Digest

The episode begins with a recap of the previous week's episode, "Weight Loss Part One," and then dives into a deleted scene where Michael inadvertently shares a secret about Michael Skarn with Holly. The podcast then delves into the second part of the season five premiere, "Weight Loss Part Two," highlighting the continuation of the weight loss contest, Ryan's return as a temp, Michael's pursuit of Holly, Dwight and Angela's secret relationship, and Jim's big question for Pam. Angela and Jennifer discuss Paul Feig's role as a supervising director and co-executive producer in season five, exploring his influence on the show's quality and his role as a "taste maker," setting the tone and vision for the season. The episode provides a breakdown of the filming locations for the art school scenes, revealing that they were primarily shot at USC. They also discuss the real Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and its famous "Pratt Cats" population. Angela and Jennifer highlight Rich Summer's guest appearance as Pam's art school friend, Alex, discussing his career and his connection to the Office cast, including his friendship with Nicholas DeGosto. The episode focuses on Ryan's return to Dunder Mifflin, his new goatee, and his creation of a "revenge list" for those who have wronged him. They also discuss the deleted scenes featuring Ryan's talking heads and his interactions with Kevin, David Wallace, and Jim. The episode covers the weigh-in scene, highlighting the zero-pound weight loss and the meltdown of some employees. They also discuss the fruit flies in the vending machine, revealing that they were real and required a dedicated "fruit fly wrangler." The episode explores Pam's interactions with her new art school friends, including Rich Summer's character, Alex. They also discuss Phyllis's outrage after Dwight takes her to an abandoned warehouse and forces her to walk back. The episode focuses on Michael's attempt to promote body positivity through his "Michael Clump" character. They discuss the special suit Steve Carell wore for the scene and Michael's efforts to get everyone to celebrate their differences. The episode delves into the rain storm scene, revealing that it was created using fake rain panels and the use of a circular racetrack to simulate highway traffic. They also discuss Pam's ASCI portrait of Dwight, which she created as a summer project. The episode highlights the ongoing wedding planning between Andy and Angela, including Angela's request for a first dance to "Little Drumherboy." They also discuss the NBC.com website created for the wedding, which featured a registry with humorous items chosen by Andy and Angela. The episode focuses on Jim's proposal to Pam at a rest stop. They discuss the behind-the-scenes details of the scene, including the construction of the set, the use of Google Street View, and the debate over whether to include sound during the proposal. The episode concludes with a discussion of Toby's hospital room in Costa Rica, revealing that it was filmed at USC. They also highlight the mystery of the uncredited background performer who appears in the bed next to Toby.

Outlines

00:00:00

Season Five Premiere: Weight Loss Part Two

The episode delves into the second part of the season five premiere, "Weight Loss Part Two," highlighting the continuation of the weight loss contest, Ryan's return as a temp, Michael's pursuit of Holly, Dwight and Angela's secret relationship, and Jim's big question for Pam.

00:00:28

Paul Feig: The Taste Maker

Angela and Jennifer discuss Paul Feig's role as a supervising director and co-executive producer in season five. They explore his influence on the show's quality and his role as a "taste maker," setting the tone and vision for the season.

00:05:12

Art School Location Breakdown

The episode provides a breakdown of the filming locations for the art school scenes, revealing that they were primarily shot at USC. They also discuss the real Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and its famous "Pratt Cats" population.

00:06:10

Rich Summer: Guest Star Alert

Angela and Jennifer highlight Rich Summer's guest appearance as Pam's art school friend, Alex. They discuss his career and his connection to the Office cast, including his friendship with Nicholas DeGosto.

00:11:03

Ryan's Return and His List

The episode focuses on Ryan's return to Dunder Mifflin, his new goatee, and his creation of a "revenge list" for those who have wronged him. They also discuss the deleted scenes featuring Ryan's talking heads and his interactions with Kevin, David Wallace, and Jim.

00:12:48

The Weigh-In and Fruit Flies

The episode covers the weigh-in scene, highlighting the zero-pound weight loss and the meltdown of some employees. They also discuss the fruit flies in the vending machine, revealing that they were real and required a dedicated "fruit fly wrangler."

00:14:27

Pam's New Friends and Phyllis's Outrage

The episode explores Pam's interactions with her new art school friends, including Rich Summer's character, Alex. They also discuss Phyllis's outrage after Dwight takes her to an abandoned warehouse and forces her to walk back.

00:18:34

Michael Clump and Body Image

The episode focuses on Michael's attempt to promote body positivity through his "Michael Clump" character. They discuss the special suit Steve Carell wore for the scene and Michael's efforts to get everyone to celebrate their differences.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the mystery surrounding Toby's bedmate in the tag at the end of the episode?

  The mystery is the identity of the uncredited background performer who appears in bed next to Toby. Angela and Jennifer tried to find out who it was but were unsuccessful.

• What was Paul Feig's role in season five of "The Office"?

  Paul Feig served as a supervising director and co-executive producer, overseeing the on-set production and directing several episodes. He was also a "taste maker," influencing the show's quality and vision.

• Where were the art school scenes filmed?

  The art school scenes were primarily filmed at USC, using empty classrooms and dorm rooms. The only scene not filmed on campus was the video chat between Jim and Pam, which was recreated on the Dunder Mifflin set.

• What is the significance of the rain storm in the episode?

  The rain storm was a deliberate choice by the writers and producers to create a sense of atmosphere and to reinforce the idea that it was a rainy day. It was also a significant element in the proposal scene, adding to the romantic and unexpected nature of the moment.

• What was the most expensive scene ever filmed in "The Office"?

  The most expensive scene was Jim's proposal to Pam, which cost $250,000 and lasted only 52 seconds. The scene required the construction of a full-scale gas station set, a four-lane racetrack, and a team of precision drivers.

Show Notes