio, our set. And I remember Ben Stiller was there and Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey. And I was like. They were, like, checking out the new guy. They were nervous about the new guy.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

And the movie was so such a. And you know, they're like, oh, my God, we have that guy. So I feel like it was really Steve Carell. I think his magic that allowed us through. And also his heart. Yeah. And also he understood how to make a guy who's just so awkward. Says the Wrong thing all the time, but has a heart. Because I feel like the British version was so mean and so dark and, like, really funny, but, like, whoa, really tough.

[Brian Green]

I agree with you on this, and I have had arguments about this with. With. With friends of mine and other people. I am not the biggest fan of the Office BBC, of the Office uk. I'm. I'm not. And I think it's a. It's funny in its own way. And I love British comedies. I mean, you can ask Chrissy.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

I know them all and I watch them all, and I'm. I'm tuned into that universe. But some. Something about that Office uk, because I watch the Office us first. There is something tender and gentle and empathetic about most of the characters in the Office that is lacking in some of the characters. That just gives it this depth. It's like. I don't know. It's like soup after.

[Kate Flannery]

I think that's why you.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, it's like soup after. You've been sitting for a couple days. It's better. It has more flavors. It's like the flavors come out or something. I don't know how to explain it, but totally.

[Kate Flannery]

No, no, no. I think that's. That's well stated. And I also think that, you know, I don't think. I mean, there's a reason why the British Office is. Has so few episodes.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

I feel like it's really hard to watch this character because he's not really growing as a human. It's hard to get behind him for years.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. So, yeah, it's really easy to get behind, you know, Michael Scarn as he's. As he's been.

[Kate Flannery]

Michael Scarn. Yes.

[Brian Green]

Yes, totally. What is. And I know that. So now you're. When are you world famous? When do you get out of your house and realize, holy shit, I can. I am. I did it. I made it. Here I am. People are recognizing you. They're repeating the lines. They're probably saying, you know, I don't know. They're. I can only imagine all those lines.

[Kate Flannery]

I feel like, for me, it was. No, totally. I feel like for me personally, it felt more like season four for me, because that was. We started the season with Fun Run, where Meredith Scott. Michael Scott hits Meredith with the car. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Kate Flannery]

So that was sort of like a what? And then. And I remember I got a call. Joaquin Phoenix had canceled on the Tonight show, and they asked me to be on instead, and I was like, oh, my God. So that was sort of like the first big. Oh, my gosh And I remember being at my parents summer place in New Jersey and I was on the boardwalk and I just felt like all these kids were like running toward me. And I started running. I'm like, wait a minute, what am I running? I'm not gonna talk. But there was definitely like a. Oh, my gosh. You know, you better, you know, don't curse. And you better watch what you're of other people. You better be grateful.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

How fun.

[Brian Green]

Well, it's gotta be such a huge change. You're waiting tables through season one, right? Probably the character is growing, but still limited in season two and three. And then you. Then all of a sudden, this ensemble, like this kind of core group of characters starts to come into play, and now people are becoming familiar with them. So now everyone's. Everyone knows you as Meredith and they're familiar with you. And we were talking about this with someone else just last week is like, you grow an affin. And a relationship with these characters on the screen and it's.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

It's interesting how in our minds, it's like, we do have a friendship with these people that were watching. Did you ever feel uncomfortable with the amount of attention that the office was being paid or everybody kind of knowing who you were?

[Kate Flannery]

I mean, it's a champagne problem. It's a champagne. You gotta make peace with it. If you don't make peace with it. If you don't make peace with it, you're screwed.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

I mean, really, I just feel like it's literally like deciding to be happy or not.

[Brian Green]

Right.

[Kate Flannery]

You know, I mean, sometimes people come up to you and they think, I'm their third grade teacher, and they're like, no, no, no. I think I was in your. I was like, oh, no, oh. And I'm like, oh, my God, I messed up. You know, which is really fine. So funny. But I, you know, I'm so grateful also. It's really nice to be. I was 40 when I got the offer. It's much better. You know, you're much wiser when you're a little older. And you have much more perspective and gratitude when you're older, I think, than when you're in your 20s. You think, this is never gonna end. I'm gonna go from show to show to show. And you don't realize that these things are very, very, very rare.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. And to be in such an iconic show that will probably live for a very long time somewhere, I mean, it bounces from, you know, streamer to streamer, and every time it's got there's a huge PR push and everyone, you know, falls in love again with the Office. And it gets int.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Generations.

[Brian Green]

I have a six year old child and I was watching the Office about two weeks ago. I was watching. I can't. The Parkour episode.

[Kate Flannery]

Casual day.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh, God.

[Brian Green]

I was watching the. I think it's a Parkour episode. And I. Then I was in my son. I saw my son, like, engage with this episode and he was like, what's Parkour? Why are they yelling? Why did that guy fall in the trash can? But he was starting to laugh at it too. And I thought to myself, there's the next generation of Office fans coming up right here. And that's gotta be like, when you go to bed at night sometimes. I bet there is a sense of, like, gratitude and holy cow, I did it. I was a part of one of the best. Right? I was there at one. Yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

And I totally. And as a child of like, 70s TV, I remember watching shows like MASH and like Mary Tyler Moore where they had these wonderful long runs and they had these wonderful finales. So I feel like we got that too. We got a wonderful finale. So. Yeah. Trust me, I am beyond grateful. I feel like, you know, I Some.

[Brian Green]

Go, no, please, go ahead. I want to hear what you have to say.

[Kate Flannery]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I just. The other thing I was going to say is that I feel like sometimes when I put. When I say to actors, like, don't count your lines, stop counting your lines if you get a part. Because sometimes people want to talk more when they want to talk more. And I feel like I learned to stop doing that because I realized, like, you know, some. I mean, sometimes I had a lot to say and most of the time I didn't. And sometimes I. I still got a laugh, even if even I just got a look and I would get a laugh. So I trusted like, okay, that's just part of this process. And. And you can still be very present in a scene and not speak and still, like, people know who you know. It's a contribution. Sure. And you're. And it's. It's a. It's a platform. So I felt super lucky with that. So I also think, like, you know, some people want to be the star, some people want to be the sidekick. I feel like, you know, in many ways I described Meredith as like, I was the onions. Like, it's good to be the onions.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Kate Flannery]

You know, I wasn't the main course. I wasn't the side dish. I was like, kind of always there with some flavor, baby.

[Brian Green]

You know, the sauteed mushrooms, salt shaker on the table. You come in and you sprinkle some flavor on the. On. On a lot of these episodes, a little bit. Yeah. I would. You know, in my mind at least, Meredith is a major character in the Office. Right. And, well, it's great to be there.

[Kate Flannery]

Every day and just, like I said, be a part of this energy. Like, we were just. I mean, we were there all, you know, all day, every day, and it was fantastic. So even if I didn't speak, I was, like, really enjoying every. Every day, every moment of the process and watching, you know, just the funniest scenes take place.

[Brian Green]

Could the Office get. Could the Office as it stands today, could it get made? First of all, I know the answer to this is no. Because Netflix, I mean, and God bless Netflix, and I know that, you know, they probably pay some bills or something, but. But the Netflix and these streamers now have this kind of habit of three and done, right? Three and out, so to speak. Three seasons and out. Do you think the Office could. If you're lucky, could the Office survive today? Could it do. Could you do another run similar.

[Kate Flannery]

I don't. I mean, I think everybody's so scared of comedy, too. We're getting better, but it's still like, I feel like people making fun of other people. Is it? When I grew up, I felt like it was always a source of affection.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Kate Flannery]

It wasn't bullying.

[Brian Green]

Agreed.

[Kate Flannery]

And I feel like it's been misunderstood, and I think we've had some. Some comedy police that need to. They need to tone down.

[Brian Green]

Tone down.

[Kate Flannery]

I just agree. Yeah. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

I think it. I think it is getting better. I think there's some level heads coming into the conversation. And listen, I also think that, you know, there. There might be situations where it gets taken too far, but that's in the comedy club. To work it out and you find that funny, then there's somebody you'll find funny. And if you don't find that funny, you don't have to go. Right. It's not your thing.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

You have to.

[Brian Green]

You don't have to go. But the. The Office to me is just good, wholesome fun. And I agree with you. When I was a kid growing up in the 80s, you know, and the 90s, this was a way to endear yourself to your group of friends. It was like you poked. You poked at people and, you know, you. You and that. It toughened you up a little bit. It toughened you up. But then it also Was good fun. It was like, oh, you know, it was good fun to. To jab at your friends.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, they don't. If they don't give you a hard time, they don't love you.

[Brian Green]

That's it.

[Kate Flannery]

Really? That's what I always grew up with. Like, that's how they show love.

[Brian Green]

Are Catholic.

[Kate Flannery]

Can you tell.

[Brian Green]

Me?

[Kate Flannery]

My dad owned a bar. Flannery Tower, baby.

[Brian Green]

I know.

[Kate Flannery]

I'm an alcoholic. Napo, baby.

[Brian Green]

Right? Is there. Is there a Meredith in Kate and Kate and Meredith? Is. There is. I mean, I imagine there is somewhere, right? A little bit of that wild child, you know, kind of irreverent.

[Kate Flannery]

Was last week. Yeah, I'm still recovering.

[Brian Green]

That's why we had to reschedule. A week later, she's like, no, St. Patrick's Day. Yeah, I got it. After you have a few drinks. Does. Does Meredith ever come out? Do you have like idiot friends who say, you know, repeat a line from the office?

[Kate Flannery]

Not really.

[Brian Green]

Good. God bless your friends?

[Kate Flannery]

No, yeah. I mean, I have a lot of active friends, so. Yeah. Then I'd have to be like, okay, you repeat your line.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Right?

[Brian Green]

Yeah, exactly. Were you guys all friendly? I mean, I'm sure there were. It's like a family and you were together for so many years. There were moments when this person or that person.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh, ye. Yeah, absolutely. And I knew Angela before because we were in an all women improv group called Bitch Planet.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I love that.

[Kate Flannery]

We did for a couple years. Yeah, it was like in the early, like 2000, 2001. Yeah, we had, we had a great time. And I knew Steve from Second City and Oscar and I should have met a million times. I knew Dave Koechner who played Packer. Yeah, I knew a few people and some of the directors I knew, but yeah, it was, it was. But yeah, but it was, it was definitely, you know, just the greatest group of people. I mean, they are family. We are a family.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

And to see some of them, like Mindy Kaling and John Krasinski and all.

[Kate Flannery]

These people, really just amazing. Yes. Such talented, such hardworking, super talented individuals.

[Brian Green]

And the Office Ladies. And the Office Ladies has been a breakout podcast hit.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

They have, absolutely.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. And I know you've been on that, you've been on that show on Office Ladies.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

Do you. So do you all still stay in touch? Is there some camaraderie that happens still to this day?

[Kate Flannery]

Have text threads that we do and then some of us do some fan events together still? Like, I just did a. I was just a Texan, Texas A And M with Leslie David Baker who plays Stanley. We sometimes do. We speak at colleges and then I'm doing some fan event with Rain and Oscar and I think Brian. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

So we get around, you know, biggest surprise personality outside of the office. Like the person who was on the screen who I found to be the like different in the most engaging and wonderful way besides Kate, of course. Our new friend is Rain. Rain is a really interesting human being out, you know, it's so.

[Kate Flannery]

But he does know a lot about Battlestar Galactica.

[Brian Green]

Well, fair enough. Okay.

[Kate Flannery]

He's not, he's. He's Dwight adjacent. Yeah. But yeah, he's a lovely person. I actually just saw he was doing a Broadway show, Urinetown and I, I got to see the last, the last performance a few weeks ago. He was great. He was great. I think he was singing and he was great. He was great.

[Brian Green]

I think Dwight is one of the most iconic television characters ever. And I don't think you can't have a little bit of Dwight in you to play that role so well. I think you, you have to have Dwight in there. All right. You're stuck on an island. Fact. Yeah. You're stuck on an island and you got to bring two office characters with you. Who you bringing?

[Kate Flannery]

I think Michael Squat, Michael Scott and Dwight.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Yes. That's a good answer.

[Kate Flannery]

I think. I mean, I just, you know, I mean I love Jim and Pam. I love everybody, but I feel like, I don't know, for me, I don't know, I just.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

They can step on.

[Kate Flannery]

They did. I always loved the Jim, Dwight, you know, the games that they would play. The dueling. Yes.

[Brian Green]

The death dueling, all the pranks that they would please.

[Kate Flannery]

So great. And I love the Jim and Pam love story. I love, love, love, love, love.

[Brian Green]

Were you guys rooting for that love story in like.

[Kate Flannery]

I was.

[Brian Green]

I was too. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kate Flannery]

But, but the back and forth, like I could so relate. So relatable. So relatable.

[Brian Green]

It really is, it's like, it's so touching. And the little looks that they would give each other and the way that they would just be so like, you know, caring for each other. You were just rooting from the beginning for, for Jim and Pam and when it worked and it worked and it, and it worked out in, in such a wonderful way and a non cheesy way where you're like, oh my get. You know, you wanted every, every moment that they showed of that relationship was a poignant moment and one that then furthered the story. So it didn't get overly, like, it didn't become about Jim and Pam. It wasn't the Jim and Pam show, which is what I feared at the time. Like, oh, now it's gonna be the Jim and Pam relationship show. But it wasn't. It was still the. Very much the Office. What is your favorite episode of the Office?

[Chrissy Hoadley]

It's hard to choose.

[Brian Green]

I know.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, I know, but I know I feel sudden death, but sudden death. You know what? I love the. I love the. I love the injury. I love when Michael Scott burns his foot on his George Foreman. But that phone call when he's like calling to tell everybody that he. And he's on speaker that he burned his foot.

[Rachel]

And.

[Kate Flannery]

And then the talking head afterwards where he explains in his office, like, why he has a George Foreman girl by his bed because he likes to wake up to the smell of bacon and he doesn't have a butler. It's like, you cannot. I'm sorry. And that was like the episode where Scott where. I'm sorry. Where Dwight has a. A. A concussion and they're driving in marathon. Had a minivan.

[Brian Green]

Oh, my God.

[Kate Flannery]

That was with the squirt bottle for the cat. I can't even. And Jim's trying to keep him awake. Oh, my gosh.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I love it.

[Kate Flannery]

So great.

[Brian Green]

Did you break character or were you. How often did you break character? Or did you guys just get really good at it?

[Kate Flannery]

I wasn't a big breaker. I mean, there are some people that were like super laughers. I mean, sometimes we would laugh, but I usually was not the first person, but I felt like I was. I'm in a drama. I'm in a drama. I would tell myself, yeah, that's total.

[Brian Green]

Professionalism, because I don't know how I would not be a breaker on that set. But then again, you know, I'm watching the final finished product, and we were. We were talking to someone else who was on a great comedy show, and he was explaining that was our friend Tim Baltz. And so Tim Baltz was saying, listen, you. Sometimes you have 14 hour days, and you know that if you break, we're adding an extra hour and 15 minutes onto the day. And so I just. That gives me all the motivation I need to stay in character.

[Kate Flannery]

Totally. And I also, like, would watch Steve Carell just do most of the talking. And I feel like if somebody else laughs, you're like, dude, you're gonna make him start this whole scene all over again. Like, you gotta just like, like, don't mess it up for him. Get together.

[Brian Green]

Okay. But there's life after the Office. I know, and thank you for indulging me, indulging us on all these Office questions. But there's life after the Office and you're not all about the office. Tell us what else you also have Jane Lynch, a wonderful show with Jane Lynch. What else is going on for Kate?

[Kate Flannery]

Well, I do a bunch of, I work her on a cartoon or two. I'm on Universal Basic Guys, which is a Philadelphia comedy. I think it's on right after the Simpsons on Sunday nights on Fox. So fun. I got to do the pilot and I, I just got to do a guest organ. So I, it's, it's, it's so well written. I'm so happy for those guys because it's their first and, and the fact that they got on Sunday nights on Fox is huge.

[Brian Green]

It's really good. I, I, I watched three episodes and I really liked it. I thought, no, this is a good, this could be another, I mean, King of the Hill is one of my favorite. Also another Greg Daniels show.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes, the best.

[Brian Green]

It's coming back and so we'll see what, we'll see what happens with that. But Universal Basic Guys is not the King of the Hill. But it's just something about the writing on that show. It's so good.

[Kate Flannery]

It's really, well, it's really, yeah, it's definitely worth your time. And, you know, I feel like I'm, I'm doing, I don't know, I feel like I'm kind of all over the place right now. But things are good. I get to sing with Jane pretty frequently. I mean, we're always on tour every Christmas because we did a Christmas album together that did very well. We were literally on the Billboard top 10 for a couple weeks.

[Brian Green]

That's insane.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I love it.

[Kate Flannery]

I know, right? Let's win a little Christmas. You can find it on itunes and Spotify and all that stuff. Or you can buy the CD on Amazon. You might need to get a new car. Yeah, right. But, yeah, so, so it's, it's a joy. And we get to play really great, great, great places, big halls and like, you know, sometimes we play for 2,000 seats or 3,000 seats or 500 seats. We're kind of all over the place. But it's really been a joy. And we've been doing that for 10 years.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, that's really fun.

[Kate Flannery]

And we have a non Christmas show as well. How did you enjoy. Go to Jane lynch official. You say, okay, Jane lynch the first time.

[Brian Green]

Okay.

[Kate Flannery]

They never. The first time. I ever went to Second City. Jane lynch was understudying. She was on set stage under studying for Bonnie Hunt. And then a year and a year later, a year and a half later, I became chains understudy. It's crazy that we. And then we started singing together for benefits and, like, there were a couple live shows that we. We would do just like, little bits and some sketch shows we did together. Then we were. We did a sketch show in LA where we got to sing in that with a bunch of other people like Ana Gostar and. Oh, my God, it's like so many. So many people that were coming. And Joey Saloway. And then we got to do. Then we became award show buddies because Glee and the Office were. And then our shows got canceled around the same time, so Jane asked me to kind of join her in this cabaret endeavor in New York, and we just never looked back. We had a great time. It's really fun. We sing with the Tony Guerrero quintet. They're great.

[Brian Green]

I think it's great. I love Jane. Jane is, like, also iconic. She's the greatest. Yeah, she really is.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Her role in Murders and only Murders in the Building.

[Kate Flannery]

So great. I know.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I love it.

[Kate Flannery]

She's be Steve. Steve, Steve Martin. It's just so fun. And we were just watching Mrs. Maisel again. She's so great on the Marvel.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Yeah, that's right.

[Kate Flannery]

That part is nuts.

[Brian Green]

I love that show. Okay, so one more question. How do you. How are you feeling? There's been a lot of talk about Office reboot. I think it's happening. I think there's been, you know, I've read in the trade rags that that it's happening. Has there been any conversation about old characters? Not that. Not. Not that you know of.

[Kate Flannery]

No. There's a. There's a spin off. There's a spin off.

[Brian Green]

Spin off. I'm sorry. Okay.

[Kate Flannery]

Spin off.

[Brian Green]

It's a spin off.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, yeah. It's not a reboot.

[Brian Green]

So it's a spin off of the Office. Do you think there'll be any intertwinglings between the two offices, like, for any reason?

[Kate Flannery]

I'm not sure. I know. I. Sorry, I just saw. I just ran into our editor the other day, who's. I mean, a lot of the same crew is on the show, so it's like, I miss you guys. So. I don't know. I don't know. That'll. That'll tell me squat. Plus, I'm a big mouth, so I have to watch. But you'll. You'll know when I Know, but, but I, you know, I don't know. I mean, it was nice to get to do an AT&T commercial with five other people from the Office.

[Brian Green]

Oh, that's great. Yeah, that's right.

[Kate Flannery]

Really, really fun. That was really fun. I felt like we just all fell right back into the groove. It was great.

[Brian Green]

It seemed like you guys were having fun. Am I not mistaken? That was on the Super Bowl? That, that commercial.

[Kate Flannery]

One of those commercials we're always on. Yeah, we're always on. Like we tend to be on sports events like on. During the Masters and like now on the. During the March tournament all the time. Yeah, there's a couple different, shorter versions and stuff too.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. I would happily pay the 1999amonth double if they would make new offices of the actual Office with all of the characters back. I mean, I know everyone.

[Kate Flannery]

I will let them know. Brian, I report back.

[Brian Green]

You're the best. Text me. I'll have my people call your people and we'll talk to Greg and see if we can't get another 10 episode run on Netflix or something like that. You are. Sounds good. Yeah, go ahead.

[Kate Flannery]

You guys are awesome. I meant to mention I'm on a new episode of Night Night Court with the John Larroquette and Melissa Rush. Those guys are so awesome. I love that they're doing it. So fun. It was so fun. So fun to be a part of. Wendy Malik is in the cast now too. It's. Yeah, it's. It's. And I feel like I've gotten to do some really, really super fun shows. So I feel.

[Brian Green]

Super Congratulations is a reboot that I thought, oh my God, how are they going to reboot Night Court? Because, you know, they're. How do you do that? But honestly, it's a good show.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

It works.

[Brian Green]

It's a good show. They made it work.

[Kate Flannery]

Yeah, it is.

[Brian Green]

They made it work. And I think it's well acted and it's really funny. And John, of course, is a legend, so he is a legend. And all they're missing is Harry. And God bless Harry, I wish, you know, but they're doing a great job with the new characters over there. Kate Flannery is of course, Meredith in a little show called the Office, which, you know, every couple of years she gets another $200 million check for it to move from streamer, from streamer to streamer. How much do they give you a phone?

[Kate Flannery]

They brought.

[Brian Green]

I know.

[Kate Flannery]

Dundee.

[Brian Green]

That is. That is a freaking Dundee. She is holding up YouTube.com.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes, it's my second dundee. That the first one is Grace Under Fire. This is. It's not best redhead though. So that is crazy.

[Brian Green]

I love it.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh my God, our funk. I'm not full of props, Meredith.

[Rachel]

Funko pop.

[Kate Flannery]

Oh, my first. Oh, casual day.

[Brian Green]

What else do you have? What else do you have?

[Kate Flannery]

There's the Funko Pop from Fun Run. So it's my cast. My pelvis cast.

[Rachel]

Oh my gosh.

[Kate Flannery]

I love it.

[Brian Green]

You know, there is some.

[Kate Flannery]

Here's my. Oh, wait, sorry, go ahead.

[Brian Green]

No, I was gonna say, you know, there's some guy or girl out there that would pay seventeen hundred thousand dollars for that. For that Dundee. I know it.

[Kate Flannery]

Well. Yeah. So actually, and we're gonna be. A bunch of us from the Office are going to be in. In at the Meadowlands. I think it's the first weekend in August. There's a reunion Office Reunion Con. So I think, I think, yeah, Angela's gonna be there. Oscar Creed, Leslie, David Baker, Brian Baumgartner. There's. And a bunch of people that were. That have done like guest stars. Andy Buckley who played David Wallace. Oh, yeah, it's gonna be great. Yeah. Wayne Wilderson who played Martin. There's some really fun, fun, fun people that'll be on it. You got Bob's Ants. It'll be fun. First week in August, come in and then you can, you can, you can get your, your Funko Pop sign.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I love that Funko Pop.

[Brian Green]

I love that Funko Pop. I want one of those crazy.

[Kate Flannery]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

First.

[Kate Flannery]

I'm very proud.

[Brian Green]

I will put the links to all of this information and make sure that our listeners hear it. And if they want to go to the Meadowlands or they want to see your shows, Jane lynch, the office, all of that stuff. I feel very grateful. Just like a note of seriousness. I feel very grateful to have spoken with you because. Because you were part of an ensemble.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

That played part of a period in our lives.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. A period in our lives growing up. And you were our friends on the other side of the screen. And I know you got me through a few hard days and still to this day, you're good for a laugh and you know, parkour. That's all I gotta say. Parkour, Kate.

[Kate Flannery]

I'll drink to that. I will drink to that. You guys are awesome.

[Brian Green]

Best to you. You're welcome back anytime.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Thank you, Kate.

[Brian Green]

We'll talk to you soon.

[Kate Flannery]

Appreciate you guys. Take care. Bye bye.

[Rachel]

Let me do something Brian has never done. Be brief. Follow us on Instagram at the commercial break. Text or call us 212-4333 TCB. That's 212-433-3822. Visit our website tcbpodcast.com for all the audio, video and your free sticker. Then watch all the [e-mail] thecommercial break at the end and finally share the show. It's the best gift you could give a few aging podcasters. See, Brian, that really wasn't that difficult, now, was it? You're welcome.

[Brian Green]

I was so happy to talk to Kate. It's like, what a pleasure. I know. You know, when I was thinking about this this morning in my shower, my 15 hour shower, when I was thinking about having Kate here, I thought, thought, could I have imagined 15 or 20 years ago when I first started watching the Office and I watched it from the beginning.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Oh, yeah.

[Brian Green]

And that doesn't make me special or anything. I'm not like that guy who says, you know, oh, I saw it before, they were cool. I just watched it from the beginning and it was my kind of comedy. And I really enjoyed what they were doing. Didn't understand the, like the first episode, a little confused as to how it was all going down. But I loved what they were attempting. I loved where they were going with it. And I mean, I could never have imagined sitting here talking to Meredith from the Office when I was watching the Office. So this is one of the those childhood dreams come true, Chrissy. They really do all you have to do.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I know. I was wondering too. A thought that crossed my mind too, was thinking about how, you know, the office culture has changed so much now after the pandemic, would people still be able to, like I. I mean, the comedy itself is so funny, but, you know, I think working in that environment, which everybody did.

[Brian Green]

Yes. Well, a lot of people had those kind of jobs, like cubicle type jobs, where you would sit in an office with other people and actually communicate a.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Week, 40 hours a week, you know, clock in, clock out, office romances and the people that you hated and the people that you liked and all that.

[Brian Green]

An AI chatbot is doing all the sales for you. There would be no Pam or Jim. They would just be AI assistants at this point. So, yeah, a lot of things have changed and they will continue to change. But I believe that the Office will far outlive any kind of office culture.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Absolutely. You can always watch that.

[Brian Green]

Yes. All right. Well, thanks to Kate. The Office, available on Peacock. All episodes go re watch it. I know you've watched it. So rewatch.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

I've rewatched it.

[Brian Green]

Rewatch it. Put a little Jingle jangle in Kate's pocket. She's got to get like some kind of residuals or something from that. I have to imagine I wasn't so rude as to ask her, but in my mind, she's getting residual payments every. Every time I press play, she's getting a penny in her pocket. So I'll keep pressing play because I like those people. They're my flavor of hot sauce. Chrissy, as I would say, so many breakout stars. All of them. All of them breakout stars. And what a great idea at the New Jersey Meadowlands. That's a big venue to do an Office reunion. I don't imagine that Steve Carell will show up, but, you know, know, maybe you never know. Maybe Will Ferrell stops by. Who knows? But Kate's gonna be there along with some of the other characters and people that she mentioned. So if you're in the New Jersey area or you're that kind of office fan, you can fly up and check it out. August 1st. I'll put links in the show notes. All the details are available down below. As always with our guests. And we'll keep reminding you this week to go check it out. And the Jane Lynch Christmas. Yeah, I don't think the day show interview.

[Chrissy Hoadley]

Yeah, but they will come out. They do it every year.

[Brian Green]

So we will make a note that we will certainly forget to remind you during Christmas season to go check out Kate and James or who know, maybe, maybe she'll come back because that I just scratched the surface. I could ask a million more questions. I could go really deep on the Office. But also, I don't want to irritate the out of her. You know what I'm saying? Saying, like, there might be a point where an actor or an actress who's done a character like that goes, okay, I really don't want to rehash every single thing that ever happened. But then you got the office ladies who rehash every single thing that ever happened. Yeah. So I don't know, maybe we'll start an office podcast with Kate. Hey, maybe that one will make money. You never know. TCB podcast.com that's where you go. You find out more information about Chrissy and I. All the audio, all the video, all the show notes, links to every single guests, every single thing. It's all there. You can go on the website and see it there. At the commercial break on Instagram, TCB podcast on Tik Tok and YouTube.com the commercial break for all the episodes on video. The day they air here on the audio 212-4333 TCB questions, comments, concerns, Content, Ideas Okay, Chrissy, that's all I can do for now. I'll tell you that I love you best you best to you. Best to you out there in the podcast universe. Until next time, Chrissy and I will say we do say and we must say goodbye. Sam.