The Office Deep Dive

Sometimes she made them look fresh, sometimes she made them look like Michael Moore. Head makeup artist Laverne Caracuzzi joins Brian in the studio to talk about the ridiculously close bond hair and makeup shared with the cast, her trick for working with fluorescent lighting, and the jaw-dropping gesture that was made during the Writer’s Strike. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...

Brian welcomes the loveable Ellie Kemper to the show - otherwise known as the equally wonderful Erin Hannon. Ellie recalls the time she peed her pants, why she let them dye her hair on day one, and the most perfect Office couple that never was - no matter how hard Brian pleaded. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Guess who’s back for another special edition of the podcast?! The one, the only, Rainn Wilson AKA Dwight K. Schrute AKA manager of “Satan’s Ballerinas”. Brian and Rainn go DEEP (that’s what she said) and talk about everything from fantasy football to zonkeys to Rainn’s alien upbringing. Let your interest pique as these comedians dive deep into life’s biggest questions (which he answers on his podc...

Continuing our celebration of women of The Office, Brian talks to editor-turned director extraordinaire Claire Scanlon. She explains what it was like working with a room full of comedy giants, reveals the scene that was cut from the Finale, and discusses her illustrious television alma mater - a Master’s from the University of Greg Daniels. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...

The Office wouldn’t be what it is today without the amazing - and amazingly talented - women who contributed to its success. We’re kicking off a new mini deep dive into some of the incredible women of The Office - starting with the one who was there from the very beginning - executive producer Teri Weinberg. She gives Brian all the inside scoop from the network perspective, and talks about how she...

Special guest having this week Brian does… that's right, Oscar-nominated Amy Ryan aka Holly Flax, the one who stole Michael Scott’s heart joins us on the podcast. They talk about going from serious drama to an off-the-wall comedy role, acting while drenched, how Holly broke the chain of Michael’s bad relationships, and the “special” relationship between Holly and Kevin. Learn more about your ad-ch...

He directed Dinner Party, Niagara, and Office Olympics, among many others. And since then, the man, the legend, and everyone’s favorite “bundle of joy” has completely rocked the comedy genre. Director and producer Paul Feig joins Brian this week to jump head first into the big questions: why did the real documentary crew make us relate to the show? How did Paul end up directing Dinner Party? And t...

In this special Thursday edition of the podcast, Brian kicks off his favorite time of the year (football season) with a new mini deep dive celebrating The Office’s Fantasy Football League, formed by the cast and crew of the show. As the league celebrates their 17th season, Brian will invite a new member each week to talk all things The Office… and maybe a little football. For this first podcast, B...

As a surprise for the one and only Steve Carell, Brian invited pop icon and Office superfan Billie Eilish onto the podcast after her epic Grammy win in 2020 to talk about why The Office is her “strange addiction” and what she’s learned from the show. Plus, Brian opens the floor to fans in this special Mailbag episode: he answers all your questions, from comparing the cast with their characters to...

We continue our dive into the writer’s room with writer, director, and producer Brent Forrester. Brent joined The Office in Season 3 and worked on highlight episodes like The Merger, but of course Brent’s #1 accolade is directing the iconic chili scene with Brian Baumgartner himself. This episode, Brent and Kevin spill (the chili) about the scene (did you know Brian actually carried the 74 pound p...

Scott’s Tots, The Dinner Party - what do these episodes have in common? Besides being some of the most iconic episodes of The Office, they were both co-written by the legendary Lee Eisenberg. This episode, Brian brings Lee on the podcast to talk about the show’s on and off screen dynamics, including the Scott’s Tots cringe factor, the nostalgia of The Office, and building jokes through character r...

Brian welcomes the beating heart behind the scenes of The Office - writer, director, producer Jen Celotta. On the show, Jen took us into the brains of our favorite characters and now we get to pick hers; this episode, Jen talks about the art of character crafting, what makes people tick and - of course - the madness that is Michael Scott. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...

Brian brings back Greg Daniels - showrunner extraordinaire and the Office’s true regional manager - to kick off our mini deep dive into the writer’s room of The Office. As the showrunner, Greg knows the ins and outs of the writer’s room better than anyone; this episode, Greg shares it all - from writing on napkins to crafting the intricacies of Michael Scott to finding truth and beauty. Learn more...

Brian welcomes Mike Schur, known for his iconic role as Mose Schrute on The Office. Oh, and also for his role as writer, director, executive producer/creator of America’s best comedies, from The Office to Parks and Recreation to The Good Place. This episode, Brian and Mike bring us into the writer’s room, discussing its “Unlikely Duo” segment, how chance contributed to the show’s writing, and - of...

The Office revolutionized the “mockumentary” — and we owe it all to the people behind the camera. Director of Photography Matt Sohn joins Brian on the podcast to talk all things production — from how the show highlighted background moments so effectively to Matt’s very own Season 9 cameo. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica. Though Dwight never actually said the iconic phrase, the one and only Rainn Wilson returns to the podcast to share the story behind the line, as well as his favorite parts of working on the show -- including his classic comedy duo with Steve Carell and finding a “framily” in the cast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See o...

In this bonus episode to celebrate her birthday, the wonderful Angela Kinsey returns, sitting down with Brian to reminisce over the accounting they did (or didn’t do) over the years. They dive further into the show to discuss the camera as a character, the Dwangela romance, on-set injuries, a possible The Office reunion, and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...

On The Office, the camera is a character -- and so is the person behind it. Brian welcomes Director of Photography, Randall Einhorn onto the podcast to talk about how he went from shooting extreme sports to The Office, using the camera to create the show’s “ultra-real” world and bring iconic moments like Jim and Pam’s first kiss to life. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcas...

What do pantsuits, candlemaking, and Sandals, Jamaica have in common? The one and only, Jan Levinson (Gould), of course. Actress Melora Hardin joins Brian to talk about her time on the Office, from portraying Jan’s struggle with femininity to keeping a straight face while throwing Dundies during the Dinner Party episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See...

The verdict is in, and everybody agrees that Michael Scott really was the world’s best boss! The incredible Steve Carell joins Brian in the studio for an extended interview to talk all things The Office. They go back to the days when they were working the best job in the world, when Michael Scott had a hunger for acceptance but didn’t know how to get it, and the emotional torture of his endless go...

Brian returns to his conversation with the “heart of The Office”, Jenna Fischer aka Pam Beasley. Jenna reveals her only regret from the show (ugh, thanks, Toby!), how Rainn is both deeply soulful and a curmudgeon, and how Steve has a really good idea for a reboot. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we hear from Big Tuna himself, Jim Halpert AKA John Krasinski. He rewinds with Brian to the moment in casting that John knew Jenna was the one, the time he inadvertently filmed one of the most iconic shots in the opening credits (and how naive he was when he sold that shot), and the lesson he’s carried with him ever since the show ended. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...

Kate Flannery, who you may know as Meredith Palmer, stumbles into this week’s episode to talk all things The Office with Brian. They discuss the origins of her character, how she was a 40 year old waitress when Steve was a 40 year old virgin, and, of course, boobs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian is joined by another member of the accounting trio, the hilarious Oscar Martin AKA Oscar Nuñez. Oscar attempts to build his own soundscape as they talk about the comedy icons that influenced him as a kid, the time he had to duck into the warehouse to cry, and what life would be like if The Office were shot now... and the YouTube videos that could have been. Learn more about your ad-choices a...

Today we hear from the man everybody at Dunder Mifflin loved to hate, Toby Flenderson aka Paul Lieberstein. Brian and Paul go over the moment that Michael Scott’s hatred for Toby welled up inside of him, the many ways Paul was the unheralded hero of the show, and their dreams to bring the Dwight spin-off “The Farm” to the world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork....