Many people who’re superfans of The Workplace have typically questioned why Dunder Mifflin wanted to herald a substitute for Pam’s second maternity depart.
Within the Office Ladies podcast with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the most effective mates and co-stars broke down “Pam’s Replacement,” episode 7 from Season 8. (Fischer had been on a short podcast hiatus after breaking her shoulder.)
Fischer identified that in Pam’s first maternity depart, she was simply doing the receptionist job. However by the eighth season, she’s the workplace administrator and nonetheless covers some receptionist duties; in essence, Pam is now doing all the behind-the-scenes jobs that hold the workplace operating easily.
To recap, Pam is on the brink of go on maternity depart, however she’s feeling insecure about being changed. Plus, Pam worries that Cathy, performed by Lindsey Broad, is youthful and extra engaging that she is, and that Jim shall be drawn to her. Cathy will even be sitting at Pam’s desk, proper subsequent to Jim.
In the meantime, within the warehouse, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin — or Kevin and the Zits as they’re affectionately identified — are having a jam session. Robert California asks to hitch them earlier than kicking all of them out as soon as his previous bandmates present up.Â
Pam’s being pregnant fears land on Jim and Cathy.
Fischer mentioned though she was truly pregnant whereas filming the episode, she wasn’t upset by any of the jokes about being pregnant. In truth, she appreciated that the dialogue offers with among the insecurities pregnant individuals might have round their attractiveness on the time. (The episode was written by Allison Silverman Jones, who was pregnant on the time.)
“I assumed this episode was so properly written and so superbly highlights a few of these insecurities,” Fischer recalled.
Pam enlists the assistance of Dwight to find out if Jim finds Cathy engaging, however asking Jim outright — to not point out Dwight’s rude crotch-grab — simply doesn’t appear to work.Â
Who’s Mike Tibbets?
One of many methods Pam, Dwight, and Kelly attempt to learn how Jim actually feels about Cathy is the set-up check. Pam asks Jim which certainly one of his mates he would set Cathy up with. Immediately, Jim says Mike Tibbets, aka “essentially the most boring-looking man I do know.” After all, Jim is already onto Pam’s plan and picks Mike on function.
“That may be a set off for me,” Fischer recalled. “So, filming the scene at Kelly’s desk the place she pulls up the picture of Mike Tibbetts — I do not know for those who watched the bloopers of it, [but] we could not get via it.”
Fischer mentioned that she and Mindy Kaling didn’t get to see the prop photo of Mike earlier than they recorded the scene. After they pulled up the picture, it was of a regular-looking man with a receding hairline, black-framed glasses, and a large smile. General, he is not horrible — “I do not see what’s so ugly about him; he is obtained the broad face of a brewer,” Dwight feedback — however most likely not a love match for Cathy.
Mashable High Tales
“The scripted line that Mindy is meant to say is, ‘Possibly he can be higher if he modified his hair.’ However the individual they picked had no hair,” Fischer mentioned. “We by no means got here again from it. I do not know if I’ve ever laughed so laborious, like my abdomen damage. My big pregnant abdomen.”
Kaling even despatched in a voice recording to the podcast recalling her problem with the scene and its absurdity — particularly, the ridiculousness of Kelly’s feedback. Within the episode, the road that made it to airing was, “I imply, I assume he’d be okay with hair. OK, it is best to see if he’ll get hair plugs.”
Finally Pam, Jim, and Dwight head to an area pharmacy for a lie-detector check. Jim’s blood strain is elevated, so the couple decides to depart and name his physician after grabbing Cece a toothbrush.
The warehouse band will get a brand new member — after which a brand new band.
Additionally on this episode, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin are joined — lastly! — by their too-cool-for-school boss Robert California, performed to icy perfection by James Spader. They’re thrilled and satisfied they’re going to now be BFFs for all times. However not so quick!Â
Robert California’s actual mates present up, they usually’re actual musicians — on the present and IRL. The on-screen crew contains Robin Swenson, Linda Taylor, and Steve Moore. Moore’s backstory is what’s going to win you trivia night time.
Moore, often known as the Mad Drummer, was solid by NBC for an element in Robert California’s band after Moore’s video, “This Drummer Is at the Wrong Gig,” went viral. (He replaces Kevin on drums on this episode.) Kinsey mentioned she learn interviews with Moore after his look through which he famous how good and down-to-earth everybody was on the filming.Â
“He mentioned this: ‘Each individual I encountered gave the impression to be in an awesome temper and joyful to see me,'” she mentioned. ‘And this made all of the distinction, as I used to be clearly out of my aspect and a nervous wreck.'”
Kinsey factors out that this isn’t the primary time Kevin was changed in his band — bear in mind Scrantonicity vs. Scrantonicity 2?Â
“I noticed a couple of different individuals discuss this on-line, and I had been pondering the identical factor,” Kinsey mentioned. “That is the second time Kevin has been pushed out of his personal band. He was in Scrantonicity! They kicked him out. He needed to type Scrantonicity 2. Kevin and the Zits, he simply obtained kicked out of.”
Finally, Darryl, Andy, and Kevin are seen outdoors the warehouse enjoying music collectively and embracing “The Zits” identify.
Scranton’s hometown type is powerful within the episode.
Kinsey identified that it appeared the prop crew had made a visit to Scranton earlier than the episode. She mentioned she noticed objects from Gerrity’s Supermarkets and Wegmans, each of which have their headquarters in Scranton. However the prop that she discovered essentially the most curious was a clean ebook being learn by Dwight. Kinsey, who had many scenes with Rainn Wilson, mentioned she believed that the ebook was a last-minute addition. She mentioned Wilson beloved props; she surmised that he’d instructed the crew he wanted a prop for the scene and was handed the clean ebook.Â
“So it may need been a last-minute thought,” Kinsey mentioned. “And to keep away from any issues with clearance, [prop master] Phil Shea most likely gave him a ebook with no cowl or title.”
Whereas Fischer and Kinsey are within the remaining stretches of The Workplace episodes, the most effective mates promised that the Workplace Girls would proceed. They’re planning some distinctive content material, and even contemplating a “Expensive Workplace Girls” recommendation spin-off podcast. Would you need recommendation by yourself workplace life? Allow them to know!Â
You’ll be able to stream episodes of The Office on Peacock and observe together with the podcast each week on Earwolf, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher.