Category: OfficeTally Exclusives

Posted on

Jenna Fischer rocks the OTCR

The Office Jenna Fischer

The best ticket in town —
The Office’s Jenna Fischer paid a special visit to the OfficeTally Chat Room tonight!

Since we weren’t sure exactly when she’d be stopping by, the OTCR was abuzz with activity all afternoon. One faithful Tallyhead waited eight and a half hours! Another likened the anticipation to “waiting outside of Best Buy for a Wii.”

All in all, Jenna answered questions for over an hour, keeping more than 50 Tallyheads in rapt attention.

Thank you so much, Jenna, for stopping by!

A full transcript follows. Cluck cluck! Continue reading “Jenna Fischer rocks the OTCR”

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Posted on

Andy Buckley at Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade

Scranton St. Patrick's Parade The Office


Andy Buckley (“David Wallace”) appeared in this year’s Scranton Saint Patrick’s Parade two weekends ago.

UPDATE: Andy was kind enough to write up a little trip report for OfficeTally — thanks Andy!

Andy’s report

Once again, the folks in Scranton proved that ‘there ain’t no party like a Scranton party …’ Took the red-eye to Philadelphia and Ken, owner of the LimoGuy (best Limo service in the entire NEPA area) was right there with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in hand ready to roll. If you ever need a Limo in NEPA, Ken The LimoGuy is the guy to call …

Almost 100,000 people lining the streets. Over 1 million pints of Guinness consumed between the hours of 7 AM Saturday when the bars opened and 4 AM Sunday the next morning when last call was announced. I tried to do my part in that effort but was clearly an amateur.

Saw many many Dunder Mifflin signs along the parade route and heard many a shout out from the good people braving the cold weather. A lot of fun.

Roland Greco, a buddy of mine and ironically the Michael Scott look alike winner from the Convention and Amy ___ (I don’t have her last name I’m sorry) — the Angela look a like winner rode in the car in front of me — a couple of troopers as it was cold …

The bars were filled by 8 AM with the younger folks, getting their St. Patty’s drink on … hats off to the town, for keeping it very orderly considering the town turns into one gigantic Delta House — for that one day a year.

Met Miss Pennsylvania Rachel Brooks — a very nice gal. Talked with Governor Eddie Rendell a little bit — sharp guy. Did not get a chance to say hello to the local favorite, Senator Hillary Clinton, but as an Irishman from Boston, I did get quite a kick out of meeting and having a nice chat with Max Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy’s youngest son who is a huge fan of the show.

The biggest highlights were going from pub to pub with local legend Tim Holmes, from the Scranton Times, and hearing just about everyone in attendance shouting out “Dunder Mifflin!!! When are the new episodes coming back on???!!! Dunder Mifflin!!!!” Just a blast of an environment.

Scranton’s 20-piece bag pipe band was going from pub to pub as well. Grabbed slices during the night from Brunetti’s and Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe, had pints at Cooper’s, Farley’s, and of course at the Radisson.

Threw back a couple of pints with Sara Hailstone and Michelle Dempsey who along with Tim organized the convention … and they’re talking up the next one.

Keep your NY, Boston and Chicago St. Patty’s Day parades … give me Scranton’s any time. A ton of fun and an electric city filled with some great people. Thanks. — AB

Previous stories after the jump. Continue reading “Andy Buckley at Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade”

Posted on

Latest WGA strike news

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike from Monday, November 5, 2007 through Tuesday, February 12, 2008. This included all the WGA writers who work on ‘The Office.’

The strike came after “three months of negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).” Areas of contention included DVD residuals and payments for “new media” (like last summer’s webisodes).

Latest news:

  • Feb. 26: Writers Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract — “The members of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today put their final stamp of approval on the deal that ended their 14-week strike, giving writers new rights and protections for work distributed on and created for the Internet and other new media platforms. An overwhelming majority of the WGA membership voted in favor of ratifying the three-year contract by 93.6 percent of 4,060 votes cast in Los Angeles and New York. The term of the agreement is from February 13, 2008 through May 1, 2011.” More NEW

Videos: The Office is Closed | Why We Fight | This Is Our Moment

Call to action: Write a letter | Write a letter (part 2)

Ongoing strike coverage: Deadline Hollywood Daily | United Hollywood

Previous news after the jump. Continue reading “Latest WGA strike news”

Pages: 1 2
Posted on

A letter from The Office writing staff

Dear Fans of The Office,

It looks like, after many long months, the writers’ strike will be ending very shortly. The vote to temporarily lift the strike while we vote on the contract passed with an overwhelming majority on Tuesday, and while we still technically have to ratify the contract (in a separate vote that takes place over the next two weeks or so), that vote was a very strong signal that we’re almost back to normal.

It was a difficult struggle, and we don’t take lightly the problems it caused for our crew, our actors, and the viewers of the show. In the end, though, we believe it was worth it, because writers have managed to win a share of the future of the industry.

We just want to thank you for the incredible display of support you have given us over the last four months. We never forget how lucky we are to have a fan base that cares so much about what we do, and we are excited to be going back to work, which is the only way we can try to pay you back.

It seems like we will be making six more episodes this year, the first of which is scheduled to air April 10. Right now, that episode will be “Dinner Party,” written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, which we had just begun to film when the strike hit. Also, although we aren’t 100% sure yet, it looks like we may have an hour-long season finale. All of this is subject to change, but seems likely. (Just stay tuned to OfficeTally — tanster will probably somehow find out all the developments before we do.)

In the meantime, we’re back at work, and would like to thank you, again, for everything.

Sincerely,

The Office Writers

Posted on

Sitting in on Rainn’s Spirit Awards meeting

After my picketing shift ended yesterday, Rainn Wilson was kind enough to let me sit in on a writers meeting for Film Independent’s Spirit Awards show, which he is hosting in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 23. (The show was granted a Writers Guild of America waiver, allowing the show to hire WGA writers.)

I had never attended a writers meeting, so I was pretty excited!

Continue reading “Sitting in on Rainn’s Spirit Awards meeting”

Posted on

Blogging from the WGA picket line

Update: live blogging from the picket line continues today at 10:30am PT; check back often! (And if you have a message for any of the writers, please post a comment. I will try to show the writers your notes on my phone while we’re walking!)

I’m going to try to report live from today’s picket line via Utterz, which lets me blog on-the-go right from my cell phone. Newest updates will appear first.

Everything I post will end up in the widget below. Just click the Play button!

Tip: Go to my Utterz page to see the full-sized versions of the photos.

Posted on

Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky visit the OTCR

The Office

Many thanks to The Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky for visiting the OfficeTally Chat Room tonight!

Oh sure, there were some disparaging remarks made about our last OTCR guests, and the conversation turned raunchy around minute 33, but what’s an OfficeTally Chat without a little insanity?

Full transcript available after the jump. Thank you, Lee and Gene! We miss you guys and we miss the show!

P.S. In the following transcript, “leeeisenberg” refers to both Lee and Gene. They are one.

Continue reading “Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky visit the OTCR”

Pages: 1 2 3 4
Posted on

B.J. Novak in Palo Alto

The Office

Yes, B.J. Novak, actor, writer, and producer of ‘The Office’ was in OfficeTally’s hometown of Palo Alto, CA, yesterday. And I found out completely by accident!

He had emailed me and mentioned that he had been at the Peet’s Coffee in the Town and Country Center earlier in the day.

As this was B.J.’s first time writing me from an email address, I demanded that he verify his identity.

Here’s part of our conversation:

tanster: I need to make sure this is really you, so I have to ask you a “security question.” At The Office Convention in Scranton, do you remember taking a photo with me? Where or when was that? Second, you were here in Palo Alto!? I live like walking distance from that Peet’s Coffee. Wish I had known, I would have loved to have stopped by to say hello!

B.J.: Right after Writers Block by the auditorium door at the VIP after-thing, right? Yes, I am in Palo Alto! Visiting a friend who works at Facebook. Wish I had known. Peets is like Starbucks, but burned-er.

tanster: Congratulations, you passed! You are B.J.! Yes, I’m usually a Starbucks-aholic. I’ll drink Peets occasionally but it always feels like it’s burning a hole in my stomach lining or something. Are you still here tonight?

B.J.: I am off to the Facebook Christmas party tonight. I am supposed to leave tomorrow am. If I get up early (which would be a shame considering the party will go late), I’ll let you know and if you’re free maybe we can hit the ‘Bucks, which I also prefer.

Heehee. Love that he calls it “the ‘Bucks”!

(Quick, Tallyheads, which episode is that in reference to?)

B.J., you hereby owe me a grande nonfat latte. No foam.