Stay ConnectedTHAT’S WHAT SHE SAID takes an in-depth look at the world of NBC’s THE OFFICE. Each and every week we will offer audio highlights, episode commentary, news, reports on upcoming media appearances of the cast, retro reviews, a selection of podsafe music, and much more.
Often imitated, yet never equaled, TWSS is the longest continually running podcast dedicated to the best show on TV.
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Copyright: © Matthew R. Sommer
It's hard to make any kind of value judgement after two minutes, so I think Kevin and I will hold off until the webisodes are completed. Don't let that stop you from commenting, though!
I must be living under a rock since going on Summer vacation. I just this minute read an article in TV Guide about Mindy Kaling going back to Scranton, PA on July 19th for "The Office Games"To quote the article:"Scranton, besides hosting a day of events inspired by the show including a 2K race, a trivia challenge and beet eating contest, will also be the first city to offer the new The Office DVD Board Game and a separate The Office Trivia Game" (the first 125 people to buy a game from Boscov's in Steamtown Mall will get an autugraph from Mindy).Our very own Kevin Crossman just spent some time in Scranton last week, so I guess the lure of the "Electric City" is still holding strong for many an Office fan. I think I'll be sitting this next one out, though.Anyone planning on attending the event?EDIT:Go HERE to sign up. All proceeds will be donated to the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Watch the episode NOW:------------------------------------------------One hundred people surveyed, top five answers on the board-- Name a great way for an Office fan to deal with Summer withdrawal.Number one answer? Watch CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD tonight at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central as our beloved cast takes on (believe it or not) the American Gladiators. Al Roker, everyone's favorite portly African-American weatherman, does the hosting duties (he's no Richard Dawkins, but I suppose he'll do in a pinch).Friend of the show Laura H. attended the taping, and filed this report:"I had heard that there were going to be two Office-related shows at IO West in Hollywood in early June on the same night. One was Kate Flannery's "Lampshades" show and the other was an improv show featuring Angela, Oscar and Creed. I had some credit with NWA which I had to use soon. I also had enough credit card points for a free hotel stay. So I thought "What the hell." I made my bookings and then sent both Angela and Kate short MySpace messages telling them I was coming out. (Not like we're "tight" or anything - but I had met both of them on a few different occasions over the past couple of years). Kate sent me a message back saying that some of them were going to be filming "Celebrity Family Feud" on the day I was coming into town. She asked if she should try to get me a ticket. Obviously, I said "Yes, please!" A couple of days later she sent me all the info I needed. Since she had put my name on the list as her guest, I was sort of treated like a rock star - well, at least for a couple of hours at a game show taping, that is. I got to park my little rental car by the limos, I was escorted into the bldg through the back stage door and was shown where craft services was. It was pretty cool. The person taking me in said "You're a guest of Kate's? Did you want to go to the trailers?" I didn't want to push my luck, so I declined. I did happen to see the Office-mates walk past, however, and Kate said that she was happy I made it. Once I was seated, it was alot of fun actually. The announcer dude warmed up the crowd, and it was pretty hilarious because he made us "practice" our responses - all the "oooo's" & "ahhh's", clapping, etc. It all just made me laugh! I learned that The Office was going to be playing the American Gladiators - and that made me laugh more! The Office cast was all dressed very nicely - and the Gladiators came in costume . . . stretchy, spandexy bulges. It felt wrong just looking at them. :) Al Roker was the celebrity host, and he did a really good job. It was evident that he is a fan of The Office and he had a great rapport with them - probably since he had met them in Scranton? Anyway, I won't spoil anything, but it was a good show. At one point, Kate was at the podium and nearly didn't get her answer in time. I let out some kind of noise - which I hope they edited out! ;) That night was the two shows at IO West. Even though I had seen the Lampshades previously, it was still hilarious. I got to talk to Kate for a little while afterwards, and she was nice enough to give me a CD of the show. She didn't stay too long, though, because she had the TV Land Awards and a breast cancer charity event the next day. The Armando (improv) show was also fun. Creed was the "host" and took the opportunity to tell a few stories from "back in the day" involving using illegal substances, etc. Just what you'd expect from Creed! Oscar and Angela were part of the group of improvisors - and Angela (especially) is alway so funny! After the show, it was pretty late and loud and crowded. But Angela saw me and came over and gave me a hug and thanked me for coming. She apologized but said that she wouldn't be able to stay too long - which I fully understood. She really wanted to get home to Isabel, and she also had the TV Land Awards the next day. We chatted for just a few minutes - mostly about the baby - and she told me that she would be appearing in People magazine and how she had been apprehensive to do so, but the folks at People were really great to work with."Awesome story, Laura. I think you just made a lot of people REALLY jealous, though... including yours truly.
To all of out American listeners-- a happy 4th of July to you all. Please, try not to overdo it on the hot dogs and potato salad this year.Just a few news tidbits that I'm sure most of you already know:1) Amy Ryan is committed to reprise her outstanding role as Holly Flax in at least FIVE episodes next season. Kevin and I both loved her work in the season finale, so I am very excited to see her coming back for more. 2) According to Ricky Gervais' official blog, Steve Carell has signed on for another three year commitment to THE OFFICE with his new contract. While his movie track record has been somewhat spotty, he definitely doesn't NEED to come back to working those fabled 12 hour days on a TV show if he didn't want to. Hats off to Steve for sticking with the show.3) The first new "webisode" of the Summer is set to launch on July 10th! Less than a week away. TWSS will have full coverage of all the webisodes, so never fear (although I'm still not sure if we'll discuss them individually or wait until they're all finished...).4) We're right back where we were in November 2007, as the SCREEN ACTORS GUILD are in the middle of their own tense negotiations with the studios. The final contract has been proferred, but we won't know the results until July 8th. I haven't been following this as closely as I should have, but we're literally on the edge of another major Hollywood work stoppage if a strike is called (the existing contract expired on June 30th). Hollywood is walking on eggshells right now, as are many other cities that do a lot of location shooting (like Vancouver, for example). Many seem to think the strike won't happen so soon after the WGA strike, but you never know. Keep watching the news.5) I'm looking at releasing the new TWSS Retro episode sometime in the next week (if Kevin and I can work something out). Although we still have two episodes left from season one, I think we're going to just jump right ahead into "The Dundees." If you'd like to leave an email comment for the show, giving your opinions on the episode, favorite parts, etc., get them to me ASAP at TWSSpodcast@gmail.com. If you'd like to leave an audio comment, feel free to use Kevin's hotline:(206) 666-3728This is technically the phone number for Kevin's Frat Pack Podcast, but never fear-- your comments will be forwarded to the right place.6) Also, if you haven't done so, PLEASE consider pre-ordering your season four DVD sets from Amazon.com through our associates link (located to your right). A small percentage of your purchase price will be kicked back to TWSS to help defray some of the costs of production. If Amazon's price goes down in the coming months, you'll be charged the lowest price, regardless of where it is currently. If you know you're going to order the set, please order from us. You'll be doing TWSS a major solid, yo.
In conjunction with their "The EW 1000" list, Entertainment Weekly has asked Rainn Wilson to portray "several" classic TV characters from the past 25 years. See Rainn as Xena: Warrior Princess, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Paulie Walnuts, and MacGyver.Click HERE to see the videos.
There's really nothing I can add here... Other than "Oww, my eyes!"(click HERE for a larger version)
So, anyone going to see it?It's not doing too well on RottenTomatoes right now-- it's sitting at 52%, which is considered "rotten-- but the tide might turn as more reviews come in tomorrow.If you HAVE seen it, or plan to, give your comments below.EDIT:Roger Ebert liked the film, at least, giving it 3.5/4 stars.
Good old Kristin over at E! is claiming that a source is telling her that Rashida Jones is going to be involved in The Office spinoff. Doesn't sound very solid, however, since no one else will confirm and Jones' people are denying that she's been approached.Read the article HERE.Personally, I've never been a huge "Karen" fan (she never seemed to exist beyond being Jim's temporary "Pam replacement" in my eyes), but what the hell. I just hope (as I've said before) that the spinoff simply isn't "The Office Utica."
I missed the show tonight, but both Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery served as guest celebrity judges on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." The episode was filmed in Minneapolis, and since Brian Baumgartner is a hometown boy, he sat down for a talk with a reporter from the Pioneer Press about his experiences with the show.From the article:On the folks who auditioned: "Generally, I was really impressed, but there were the wacky people. ... I remember very specifically this woman with a goose, I think she was trying to be Old Mother Hubbard, but she had a live goose and I couldn't stop laughing. She was trying to have it do tricks and flap its wings. There were people with takeoffs on the whole Ole and Lena stereotype thing." It's a brief read, but you can check out the rest of the article HERE.
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