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Brent and Justin answer ‘Did I Stutter?’ questions

Q. I love Stanley’s rants — I think they’re absolutely brilliant. Was any of his rant in this episode improvised? | Katie_AK

A. No, that was generally scripted. Leslie knew this would be one of his biggest episodes ever and he was extremely well prepared when the cameras started rolling. I’ve never seen him so intense and focused. — Brent

Q. Does it crack the cast and crew up when Stanley gets to rant (especially since Leslie seems like such a laid back, warm person with a great sense of humor in interviews)? | what’s the dealio?

A. When Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson do scenes together, they crack each other up. Rainn and Krasinski ditto. Brian Baumgartner who plays Kevin will get into uncontrollable laughing fits during scenes, but I haven’t seen it happen in scenes with Leslie. His vibe is a little more serious and intense, and his character is intimidating in a way that discourages silliness I think. — Brent

Q. I loved that we got to “see” the cameraman sneaking back in to film Stanley and Michael’s conversation without their knowledge. Whose idea was this, and did it have anything to do with Randall Einhorn directing? | two toasters

A. Randall as you know is not only a director but also our lead cameraman on the show, and yeah I think his perspective as cameraman gave him a lot of enthusiasm for those sequences where the cameraman is called out as a character in the show. He loved shooting those sequences. I think his energy doubled when shooting that stuff. — Brent

Q. How many takes did Rainn need to get through his close talker authority scene with Steve. He looked like he was ready to break any second. Especially when he used the pointer stick to hit Steve in the cheek. | J to the D F

A. Yeah, using the pointer like that was Rainn’s improv, and both of them kept cracking up every time he did it. We were debating beforehand whether to give him a metal pointer or a laser one, and I’m so happy we chose the one we did. — Justin

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47 comments

  3. I love that the writers are so accessible to the fans. These post-episode question and answer sessions are great!

  4. Thank you guys for taking the time to answer these! (And to Tanster for putting it together!) I love being an Office fan! (totally cool cast & crew)

  5. Thanks to Brent and Justin for doing this for us. I look forward to these debriefings almost as much as the episodes themselves.

    Tanster, you do realize by doing these you’re setting the bar for attaining season five Q&As really high, don’t you?

  7. Thanks Brent and Justin for that awesome look into ‘Did I Stutter?’! Great job with the questions, Tanster!

  8. I love these Q and A’s. It’s like the DVD commentaries, but better in a way. The writers give detailed explanations and are able to finish their thoughts. It’s great insight into the process.

    I agree with comment # 6. I love being an Office fan. The cast, writers, and crew are so special that they make me feel special for loving their creative show.

    Thanks Brent and Justin and all the writers!

  9. Thank you so much Brent and Justin for answering my question about Toby’s character!

  10. I love the whole cast of The Office, naturally – but you writers are my idols. Seriously, if they held a convention with only the Office writers, I’d be the first in line to buy tickets. Thanks for taking the time to give us a glimpse at the making of such a great episode!

  11. The writers are very talented and I thank you all for making an amazing show.

    I love these Q and A’s.

  12. Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions! Brilliant episode!

  13. From lurker to first-time post-er: Thank you all so much. I truly love the show, and getting this much insight from the writers is such a treat.

  14. Thank you so much, Brent and Justin! And also to the always wonderful, Tanster for putting these Q&As together!

  15. These are quickly becoming my favourite part of the site – I’m even checking them before the spoilers (and that’s saying something since I’m a spoiler junkie). Thanks so much to Tanster and the writers. P.S. I’d be afraid of Stanley too.

  16. Gasp! My question got answered!! YAY! Thanks so much Brent and Justin!!!!

  19. thanks for answering these questions and for settling the toby debate. this is such a great feature, we are such lucky fans!

  20. Thanks for answering questions from OfficeTally, Brent and Justin! I hope we can keep these up — they’re so much better than tv/magazine interviews!

  21. Thanks for answering our questions! You guys are so gracious for takign the time out of your days to indulge us hardcore fans! It’s most appreciated!!!

  22. First of all, Congratulations Justin! I believe you referenced a “fiance” who lived in my area when I met you at the Convention – and now you have a “wife.” (Apologies if that is inaccurate . . .I may have had too many glasses of free wine at the cocktail party). ;)

    Thank you Brent and Justin (and Jennie, of course!) This was such a fun and informative read – a definite cure for “a case of the Mondays.” :)

  23. Thanks!

    Interesting to hear their take on Toby. I really did think he came off as a jerk in this episode.

  26. That’s so nice of the writers to participate.:)
    Interesting to see their take on Toby.

  27. I’ll add my thanks to everyone else’s! These really are so much fun to read, and the writers are really generous to agree to do this.

  28. I LOVE these little questionairres. Keep ’em coming. It’s so much fun to read the behind-the-scenes takes on these episodes.

    Thanks again, Tanster and “Office” writers.

  29. The writers are awesome :) I can hardly get through reading a Q&A without cracking up. Thanks tanster for putting these together, and thanks to all the writers who take the time to answer the questions.

  31. They HAVE to post the fluffy fingers scene on-line. I can’t believe that got cut out!

  32. The writers always answer everyone’s questions and it is so nice of them! They are all so talented. This Q&A is hilarious, this pair crack me up. Thanks so much Brent and Justin! :)

  33. Haha. Amazing. Tanster, please say Gene & Lee are coming back for Job Fair questions?

  36. Thank you Brent and Justin for answering these questions!! I love reading these.

  37. I love these Q&A’s! Thanks for setting them up.

    I’m still wondering if Angela’s “tall” adjective was a reference to Dwight…

    I remember hearing somewhere (maybe it was in the video commentary on the DVD) that in one of the scripts for Stanley’s previous rants, all it said was “Stanley rants” and then he got to just… rant. It’s interesting that they scripted this one. I loved it.

  38. these are great! i think this was my favorite questionnaire yet!

  39. Thank you, once again, tanster and The Office writers, for doing this for us fans. What class acts you are! I adore this show more and more every week!

  40. Woo!! Yay! My question got answered thank you so much Tanster, Justin and Brent!!!!

    I died laughing at the ‘shock of a collar’ part! lol

  41. On NBC.com, there’s a photo of Michael attempting the fluffy fingers on Stanley – too funny:

    Thanks for taking the time to answer questions! It’s very cool to hear the inside story.

  43. It’s so fun to get all of the insight from the writers (and their responses were hilarious!) Not only did we get to watch a wonderful and well written episode to start with, we then are treated to this awesome Q&A–icing on the cake! Thanks so much to Office Tally for facilitating this and to Justin and Brent for the generous time to share the cool behind the scenes information. No wonder The Office has such devoted fans–we’re treated so well!

  44. Glad they answered the Toby/Jim/Ryan question. Discussing it with my other OFFICE fans at my office, we all thought Toby was using Ryan as a way to break up Jim and Pam.

  45. So Toby wasn’t supposed to be a complete A-hole? Hmmmm. I’m not convinced the writers don’t have something up their sleeves.

  46. Sorry, but mark me in the Toby has an agenda column. I smelled something fishy as soon as he wouldn’t allow Pam and Jim sign the disclosure agreement.

  47. thanks for answering questions! i love reading these :]

    p.s. i’m looking for a car and i’m definitely interested in your honda civic, haha!

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