Office Ladies

Break out the nutcrackers and fire up the karaoke because we're breaking down A Benihana Christmas. This is a supersize episode and we're bringing on not one but TWO amazing guests! Actress Rashida Jones and writer Jen Celotta join us to share their memories and insights of this episode. We deep dive on the history of Benihana, and we talk about The Party Planning Committee v. The Committee to Plan Parties. Finally, we answer fan questions around Angela Martin’s siblings, some continuity errors, and who got a Dundie for 'Tallest Music Dude’.

This week we're breaking down The Convict. We reached out to this episode's director, Jeffrey Blitz, and actor Wayne Wilderson, to get their memories and insights of this episode. We start with a haunted hotel story, the ladies discuss Pig Latin and Jenna explains the language of Ab. Then we get the origins of Prison Mike, and the scoop on how hard it was to get through those conference room scenes without breaking or sweating. To wrap it up, we discuss the scene with Andy singing Rainbow Connection and get some final insights from Jeffrey Blitz. Tanks for listening! It’s been a good life!

This week we're breaking down The Merger, and the ladies reach out to director Ken Whittingham, and writer Brent Forrester, who share their memories and insights on this episode. Then we chat about Pam's plants and homemade sexy sweater, and we get the lowdown on that Staples shredder in the original airing of this episode. Finally, we get a little heartbreak in the breakroom (and maybe a new country song?), Tony's firing and reappearance in Threat Level Midnight, and we dig into that last hilarious last scene between Dwight and Andy. We hope your mama knits you a sexy sweater after this episode.

To submit your version of Heartbreak in the Breakroom email us at [email protected] or tag us on Instagram @officeladiespod

This week we're shaking things up and revisiting Casino Night! We're answering more fan questions and covering things we missed from that episode like, Mindy's hair extensions, why some actors share their characters' names, and we clear up the My Buddy - Kid Sister debacle. We're also joined by Casino Night director and early The Office visionary himself, Ken Kwapis. Ken gives us his The Office origin story, chats about his favorite moments from the show, and helps us dig a little deeper into Casino Night. We hope you...you know what, go ahead.

You can find Ken's book, But What I Really Want To Do Is Direct, here https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250260123 and here https://www.amazon.com/But-What-Really-Want-Direct/dp/1250260124

This week we're breaking down Branch Closing and we have a lot to cover. We have to start by mentioning this is the episode that spawned the famous Michael Scott "This Is The Worst" meme, we dig into those Angela and Roy flirtations, and get into the intricacies of low-pony tails. Then, we get a great fan catch at David Wallace's house, and we find out Jim is coming back to Scranton. Finally, we couldn't say goodbye to Josh Porter without bringing on the amazing Charles Esten (Outer Banks on Netflix). Charles gives us his The Office origin story, talks about his family's love of the show, and gives us inside info about his last scenes with Andy (Ed Helms).

This week we're breaking down Diwali! And we couldn't even think about breaking down this episode without checking in with the amazing triple threat herself, Mindy Kaling! Mindy walks us through how she came to work on The Office, what it was like for her to be able to pitch and write Diwali, and explains why they cast her actual parents in this episode. Then Jenna and Angela dig into this episode even deeper covering Kevin's sweaty feet, and what went into filming and costuming the Diwali festivities. Finally, we connect with Jaysha Patel, who played one of Mindy's sisters and get her memories of filming this episode, why sushi and bottle service don't mix, and we end with a great BFF catch.

This week we're breaking down Initiation, our journey begins now. This episode can really only be defined as "the works", we get introduced to Pretzel Day, Schrute Farms, and Mose and we're going to talk about them all. We check in at Stamford and that squeaky chair and a fun Jim-Pam background catch. Then we explore Stanley's love of Pretzel Day and the unexpected bond between him and Michael. Finally, we are joined by two of the best in the biz, BJ Novak and Rainn Willson, to get the inside scoop on all those iconic Ryan, Dwight and Mose moments from this episode. We hope you don't crash too hard after this episode.

What do we know about this week? We know that this week, we are breaking down Grief Counseling. We start this episode with some real life bird trouble, and we get some special audio treats from Mindy Kaling and the episode writer herself, Jen Celotta. Then we dig into chip rankings, we clear up a fan theory around Ed Trucks death, and we find out who's been moving the conference table. Finally, we get a writer's room deep dive on Dwights absorbed twin speech, and Jenna learns to not touch melons in France. Amen!

Audio excerpt courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, narrated by the author. © 2011 by Mindy Kaling, ℗ 2011 Penguin Random House LLC

This week we're breaking down The Coup, so you better get ready for a fashion show, fashion show, fashion show at lunch! We start off with Movie Monday, Rainn Wilson shares a few memories about this episode, and a fan submits an interesting theory about Jim's shirt sleeves. Then we talk about Stamford and Call of Duty, we get Outlet Mall deep dives, and of course we couldn't forget Crentist the Dentist. Finally we wrap up with Michael and Dwight hugging it out, and Angela shares a journal entry and a couple deleted scenes.

Pass those freedom fries because this week we're breaking down The Convention. We can't start this episode without checking in with Kentapedia (Kent Zbornak), to get the inside scoop on how the crew pulled off a full paper convention, and Jenna gives us a missed Dwight - Gareth meeting. Then we get a fun fan callback to those pesky bugs on set, Jenna's got some beef and Angela reveals she watched The Edge! Finally, Angela give us inside scoop on that hotel room scene, we check in on Pam's double date, and Michael finally gets his best friend back.