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A Look Back at Our Interview with Steve Carell

Apr 01, 20261 hr 16 min
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Summary

Office Ladies celebrates a spring break by re-airing their beloved interview with Steve Carell, where he shares insights into his iconic role as Michael Scott and the unique, collaborative environment of The Office set. He discusses his approach to comedy, memorable episodes like "Dinner Party" and "Scott's Tots," and the show's evolving audience. Carell also touches on personal anecdotes, including his early acting inspirations and the deep friendships forged during the series, highlighting the show's enduring legacy and heart.

Episode description

This week on Office Ladies 6.0, Jenna and Angela are taking a little spring break pause and revisiting an all-time favorite episode, their interview with Steve Carell! (Check out his new hit HBO comedy, Rooster.) Steve reflects on his time playing Michael Scott, the early days of The Office, and what made the show so special both on and off camera. They talk about Steve’s approach to comedy, his favorite moments from the series, and the lasting friendships that came out of it, along with plenty of laughs and behind-the-scenes stories. So take a walk down memory lane with this very special interview… and enjoy!

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Transcript

Welcome and Steve Carell Interview Setup

Hey everybody. Hi there. We hope everyone is doing fabulous this week. And you guys know for us it's spring break. Our kiddos are out of school and we're taking the week off to, you know, unplug and spend time with our families. So this week we wanted to take a look back at one of our favorite episodes we have ever done on Office Ladies. It is our interview with the fabulous Steve Corell. I am telling you guys, this was such an absolute delight. I love Steve. We love him. He's just the best.

It was so fun to catch up with him and he has a new show out on HBO. It's called Rooster. You guys, it's hilarious. Get this. It's HBO's most watched comedy debut in over a decade. Well that's a pretty big deal. And you can see more than just Steve Carell in this show. You can also see Nancy Carell. She has a cameo in it. So definitely check it out. We think you'll love it.

It Yeah. Steve said in an interview she stills the scene. And you guys, we hope you just have the best week ever. Please enjoy our interview with Steve Corell and we'll be back next week with all new episodes of Office Ladies. That's right. We've got some really fun episodes coming up. We've got an all about. We have a movie rewatch that is pretty special. And we have some new interviews. It's gonna be a great time. Plus

we have a special bonus Mother's Day episode. And you guys, we want to hear from you. We have set up a folder on the Office Ladies website called Tribute to Our Moms. Go over there, write us about your moms. We can't wait to share about it. All right. See you soon. We were on the office together and we're best friends. Covers Podcast just for you.

Each week we will dive deeper into the world of the office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details, and lots of We're the Office Lady 6.0. Happy Wednesday, everybody. A very happy Wednesday. This is one of the most exciting Wednesdays for me. This might be one of my happiest Wednesdays. Office ladies listeners, we have a special guest today. The one, the only, Steve Corral!

We have been waiting for this ever since the beginning of the podcast. We are so excited to have him on, and you guys are gonna love it. We are dedicating this entire episode to Steve. He's gonna talk about all of his time on the office playing Michael Scott. We could not be more excited for you to hear it. Also I hope you guys when you listen, the thing that just warmed my heart was

For me, it was just three friends getting to hang out who had missed each other and hadn't seen each other in so long. So I just hope as you listen, you get to feel that with us. It was like no time had passed. We just were so happy to see our old friend.

I really feel like we captured what it's like to sit on set with Steve Carell. People always ask us, What's it like to work with Steve Carell? This interview captures what it's like. Yeah. These are the conversations, this is how we would laugh. Yeah, these were our Monday morning chats after the weekend. Absolutely. Before we get to the interview, we do want to give a big shout out to our Facebook fan page.

I hopped on there and I wrote a message. I had to literally figure out Facebook in order to do it. You were like I don't know my password. I didn't know anything. I had an old account that was like five years old or something. But I went on there and I asked you guys, what do you want us to ask Steve Carell? And oh my gosh, did you show up for us? It was amazing.

So awesome. You guys sent in thousands of fantastic questions. I also want to give a big shout out to Nikki, who moderates the Facebook fan page. Because she helped us go through and pick out some of your most asked questions. And we asked Steve your questions. And some of the questions are so good. I would have never thought of them. I know. And they made us laugh and we're you'll hear it. You'll hear it. All right. Let's take a break. And when we come back, our interview with Steve Corell.

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Steve's Audition and Character Approach

Jenna, I am so excited. Because Guess who's sitting next to me? Steve! It is I'm scarel in the studio on Office Ladies. We're all here in our glasses. Remember we didn't have these when we worked on the show together, did we all three wear glasses? The very last season I really needed them for table read. Right, for reading. Yes. But look at us now. Now we're Yeah. And you need a buywear. Should I just kick it off with our very first question we always ask?

a favorite first question of all of our guests. Okay, here it is. It is It's really hard. That's really hard. Ready? How did you get your job on the office? I auditioned. I have to say the audition for the office was unlike any audition I've ever had. And I'm sure you had the same experience because it felt Like it was a workshop. It didn't feel like an audition. There didn't seem to be a a ton of pressure.

Uh, you just went in and they had a camera, but you didn't think there was anyone outside of the, you know, the one or two people that was that were in the room. So it was very low-keyed and very supportive. I remember we did a screen test together. Because after I auditioned something like seven times, I made it to the end, I guess, and it was like I was one of the final four and they paired me up with you for a couple of scenes. That was crazy. I'd never done something like that before.

I said I d anybody but her You're right. I don't care. No chemistry. What is her name? Gemma. I don't like it. Don't think it's gonna work. I think Jimmy Fisker's gonna be on the show. Yeah. No, I remember auditioning with you and I remember how grounded you were instantly in your character. And I thought, You know when you you read with someone, you don't know who they are as a person. Yeah. And you immediately think, Well, that's that's who she is, clearly.

because it you you can't separate it at that point. But then you find out like everyone has completely different personalities than the the characters are portraying. And it's kind of amazing. Like once I remember Can I tell a story like that? Yeah. gosh. I remember when we were at our first studio, our first sound stage out in Culver City and we were shooting the pilot and I was at craft service and I

had taken a a can of Diet Coke or something out of the six pack. And, you know, there was that plastic, the the carrying Right. And I started breaking it down. I started cutting the edges before I threw it in the trash. You know, because of the dolphins and you don't wanna and I remember you walking up and commending me for doing that. And that stuck with me like, oh. Yeah, I was just kind of doing it as a courtesy to the dolphins. Yeah. And

But I remember you kind of giving me a bat on the back and saying, Hey, good for you. Nice job. This is such a specific memory to remember. I did like it's one of my strongest memories. And I thought, she's so nice. That's so it's so nice to be with nice people. I guess that was the takeaway. Like, oh, this is gonna be great. Right. Dolphin lover. Mm-hmm. You know? I I do that at home. I probably said I do that at home. Yeah. Yeah. See it. And we should shout out to all the people out there.

Who cut the plastic, don't you know, well keep keep the plastic down. That's right. This is going to be a a PSA. It is so funny though, like where your brain goes'cause My strongest memory of the pilot is how you had to go down those stone steps outside to get like to crafting everything, you know, like you had to go outside the building, down these stone staircase. And Oscar and I were leaving at the same time and he we had done sketch comedy together for years, right?

So we just went back to our silly shtick and he goes, Let's work down the stairs together at the same way. And I said, Okay, Oscar. And we started to go down the stairs with our arms flinging about. And we turned in the whole like producing team was walking behind us, like Terry Weinberg, Howard Klein, all of those people. And I was like, Oscar, there's a bunch of people behind us. He goes, then we have to keep doing it.

Yeah, you have to own it So I'm like, okay, that's that's the one thing I remember. But then you find out later on those intimidating people weren't intimidating at all. Everyone who was completely in. So nice and rooting for us. Everyone's in the same boat. I have a question that came from our Office Ladies fan group. This is from Carly D. Carly would like to know, what was your process and inspiration behind playing Michael? How did you craft this character?

Crafting Michael Scott's Persona

I remember meeting with Greg Daniels up at uh a deli, like on the the top of Mulholland. Mm-hmm. And we didn't know each other at all. And it's before it's before I got the part actually. He you know, he was I think he was meeting with some of the people who were sort of in the mix, the the final mix for Michael. And we just discussed the character and talked about what his foibles are and what his

his dreams and hopes. And and I had a pretty specific take at that point. And it wasn't Ricky Gervais's. You know, and I and I've told this story a million times that I I chose not to watch the British version because I just didn't want that to influence whatever this version was going to be. And uh'cause he was so he was clearly so great at it and was such a distinctive character. I I I didn't want to to do an impression of him.

I remember you telling me that and I remember telling you that I had chosen to watch the entire British series and completely copy Lucy Davis and was basically doing a Yeah. But also kind of true. I don't think so. Until until you know, especially for the pilot because we were doing it word for word and I was like, I think she nailed it. Like I don't know how to say the line better than that. So I guess I'm just gonna

She did. Well. But I remember you saying you'd never seen it and I didn't really impress Information in your brain. I didn't because you know I watched like a minute of just to get a sense of the tone of the show. Sort of how how dark and it very dry, very dour, um kind of bleak, which I loved. I loved how still it was at times. But his character was so specific, I thought, no, I can't because That's what I'll want to do. I won't I won't see it any other way.

And and I think Greg agreed with that as as sort of a template for doing it. And we were definitely on the same page in terms of who this guy could be um and could become and And I early on I started thinking about an arc too, like where where because you hope, you know, you don't go in thinking this is just going to be a pilot or this is just going to be six episodes. The hope is

The character starts here and ends up way somewhere else. There's no way of really knowing right where character's going to to end in in the last uh episode, but But I kind of in my mind I had a plan, like because uh these characters, the hope was that all of these characters would change and evolve and grow.

And and that's part of what's fun about watching a show is to see progress in these characters. So that was that was sort of the plan going in. That was sort of the hope. It was one of those parts that you just pray that you get because I well, you know, at that point, uh certainly we're all just happy to be working. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but on top of it, it just seemed like what a what a perfect thing to be a part of. Yeah. And everyone who I met who had been involved with it.

seemed great and smart and nice and kind and all of those things just made it so appealing to to want to be I was, you know, crossing my fingers. Oh, I know. I remember thinking like, I can do this. Like this one I can do. Yeah. But that was Pam and I didn't get it. But that's okay. But then I got to be the accountant. And then I was like, no, I can really do this. Have you ever worked in an office in real life? Um Never had a boss like Michael Scott? No. No. I never have. Not an office work.

I I did a lot of I you know, I did a lot of waiting tables. I sold wine over the phone at one point. How do you sell wine over the phone? Exactly. I mean You can't taste it. How does that Well you describe it based on but we didn't get to drink the wine, but you have to describe a wine based on a you know, a paragraph that they've written on each on each wine and varietal characteristics of each wine. It's a hard sell. Thanks. Hello. Do you like wine? I mean click.

First Lead Role & Set Culture

Oh my god. Okay. Was the office your first lead role? Um yeah, I think it was. I I had done It was uh it was really fun to do. I but I played a a crazy uh Greek chef on uh sitcom with Annie Potts and Tim Curry. So that's that's the cla that's the sitcom that I had done. And I did it I did a show just before the office um starring Tom Papa, uh really funny comedian and he had a Come to Papa. Come to Papa.

And he was s he was so great and and the show, you know, only lasted a few episodes. So I I went from that and then auditioned for the office when that when that ended. But no, I'd never done a lead I'd never done a lead role. Cause I I have such a memory of you, Steve, sitting over on that little sofa at front reception or the chair sometimes that was in front of Michael's office just

studying your lines because you you would have to carry every scene. And I just breezed through and said something snarky to Kevin and then breezed out, you know, for the most part. But I I always thought was there a lot of pressure to be the lead and have to carry all of that? Not not with that group of people because i I felt like everyone was an equal component of that show. I didn't feel that way. I didn't feel like I was carrying any more load than anyone else because

when you think about it, you know, yeah, I had a lot of dialogue, but everyone was there all the time. And even if you were in the background of a scene, you're still acting, you're still active. You like all of us had character stuff going on at all times. So I I don't think enough can be said for the fact that

to be to just be present on that set, everyone was working really hard. But it didn't it didn't, I don't I don't want to make it sound like it was hard work because it wasn't. It was really fun. Right. Because everyone was there supporting each other. So no, I never felt I never felt like any undue pressure. And the also the writing was so good. Mm-hmm. that at a certain point it became very easy to memorize lines because

you started to understand exactly how the writers were writing it and how they were also writing to us, like to our characters and to all of our voices. Yeah. So I find that if dialogue's really good, it's generally pretty easy to remember because it makes sense. That's right. I always think about that too. If it's well written, I have no problem. And then our joke is we'd never make it on a medical show. All of the things I have to do. I hear it.

Quickly rapid fire off. I'd be like, Oh no, I I'm not I'm not gonna audition for that. That'll be a disaster. No, that would be tough.

Supportive Set and Ensemble Comedy

So Steve, we have talked about many times on this podcast, just about Our gratitude for your just stability and consistency and your leadership, so much so that a fan wrote in, Sarah H, and said, We've heard how supportive and professional Steve is on set, and I would love to hear Steve's perspective or advice on setting the tone at work and fostering a supportive environment. Let's start by saying I am pretty great. Yeah. So some of it's just in your DNA. That said, I'm fantastic, right?

Yeah. That's right. A shirt with my face on it. Just reiterate that it's me. That's really nice of you to say. Um but I again I f I felt like I was part of this very unique ensemble. And so I never thought of myself that way. I thought of Greg as our leader and our sort of mentor in terms of this world. And he oversaw everything.

And everyone was so nice. Everyone was so kind to each other that I never got a sense that it should be any other way than the just in terms of the the production of the show. Like from From wardrobe to the writers to the all of the crew, you know, catering craft service, everybody felt like they were a part of something. And the other part of it is I believe sincerely that every one of us knew.

No no matter who watched it or whether it had any sort of longevity terms of viewership, even if, you know, if we got canceled after a season or two or three. I was so I think we were all so happy and thankful for the time That we got to work on the show and to be with one another. It was really, it just, it was a special, a special thing. And we were aware of how special it was in the moment, I thought.

Mm-hmm. For sure. For sure. I always was Um, just super thankful for the writing because it was like You know when you do an improv show or a sketch comedy show or something and there's one person that wants the joke, wants the joke, wants the joke, and they just kill the show. I never felt that on our show. It was like if Phyllis had the best button, she could level the room or Oscar or Creed. It didn't matter.

Like the jokes came from everyone. It was a real creative collective and the writers wrote that way and Greg treated us that way. Like Greg could look at a scene and be like, no, you know what? It's not working with Jim getting the laugh. Let's flip that and let's have Stanley say it. Right. And then it just floored everyone. And so I always felt that way. And I feel like Greg set that tone for us that like everybody gets to play.

You're exactly right. Everyone got their shot. Not just that, but everyone else loved it. Everyone else was supportive of it. There was no resentment, no ego involved. Mm-mm. And like, why not? That's the way to do it. And I think you can see it when you watch the show because there is a calm to it. Like no one's, everyone's, it's all good. Yeah, everyone's everyone is everyone's loving each other, you know, in in in terms of us as actors and people beyond the characters.

Favorite Episodes and Memorable Scenes

I get so excited for conference room scenes'cause those were our rapid fire things. Michael is up there. But literally every single person in the room has either a bit or a look, and it's just so fun to watch. Almost impossible to get through. Oh, we and we didn't. Oh my god, we laughed so much.

Well, people are very excited for you to talk about some of your favorite memories of shooting the office. Specifically, they're curious if you have a favorite episode, which I think is like asking, Do you have a favorite child? It's very hard. It's so hard. Yeah. That is hard. You know, my last one, talk about heart, it was a really difficult episode to do.

But I also loved it at the same time because it was sort of that end game for Michael. It was that the culmination, the sort showing the growth. that he didn't need the big send off. He didn't need the big party. He could say goodbye to all of his friends, um, on his own terms without any of the Yeah. The fanfare, exactly. And and so that that I l I really enjoyed, you know, having that character evolve to that point in that moment. And people always point to this one.

But um, but dinner party was dinner party's up there. And, you know, we'd come back after the writer strike. So that was the first thing that we had shot. I know you've discussed it, but I think everyone was so ready to get back to work. And had really missed each other. And this is an episode that had just been sitting there waiting to happen for a while. Huh? And it's so weird and and kind of dense in thematically and crazy and had great guest appearances and

Great sight gags, but was also really dark in a lot of ways and very sad. Yeah. Um, and kind of emotionally fraught. So I that there was a lot going on in that one. So I I like that one too. We didn't realize until we were breaking it down and we did a little Googling. Apparently it was a huge bomb when it first aired. It which was not a fan favorite. It is not what it is today. But it was um people did not care for it. show in general, you know, was a huge bomb when people first saw it.

This is true. I, you know, acquired taste, I suppose. Another one to your point that people did not like at first was Scott's Tots. Yes. And I loved doing that episode because it was so horrible, but but I think expressed so much about this guy's persona because his heart definitely in the right place. And a huge heart, but so wrong. We'll follow through. And I think there was a talking head, something to the effect of of all the stupid

Things I've done in my life. This was the most generous or or something. Something like that. Um it was something to that effect. Of I think it's like of all the empty promises I've made in my life, this one was the most generous. Great memory, J. That's it. That's just such a hard line to say with a straight face.

You have so many amazing talking heads. We talk about it every week. And I sort of go and look at the deleted scenes and there's some real gems in there too. But Jenna, your favorite is We have a favorite. Yeah. And we have an audio clip of it so that we can listen to it together. Okay. Is after Michael burns his foot on the Foreman Grill. Oh. And you very angrily explain. How it happened. You're so annoyed. You're so- Like why do I have to explain this? But I guess here it goes.

Again. Wait, we gotta hear. Yeah. I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon, sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up, I plug in the grill, I go back to sleep again, then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious, it's good for me, it's a perfect way to start the day.

Today I got up, I stepped onto the grill and it clamped down on my foot. That's it. I don't see what's so hard to believe about that. I love the big sigh. After you've explained how you eat bacon, six strips of bacon, every morning, you're like So today I think my favorite part of that is And it's good for me. Just slipping. How good how healthy eating six strips of bacon? Yeah.

But there's so much about that if you unpack it. Like it actually is really nice to wake up to the smell of bacon. That I have that memory from childhood. It's comfort. You wake up on a Sunday, dad's downstairs making the pancakes, making some bacon. It is actually a really he has a point. Maybe Jeff made bacon. Doesn't say it the way you did just did, though. That's the problem. And what was so great about those talking heads. and and so terrifying in a way. It was it they were so well written

that you just didn't want to screw it up. You didn't you d you There was an obligation and I know you guys felt this too. Like when you had a really good line And it here comes. You would try to do everything you could to take the pedal off a little bit. You know, don't, don't floor it for the joke. Really ease off.

and let it seem like this is just a natural extension of what this guy is thinking or what these women are thinking. And that was the hardest part is to not point to all of these fantastic jokes, to just make them feel conversational. And also just to not laugh. I'm sure I laughed 20 times during that trying to do that talking head. There's one talking head. I what was it that I could barely get through. And it was the same sort of thing. It was something so Ridiculous

One in and the bloopers. You know, Isabel's obsessed with the bloopers. She loves them. So she'll be like, Oh mom, you're at season seven. There's great bloopers. I'm like, okay, is. But there was one, Steve, that you could not get through where you said, I'm gonna get it wrong, but you're like, Michael's like, I'm not a bad guy. Sometimes I hit people with my car. That's the one. That's the one I was thinking. Yeah. You couldn't get through it. Sometimes I hit people in my car.

Yeah, when I hit Meredith with my Like trying to absolve myself of having done it. I'm not a bad guy sometimes. hit people with my car. And I remember doing it. And sh I'd be getting close. Yeah. And I c I couldn't I couldn't get through it. It was so it was It's it's fun going to know you're gonna go into work every day and laugh until you cry. Yeah. Every every day I was on that set at one at least one point of the day.

I was laughing until tears were coming out of my eyes. And I mean, what a gift. Yes. How who has a job like that?

Michael's Characters & Deleted Gems

So Michael Scott had a lot of characters that he would play over the years. And we found a deleted scene, Steve, that I wanted to share with you. I don't know if you'll remember it. I, you know, when you hear it, you'll remember it, but it's from season three in The Convict. Michael explains where he got the idea or I guess inspiration for all of his characters, in particular Prison Mike. I really wanted you to hear it. Sam, can you play it?

When I was just a little kid, we had an assembly at school where a giant owl came out and gave a very impassioned speech about giving hoot. and not polluting. Ha ha And you know what? I never polluted again. It was right then that I realized the power of saying things as a character. People listen to you when you are wearing a an elaborate costume or speaking in a voice that is not yours. I believe that was deleted. Explain. It's prison mic.

Everybody Michael Scarn, anyone, anytime you let a conference room meeting in a costume with a voice. You thought this is it? They're gonna hear me. I am most affected. I just Yeah. You're Oh you give a hoop, you don't- Clearly this relates back to me uh tearing apart the plastic con you know. Yes, that's the. Don't even You don't pollute. Steve Carell gave a hoot. Yeah. I boy, I mean that's sort of like that vague, foggy as I was hearing it, I kind of recalled. Yeah.

But there are there are thousands of those. There are like different versions of all of this stuff and things that could have made, you know. could made a difference either way. Yeah. But they were so good. You know, the editors and Greg, I never regretted anything that was taken out of the show. I like had complete confidence that'cause you know how some people get possessive, like, well, why did that scene go? Or one.

What happened there? They were so good about structuring the show and what needed to be in and what what was might have been really funny but didn't Right. Or might have explained a whole backstory. Right. But they just they let the audience just jump in the middle. They didn't have to like explain everything. But yeah, every once in a while as we're doing this rewatch and we find a deleted scene or something that's such a nugget, we're like, Oh

That's why he would come in these costumes and and give a big presentation. It's because of Hoot. Hoot the owl. Did you get to give notes on things? Like were you very much a part of that? Like I would remember sometimes you would stay behind after a table read and they would want to know your thoughts and things. They were really collaborative and open in that way, right? For sure.

Sure. Yes. And the fact that so many of the writers were also actors on the show, there was a such a great connection that it didn't feel like different facets of the show. Again, everybody just felt like they were all collaborators. And the writers were part of the ensemble, which I think helped because they they understood everyone's voice that much better because they were there and they were hearing it. But yeah, I mean I'd I'd weigh in. Would you pitch ideas?

Yeah. Do you remember any Well, I remember one specifically, and this was later on, this was when uh you and Jim were getting married and they wanted to have a horse go over Niagara. Oh my gosh, yes. Bye. I j I raised my hand and said, D we can't I mean, all due respect, but please don't do that. It was not just you. Apparently, when we were breaking down that episode, we talked to Greg about it and he was like,

Steve told me not to do it. Randy told me not to do it. You told me not to do it. Like literally everyone told him it. It was so hard for him to let go of that. I'm sure if it was Greg, it would have been funny. Definitely. Yeah. But and and those were rare moments when you felt like, no, I Yeah, I mean little notes here and there. But again, that those writers were so good and so on point about everything that it was more in addition to as opposed to negative. Yeah.

Side note, did you know? We didn't know this. Randy shared this with us that up until like right like the day before. They had a horse they were training in a big water pool at Paramount Studios. Like it was they were all systems go like right up until like the day before. See that there was a horse being trained.

Of course there was. That's what what you don't realize when you write something, somebody starts to build it. Yeah. I mean, it starts to happen. So when you say, Oh, so now we're going to be out in the woods. Yeah. And then a month later you're driving an hour and a half up into the Los Angeles forest to shoot a few scenes. Like, why did I write this? Purple idea. It's nighttime in the forest. Nowhere. Freezing. Terrible. He falls in a creek. What?

Show's Unique Style and Ensemble Dynamics

What? Why did I write it? So we've talked how the show was slow to find an audience. It was sort of like we were doing a little theater production and no one's seeing it, but then one day it turned a corner and everybody knew the show and We had people coming up to us. Jenna, do you remember we're at an award show and Laura Dern was like, stop, I have to talk to you. And we're like, what? She was like, I love your show. And I was like, this is Laura Dern. Oh my gosh.

But was there anyone like that for you, Steve, that sort of surprised you and caught you off guard that was a fan of the show? Laura Dern. Same thing. I I met her somewhere down the road. I was doing a promotional thing with her, and I wasn't even aware of your encounter with.

Because she's oh she was clearly a fan because she was very excited to talk about the show. And, you know, she said the same things to me. She loved it. She was a And that's it's nice when, you know, it's nice when anyone likes something that you're a part of and especially nice when somebody that you respect like that and has sort of a critical eye for things.

likes your show. So that yeah, it was really nice. It was nice hearing any of it, you know? Because I you you're right. Early on it felt like we were in a vacuum and Is any let alone appreciating, is anyone watching it? Is anyone, you know, paying any sort of attention? And it the only part of it that mattered to me was the continuation of the show. I wanted to have enough people watch it so they kept kept letting us do it. Cause I didn't really care about the acclaim.

Or like we knew that we liked it and we were having fun with it. And I think we all felt like it was special uh in that moment. And that's what mattered to me. But uh yeah, yeah, it was it was lowered during. I remember that time early on because we a few of us had gotten on my space.

And we were able to interact with the like seventeen people who were watching our show in the beginning. And they were such fans and they so got it and they so appreciated it. And that really like kinda that just felt so good, you know,'cause when you make a television show

Um, you don't hear the people laugh when they watch it and you don't know how it's being received or a movie or whatever, I guess, unless you sneak in the theater, but you can't like go sneak in people's living rooms while they watch it. So I always loved when Someone told us that they loved it, especially a fellow artist.

And they were excited too because the show was different with the documentary style and the looking at the camera. Would you look into the camera after you got jobs on the office? I I have never had a job where I didn't look into the camera at some point. Same. I can't not make the camera a character now. It's so such a habit.

That at least once. Yeah. I'm sure on Foxcatcher, I like looked into the camera and went, Nope, you cannot comment on what you just did. Yeah. Because that's not this show. Yep. Same for me. I actually had a director say, uh, Angela, you just looked right down the barrel. I was like, Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, look to the left or right. It was such a fun uh kind of discipline. Know who was really good at that right off the bat was Amy Adams.

I'll never forget because it was kind of a learned strength, I think, on the show to figure out the right way to play the camera, to to invite the camera in and to make it feel like These people aren't used to the cameras. So you couldn't be too savvy, especially at first. You couldn't, you couldn't play it too well. You need to have an awareness of it. without like having an over awareness of it. Yes. Um, but I remember when Amy Adams came in to do Purse Girl, was that it? Uh hot girl.

Selling the person. John versus yeah. And I remember she just had like this, she was right up to speed with everybody else in terms of how to play the camera. Like, It's eavesdropping. I don't know how I should react to it. And that sort of discomfort built in that we had learned how to do.

So she was really good at that. And that was such an interesting and we'll never we'll never get to do something like that again. It was a really interesting acting exercise to be, you know, you're doing your you're in your character and your character is also being watched. So there was like a another layer of something going on with all of these characters, which is kind of cool. You mentioned Amy Adams. One of my favorite guest stars that we had in terms of chemistry with you was Tim Meadows.

You guys doing the baby back ribs. That also that episode has one of my favorite lines in it, which is Gould is dead. Because Jan is no longer Jan Levinson Gould. Yeah. And she's like, no, Michael, we got we're separated. We're divorced. Gould didn't die. As if as if she would drop the Gould from her name if he died. Right. Yeah. Amazing. But yeah, I love you guys. I don't know how you got through all the rib eating and singing and comedy. From that episode.

I've known Tim for a long time too, and we did a second city show. that went to uh Washington, D C, the at the Kennedy Center with Nancy. Uh we we went as this this group one summer and spent, I don't know, three three weeks at the Kennedy Center. doing a Second City show. And I had known him from Second City as well, you know, earlier on stage. And he is so I think he's one of those

One of those people that is always great. He's never not great. You know, sometimes people like that are under the radar and then they pop out and you say, Oh my gosh, like they're incredible. And yeah, he's, I think, one of the best. And he's a great improviser. And he's so he's so effortless. He just doesn't look like he's ever breaking a sweat. And he's hilarious. So yeah, I'm a big fan. He's a great guy. Well

Why don't we take a break and when we come back we have some more questions from the fans. Okay. All right, we're back. And while we were on break, before we get to fan questions, Steve, I remembered this cold open that we did that led into a talking head that was one sentence from you. When I rewatched it, I laughed so hard, I had tears streaming down my face. What? Do you remember the cold open that we did where we're all trying to take the Christmas photo?

Yeah. Yeah. And we're trying to jump on three, three, two, one, one, two, three. Dwight's like Phyllis didn't jump, Itchel didn't. Yeah. And it's so long, this cold open. And then it cuts to a talking head of Michael and Michael says, We never got it. Ha ha ha. I you know what? That that cold open is a perfect demonstration of us as an ensemble, I think. 야! Because to To make it look as bad as it did. Mm-hmm. Took some effort. Like we had to be completely in sync to be that out of sync. Yeah.

And everyone jumping at different times. Yeah. And Michael getting frustrated like a dad would. Like, come on, come on, guys. That I think that's a perfect example of of how in sync we were as a cast,'cause we all got what that thing was.

Yeah. And how many people needed to be going at one time. But we didn't talk about it. No. We didn't discuss like, well, on the count of three, you two are gonna go. And then w we just as a group, we just felt that. And not to give ourselves too big a pat on the back, but But I think I've I've watched that um since and thought the same thing. Like that There was something something cool happening there.

Michael's Pop Culture & Catchphrases

That was one of my favorite group cold opens for that reason. I know. Well, let's get into these fan questions. Okay. Katherine G and Christy R both asked if you had to choose a different character to play on the office besides Michael, is there one you'd like to be? Wow. I can't imagine anyone but the people who played their parts. Like right off the top of my head, I think Dwight is a f very fun role to play. But

I would have been terrible. I mean, Rain was perfect for that part. Um, so no, I I never like I never imagined myself in another part. It was, it was just as it should have been. Lauren D asked, What trend or big pop culture moment that's happened since twenty eleven do you think Michael would have gotten obsessed about? For example, Lauren thinks Michael would have been all over the ice bucket challenge. Fourteen. I think it's So much, so much ice water. Oh.

and would have would have done something wrong. Someone might have ended up in the hospital. Probably Meredith. Pra yeah. Dwight would have overdone it too. Yes. S uh si ik it yeah, it would have gone south somehow. It would have gone wrong. We say that we think that Michael probably would have made us all learn TikTok dances. So many TikTok dances. Well, the internet wasn't as certainly as um as much of a thing Social media really was.

We had we had flip phones when we started the show. Then we got Blackberries and then at the end we had iPhones. Like Yeah. Yeah. A lot a lot changed. Yeah, there are there are tons of things that Michael would have glommed onto in in the worst possible way. Beth M writes in and says what is the most common Michael line that people quote back to you? What do you think it is? Yeah, Pat, that's not what she said. Is there one other than that? Um

That's the one that's the one that's the one I hear. Yeah. And sometimes I don't know, do people ever stop you and say, Oh, could you talk to can you do a shout out, you know, into my phone and I'm happy to do it. But when they say can you say that, I can't I just I don't I can't It can be- Taken out of context. Please don't make Steve say that's what she said if you see him at the airport. Do you ever that's what she said in your life, do you ever find never. No. Really? I don't do it.

I I do throw them out. Jenna T. I do! Yeah. Well you can. You can. It's gonna be so weird when we give you your parting gift. It's a it's a t-shirt that says that's Wow. I do wear that. And on the back of the biggest. It says I'm fantastic. Same brain!

Teachers, Mentors, and Inspiration

We really liked this question because we both come from a long line of teachers. Someone wanted to know if you remember a favorite teacher. There was one in particular, a guy named Mr. Blackman, my second grade teacher. And he's the one who got me interested in acting in the first place. We were doing like a pilgrims meet the Native Americans thing. It was a long time ago. So it we a lot was being glossed over for sure. But what I remember is we were rowing canoes.

And it was all mime. You know, we were sitting in little chairs in the classroom. It wasn't a big play. It was just like a in class thing. And I started rowing the canoe, my mime rowing. And then I changed my hands with the oar and rode on the other side. I'll never forget it. He singled me out. It's the first time I'd ever been singled out in any way. and he gave me a pat on the back and said,

Notice how Steve rode on both sides of the canoe so it wouldn't go in a circle. And he kept the canoe straight, you know, in the in this mime, you know, miming the canoe. And something about that really struck me. And I thought, And apart from that, he was just the most lovely guy and really kind to all the kids. And everyone it was fun. It was really just a fun class. And he did that for all the kids too. He made them feel special about whatever talent they had, whether it was

art or music or anything. He really he really embraced, you know, everyone's abilities, you know, as little as they were in in that that moment. As a second grader, but I'll never forget it. Like being seen in that way. Yeah, it's seen. Yeah. Yeah. And it was it was that was special. Something sort of clicked, like, Oh, that felt good. And so I guess I I owe it all to him.

You know, Steve, I love that story because I have a similar story. I took a summer school acting class and we had to do panamime. We had to mime things and my assignment was to go over to the refrigerator and get out some milk and pour it in a glass and drink it. And so I did it. And afterwards the teacher said, Did everyone notice how Jenna shut the refrigerator with her foot? Oh yeah. And I was like, Wait, I might be good at this'cause I didn't think It just I maybe I have a little thing.

Right, exactly. No, and then it just makes you feel like I might be good at this. Or it might be something. Yeah. You know, it might be something that I'm actually, yeah, capable of. That's so fun. And it's not even like look at me. Like it it it it's just a sense of

A set like the f one of the first senses of pride that you ever feel. Yes. That you accomplished something completely on your own, not your parents, and nothing that you were instructed to do. It's just something that you did naturally. And to have somebody notice it felt really good. And that's a great teacher in my mind. Somebody who can pick up on those things. Yeah.

Behind the Scenes: Food Takes

Okay, I love this question. Here it is. Are there any foods you don't eat anymore because of so many takes you had to do with that certain food? It can be on the office or any other job. I know mine right away. It's that cake. That we had to eat. The ice cream cake. The for Meredith's birthday. Was it the Alliance?

We started filming at seven thirty in the morning and we were given a slice of cake. And you know, this is a rookie move on my part. I took a plate with a big piece of cake and I took a huge bite in that first take. And by the end my fork was shaking as it got close to my mouth because I was like I can't I can't eat it anymore. Anyway, I was asking you that. But clearly I have a visceral Like I can't eat ice cream cake anymore. It's so gross to me. I learned early on to nibble.

Not like i if that first take, try not to take a big bite because then you have to match it for the rest of the day. Yeah. Or I'm not hungry today. You know, my character's not hungry. Um, but Michael would eat some pretty crazy stuff. I nothing that turned my stomach. Nothing to the point where I I can't eat it anymore. I did a bit on the daily show where I was supposed to be eating uh Crisco. I was doing it was some health food segment. And I said, well, this is all vegetable-based.

And I was like at the at the the desk with John. And so I I take a big spoonful of Crisco in. Well, they wanted to mock it up and just put like vanilla frosting in because no one would know and I could play it like it's Crisco. But I said, no, leave Crisco in because that's gonna be funnier for John to watch me eat Crisco because the sh

The expression on his face was pretty horrifying. And and I didn't practice it. So I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And so on camera, basically live, you know, that show was live to tape, but it was really bad. I did I I could I mean the two of us had a hard time getting through the rest of that segment because he he knew he knew. If you're in the face. He knew I was in distress. So so not that I would sit around eating Crisco, but that that kinda that was a hard one. Yeah.

Michael's Toby Hatred & Key Relationships

Here's a good question. Do you have a Toby in your life? Someone who just enrages you the second it was This was one of our favorite questions sent in because we're like, we're sure Steve doesn't have a Toby, but Someone who just really for no reason just You just hate. Just abject hatred. Um, no, I don't. But That's one of my favorite character dynamics of the time that I spent on The Office. And it evolved.

Mm-hmm. From I I don't exactly I know it's been discussed as to and I think the writers could sort of pinpoint clearly. But I think one day I just decided I just I just got really um mad at him and like disgusted by him for no reason. And we just kind of Stayed with it. People lost it, they would lose it at a table read when you would snap at Toby. We did an interview with Paul and he said he remembers the moment. He does?

It was during the alliance when he has to come in the office and sign Meredith's birthday card. And apparently it just took him a long time. To write. And you turned on him and you told him, you said, I don't know what it is, Paul, but I hate you for how long it's taken you to write this gone. Hard. And you guys laughed so hard about it. And you meant like me as Michael. Like Michael is so irritated with you right now. And that that was like that But he started to write.

something. Yeah. I it was a g I love the fact that it was never discussed too as to why. Um and the specifics of it. Yeah. And and people have asked me that too. Well, why why does Michael hate Toby so much? And I think well, I think it's like the end when our characters say goodbye to each other. I that's I'll never talk about exactly what was said. Uh because that's

That's like our thing. And I and it's more fun too to leave those things as sort of a mystery. Like, well, why really? Because I I built in Michael's head like all of the reasons. But it's better that you don't know. Yeah. That it just kind of sits there. That's how I feel about the teapot letter. Right.

Everyone wants to know what's in the teapot letter. And the thing is, is that what's in the teapot letter is what you need to be in the teapot letter. There's what I needed to be in the teapot letter. There's the thing that Pam needs. 拜拜 Like it has to be the most wonderful romantic thing. And you can't write it. Like you can't tell people what was in it. It'll just be a letdown.

It will. It it can't live up to it, right? So it's like I know what it said completely. But it's better if if you write it yourself as an audience member. I I think the writers in general felt that way about the show. And I think Greg was very savvy about that. That Yeah.

You don't have to tell the whole story and just let people come to it. And I think that's partly why people have liked the show over the years. It doesn't spell everything out about these characters or about these relationships. You kind of acquire a knowledge.

The Heart of The Office and Farewell

over time and it becomes more ingrained that way. This is sort of off the subject, but you know, you talking about the teapot letter and you know, and I thought about this many, many times since I left the show. That y you and John in my opinion, you and John were the the rock of that show. Like, if not for your two characters, I feel like that show would have imploded because

There was there was so much craziness going on and so much wackiness. And you were both such grounded characters on that show, while simultaneously being incredibly funny and real. But the fact that everyone could bounce off of you and your very grounded, loving and interesting relationship and how that grew. To me, that was the nucleus of the show. I I've always felt that way. And the way that you guys

And you're both such good actors too. It's like we we're just so fortunate on so many fronts in terms of the casting of this show, in terms of the writing. I attribute it to well, to you guys obviously, and to Greg for like putting this group of people together in just the right sort of alchemy. I don't know if I've ever specifically told you that, but I've I've always felt that way. Steve, thank you.

I remember when we got ready to shoot the pilot, Steven and Ricky came to visit and we had like this one day meeting with them and Steven told John and I, Never forget you two are the heart of the show. And I remember It was like in threat level midnight, I was like gulp.

Um, I thought I don't really know what that means. I that's sort of scary to me. I was sort of hoping to kind of keep with my whole like wallflower thing where Pam just kind of sits at the desk and gives a couple of stares, really liking that lane. But over time I understood what he meant and it's it's kind of what you're saying, which is like, we're not gonna go to you all the time, or maybe even very often, but over a large

arc over a large period of time, this is a really important thing. And so just, you know, make sure you always honor it. Make sure that you you know that you So glad we did. I'm so glad Jim and Pam. made it and work and they didn't like do that thing where they pull you apart and put you back together. Break up, break up, break up, make up. And I get really defensive of Jim and Pam if like we're doing an interview and someone's like

to Jenna so I think Jim and Pam are still together. I'm like, how dare you? Of course they're still together. And so are Dwight and Angela and so are Michael and Holly. Get out of here. Oh you know what? I need to tell you about that. Oh dear. About Michael and Hawley. It is bad. Oh, I don't wanna I I don't wanna get into it. We just watched the scene and it's it's

You know, I I feel like I'm rediscovering so many of these scenes because we haven't seen the show since it aired, you know, a lot of these episodes. But when you And Amy Ryan do that, you uh, hoo-ha, like that moment. And it says basically, I love you, like yo, wicked smile. You uh, it's like I was like tearing up. Yeah. I like played it for Jenna. I was like, you gotta watch this scene. They're just saying you are, but it's like so powerful. Yeah, Amy Ryan's pretty good.

Yeah. I guess we were lucky to get her on the show. She she did pretty well for herself, I think. We did just watch all of these episodes. We watched the proposal to Holly and the singing goodbye to you. Yeah. And you know, all the individual goodbyes to all the different people. What a brutal couple of final weeks for you. I mean, were we did we just cry the whole time? How did we do that?

I don't know. I you know, I could look at it th I'm I'm yeah, I don't know. I d I don't wanna make too much of it, but it it was It was difficult because, you know, we were such good friends and it it had been so much fun and so rewarding in a lot of ways, all ways. But at the same time, there was for me, there was a joy to it. You know, when you you you're crying with joy, because it wasn't even sadness. Like, cause I was ready. I was ready to go. And so I wasn't sad about leaving.

Yeah. And it felt right for Michael. Yeah, no, it was it was time and it was time it was time for other characters to kind of step to the forefront and and other storylines to be pursued. It was just I think it was the right It was the the timing was right, I think for everybody. But simultaneously, there was just a sense of joy for me that we had experienced all of this. And we were getting I was getting a chance to kind of

take a lap with everybody. And the way, you know, those last few episodes were structured, it felt very rich to me to kind of simultaneously be saying goodbye as Michael and, you know, us as as friends, you know, in this moment uh of work together. But Yeah, it was a lot. It was a very emotional thing. It was.

Like it was. It was just hitting us in waves, I remember. Like we would laugh one minute and then we'd be tearing up the next. But like you said, it's because we had had such a great run. We had had such a good time. Incredible. Incredible. Just incredible.

Steve Carell's "Regular Guy" Quiz

Steve, we are always telling people when they ask us what was it like to work with Steve Carrell? What is Steve Carrell like? And we say he is a regular guy. We're telling you he is a regular guy. So we thought we would end this interview with a regular guy quiz. Yeah. All right. All right, regular guy question number one, favorite pizza. Um f favorite brand of pizza, like favorite pizza place. My gosh, you're you're very versed in. I mean oh I come on. We know we know your love of pizza.

Well, Favorite topping. I I I will either go with just a plain cheese or maybe do half cheese and then half mushroom and pepperoni. That that's my pizza of choice. Okay. But I have a I have a lot of different spots. I have different types. The deep dish. The thin crust, the New York style. There's different LA types of pizzas that are y it's I'm sort of a connoisseur. Next podcast. So with Steve. Hey, you just gave me an idea. I'm getting the studio next to yours. Ha ha ha ha.

Next question, favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt? I like a good uh I I kind of a basic, like a chocolate. Mm-hmm. I like good Sunday, like a hot fudge Sunday is always pretty delicious. Do you like a topping more than maybe something in the actual ice cream? Not yeah, I brownies mixed in are always good. Okay. But kind of basic. Kind of. I don't, I'm not like a gummy worms and pistachio ice cream kind of guy. That sounds delicious. Favorite place you've visited in the United States?

Pittsburgh was pretty cool. Oh yeah? Yeah. I mean I'm not saying that ironically either. I I I've done a couple of movies there and I liked it. It was a cool city. All right. There you go. But that's the first one you Shout out to Pittsburgh. Down out to Pittsburgh. Uh, what is your least favorite exercise or the exercise you avoid the most? Abs. Yes. Of course. Oh. Leg day was always fun. We love a leg day. Who doesn't? Look at us. I mean look at us.

What do well, yeah. I mean just doing sit ups is that's a I do it, but I don't love it. Mm-hmm. All right. What's the last thing you bought at Target? bought one of those little razors. Thank you. For my son. 'Cause he's he's shaving now. And it's not it's like a trimmer. Mm-hmm. But it's what it's what's the youths are using now. Okay. They're not using a blade. We're not there yet. But it's like it's like you can trim it close enough. This is a ter you can definitely lift this from the show.

Oh this is my favorite. Even won't know what they're called. It's like it's sort of a you're talking about. It's a little blade and you can kind of Yeah. Like a beard groom or something. But you can but but you can cut it really close but not have to use like an electric razor and Oh, everyone's tuned out. No they're not. Yep, no. Everyone just changed. No changed to a different I wanna listen to some music. Anyway the beast. If you are in charge of cooking dinner, what's your go to dish?

Spaghetti bolonnaise. Make a pretty good bolon a sauce. What skill would you like to master? I'd love to learn how to play the piano. Never gonna happen, but Do you play the piano in any way? No. Not in any. Be starting from zero. Okay. I uh Any instruments? I'm embarrassed. I play the fife and I play the baritone horn. What's a fight? Yeah. Oh God. Is that like ye oldy ye oldy flute name?

Yeah. It's it's exactly right. It's like a it's like a you know. Okay. Like a a a flute from the seventeen hundreds. Burg at the fife or two. Not only am I sort of an an ordinary guy, but super boring.

Personal Life, Future, and Collaborations

No Okay, right to really lean into the boring. Oh how early do you get to the airport before a flight? Like two hours early. Ha ha That tracks, you were ten minutes early today. I knew you would be early. And I actually circled the block a few times. I was I was ready to go, but I'm like, I don't want to seem too eager. Nancy and I get we get to the airport so early. And we just we were just Both of you though, you're in sync.

Totally. Okay. Yeah. And she's she's often said if if she had been married to someone who is like always late, she would have gotten a divorce'cause it it It's very important to her. Very Punctuality. But for both of us. Yes. And I would rather sit in the airport for an hour and a half than be like getting all worked up in the car that we're gonna make not make our flight. All right, what is your favorite cocktail or adult beverage?

I don't drink a lot. I will occasionally have a glass of wine or something, but I can't say that I have a cocktail. I'm not I'm just not a big drinker. I'd like to recommend Michael's drink, which is the Scotch and Splenda. We're trying here on the show. Steve, it is excellent. It's very good. Really? Jenna brought it. No joke. Like as a joke. And I was like, this is gonna be disgusting. What are we doing? We made'em for everybody and we were like, damn, it's actually pretty good.

I want to order one at a bar, but I'm I'm scared to because Well, you have to come up with a name for it. Mm-hmm. Instead of Scotch and Splenda, do you call it a Scotchda? I know. Didn't didn't um Michael have a name for it and we can't remember what it is? I don't know. Yeah, he does have a name for it. Splotch. Wasn't it a splenda and scot he a splotch? A splotch? Maybe a splotch. Oh, that's it doesn't sound delicious. It's very Yeah. I'll take a splotch, please. You know what?

Great. Okay. Next time. Three of us are gonna get together. We have one splotch. We're gonna go splotching. Last question. When was the last time you had to get out your toolbox and what tool did you grab? About three days ago. I am I I am so embarrassed. Are you about to say you're putting together a bird feeder? Mm worse. I bought I bought a vacuum

An outdoor leaf vacuum, which also mulches the leaves. And I had I screwed in my toolbox to put it together. I I ordered it and it arrived and I had to assemble it and put the little bag on it. Do you blow leaves? Well, I have a leaf blower too, what I do. What I do is I I use the leaf blower to blow them into a pile and then I take my vacuum mulcher and I Okay. I vacuum them up and mulch the leaves and then I take the leaves and I put them in our planting beds. Oh my god.

And so that's so the fife. That's fair. Pizza plain chocolate ice cream. And that's that's me. Yeah. And we all do it in Pittsburgh. Barrel of laughs. Aw I'm in love with you. Well, clearly the bar is low because There's not the I can't even believe that Nancy decided to marry me with like that as a track record.

That is the that is that's pretty bad. Like when you do interviews like this and you say things and you hear yourself reflected in the words, how you're describing yourself, I think I'm like more interesting. than that. But clearly I'm not. I don't know how to play the piano. No. I'd what would you like to do? I'd like to be smart and play the piano, but instead I'm mulching leaves and playing the fife. So

Okay. Is there anything in your career that you haven't done that you'd like to do or in your life? Because like Jenna, for example. Yes, you know it is my dream to uh one day do theater and win a Tony Award. This is my I would love to do this in my life. My dream is I really want one of those hats that has big flowers on it that hummingbirds eat out of. So that's Jenna wants to work towards a Tony. I wanna work towards a hummingbird eating out of my hat. Where do you live?

Those are very disparate dreams. Um well I don't even know how to top that. Um, honestly, boy, I I'm so uh content with certainly my professional life. It's been I've been so lucky. I I can't Maybe do a play at some point. Would you ever do theatre? Yeah, yeah. And and I've you know, I've been talking to a couple of theaters about maybe doing something. Um yeah, maybe somewhere down the road. I haven't done a play in

Well, since Nancy and I got married, it's been twenty seven years since I've done a play. So But you are a classically trained actor. Oh yeah. Yes. You you were you were of all of us. We always talk about how like there were a bunch of the people who were the theater nerds and then there were the um like comedy, sketch comedy, improv nerds on our set, but you were both. You studied theater and also studied improv. Just a nerd. That's good. You double nerded it is what I'm getting at.

You you did both. Yeah, I mean I it was yeah, I I would like to do I I'm with you. I I'd like to do some. Maybe we should do something together. Let's do it. Broadway. I would come and watch it. With your hat. And finally, Steve, you just worked with mister John Krasinski on his movie If, how was it to team up with him again? Really fun. Was that great? Well I'm supposed to contractually. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Do you need to get out the piece of paper? Do you want to read directly from it?

John Krasinski is the most wonderful. Um he it was great. Um he's and he was such a good director. I mean, obviously since the office. Boy, has he like really shown himself as a fine director. But did you know Janus Kaminsky is his DP on this movie? No. Who is Steven Spielberg's DP? Like he is Good, nice. director of photography in the business. He's a legend. And so, you know. Wow. That's a it's a huge deal and I think such a sign of respect to John. Yeah. Right. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, you know, wanted to work together with him. So that's I I I yeah. He's a he's an amazing He's a big deal. Amazingly talented guy. And so, yeah, and just great to see them like you guys. It's like, wow. It's exactly like the last time we saw each other. There's like no time has passed. We definitely felt that too. Like when he zoomed in, we were just cracking up. We had to like stop laughing so we could do like our interview with him because we just got so tickled.

I love that. This is, you know, BJ was on and he said to us, he was like, You guys, office family forever. And that's absolutely how I feel. Like family. Thanks for coming, Steve. Yeah. Whatever. Oh sorry, you gotta get back to your leaf mulching. Jeez, got a busy day there. You don't know the half of it. Ha ha ha. Well truly, thank you. Thank you. So good to see you guys.

Podcast Outro & Credits

Senior producer Matt Beagle and our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer. Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese. Our theme song is Rubber Tree by Creed Bratt. The truth is And why would you want to? Brought to you by Adidas.

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