The Office Paley Festival
March 3, 2007 by Kath Skerry
Just got home from the Museum of Television & Radio Paley Festival featuring The Office. It was a wonderful evening filled with laughs and tears. Ok, there were no tears but I was hoping to make my review a little more quotable. There were laughs though – many of them.
Upon entering the DGA I immediately spotted my first cast members as they were giving interviews in the media line. I was standing off to the side and warmly greeted by Leslie David Baker (aw, Stanley). While in the lobby I met up with some friends whom I’ve met online and those responsible for hooking me up with a ticket. I don’t know if mentioning names is cool, but you know who you are and THANK YOU!! The MTR people were trying to escort people in, but they weren’t having much luck since the cast was just inches away and everyone wanted to watch them.
Not that I wasn’t super excited to see the cast, because I was, but I was also really excited to meet Kristin Veitch and Jennifer Godwin from E!. I’ve been a long time Watch With Kristin supporter, going back to her Wanda days. Kristin is the reason GMMR exists today – no lie. I thought that Kristin had the coolest job in the world, and I said for a long time that if I could pick any job I would want to have Kristin’s job. Knowing that wasn’t really in the stars for me, I did my own thing and started GMMR. Now, let’s not be crazy…I’m not a super cool TV reporter for E! online, but I’m living a little bit of the dream. And well, it was just really nice to meet Kristin. And get this – she knew about my site visit. How fun is that?
Once we were ushered inside the show began. The cast was briefly introduced and we all settled in to watch “Cocktails”. It was a really interesting experience to not only watch The Office on the big screen, but to watch it with 599 other people. My Office viewing experience is usually me on the couch and online chatting with my BuddyTV friends. This was a little different.
After “Cocktails” ended, we were treated to a hilarious Season 3 gag reel. I hope this was just a shorter version of what will end up on the DVDs, because it was pretty funny stuff.
Being the luckiest people in the world, the Paley audience was treated to a sneak peek at the next Office episode, which is tentatively titled “The Negotiation”. I’m not going to give a way a bunch of spoilers (but I’m sure you’ll be able to find them on other sites), but the episode had people rolling. It’s a very Darryl heavy episode and it’s good stuff. We didn’t get a “Dinkin’ Flicka”, but we did get a new Darrylism that will surely end up on a t-shirt or two. At the onset, Greg Daniels said we would get a look at the next episode, but we all thought that maybe we’d get one scene. It ended up being so much more than that. Every time the screen went black people started loudly applauding only to find out that there was more to watch. What a treat.
After the preview, the cast was introduced one by one on the stage. There were a lot of them, so it took a long time…too long. But here’s who was there: Ben Silverman (Reveille), Randall Einhorn (Director of Photography), Craig Robinson, Creed Bratton, Oscar Nunez, Phylllis Smith, Ed Helms, Brian Baumgartner, Angela Kinsey, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell (which was a treat because he wasn’t scheduled to be there), Melora Hardin, David Denman, Rashida Jones, Kate Flannery, BJ Novak, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Michael Schur (writer/Cousin Mose), Jennifer Cellotta (writer) and Greg Daniels. So everyone from the cast was in attendance with the expection of JKras who is down in South Caroline filming Leatherheads with George Clooney (he’s excused I suppose.). Also in the audience were Office crew members and writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. It was really a great showing from everyone involved with the show.
After what seemed like forever to introduce everyone, the panel began. I was pretty excited to hear that the Editor of The Hollywood Reporter would be moderating. But that excitement turned sour as early as the introductions. She was dry and not very well spoken for a woman in her position. She took more time to ask the questions than the panel did to answer them. Knowing that the audience were real Office fans, I was hoping she would be prepared with better questions. I was ready to jump up on stage and take the mic from her and ask questions that real fans wanted to hear. It was painful. You have some of the best comedic talents out there today on stage and she asked the most boring questions. The real fun and humor came from the cast answers.
A few moments stood out, but none more so than when Paul was talking about the “kiss” in “Gay Witch Hunt”. As you probably know by now, the lip lock between Michael and Oscar was improvised by Steve. Paul explained that the scene called for the Dunder Mifflin employees to feel awkward, but things went to a whole new level when Steve went in for the kiss. The cringing you saw in the episode was very real. But the kiss worked. And it worked again tonight when Steve Carell stood up and marched over to Oscar Nunez and planted one right on him. Hysterical!!!
After some questions from the boring moderator, it was open Q&A for the audience. Most had good questions – again, much better than the moderators. Once that was over, Greg Daniels surprised the audience with a little Office trivia. Hands flew up all over the room to answer questions such as “What was Andy’s ‘Call of Duty’ screenname?” (HereComesTreble)…”What was Karen’s?” (KarentheJimSlayer) and what did Dwight give Michael for his birthday and what was written on it?” (A hockey jersey that said ‘From Dwight’ on the back). A few prizes were given away to some lucky fans.
After some time, the panel ended. The crowds rushed the stage to get autographs and pictures with the actors. The cast stayed for well over a half hour and graciously signed everything that was handed to them. I hung back and watched from afar which gave me a great opportunity to chat with Greg Daniels for a bit. We talked a little bit about JAM, and whether he had to reconcile what the fans want vs what the networks want. He said that at the end of the day, he takes all of it into consideration but always tries to do what is right for the characters. We also talked a bit about the ambiguity of Jim’s feelings for Karen. I’m paraphrasing but Greg mentioned that when it comes to the relationships on the show, he writes things from his personal experience and experiences of those he knows. But at the end of the day, the actors didn’t share the experience so the way it plays out is a little different than what’s written. Whatever he’s doing…it’s working so I’m going to go with it.
A special shout out to Office Videosters Seat18B and DementedRiku – Greg Daniels has seen your work and he really likes the videos you make. I wouldn’t be shocked is maybe something you did ended up on the S3 DVDs. He made no promises, but he really liked the vids.
While talking to Greg I did get a little scoop for ya in terms of upcoming shows. Not even Greg Daniels knows when the next new episode will air. Sorry. But he did say that on March 15th they are running “Traveling Salesman” and “Oscar’s Return” as back-to-back episodes with 4 minutes of previously unseen footage and making the two episodes into one for an hour long episode. The episode we got a peek at tonight, “The Negotiation” will be supersized, and the season finale will be, as previously reported, an hour long. Oh, and during the March reruns NBC will have a mini Office marathon with some additional talking heads by Toby lamenting on the difficulties that come with being the HR rep for Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Hey, if there have to be reruns, at least they are making them interesting for us.
The crowds were dying down, and I took my chance to head towards the stage to get the one shot I didn’t get the other night…me and David Denman. Security was rushing people out and it looked like I was going to miss my chance. Lucky for me I got the attention of Kate Flannery who walked over to the other side of the stage and told David to make sure he saw me before he left. Sure enough he did. The guards were trying to escort him out but he said “one second, I have to take a picture with Kath“. YAY!! Office experience complete!!! Thanks David (and Kate).
My last Office encounter came just as I was leaving. Leslie was signing autographs and saw me there and pulled me in for a hug. He said I should definitely come back and visit the set next year. So Jennie, let’s do it!! And seconds before I left Jenna Fischer came out to sign a few more autographs. She spotted me and apologized for not having more time to spend with Jennie and I on set Tuesday. “Beesly? Are you kidding me?” [/Andy]. The fact that we got any time with Jenna was cool enough. She gave Give Me My Remote a big shout out to the crowd that was there. Too sweet.
So now I’m back in my hotel room and writing my second Office-themed novel of the day. I try to be reticent, but it’s just not me. Paley Fest ’07 was a success. Thanks to everyone that took the time to come up to me and introduce yourself. Thanks for your support of GMMR. And thanks again to “D” who hooked me up with my ticket.
Prison Break is next week. And now that I’ve met Kristin Veitch, I’m using her for all it’s worth to get a pic with me and Wentworth Miller
I also wish you could have marched up on stage and moderated the whole thing! lol. It would have been much better than that women. It was a very nice night, though, and thanks as always for sharing all of your post-panel insider tidbits! I love that you are so “in” with the cast and crew. You do such a great job with the site, you deserve it!
Glad you got your shot with DD!! I knew we should’ve stayed and hung out with you until the bitter end…
Sounds absolutely fantastic!
It was great seeing you there! And thanks for making it possible for me to talk to Greg Daniels!
It was awesome meeting you, too! You rock, chica!
Oh, Kath – you r the BEST! I love to read your blogs and am so obsessed with The Office and JKras that I am so jealous right now!
Any more scoop from The Negotiation? Can u just tell us if your fav. line (I am going to kill Jim Halpert) was addressed? And were you happy about it?
How am I going to last until April?
Thanks, Kath, it is so good to know that we’re going to get treated with a few extras during the hiatus.
You just had a very Office-filled week. 🙂 That’s very awesome. I hope you’re getting some down-time now. Thanks so much for the wonderful reports. I can’t wait to read more.
Kath, love it! You’re the best but I miss you! Come home and quit hanging out with all these damn celebrities.
[…] Last night was THE OFFICE panel, and my friend Kathie from GIVE ME MY REMOTE was luckey enough to attend. To read her fantastic full report, click here. […]
I’m sitting here shaking my fist at you out of jealousy 🙂 You’ve had an awesome awesome week!
[…] Kathie from GIVE ME MY REMOTE was luckey enough to attend. To read her fantastic full report, click here. Check out Celebrity Wallpapers and Bollywood […]
Are you kidding me???(/Andy) I’m so jealous of those vidsters!! hehe, but how cool is it that Greg Daniels actually watches some of the vids?? Sorry, I am just really excited to hear that.
I second everything Kath has said. It was an amazing experience. Everyone was as sweet and friendly as possible. I was one of those persistent fans and got pictures with steve, rainn, leslie/stanley, bj, kate/meredith, david/roy, oscar, and creed. i was too starstruck when i got jenna’s autograph right at the beginning- that wore off fast.
those security guards were too much! bohunks all of them. kicking us out of the lobby when we wanted to watch the arrivals.
i had the best seat in the house! right in front of steve, which was such a great surprise to see him since he wasn’t slated to be there.
i wish the fans had been allowed to ask more questions. every q&a i’ve ever been to was almost all fan questions. it went so slowly with the moderator. she didn’t even know that michael schur had been in an episode. she said that he “should be put in a show” soon and everyone started shouting MOSE! even castmembers did too.
funny thing though, from where i was sitting, it seemed like Paul/Toby was the most popular castmember.
oh and jenna refused to sign those bustier cheesecake photos from blades of glory. she said she was too shy.
That was an awesome event, but seriously–what was up with the moderator? My favorite question from her was: “Are we going to get to see this documentary?” And I thought–um, isn’t that the show?
Yay! I’m so glad you got to have this wonderful experience! Thanks for telling us about it, so we can experience it a little too. Good luck with Wentworth!
Cool write-up, Kath. If you can find the videos that Greg referenced, the ones by seat18b and DementedRiku, please post them.
I totally agree with you about the moderator, GMMR. You should have taken over! It by far was the best day ever for me and my BFF! Not only did we get to meet the cast at Paley Fest but we also visited the set in the morning AND got to see the cast film on location for four hours in the afternoon! We NEVER thought we would get to see the filming of our favorite show but we did and it was hilarious! Everyone was sooo nice! We will update our myspace blog when we get back to Phoenix so you all can see the pics from the filming and Paley Fest.
GMMR, we didn’t get to meet you but we were there when Jenna gave GMMR a shoutout at the very end of Paley Fest. On another note, we did get to meet Tanster!
P.S. Who knew that after last night we would totally leave with HUGE crushes on David Denman and BJ? I mean WOW, these guys are Hottie McTotties! JKras is still our number 1 Hottie, but man we were impresses with the others!!
Kath, check your email — I sent you the photo of you and Greg Daniels.
Paley Fest was a lot of fun, but I completely agree about the moderator — it was such an amazing opportunity to have the whole cast there, and she asked such boring questions (and/or questions that made it clear that she doesn’t really watch the show)! I really wish they had let a true fan moderate the panel instead, or taken more questions from the audience.
The entire cast was great — so genuinely friendly and accommodating to everyone.
Kath, I met you very quickly afterwards (after Jenna gave a shout-out to GMMR)… you really do such a great job with this site. You rock!
I am so happy you had a great time. I wish I was with you! PLEEZZZZ…can I be your personal assistant. I will fetch you hot chocolate , rehab your shoulder, jump on your back(litereraly),
sit with you at dinner etc. Come on you always get to do the fun stuff LOL! Seriously I am happy for ya – you are doin a great job.
Yeah buddy. You get that Wentworth picture!
You are just too cool for school. Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you!
[…] Via Give Me My Remote […]
lucky you! You’ve had quite a week.
Not sure if it’s possible, but I’m hoping your upcoming weeks + months rival this past week – wentworth 🙂
That is so awesome! You’ve had such an awesome week! I am sure it all feels like a dream, but thankfully it’s not! 🙂
What did Dwight give Michael for his birthday and what was written on it?” (A hockey jersey that said ‘From Dwight’ on the back).
— I answered this one! They gave me a really cool computer mouse that said “The Office” on it and was part snow-globe. Really something I’ve never seen in stores before.
Hey! I was the girl with the big digital camera sitting behind you. If you know the email address of the guy next to you, could you PLEASE get it to me? I wrote it down wrong and I promised him pictures and feel awful. It was nice to meet you!!
EmilyH– I was wondering what happened. Kathie, if you can send her my email address, it’s okay by me.
– D, “ticketmaster to Kath”
EmilyH– I was wondering what happened. Kathie, if you can send her my email address, it’s okay by me. How did the photos come out, after I lowered my hands?
– D, “ticketmaster to Kath”
You could tell that the cast was getting bored w/ the moderator and lost in her 20 minute questions. I wish a TRUE fan could’ve taken care of the whole thing..as opposed to someone that got handed dvds and played catch up for a few days. She didn’t even know that Michael Schur played Cousin Mose…boooooooo!! =p
[…] News about the upcoming Office episodes from Kathie at Give Me My Remote […]
Hey guys, so we finally posted our blog about Paley Fest and being able to see them film FOUR hours on location. My myspace page is linked to my name so just click on that to read all about the GREAT OFFICE DAY we had!
[…] change and he’ll be there tonight. I mean Steve Carell wasn’t scheduled to show for The Office panel and he was there. Please…please…pretty please with Wentworth Miller on top?! Share […]
Hey kath, longtime lurker, first time poster. Great job reporting on Paleyfest. I felt like (wished) I was there!
I hope you get that Wentworth shot too. I had the absolute joy of interviewing him a few years back for a newspaper piece, when he was doing press for “The Human Stain.” SUCH a gracious man he was, and SO handsome in person. Tall. Bright green eyes. yum!
Longtime lurker, first time poster…GREAT job reporting on Paleyfest and your “Office” set visit with Tanster. It felt like we were there! You rock and deserve all the lovely insider attention you’ve been getting of late. And I really hope you get that Wentworth photo! I had the luck of interviewing him a few years back for a newspaper story, when he was doing some press for “The Human Stain,” (very pre-PB!) and he was just a doll. Very gracious and humble. Tall. Intelligent. Big green eyes. Yum! I was so bewitched by him that I left my recorder in his room and had to go back and get it!
Longtime lurker, first time poster…GREAT job reporting on Paleyfest and your “Office” set visit with Tanster. It felt like we were there! You rock and deserve all the lovely insider attention you’ve been getting of late. And I really hope you get that Wentworth photo! I had the luck of interviewing him a few years back for a newspaper story, when he was doing some press for “The Human Stain,” (very pre-PB!) and he was just a doll. Very gracious and humble. Tall. Intelligent. Big green eyes. Yum! I was so bewitched by him that I left my recorder in the hotel room and had to go back and get it!
[…] & Oscar Kiss, Again… If you missed it earlier this week when I posted a clip from The Office panel at The Paley Festival, then you definitely want to make some time to check out this short clip. Steve Carell does more […]
[…] SUPERSIZED episode is going to be classic. Those of us who were lucky enough to attend The Office panel at the Paley Festival have seen most of the ep and we laughed our asses off. Hours people…hours. Let’s get to […]
[…] Last night, she went to the Paley Festival panel with the cast, crew, and creators of The Office and had an amazing time. Please click here to read all about the celebutante’s Paley experience. […]
[…] “Brothers & Sisters”, and “Alias” among others. Last year I attended panels for THE OFFICE and PRISON BREAK and found them to be an amazing […]
umm…. where is this. in nyc?
big deal you got to meet the office losers so what id rather meet james
franco or someone else who can actually act unlike those losers on the stupid
office who are just playing themselves and they’re smug pricks in real ife as
well.
foolishly wrote to bj novak back in may hoping I would get an autograph and its
now december and im not even watching this shit show anymore and ive totally
given up on his autograph cause im not stupid and I know its not coming.
what a waste of a stamp like are actors so stupid they think we wont notice
when they dont send autographs well we’re not and I remember all the
other basterds who havent sent me anything either.
so screw the office screw the fans screw jim and pam and screw this
stupid site!