SPOILER ALERT! Article and subsequent comments may contain spoilers.
E! Online’s Kristin Dos Santos talks to a newly freed Jenna Fischer about ‘The Office’ Season 5:
What … can you tell us about Pam this season?
Well, I think last season was all about Pam being in love and just enjoying that and being content with Jim and now, she still has Jim, but she is growing and getting into something she’s always wanted to do. It’s a big year for Pam.
It hasn’t been decided if she’s returning to Dunder Mifflin yet?! That’s awesome! It’ll be weird but as long as she’s still on the show, I honestly wouldn’t mind. In real life if someone was finally getting a shot at their dream, I bet they wouldn’t want to go back to working at a paper company for minimum wage under Michael and Dwight. So in a way, it’s keeping the show realistic if she decides not to come back, though Dunder Mifflin would be a bit less colorful.
I’m happy for Pam, but if she never came back she’d be breaking up the Dunder Mifflin family we all know and love! NOOOOOOO
That’s gonna be so lame if she leaves DM Scranton.
Ok I am confused, I thought the school was going to be over the summer? So maybe it didn’t start until August? Someone enlighten me please….
I’m all for Pam living out her dreams but DM would not be the same without her. I hope the writers don’t go that route.
After reading Kristin’s spoiler chat, I’m starting to suspect that Jan is the new receptionist at DM :)
the thing is, even once she’s finished art school, she’s not going to land her dream job straight away. I think she’ll have to come back to DM just to earn some cash. Maybe she can start off with freelance work…whilst still working reception? I can’t imagine DM without Pam!
What about Jim? When is he going to follow his dreams?
Wow – she gave away a lot more than I thought she would’ve! Not sure I wanted to know all of that, but hey – I clicked the link :)
i find it hard to imagine the dynamic in the office being as great without pam. i feel like we finally get the pay off of jim and pam being together and get to see them as this little team in the office. after all that angst i want to see more of the pay off! but at the same time, i do want the characters to grow. i think a great compromise is her working part time in reception for money while she has a part time internship in design, that is actually really realistic.
ultimately, i totally trust the writers and love this show.
plus, nevermind jam or even the pranks on dwight, michael needs pam!
OMG I almost died reading that interview!!
Okay, it’s really bad – I want Pam to have her dream, but I don’t want her to leave DM. ahh, I’m so torn. Also, I cannot believe she spilled about the JAM situation. I’m SO excited/nervous for the new season!
Great article….
Season 3 was wonderful in large part to the writers making Pam’s internal struggle to find herself a central theme to the season. Jenna did an amazing job with her character. She deserved being nominated.
I am looking forward to seeing how the writers continue Pam’s journey in Season 5 and how Jim fits into the picture.
Personally I want Jim and Pam to make it. They are one of the best TV couples. But time will tell.
Wow, that was a lot more than I was expecting her to say. So I guess it’s confirmed that they aren’t engaged?
I love this line – “But I have to say, you know Amy Ryan was really nice, and she’s short and blond, and I think she likes Target and flip-flops, so I might have to tell Angela, ‘You know, you can be replaced.'”
I hope Jenna gets an Emmy for playing Pam too. I don’t think Season 4 was her year, but it sounds like she might be given some great material this year.
I can’t believe they are even considering having Pam leave Dunder Mifflin for good. I can’t picture Dunder Mifflin without Pam, but as long as she stays on the show I’m happy.
You know, I like seeing the continuation of Pam’s journey from season three and all, but I really hope some focus gets put on Jim’s. It was started last year but cut short due to the strike. I’d love to see the continuation of that, especially how he’s coping with Dunder Mifflin without the one person that made it worthwhile.
Jenna keeps getting these full story-arcs because she is the stand-out actor on the show.
I agree phyllis*farm. I love that they are continuing to show Pam grow, but what about Jim and the rest of the cast. I do think that’s where they were going last year with Jim; showing him as more of a supervisor in the office and trying to be more of a professional salesman, which didn’t work in his favor at times. However, the story was short changed due to the writers strike, so I hope they continue on that path with Jim this season.
Perhaps with Pam in New York, Jim be focused on as an individual, not just the second half of “Jam”. He’ll be alone in Scranton focusing on his own professional goals. Jim has never known Dunder Mifflin Scranton without Pam’s smiling face at reception. Pam being away may be a great opportunity for him to see the office in a different way, allowing him to make his own assessments about what he wants to do with his career. I’m happy for Pam’s arc (although I’m a little nervous about Jenna’s comments), but I really want to see Jim’s evolution a bit more.
I might’ve read this in the spoilers but they said something about a replacement coming for Pam while she’s gone, and that is someone we will like. My bet is that Hunter is the replacement, just because that would be hilarious. Possibly a confrontation with Jan and Michael about ‘that one night’? A battle of the bands between his band and Scrantonicity 2? The possibilities are endless.
I wonder if Ryan will be the fill-in receptionist. He did it before and he could have made a deal with DM NY office to do a work-release job.
18- that is an interesting point. pam had the opportunity to be at dm scranton without jim and find herself as an individual. now jim will have a similar experience. boy, i cannot wait for season 5!!
So… did The Rocker make 18.7 mil? And congrats on your freedom, Jenna!
I have to say they have given Jim room to grow. Pam’s growth is more obvious because she has gone through the biggest change. Like somebody else said Jim would’ve grown more if not for the writer’s strike. The biggest moment for Jim in season 4 was when he told Ryan he would fight for his job.
23 – I think it will be interesting to see Jim trying to find his way at DM without Pam being there as his “partner in crime”. He’ll have to feel his way alone. We did get to see some Jim growth in the shortened season four, but we saw him fail often. This season, I’d love to see how Jim’s failures will make him decide where he wants to be. Maybe having Pam in NYC will give him a little space for himself to work on learning from those mistakes. I love the Pam story, but I’m really looking forward to the continuation of Jim’s arc.
#10:
Exactly what’s that supposed to mean?
Debi 24-
I think people overlook the biggest area of Jim’s growth, Dwight. Since he got back from Stamford he and Dwight have become friends. It isn’t a friendship expressed in the usual way but a friendship just the same.
They’re not engaged? :'( …. Pam, come back! I know you want to follow your dreams and all, but what about OUR dreams? The fans who love the Jam interaction at DM, the fans who can’t stand to have you guys apart for even 3 months! We’re kinda actually real people…. and you’re kinda a fictional character. So shouldn’t our real dreams go before your fictional ones? Thanks Pam, I knew you’d understand ;)
As loathe as I am to agree with ‘Perez Hilton’ on anything, ever (no offense, #16), there is something about Jenna’s commitment to Pam that IMHO makes her the best ‘storyteller’ on the show. This doesn’t diminish the other actors’ stellar performances in any way, I just think that what Jenna does with Pam is a class apart.
And it’s not because she’s hot.
Did she say “I really want an emmy”!?!… who says that?
[from tanster: please proofread and re-post. thanks!]
#25 – it means that pam and jim have parented michael through the last 4 seasons. i feel like pam looks after michael and really cares about him. she knows how to deal with him and keep him in check and she sort of takes care of him. who else would not transfer a call to michael until he has used up his cheesy first line (remember casino night? – “he usually does better on his second attempt”). i feel like michael really needs pam.
30, tuna-
This was discussed in the commentary for Safety Training. Jim and Pam kinda came together in that episode to help out Michael, like divorced parents will work together when their child needs it. Michael is a very insecure person and really looks to Jim and Pam to ground him.
I agree Tuna, Pam is definitely underappreciated by Michael. Pam’s absence from the office means we won’t get an episode where Jim and Pam have to play parents to Michael those are the funniest.
#31 – that was the other example i thought of! i remember that from the commentary now that you mention it. i thought that was so sweet and (at the time) thought “see! see?! they should be together, not stupid karen!!”
i am glad i am not the only person who appreciates this dynamic.
I totally agree with you guys! I absolutely loved the whole divorced parent thing between jim and pam. I’m so sad Pam’s gonna be gone for a while :(
Hmm it sounds like we won’t have any JAM action for a while. I’m kind of bummed about this. It’s like Stamford but at least they’re together. Hopefully we’ll get some kind of engagement scene or him visiting her. Michael was definitely meaner to Pam in S4 so I’m curious what it’s like with her not there anymore.
31 and 33-
Yes…it is apparent that Michael needs Pam. She acts like a caring parent to him…we get it.
The question is, does Pam need Michael?