The Office (US) - Television Theme

Andi 0:01

the first season is atrocious and no amount of binging can save the first season of the office.

Sups 0:09

And then it picked up as one of its show and it became one of the most watched television shows. So you didn't think this was grand enough? No.

Andi 0:21

it was underwhelming. I mean, it's, cute.

Sups 0:23

Yeah.

Andi 0:23

Honestly, if Pam said, no, I wouldn't have blamed her

Tanner 0:28

That's what she said

Andi 0:30

Hello and welcome to this episode of the, I Should have known podcast, the trivia podcast that can't be trusted each week. Our Quizmaster presents you with four big facts on a topic, but one of those facts is a lie. and we are continuing our TV themed month with our Quizmaster Sups.

Sups 0:44

Hello.

Andi 0:45

And he is going to be giving us four facts on the us version of the. office. So join me, Andy and our other host Tanner in trying to figure out which one of his facts is a lie

Sups 0:56

Yeah, And this whole episode is based on the premise that you have watched the us version of the office. The UK version of the office had about 14 episodes. But the us one is Nine seasons Mm-hmm right Mm-hmm the pilot aired on NBC 2005. And the show was on until 2013.

Andi 1:17

Yeah. Mm-hmm

Sups 1:18

Low hanging fruit

Tanner 1:19

Mm-hmm

Sups 1:19

How many episodes does the office have?

Andi 1:23

Well, the first season's short. Yeah. But most of them have about 20 ish episodes. So probably Yeah. I would say One 50.

Tanner 1:33

Yeah, I'm gonna say one 70.

Sups 1:35

Two hundred one, two

Andi 1:36

hundred and

Tanner 1:37

hundred one. Wow. That's a lot.

Sups 1:40

That's a lot. Yeah. lot of episodes. And do you have like a favorite episode? scene? I know it's very difficult to pick one, but,

Tanner 1:47

it's definitely gonna be something after the first season. I think it gets much

Andi 1:51

do Not like the first season.

Tanner 1:52

then the last season kind of goes downhill, I think. the weddings are the best

Andi 1:57

weddings. Yeah. That's such a good one. Yeah.

Sups 1:59

Totally. yeah. Love it. All right. So let's Get into the facts. fact number one, Jim and Pam's proposal was the most expensive scene in the series.

Tanner 2:13

Wow

Sups 2:13

Also, I forgot to say right at the start that there's gonna be a few spoiler. alerts for people.

Andi 2:18

it's been off the air for nearly 10

Sups 2:20

years.

Tanner 2:20

Yeah

Sups 2:21

All right. So Jim proposes Pam, I think in the season five premier the episode was weight loss. And this whole unexpected moment comes because. Pam at the time was a graphic design student in New York. And Jim was still working at duner Mifflin in Scranton. And, this happens at a gas station. Yeah Yeah. And it's raining

Tanner 2:40

in the

Sups 2:40

it's raining And the writers of the show, actually, they had like a clear idea of how the scene would look like they wanted it to be an actual rest. stop On the merit Parkway and to create like fake rain mm-hmm but that rough cost like about a hundred thousand dollars. Plus they wouldn't get all the permission. So they decided to build like a replica of this Parkway and the rest stop. And eventually this whole scene of like about 50 seconds ended up costing about $250,000.

Tanner 3:13

Wow For one scene,

Sups 3:15

for one scene. Yes. And for TV series, you know, office didn't have like a huge budget. right. As like relatively low.

Andi 3:23

This is an HBO Yeah

Tanner 3:24

Yeah. Most scenes are in like one of three rooms. Exactly.

Sups 3:29

Exactly. and, and, you know, what was really interesting is that they built this replica by taking images of Google street So that They Yeah. Match the parking lot. Yeah. And It took them about like nine days to

Tanner 3:41

it. Wow. Just for one scene

Sups 3:43

Just

Andi 3:43

for one Yeah

Sups 3:43

scene,

Andi 3:45

And that shot. is like it's very far away. Right. It's like zoomed in zoomed

Tanner 3:48

across the street. So you can see the cars going by exactly

Sups 3:51

Which was actually like a race track. So it's like a fake street. Yeah. It's not even, the real street. yeah, yeah,

Tanner 3:56

yeah. fake

Andi 3:57

Cause it's like on a highway.

Tanner 3:58

Yeah.

Andi 3:59

I mean, I could see that. scene I never liked the proposal. No, it's Weird to me that they supposedly had like a whole vision and this is their

Tanner 4:07

vision

Andi 4:08

Right. I always thought the proposal was kind of underwhelming, like considering how much their relationship is, like built up and everything. Yeah. And then. She's like in like sweats. And they're at a gas station.

Tanner 4:22

Yeah. I much refer the planned proposal with the fireworks in the Ferris

Andi 4:26

but Andy ruins

Tanner 4:27

Yeah Yeah That

Sups 4:28

would've been good. Yeah. So you didn't think this was grand enough? No.

Andi 4:33

it was underwhelming. I mean, it's, cute.

Sups 4:35

Yeah.

Andi 4:36

Honestly, if Pam said, no, I wouldn't have blamed her

Tanner 4:39

And he built it up so much too in the show because he hints at it in the episodes before

Andi 4:43

I think that's kind of the thing is that like he shows the audience, the ring very early, and he does plan this elaborate proposal that goes awry. Mm-hmm Yeah, And so that it's built up many, many times. Yeah. He does like a fake proposal. So then the real one it's like that.

Tanner 5:00

Yeah. It's believable, but I think another episode could easily be more expensive,

Andi 5:04

right? Yeah. like trying to think of like other scenes

Tanner 5:06

I would think the wedding where they go to Niagara falls and they also have the church wedding both in the same

Sups 5:11

Right Okay.

Andi 5:13

Yeah. Or like other things that make episodes expensive, like the one where they had, I don't know if all the famous comedians when they're interviewing Michael Scott leaves. Did they pay those guys or did they volunteer? Cause if you had to pay All of those actors. like That would be very expensive Yeah

Sups 5:29

Yeah

Tanner 5:29

That's totally possible. Yeah.

Andi 5:31

Yeah. So maybe it'mething like that.

Tanner 5:33

Cool. We'll have to hear the other ones

Sups 5:34

Right Moving on to fact. Number two, Bob Oden cook was initially cast for the role of Michael. Scott.

Tanner 5:43

Okay. Who's Bob Odenkirk.

Sups 5:47

he's the guy from. better called Saul or breaking

Tanner 5:51

so in the office, he plays the new boss that Pam, interviews at

Andi 5:55

Yeah in a later season, she interviews at a different company and he is the

Tanner 6:01

boss and he's just like Michael Scott. Yeah. But he wants her to be a

Sups 6:04

Right and she didn't want. to do The whole thing, but yeah, at that time, both Bob den cook and steve Carll. they were early in their careers. Yeah. But when the series was actually presented to NBC Bob Oden Kirk was shown as

Tanner 6:19

Scott. Oh it

Sups 6:20

Steve Carell. Because the hiring of Steve Carrell was probably the most difficult casting decision that they had to take. Because Bob Oden Kirk, He was available. and he was not too famous, but people knew him in the comedy world. And there were about like 35 other actors. Who were being considered for this role Yeah. but ultimately it was down to two names. it was down to Steve Carrell and Bob Odenkirk mm-hmm Yeah. But the problem was Steve Carrell was already on another NBC

Tanner 6:50

show.

Sups 6:50

At that time, the executives in NBC. They said that no, he's doing another show. So,

Andi 6:55

not double dipping

Sups 6:56

Yeah. But that show got canceled after four episodes Oh So Suddenly

Tanner 7:01

now

Sups 7:02

Carrell was now available So they had to call Bob Odenkirk and tell him that you are no longer part

Andi 7:06

of the oh

Tanner 7:07

show.

Sups 7:07

Wow.

Tanner 7:08

Oh no better call Bob Yeah.

Andi 7:11

So Steve Corll was their first choice. If I'm understanding the story, right. Yeah. He was their first choice, but then he was not available. Right. So then they said, Bob, you got the job. Yeah. And then they're like, great. And then all of a sudden Steve becomes available. And they're like, Ugh,

Tanner 7:25

sorry, Bob.

Sups 7:26

Yeah.

Tanner 7:26

Yeah. Mm-hmm

Andi 7:27

okay.

Sups 7:27

yeah, because he was on this other show. Yeah.

Andi 7:30

Right. So then when he became available, they're like oh, actually our first choice is him and he's available. now.

Sups 7:36

Yeah. Yeah. And that's why he comes back in the, moving on. episode,

Tanner 7:40

and Pam even says he's Michael Scott.

Sups 7:43

Exactly. And she doesn't want to work for another Michael

Tanner 7:46

Scott

Andi 7:46

Yeah. Yeah. that definitely lends credence to this He is in the show a little bit. So why would they do that? Yeah, if that wasn't like a call back to something

Tanner 7:56

Yeah, that makes it sound unbelievable. Mm-hmm

Andi 7:58

yeah. So yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Tanner 8:01

I have to hear the next two.

Andi 8:02

Yeah.

Sups 8:03

Okay. Fact number three, the office reached its popularity only because of Netflix.

Andi 8:11

This seems like a very subjective fact.

Tanner 8:14

Mm.

Sups 8:14

Okay, So NBC was supposed to cancel this show. They had only ordered these many

Andi 8:20

yeah, the

Tanner 8:20

first season

Andi 8:21

only

Sups 8:21

Yeah Yeah But then they do these focus group and. it just did horrible And so the executives at NBC, they were not Super convinced because they initially thought their target audience was like the white collar audience. Yeah. So the Nielsen focus group only got them and they could not resonate with the show And this is 2005 and 2006. Netflix started it's streaming services in 2007. Okay. And then it picked up as one of its show and it became one of the most watched television shows. That's when these execs understood that. Younger audience is more interested in the office than what they thought

Tanner 9:05

so Netflix kind of saved the show then.

Sups 9:07

Exactly,

Tanner 9:08

interesting.

Andi 9:09

I still think this fact is too subjective.

Tanner 9:11

Mm-hmm it's really

Andi 9:12

hard to guess. if it's a lie because Seems like an opinion mm-hmm Cuz I would say the first season is atrocious and no amount of binging can save the first season of the office. Yeah. So I would say the thing that saved the office is the total reframing of the character of Michael Scott in the second season and beyond mm-hmm

Tanner 9:31

mm-hmm right.

Andi 9:31

I guess that maybe could have coincided with Netflix I it's hard to say. this is definitely the one thing that made this popular. I think it contributes right because they try to do the British humor. Yeah They And it just does not work. Right And. I don't see how binging could

Tanner 9:49

possibly

Andi 9:50

fix that. right. when I rewatch the office, which I do a

Tanner 9:53

lot

Sups 9:53

yeah

Andi 9:54

by the way, I usually skip the first season it's too gross. And it's even worse now.

Tanner 9:59

Right? He's too cringy. You can't get behind him. He's not heartwarming

Andi 10:02

or anything. No

Tanner 10:03

But I totally believe that the first focus groups they did it didn't do well because people are like this isn't funny in America, this, I don't want more of

Andi 10:11

this. Yeah.,

Tanner 10:12

Makes total sense that something happened around that time that saved the show. I didn't know that it was picked up by Netflix around then. Yeah. Interesting. I wonder about the fourth

Sups 10:24

fact, right? Okay. So fact, number four, Oscar, Nuez kept his job as a server and babysitter because he thought the show is not going to be successful. So Oscar Nuez plays the character. Oscar Yeah. He was a huge fan of the British version of the office. Okay. And At that time, he was also not a big actor, still auditioning for many shows. And after auditioning for the office, he figured the show would film a pilot and go nowhere So he didn't quit his day job. in Catering and babysitting until it was picked up for a second season.

Andi 10:59

Yeah. mean, that makes sense. That he's anything like his character than He would definitely fit in that Nielsen group. you know, the white collar educated.

Tanner 11:09

He's very rational thinking. Yeah.

Andi 11:10

would hate the first season. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Tanner 11:13

yeah

Andi 11:13

That totally makes sense so I could believe that mm-hmm yeah. I guess the lie could be something where it's a different character.

Tanner 11:19

Mm-hmm different actor

Andi 11:20

Yeah. So. a good choice of character and actor. If this is

Tanner 11:24

is a lie. mm-hmm

Andi 11:25

You know

Tanner 11:26

Yeah I also love that like half of the actors use their real names yeah. On the show

Andi 11:33

Yeah. Yeah I think that's part of what makes the show so compelling is that like, and the actors, they look like normal people. Yeah. they're not like super hot and just like, it's unrealistic. Like they really do look like someone you would work with in an office. Like they look like normal people, they use their real names. So like

Tanner 11:50

that's why it's so noticeable when Timothy Oli font comes on and they all react like, oh, wow. He's, he's very hot.

Sups 11:57

Yeah

Andi 11:58

So that kind of works.

Tanner 11:59

Hmm. Yeah. It's pretty believable

Andi 12:02

this is gonna be a hard

Tanner 12:03

one Yeah

Andi 12:03

Yeah's

Sups 12:03

it's

Tanner 12:04

It's tough That's what she said

Andi 12:07

I have been setting you guys up You guys are

Sups 12:10

the

Tanner 12:10

worst Oh I didn't realize I was like what what it's no that's what she said

Sups 12:14

said

Andi 12:15

So can you repeat the four facts for us before we guess Which one of your office facts is a lie?

Sups 12:20

Yeah, absolutely. Fact number one, Jim and Pam's proposal was the most expensive scene in the series fact. Number two, Bob Odenkirk was initially cast for the role of Michael. Scott Fact number three, the office reached its popularity because of Netflix In fact number four, Oscar Nuez kept his job as a server and babysitter because he thought the show isn't going to be successful.

Tanner 12:59

Hmm. One is a prank

Sups 13:00

One is

Tanner 13:01

prank.

Sups 13:02

indeed.

Tanner 13:03

None of the facts about my favorite character. Creed is your favorite

Andi 13:06

character Creed

Tanner 13:08

yes Creed.

Andi 13:08

that's a you

Tanner 13:09

you think I'm creed

Andi 13:11

I think you guys have a lot of similarities.

Tanner 13:14

Yeah. True. All right. I believe the Oscar Nona's one. I think that's the most believable.

Andi 13:19

Yeah. I think with any episode where it's like anecdotes, you know, we're talking about real things happening and people talking about their experiences and stuff.

Tanner 13:26

Yeah It

Andi 13:26

really hard to guess.

Tanner 13:28

Yeah.

Andi 13:28

sometimes you get to the point where it's like, well, I believe someone said that. Yeah. Do I believe. it's True. I don't know,

Tanner 13:35

we're also in the age where people have whole podcasts about their life during the office, so I think this would probably have come out that someone said they were not sure it

Andi 13:44

right Yeah Oh yeah yeah, yeah, So yeah, that one works. The third one is very subjective and I. Don't wanna touch it. Okay So the first two are more objective, right? Like literally the most expensive episode.

Tanner 13:55

Yeah That's cents. Right. so you kind of have to figure out what other scene would be more

Andi 13:59

Yeah

Tanner 14:00

I like your idea

Andi 14:01

I would be guessing comedians. Yeah. But I think a lot of those comedians did it like for fun. Yeah. Like they weren't really getting paid.

Tanner 14:07

Yeah. Guest star

Andi 14:08

star thing. Yeah. And then the second one There is the whole thing about him coming back but it could just be that he was like the second choice. Yeah. And he wasn't originally cast.

Tanner 14:18

That's a pretty good reasoning for that one to be false. Yeah.

Andi 14:22

What are you thinking?

Tanner 14:22

The exact same lines. Yeah. Yeah. I believe the Oscar one, the Netflix one makes sense to me with the timing and the I think the Steve Corll Bob wood and Kirk won is the least believable, but I also can't identify the price of scenes. So I don't know about number

Andi 14:39

yeah yeah right. Like They crash a car into a lake at one point. I don't know how much That costs.

Tanner 14:44

yeah, right

Andi 14:45

So, yeah, I mean,

Tanner 14:46

probably one or two. Yeah.

Andi 14:48

I'm gonna say number two. Okay. I think Maybe they were considering him, but they didn't actually pick him. Yeah. But I don't know.

Tanner 14:57

Okay. I'm going with number one. I really like your explanations of the car and the comedians And I can just see these bills going up and up

Andi 15:04

something yeah. Yeah. There's gotta be, I mean, that they put a fair in the parking lot. How much does that cost? I don't know

Tanner 15:11

Yeah I think it's number

Sups 15:12

one. Okay, So we've got fact number one which is Jim and Pam's proposal. That's the most expensive one. And fact number two which is Bob Denko, who was initially cast for the role of Michael Scott lie is neither, It, is fact number three Yes. Netflix did start streaming services, but office episodes were still coming out weekly and Netflix strategy for the longest time was binging everything together. Right. The show was saved. Not because this was on Netflix, but because at that time you could download TV shows from iTunes

Andi 15:44

Nice.

Sups 15:44

were like and that's when it becomes super popular with the young kids And it became so big in iTunes that NBC execs were like surprised because they wanted to cancel the show. Yeah.

Tanner 15:58

But the digital downloads exactly.

Andi 16:00

That was that the second season?

Sups 16:01

Yes.

Tanner 16:02

So the timeline was the same, but it was iTunes,

Sups 16:05

S not yeah yeah Okay Yeah

Tanner 16:07

Wow.

Sups 16:07

Yeah I didn't know either that you could be downloading shows and iTunes back in those days. No,

Tanner 16:13

I love that the young people saved it though.

Sups 16:15

Yeah. yeah.

Tanner 16:17

yeah. Wow.

Andi 16:19

I should. have known. Thanks for listen Thanks for listening to this episode of the Ashe known podcast. We'll be continuing our TV themed for the rest of the month And If you like this episode, though, you can no longer download it on iTunes. You can rate us on apple podcasts. and we would be very grateful. And as always. Thanks for listening. No you're forcing it that's what she said.