Office Ladies - Michael’s Improv Class with Michael Naughton

Episode Date: October 8, 2025

This week on Office Ladies 6.0 it’s all about Michael’s Improv Class! In the episode “Email Surveillance” we see Michael take an improv class and he has some issues improvising with his classmates. Jenna and Angela go over improv scenes that were deleted but are now in the superfan episode of “Email Surveillance". Later Angela interviews Michael Naughton who played Michael’s improv teacher. Michael shares how he got his job on “The Office” and what it was like to be in these very funny scenes. Afterwards Angela, Cassi and improvisers Marcus Folmar and Conner McCabe do an improv set in honor of Michael’s improv class. This is a very funny episode, so no need to be invited to Jim’s party to enjoy it!  Check out Marcus Folmar - IG @folmar.official  Check out Conner McCabe - IG: @conner_mccabe, Podcast: Call Me By Your Game Office Ladies Website - Submit a fan question: https://officeladies.com/submitaquestion  Follow Us on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on TikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rumor has it, new NHL hockey cards have arrived at Tim's, and every pack tells a story with rare finds, fan favorites, and exclusive prizes. Ready to score big? Start collecting today, only at Tim's, a participating in Canada for a limited time. I'm Jenna Fisher, and I'm Angela Kinsey. We were on The Office together, and we're best friends. And now we're doing the ultimate Office Lovers podcast just for you. Each week we will dive deep. into the world of the office with exclusive interviews behind-the-scenes details and lots of BFF stories. We're the Office Lady 6.0. Hi, lady. Hi there. Hello from Chicago still. Hello from my little closet at home. Everyone, I'm really excited about today's episode. We should tell you I'm still in Chicago. My play Ashland Avenue was extended to October 19th, but, But, woohoo, woohoo. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Well, since I've been in Chicago,

Angela, you and Cassie have put together an amazing episode today, diving into email surveillance, Michael's improv class, and your love of improv. Will you tell everybody what we're doing today? Yes, I am so excited about this episode because Cassie and I are huge improv nerds. Tell us your background with improv. A lot of you guys listening might know that my early days as a performer. I was doing tons of shows at IOS. I performed every chance I could get. I was just getting up on stage all the time. And Cassie shares my passion for improv. And I'm so tickled by it. Cassie, can you hop on and tell us a little bit about your improv journey? Yeah, of course. Yeah, I'm a huge improv nerd. And I took my first improv class at 14 at a community college with a friend. His dad would literally like drop us off at this community college and we'd be doing improv with what I perceived at the time. the oldest people in the world who were actually, like, probably 20. Yeah. And then, yeah, I just kept doing it throughout college.

And then when I moved to L.A., I started taking classes at UCB and got on Harold night. And, yeah, I'm just a huge improv nerd. You know, I had said this when you and I were working on this, but, like, I feel like Cassie is my younger self in some ways when it comes to the improv scene because I took improv in junior high. That's awesome. And I was like, I just loved it. from the get-go. I had an amazing theater teacher that did improv with us. And then again,

came to L.A., did I.O. And Cassie actually invited me to come to UCB, and I did ASCAT one night. You have to explain what ASCAT is for people outside of the improv community. Right. I do feel like we get a little insider improv-y together, Cassie, when we start with your improv lingo. I know. I just could hear Rain Wilson somewhere in the world making fun of me right now. Yeah, so Askat, and they also did this at Improv Olympic 2, it was called Armando Diaz. You get a suggestion from the audience, and then there's a monologist who does a monologue on the spot, a true life story, not scripted, just whatever they thought of from that suggestion. And then in the wings are the improvisers. They're listening to that information, and they're going to deconstruct it and use it to inspire a series of scenes and runners in its long form.

And it was so much fun. a blast. You know, I've done that. Yeah. Oh, awesome. I was a monologist. I was one of the people who came and got a suggestion from the audience and I told a real life story. And then I watched the improvisers bring it to life. It's so cool. If you live in a city where you can go see a show like this, it is a really fun night out. It's so fun. And when I was on the office, I would hit up the entire cast to come and be the monologist. And I'll never forget the night Creed did it. Because he did the thing that Creed does where you're like, wait, Creed, wait, come on, is that story? But you just had to go with it, right?

Like, what is real? What is not? Well, you guys know, I don't talk about this a lot. Angela, I don't even know if you know this as my BFF. What? You know, I did improv in L.A. What? What?

What? Oh, my gosh. I did. How did we not know this? For like almost two. Because I was, I was terrible. I took improv classes at a small studio in Van Nuys, California, and I did it because my agent at the time, he looked at my resume and he said, you have such wonderful training, you've got no improv training.

And, you know, studios, producers, directors, they like to see that. It's the thing right now. You need to get that. So I said, okay. And I went and I trained. So I know all your references. I know yes and I know all the things. I'm not good. I did a few shows. It was like anyone who saw me in those shows will tell you I'm just not good. Here's what I'm good at. Here's what I'm very good at. If I develop a character over time and I know that character, I can improvise as that character. What I can't do is in third, 30 seconds or five seconds, come up with something interesting to say or invent a character right on the spot. Like, I need my time. I need my long runway. Right, right. But I love improv. I love it. Well, I think you're so good, you know, improvising as Pam, my God, and I've seen you do

other work too, and it's so natural for you to know your character's voice. But I think, yeah, with improv the minute you're on a stage, you have to make choices very quickly and just really be terrible. They were terrible and fumbly and weird. Even just naming my character. You have to come up with a name on the spot. Yeah. My names would be like, I'm Margaret Momenschimblur. Like suddenly my words didn't work. It was crazy. I just still can't believe you took an improv class and as your BFF. I've never known that. For two years, lady. For two years. Yeah. I'm going to have to process that. I don't know. You're like an onion. I just, there, there's layers to you. I don't know after all these years. Well, listen, everyone, today for Office Lady 6.0, we have a lot of fun stuff. First of all,

we watched the superfan version of email surveillance from season two. Yes, there are 13 extra minutes of footage, and we are going to cover all of the extra scenes in the improv storyline specifically. And then I talked to Michael Norton. He came in the studio. He plays Michael Scott. improv teacher. He shares with us what it was like to be in those scenes with Steve Carell. And then Cassie and I thought, what a better way to end this episode than with a little improv. So she invited some of her friends from UCB and we do a little improv set. It's very fun. I loved it. Well, listen, let's start by talking about email surveillance. I loved rewatching this episode. There's so many great runners in this. We're going to talk about Michael's improv, but rewatching it,

Jim's party. I forgot so much of it, lady. It was so funny. Well, there's a lot of classic moments. I mean, this is when Pam gets her tour of Jim's bedroom. And there's more of that in the superfan. Yep. But I found something that I didn't realize was in this episode. Do you remember when we did all about Michael Scott and I talked about my love of Michael's mangled words? Yes. Well, I missed one. The first time we watched email surveillance, I have to share it. It's in a Michael talking head. It's in both. the original and the superfan version, Michael is realizing he has not been invited to Jim's party, and he's trying to process that. And he drops a really great mangled word. So add this one to the list if you're keeping track. Okay. Let's hear it. There's always a distance between

a boss and the employees. It is just nature's rule. It's intimidation, mostly. It's the awareness that they are not me. You see, they're thinking, wow, Michael Scott, I really respect him. What will I do if I drop spinach dip on him at a party? What is he going to think of me? What? Is it going to affect my salary? Ooh, Michael Scott. I don't know. I don't know. I do think that I am very approachable as one of the guys, but maybe I need to be even approachable. Yeah. And while he's trying to be more approachable or he's just walking around messing with everyone's stuff with that little puppet thing. Yeah, he's annoying people. He's definitely not being more approachable or are. Well, I have a background catch for you that I just became fixated on.

It's like an old school background catch lady. If I still did note cards, I would have written this on a note card. What is it? I would have written white cardigan with blue teddy bears all over. it? What the heck, Meredith? Because Meredith is wearing a sweater that I don't remember. It's like a cardigan. It's got all these really cutesy blue teddy bears on it. She looks like a kindergarten teacher. Go to 13 minutes, 42 seconds. What is the sweater? I don't think we ever see it again. I love an old-fashioned background catch from you, Angela. I couldn't stop looking at it. Lady, can I talk for a second about this article that you wrote about all of your food and all of your eating?

Yes, I guess. Because the same charm of you noticing this weird sweater on Meredith and pointing it out is just all throughout this article of your food eating. It was like, tell people what it is. It's like a food diary that you wrote. Okay, so here's the thing. For Josh and I's cookbook, you can make this. doing a lot of press. And I was approached by New York Magazine to do a section they

called Grub Street Diet where you just for five days journal about your food, where you eat it, like stories behind your food, basically. And a lot of people have done it. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sarah Jessica Parker. I mean, so many, the list of people that have done it was so interesting to me. And yeah, I spent a week journaling about my food. And I sent it to Jenna. And I was like, I feel like I'm so boring. Does this sound okay? It's not boring, everybody. It was riveting. I was on the edge of my seat. If you like Angela's journals in general and then you like food and hearing descriptions of food, you're going to love this. Angel, you have to, when this is out, you have to link to it. It's like one of the best things I've read all year. You're so cute, lady. But thank you. I will. I loved it. And I'm realizing now that one of the reasons is because of your love of detail, like with these background catches. Okay, everybody, you have to read this food journal. Or maybe after it comes out, we're going to need to do a Friday chitchat where you

read some of it as well. Please, I'm begging. Oh my gosh, me and journals, you guys. I just, I mean, I love it. All right. Well, now let's dive into the improv portion of this episode. So if you remember, Michael has an improv class. It's the same night as Jim's party, which he was not invited to. He is bummed. He wants to bail on his class. If Jim would only invite him to the party, he would bail on this improv class. Oh, in a second. That he loves. But that never happens. So Michael's heading into his improv class. He's feeling a little blue. When we did our second drink of this episode, I talked about how there were so many extra scenes from the storyline that didn't make it in. There really are. There's so many. For starters, Michael has a talking head before he goes to

improv class where he shares just a little bit about what you can expect from his improv style. This is a talking head that was deleted. It's now in the superfan version. You got to hear it. Five o'clock. Time to go get my improv on. A little bit of the comedy juice. Mm. All right. See if you can guess what this is. That is a dinosaur, getting ready to go to improv class. Just a taste of the improv. Just a little sneak peek. I mean, it just sounds awful.

And I want to let you guys know that if you watch it, it is also awful to see. It's not good. It's not good. It's like, what is he going to bring to the stage? Angela, Cassie, have you guys ever had to do improv scenes where you were an animal? Was it ever suggested that you be some sort of animal? Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Both of you? Is that pretty common? In my two years of improv, I guess I never had to do this. I mean, we did it as an exercise. Cassie, you go first.

Recently, I've been in shows where I played either a horse or a cow. So I guess, my team really liked farm animals. But, you know, we get in and out. It's not like 20 minutes of just animal work. I had an improv class one time where you would get two suggestions and then have to just start a scene. And I remember it because it was so bad. So it became like a core memory for me. Our suggestions were penguins delivering a refrigerator. That's funny to me. Yeah. That suggestion is funny. The execution didn't go well. We had low penguin arms, and I think we got really, my scene partner and I, this was early in my improv classes. We got really caught up in how would these penguins be able to lift something?

Aw. You got too practical and literal. We got too literal instead of just playing out a scene. We were just like trying to bat at a refrigerator. It was horrible. It was horrible. Aw. Anyway, okay, that's hilarious, Cassie.

So Michael arrives to his improv class, and we learn very quickly that he has the same bit that he does in every single scene. Yes. He just plays a version of Michael Scarn. He pulls out a gun, and he just shoots everyone in the scene every time so quickly. So then he's the only person left on stage. And there is a scene in the superfan version where the improv teacher, played by Michael Notton, is fed. up and he's just over it we talk a little bit about this with michael not in the studio but i wanted you to hear the scene okay you can't just shoot everyone in the scene well if you hadn't stopped the scene you were seeing where it was going okay what about the scene they set up boring no it wasn't no more guns no no michael want you give me all the guns you have just get rid of all your guns and give them to me great okay okay

it's amazing because then he pantomimes handing over all of his guns and it's like his imaginary guns yeah it's very funny actually it's very funny and michael is so bratty like at the end he's just like he's such he's such a pill in this class so i went back to our table draft lady because i was curious how some of these improv scenes started and i wanted to share two things I found, okay? Okay. One describes the improv teacher. And here's what it says. The teacher, Chris, late 20s, actually enjoys this job. He's nice, supportive. Hmm. And then I found a talking head for the improv teacher, Chris, and one for Michael in response, they would have aired back to back. Here's what they said. Interior classroom. Chris says, okay, now let's all review the

the basic rule of yes and, you say yes to what your partners have set up and then you add onto it. Immediately it cuts to a Michael talking head. Michael says, what I do is, yes, I see what you're doing. And here's something better. That's where you get the gold. Chris is trying his best, but he's an improv instructor in Scranton. If he was really talented, he'd be an improv instructor in Hollywood. That's amazing. That is amazing. I know.

Lady, if my memory serves, doesn't the script also say that everyone in the class is in their 20s except for Michael and the one woman Mary Beth, who is like around his same age? Yeah. And I just because I remember that, like, I have, I remember thinking that was such a funny detail when we were doing the table read. But also, I love how every time Mary Beth would get picked to be Michael's scene partner, he just rolls his eyes. Like, she clearly drives him nuts. Oh, she bothers him so much.

And do you remember the scene where she starts as like a little girl licking a lollipop and Michael can't stand it? So he just comes in and he Michael scorns her. Yeah, immediately. And then the two of them, Mary Beth and Michael, actually, end up getting in this little like squabble right they're like fighting and going back and forth at each other and there's so much more of it in the deleted scenes only a little bit made it into the super fan episode because there was so much i looked it up in the script and a lot of this moment is improvised the mary beth michael just like snotty back and forth their argument

yeah their argument and i also talked to michael not and about it but i want you to hear it She was kind of tripping me up. Because she was, I was trying to get something going when I was over her with the gun. And then she kept like changing the story. He was saying, well, you kept going into like nuclear or something. It's like that's not where the scene was going. It goes wherever. Well, it goes in the best direction.

And that was not the best direction. And I felt like he was ordering me around because he, he... Well, I might get me... That character orders people around. And that's, you should have just gone. All your characters order people around, though, and there's stronger choices. I don't think there's any stronger choice

than being a really strong character. We've seen you do that character before, though. I mean, you know, that's cool. Well, it's talk, you know, when you refine it, you refine a character down to its essence. Like Jim Carrey or something, sure. Exactly, thank you. Right.

Well, I wasn't saying you. I appreciate that. I know. Let's just try another one. That is very nice. I just... Or Ryan Stiles, something like... Yeah, I just, you know,

you just maybe get on the ground. I don't feel that safe in the scene. You shouldn't have been, because you were dealing with Michael Scar. That was exactly what I was hoping to achieve. So that is probably the best thing you could have... That's a compliment. He's excited.

Thank you. I mean, it's... good. That is great improv right there. That's an example of amazing improv. And I love how unteachable Michael is. He is the most unteachable student. Yeah. I can't believe out of that whole conversation, he found a compliment in it about his improv style. I have to add one other detail that I love so much about this when I read the shooting draft. It's that the improv class is at the Scranton High School. Yes. And it's just like a little detail that I just love. love that they're like in a classroom, like after hours. Anyway.

Well, Michael has a final talking head at the end of his improv class that is in the superfan episode. It might explain even further how annoying he is to the other students. I think we should hear it. Improv's hit or miss. Last week, I was on fire. It was just Robin Williams, Ali G. Ryan Stiles nailing it. Home runs every swing of the bat. this week I was paired up with some pretty lame people so you have to deal with that

whose line is it anyway it's Michael Scott's line because generally Michael Scott's is the funniest line he thinks he's the bee's knees I mean I really really I know I've said this before but I would have loved to see this as a runner

I would have loved to have Michael's improv class come back I would have loved for him maybe to have one time invite Dwight to go with him Oh, so rich. There's so much there. I really wish that would have happened. But, okay, there is one more scene in the shooting draft from this episode that I wanted to share with you. You can watch it in the superfan version, but I wanted to read you the stage direction because it really paints the picture.

And it kind of made me a little sad for Michael. It's that thing where you're like he's being such a turd and now I feel bad for him. All right, Interior High School hallway, everyone is heading out quickly in a group. Michael rushes to catch up to them. As he nears them, he hears this. Mary Beth says, How do I get to Bernie's tavern from here? Bill says, don't worry, we're going to carpal. Michael's look shows he doesn't know about this.

Michael to the group, hey, I'd love to meet up with you all at Bernice, but I have a party to go to. Big work party. Can't get out of it. A few people turn and give Michael polite smiles and keep walking. Oh, there's two parties he wasn't invited to. I know, and they're rushing out.

They don't want him to catch up with him. It's just, I was like, oh, Michael. Well, I loved getting to revisit all of that extra footage from Michael's improv. That was a lot of fun. And next up, we get to hear from Michael Norton, the actor who played Michael's improv teacher. Lady, you went into the studio with him. I'm in Chicago, so I wasn't there, but it's such a great interview. Oh, he's just so wonderful. And I was just so glad we were able to snag him because he's about to leave to go out of town to do a project. And Michael and I have known each other a really long time. So this was like a fun reunion for two old friends. And Jenna, he said to say hello. You guys have the same manager, Naomi Odenkirk. We do. So we were talking about that. But it's a great interview. And then after the interview with Michael Norton, Cassie and I do a little limp prov. All right. Well, let's take a break.

break. And when we come back, Angela and Michael will talk about his time on the office and all of those hilarious improv scenes. With Amex Platinum, access to exclusive Amex pre-sale tickets can score you a spot trackside. So being a fan for life turns into the trip of a lifetime. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Pre-sale tickets for future events subject to availability and varied by race. Turns and conditions apply. Learn more at Amm. Simeons celebrates freedom of expression with a daily ritual of getting dressed. Fashion's power lies in its endless possibilities. Each garment is an invitation to get creative, be unique, and show the world exactly who you are as you are. Be true, be authentic, be unapologetically you. Express yourself at Simons.

Hey, Michael. Hey. Oh, my God. Thanks for having me. Welcome to office ladies. Thank you. I'm so tickled to see you. It's office lady today.

It's today's office lady. But Jenna wishes she could be here. She says hi. She says hi. She says hi. She's in Chicago. She's doing her play, Ashland Avenue. Yeah, yeah.

Okay. Let's jump right in. We have a lot to discuss because you play Michael Scott's improv teacher and your character is so over his shenanigans. It's hilarious. Your character's name is Chris. Did you know that? No.

It is? Yes, I went back to some old shooting draft scripts and table drafts. Your character's name was Chris. Do you know what's funny? Whenever someone gets my name wrong, you know, someone gets your name wrong, for some reason it's either Chris or David. Maybe. Do you look like a Chris?

I guess so. And then Chris is so random. That was my character name. Yeah, that was your character name. I get Andrea sometimes. times from people like, hi, Andrea. And I'm like, I'm, I'm Angela. Hi, Andrea.

But that kind of makes sense because it's close to your name. Kind of close. Like if you're not really listening. Yeah. Yeah. Which is funny to me because on the office, Creed's character called me Andrea the office bitch. I thought it was kind of perfect that he got my name wrong.

Right. After your years. I'm going to just kick us off with some questions. Oh, wait. Actually, let's tell everyone how we know each other. Because we go way back. Yeah, yeah. Like, what's that expression?

you're a sight for sore eyes. I'm so happy to be seeing you. So years ago, in our 20s? Yes. Yeah, yeah, 20s. So we met years ago, sort of in the improv circles, and then we ended up doing a sketch comedy show that you co-wrote called Balls Out.

Balls Out, yeah. Yeah, I remember where we first met. But yeah, yeah, balls out. Yeah, and I will never forget, I have to geek out on you a little bit. It's still one of the best, live performances I've ever seen. I am not, no, I'm not kidding.

You did a monologue where you give a speech. And as you give the speech, we sort of learn stuff about your dad. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it was like a stand-up guy. Yeah. And he was like, I've been in therapy and just working through some things. And oh, my God, that was so long ago. And it was something like, I would like tell a joke and then you'd be like,

screw you, dad. Yeah, I think the setup was like, whenever I, um, talk about my life, my therapist kind of laughs. So I thought maybe I'll do some stand-up and make everybody laugh, you know, and then everything was revealing about how stand-up. Like the further he got into a stand-up set, the more deep he got into his therapy. And it was so funny. Thank you. I wish I could remember specific jokes, but yeah. No, it was so good. It was hilarious. Okay, I'm going to dive into some questions here for you. Here's a question we always ask all of our guests, which is how did you get your job on the office? Well, Alison Jones

had brought me in for other things. I think I auditioned for another episode. I can't believe this was season two. I know. It was early. Yeah, I feel like when I auditioned, it was the office. We were already in our stride. Yeah, or at least like everybody in town loved the BBC version and now the American version. So everybody was trying to get on the office. I think I auditioned for something else. But I don't remember specifically the audition. Right. But it was through Allison. Yeah, yeah. I think it was my second audition. And yeah, I got the job. You know what? I remember being a little, not bummed, but like I knew you and I knew Oscar and Jenna a little bit. And we didn't get to work together. Yeah. And I was like, oh, I finally got the office. But I wanted to be in the office.

I know. You were in the improv classroom. We didn't even see you on. set. I mean, it was still, I don't want to say, like, oh, I was bummed. Right, right. No, no, no, but I get it. I get it. It's like, that would have been a little bit of icing, right? Yeah, like, there's an office party or something, and I get to play with you guys, but. I know. You should have played, like, one of Angela Martin's love interests. It would have been really fun. It would have been fun for us. Okay. Wait, I'm sorry. Has everybody said this to you, like, I knew you from sketch comedy, and a lot of your characters are bubbly and sort of, has Everybody told you when you got cast in the office, like, she's the bitch?

You know what? And you were so good, but it was just like so different than what I had seen you do. Well, thanks for saying that. Actually, you know who told me that? I did this show called Hators Back Off. And Steve Little plays my love interest in that. Really? And we had so much fun in our scenes.

And we'd been working together for a few weeks. And then he, one day at lunch, he said, you know, Angela, I used to come to Improv Olympic and I would see you do improv. And you were always just sort of a bright, shiny, funny, like the shiny, bright, you know, kind of personality on stage. And he said, it was so wild for me to then see you as Angela Martin because it was so opposite of what I'd been doing. Yeah, yeah. I mean, again, you were great. It was just surprising the first few episodes. I'm like, wow.

I know. It was also really fun, though, because it was so different. than my regular come from, you know? Yeah, yeah. So that was really fun. Yeah. But very difficult for me not to laugh in scenes because I always had to be such a grump. Right, right.

Like, I couldn't even have a little smile when Michael was up to some shenanigans. I had to be like, mm-hmm. Yeah, Jim could kind of, instead of breaking, he could do a little smirk or something. Yeah, he could smirk or Kelly could smirk. Or just Mindy would laugh, just on camera. She was a big breaker? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

She would just, like, she tried to hide. it in the beginning. And then I think at the end, she just was like, I'm just going to break. Okay, next question. What do you remember about that day of filming those improv scenes? Do you have any behind the scenes stories? Do you know what I do remember? Yes, Kim Jong. Yeah. I remember, I knew, because I think he was a big stand-up at the time. And I'm like, oh, he's a doctor and he seems so sweet because he was a real doctor.

And then, oh, he's also trying to do acting. And I just thought He was such a sweet guy And he took a picture With Steve Carell And I'm thinking like I'm an actor I'm a peer

I'm not going to take a picture Like a fan You're like how cute The doctor wants a picture Yeah how cute And then Maybe a year later He started

I started seeing him and stuff And then the Vegas I'm blanking The hangover The hangover Yeah And I had no idea Like he was this

Twisted That he had such Crazy sense of humor Yeah Yeah. Like, I had no idea. So that was pretty funny. I just thought, oh, this sweet doctor. Sweet doctor. Got a couple lines on the office. But I do remember just feeling really comfortable, just kind of loose, like improvising. Because I rewatched the episode recently. And, yeah, everybody is very friendly. And I, you know, because coming in for a day thing on the office. And you had some real improvisers in that room. You had Dee Ryan, who I had done improv with at iOS. You had Wyatt Snack. I was on a Harold team with Wyatt. were you? Yeah. So you definitely had some folks in there that new improv. And Colleen Smith?

Yes. You know her? Okay. Yeah. She's a friend of mine. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Some good improvisers. But I mean, in terms of the show giving me the confidence to sort of improv within the lines and stuff and feel comfortable. Well, I watched the super fan version, you know, and then I also watch all of those deleted scenes. There are so many that even with the super fan version, David Rogers, who, you know, has sort of been putting these. episodes back together. He didn't even get to use all of them because I feel like they just hit, hit, like, record on the camera and let you guys play a little bit. And I have to share one, okay? I'm going to set it up. Okay. So basically, in the improv class, two people are starting a scene. And Chris, the improv teacher, is like, okay, I need everyone to pair up and get a scene

partner. And no one wants to pair up with Michael. Because his bit is to just, you know, kill everyone he's in a scene with. So no one wants to be his partner anymore. Right, right. By the way, did you know, Steve based that on someone that he did improv with? Did he really? Yes, in every scene. Specifically, the guns? Yes, he talks about it that he would like take out everyone in the scene. No. Yeah. So anyway, Chris, the improv teacher, has asked everyone to partner up. Michael has left out. And so Chris, the improv teacher is like, just sit over here. Okay, why don't you just sit? Why don't you go outside, but Michael doesn't go outside. He stays in the room. He can't not, shut up. He keeps yelling suggestions. I did re-watch this the other day in preparation for

this. But yeah, he keeps... Wait, let's hear it. Can we play that? Okay. For the next exercise, let's everyone pair up. A partner and... Everybody got somebody? Uh-huh. Okay, good. Okay. Why don't you go in the hallway and just go through all those rules in your head? observe over here. Okay, but don't, okay, you take break and just sort of run through the rules in your head. Okay, stay there.

I'll just throw in some suggestions. Okay, you guys want to start? Don't throw any suggestions, okay, we don't need a suggestion for this one. Okay, this one's gonna come from them. This one's gonna come from them. It's game called yes and, and you will say the first sentence. First sentence is, I am a proctologist.

We're not gonna get a suggestion on this one that's gonna come from them, okay. You're going to say the first sentence, and then she will say yes to that, and then she'll add something to the story, like you're telling a story. What were you? What was he doing? Okay. Why don't you take a break, since you don't have a partner? All right here.

Okay. Was that scripted? I went and checked the script. It wasn't scripted, so I really felt like there were some loose elements to this sort of these improv scenes. But yeah, he keeps trying to make suggestions and they're horrible. And you're just, you're looking at him. Yeah. Proctologist is just the most basic. Yeah. What? And then you're in a hor house or you're proctologist. Then you're like no more suggestions. And you're, your back is to him. He's behind you. And you face the two people who are starting the scene. And

then he's like whispering behind you. And you're like, stop it. But I could not have gotten through those. And you can see people. kind of trying not to break. Uh-huh. I was just like, I had to ask you, what was it like to be in those scenes with Steve? Because he himself is such a great improviser, and that was all off script.

You know, I feel like in the growlings, I could be a breaker, you know? And some people hate that. Like, you know, you see people break and, like, just stay in the scenes, stay in character. Then I was guilty of that, but I feel like if I'm on a show and I'm just there for a day,

I don't know if you're nervous or just like, I just want to do everything. everything right. So I don't remember feeling tempted to break no matter how funny it was. I was just like, I'm going to do my job. I'm a mistake. But that was, I don't know, my mindset. That's amazing. I was like, I'm not going to break. My memory was that like finally maybe Steve would break or maybe someone off like a producer or someone would break. Then you could laugh. Then gave the room permission to laugh. Yeah. But I'm like, I'm not going to ruin this take because I don't know what they're going to use and they're just like I didn't know like the scripted dialogue ends and then

I'm kind of going oh we're still going yeah I guess they didn't call okay they didn't call cut so that's exactly what happened in this scene I think okay you can see where the script would have ended and they just let you guys keep going and um but I was not going to be the one to you did not break you know so there was one scene though where I I felt like I saw people starting to break just a little and it is when you it's so funny Michael keeps killing everyone in all his scenes. And so you turn to him and you say, give me all the guns.

And they're all. And they're just. They're air. You know, he's just handing you his improv. Right, but he knows where they are. Yeah.

And he takes him out of all his pockets. Yeah, yeah. And then you're like, fine. And now the next scene is Michael and Ken's character. And he's like, freeze. And like, Ken Jong has his hands up. And then Michael whispers something in his ear. And you're like,

I remember this. Yeah. You're like, what did he say? And Ken's like, he told me not to say, but he has a gun, you know. That was scripted, right? Yeah, that was scripted. But I could see people just in the background, just like, and how ridiculous it was. I can't believe that was a real thing that someone in a class did that.

Because everybody has seen that person in improv class that doesn't play long. They just came home with your whole thing. But I thought that was an absurd version of it that the guy brings a gun in every time. And that was a real person. He just wanted to be the only person left on stage, just so he could do his own bits. Right, right. But I shared this before. There was a guy, I was on a Harold team one time, and it didn't matter what you said is the first line.

He never yes-anded it. So you could be like, welcome to, you know, Chris's coffee shop. I've got a selection of muffins here. And he would say, how dare you do that to my cat? You know, like, wait, we're at a muffin shop. Like, you didn't even hear it. Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, I'm sorry about your cat. And then he would be like, I'm a detective. You're like, what? It just would get weirder and weirder. And then he would be like, you're no longer my cousin. What? It's just like, anyway. But what we all collectively. Did he get better? Did he improve his improv? He didn't. He always came in with his own script. My favorite thing is when a scene would have been going for a while. So let's say we're two nurses on our break, right? And we're having. having lunch.

And this scene is about two nurses in a hospital. It's been going for a few minutes. Right, right. And he would come in and be like, hey, where's your clown mask? You're late for the clown show. And we're like, we, what? And then you have to integrate it. Like, yes, we're.

We also are clowns. Nursing gets so hard. We need something fun. After our shift, we do a full clown show. There was no teacher to go. No teacher to say. But we would get notes afterwards for my. coach, and they'd be like, once again, they were nurses, and you decided to make them clown.

Yeah, I thought it was funny. Yeah, that scene wasn't going anywhere. Anyway, so. I really kicked it up a notch. Anyway, but sometimes you do have people like that in improv, and that was Michael Scott. He was the steamroller. Yeah, you totally have people like that. But I thought you brought some of your own life experience to Chris, the improv teacher,

because your background is improv and sketch comedy and. Were there, it must have been sort of a very organic fit for you. Yeah, I didn't teach that much, but being in class, there's always that guy. Yeah. It's funny, though, I don't know how many improv classes Michael Scott had, but I feel like by the time you meet me, I'm not very nurturing. Like, he's done this a bunch. I feel like I'm over him. Oh, you're so fed up with him.

Like the first time you see him, I'm just. That look, you give to camera when he's doing all of his shenanigans. I got the camera look. I got the office. Yeah, you got the classic gym to camera. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely experience, but yeah, I thought that was funny that you don't see me grow annoyed with him.

It seems like it's a few classes in. Oh, God, he came tonight. Okay, so a question we always ask our folks that come on as well is, do you still get recognized from your role in the office? I do, but it's been going on for so long, like during the pandemic. I think people watched it a lot more. Oh, yeah, people binged it during the pandemic. Yeah, yeah. And so now, like, we've watched it so many times.

kind of on your third or fourth viewing. I feel like I get a lot of people I've known for a few years, like kids, you know, friends, parents, like, oh, my God, I was rewatching. I didn't realize that was you. Like, I get a lot of that. Like, people I've known. And then. They're connecting the dots later.

Yeah. Yeah. More than like a guy off the street. Like, you know. But yeah, yeah, I get it a lot. Yeah. I had that one of my daughter's friends who, you know, I've known this kid since kindergarten. Her and my daughter are like best buddies.

And it was sometime around, like, sixth grade. She started watching the office, and she's been in my house countless times and sleepovers. And then one day she was like, wait a second. She was like, she didn't know how to act around me one day. I'm like, it's still me. She made the connection. Curious LaMorton. Yeah.

So it was kind of fun to see her realize that. Yeah, yeah. But are you watching it with your kids you were saying? Yeah. I mean, definitely. They're 11 and 14th. So we're through it. You know, at first, Luca, it's Luca 11, Parker, 14, shout out.

Shout out to my kids. My wife, Laura. What's up, family? What's up, Nottons? They'll listen. Sorry, everybody else. I have to hear me list, my family. We've been launching it for a few years.

At first, Luca, it was a little tough. The worst parts for her, you know, because when you're young, it's just like, oh, these people are married, these people are together. Was a lot of your storyline when you were with Dwight. Yeah, she was confused. She just didn't like, like, oh, wait, but she's with. But, and poor Andy. Yeah, yeah, poor Andy. So we had to skip over because, you know, there's a lot of like, I don't know, sexual references and stuff.

But it was mostly that that made her a little sad. I mean, now we're full on, you know, we can watch everything. Yeah. But at first she was confused. Like, no, people are a couple and they don't. And Angela is the first to call Pam the office mattress, but Angela made her round. Yeah. I know.

But yeah. Do they have a favorite episode, your kids? Oh, boy. Favorite episode? Or as a family? Do you have one that's like your family favorite? I don't know. There's so many years of.

Email surveillance. Yeah, email surveillance. Dad's episode for sure. Yeah. I mean, now that we're talking about it, probably the marriage episode, is that a two-parter? Oh, yes. Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls.

That's pretty fun. Yeah. And everybody dancing down the aisles. That's pretty... That was really fun. Fun. But do you have a favorite moment? Like, your character got to do something unusually.

Some of my absolute favorite scenes when I look back on them are between Angela and Oscar. Like when Angela and Oscar kind of discover together that the senator has another person, not either of them. Right, right. And then when they also leave him a voicemail that they possibly outed him in the this documentary, just all those little nuanced moments of, you know, they, Oscar drove Angela crazy and she would judge him, but then she also, when everything, you know, went south for her, he's who was there for her and took her in. And so there, I don't know, I always thought their relationship was really fun. Yeah, they finally were on the same team. And of course, I love Dwight and Angela,

and I love all of that and the cat stuff. And, and I think one of my favorite speeches I ever gave on the entire show was to Phyllis when I'm like, Phyllis, these are forks. Forks have prongs. Because you get to be so mean. Yeah, that speech was really fun. Well, Michael, can we share anything that you're working on right now or anything I might have missed and give a shout out to?

Yeah, I just did a film in Kentucky, like a low-budget film. A friend of mine, Lisa Shurga. from the groundlings. I don't know if you know her. Good friend and a friend Mike Day. They wrote it together. And it's a comedic version of 12 Angry Men. Okay.

If you remember that from the 60s or whatever. Which is a great idea for like a low budget film because you got one room. But it was really fun. It was just everybody in the cast was like groundlings or legendary alum of the groundlings. It was just so many really funny people in one room. And so I mean, we just shot it a few weeks. weeks go, so who knows. You'll have to let us know when it's out and I'll share it. Whenever it is, just, you know,

text me because I'll share with everyone so we can all go find it. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I think it'll be, yeah, pretty good. Well, Michael, this has been so delightful. Oh, good. Thanks for having me. Yeah, I'm so happy to see you. All right, Michael, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Michael Notting in the house, everybody. Oh, Angela Kinsey.

Woohoo. This episode is brought to you by Peloton. A new era of fitness is here. Introducing the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ. Built for breakthroughs with personalized workout plans, real-time insights, and endless ways to move. Lift with confidence, while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and tracks your progress. Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus at OnePeloton.ca.

Calling all book lovers. The Toronto International Festival of Authors brings you a world of stories all in one place. Discover five days of readings, talks, workshops and more, with over 100 authors from around the world, including Rachel Maddow, Ketourou Isaku and Kieran Desai. The Toronto International Festival of Authors, October 29th to November 2nd. Details and tickets at Festival of Authors.ca. Okay, guys, we are back, and it's time to start our improv. We have two fantastic improvisers here today, Marcus and Connor.

You guys, will you tell us a little bit about yourselves? Oh, man, it's great to be here. First of all, I'm Marcus Fulmar. I grew up. How far back do we want to go? I grew up most of my life in Denver, Colorado. Oh, we're going that far back. Yeah, we're going there.

But we'll jump there in Northwestern University. See how we're doing that? And that brings us to LA where I have improvised at UCB. I was on Harold Night Bear for a long time and I write as well. I have a play. I'm currently

pushing called Chicken Stories. Yeah. You know, a lot of fun stuff. A lot of fun stuff. Go Broncos. Okay. And well, I may, I'm Connor and I may as well start back when my parents met. So this would have been this is a little awkward, Connor.

Yeah, I want to push the origin story a little farther back. I'm Connor McCabe, also a writer, actor, improviser, was also on Harold Night at UCB Theater with Marcus for years. And I mean, that's how Cassie and I met each other was doing indie improv back in the day. But, yeah, I host a video game podcast called Call Me By Your Game and just got my fingers in a lot of pies. That's how I sort of pitch myself. And are any of them warm? I don't think so.

But my fingers are in. I like it. I think that's your go-to, finger in the pie guy. I'm not sure. Yeah, actually, as I say it out loud, might doll that back. All right.

So we need a suggestion of a location and maybe a relationship. What do you guys think? Yeah. Yes, and we're going to take those suggestions. We're going to use them as a jumping off point to do some long-form improv. We'll do a series of scenes inspired by those suggestions.

All right, let's call someone for suggestions. We can't make our own. own suggestions, you guys. That's true. We don't have an audience here. We need to call someone. Yes, we didn't write any of this before. No.

So it has to start with the suggestion from someone else. That's right. Okay, Cassie, why don't you call a friend? Okay. Who are you going to call? I should have thought about this. Oh, no. Are you guys could call someone?

No, I have a text message from my friend Tim Newman. Okay. And he's going to, when he answers, he's going to be like, hello? Like, he's going to think something's very wrong. Put your phone up to the mic so we hear his confusion. It's true. Let's see me. Hey, what's up, Cassie?

Hey, Tim. How's it going? That's a pretty confident. Hello? He already doesn't like this. I know. What's going on? We are recording an episode of Office ladies.

Woo-woo. And we're going to do an improv set. We're wondering if you could give us a location. Oh, location for an improv set. A kid's birthday party. Okay. Oh, that's so good. We love that.

Thank you, Tim. I'll talk to you later. Off Mike. Okay, bye. Okay, that's fantastic. My turn, I'm going to call, let's see. Kate Flannery and I did an improv show together for years called Bitch Planet. She's on the road right now.

I want to call her. Let's see if she answers. Classic pair, Kate. Yeah. She has no idea I'm calling her. She's on tour with Jane Lynch right now. Oh, fine. So she could be on a plane.

And? Hey, Kate, you're on speakerphone on my podcast. Just really. Sorry to do that, but we're doing an improv set. We're going to do a little improv show, and I didn't want anything to seem stage. So that's why I'm calling you out of the blue. And as my gal, who was on Girl Team Ball. with me. Kate, we need a suggestion of a relationship. I'm going to say decorator and client.

Oh, that's so good. Oh, gosh. Okay, thank you, Kate. I love you. I'll call you later. Bitch planet forever. Bitch planet. Woohoo. Bye. She said bitch planet forever. That is so good. She did not know our other. Yeah, she does not know Tim. Right. So she didn't know birthday party. Okay, so what do we have Guys, we have kids' birthday party and our relationship. Planner and Client? Yes. Yeah. Like, party planner and client.

Yeah, yeah. Perfect. Okay. Kids' birthday party, party planner and client. We're going to start. Yay. And I said decorator. Oh, she did say decorator.

Oh, we're already not good at listening. This is not good. Decorator and client. kids' birthday party. Yes. Oh, thank God, Marcus, you're listening. All right. Should we begin?

And Sam, maybe as we go through scenes, you can give us a little, like, music, jege to, like, set the vibe. All right, here we go. And begin. And begin. Okay, if you'd like to go ahead and just, you know, bring your card in here, I think if you want to set it in the living room, that'll be totally fine. We've got a little time before people are getting here. First of all, I am the decorator. I will tell you where my cart goes. I don't want to come off as overly forceful, but I have been doing this for quite some time, and I know what kids

want. So just, if you don't mind just backing up a little, I'll just do my thing. Okay. Miles, you know, I'm happy to have you here. It really seems like you think I'm going to try to step in your lane, but I'm just happy that you're here. I'm going to let you do your thing. Okay.

Dad, where's my Barbie cart? Oh, honey, I think that's over in the, I think it was in the kitchen, the last that I saw. Okay. I just thought there could be a little more pink. I just, this is just one shade of pink, and I was kind of hoping for more shades. Yes, more shades. I know the one, you know, I should have known that.

You know what? I'm sorry, I'm getting a text. One second. Oh, go ahead. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Oh, okay. Sorry, you were saying? Oh, no, I was just agreeing with what you were, what you wanted to do. More shades of pink. I think I can get that through. Okay. You know, listen, I will work on the shades of pink. You know, I'm not inflexible. I will work on that. But is there a way we can change the name on the? cake.

Esmeralda is not fitting on the cake. And that I was going to bring that up. Does she have a nickname? She's got, I mean, she's got plenty of nicknames, a sport, tire kicker, my little gal. We cut to Esmeralda getting her cake. Dad, why the fuck does it say mesdural? Okay, so that's on me. I sort of caved pretty hard to Miles here at the party planner, the decorator, excuse me, sir.

I'm sorry, honey No one is going to know It's for me I was talking with the other girls And we're thinking about leaving What? Dad, it's because no one calls me Messerailda. Okay, honey, I'm so sorry Okay, I know... This is so embarrassing.

Katie, Katie. I am the coolest girl of the group You have a lot of influence. I am the coolest girl of the group. She really is. And like that, I can clear out this party. Just so everyone knows, she just did a little snap and a pose. Please don't make me get the snap, okay?

You can't come back from the snap. Okay, please, don't snap at my daughter. We're going to make this right. Okay, Miles, is there anything? Can you redo the cake right now? Could you just make it bigger, Miles? Why can't it be like a 9 by 13? I don't understand.

Little is in. Everything is small. You not notice that everything I put in here is small, small balloons over there. Uh-huh. Small seats. No one can fit in them. I feel like I'm really between a rock and three hard, places right now where I've got Katie Esmeralda and Miles just all over me. So my daughter's whole

social group is writing on this. Yeah, Miles, Little was in last week. See? Oh, you, you were Frank's daughter, aren't you? Yes. Oh, yes. I didn't know who you were going to be here. Otherwise, I would have brought out the good decorations. I, you know, I reserved them for VIP. Good decorations. I paid for the premium package, Miles. Premium regular person. Premium VIP is something completely different. Completely different. We cut to Miles' decorating office where he's got tiers of who and what is important. So I'm trying to wrap my head around this. Miles, there's sort of a secret tier that you don't tell a client about?

Yes, that's right. Are you, I just need to do a little background check on you before I can reveree. all of what we can or cannot do. A background check? Yes. Miles, darling, we've done it on him. Here's the paperwork, darling. Oh, okay. Thank you.

Oh, you are a gym. Yes. Well, you know, here for your service, darling. Thank you, Christina. Miles, you look so fit. Looking so fit today. I have been in the gym. Oh, well, I can tell.

Swimming mostly, that's hard. Oh, well, that works out the whole body, doesn't it? It does. That's sort of a vibe here. I'll ignore it. Oh, yes. Sorry. Oh, that's okay.

Okay, yes. 770 credit score. Very nice. 70 credit score. 770. 770. Okay, not bad. So you're running a background check and a credit score.

That's a lot of it. Last page is the police report. Oh. Oh. Oh. Okay. You know, you can look at this shelf here. This little... Okay, the shelf says a duds on it.

Yeah. Oh, I'm still deciding on what party I want. Sorry, I've been looking at the dubs shell for a while. Oh, no, that's okay. Yeah, nice to meet you. My name's Sandy. Hi, Sandy. I assume that you also had all these reports run on you and it didn't go well. Oh, I mean, I don't.

think this shelf is great. I'm just having a party for my alligator. Oh, okay. Congratulations. That sounds really nice. Is it, is it the birthday of the alligator? Oh, just a typical Sunday alligator party. Should point out the alligator is no longer living. Yeah, I had it stopped years ago. Oh, okay. But the name Alligator Funeral. We didn't want to call it that. It's so a drag. Celebration of life, isn't it? Isn't it? Celebration of Life, right? That's the DUDD level. Okay. We cut to the Celebration of Life for the Alligator.

Thank you for all coming today. As you know, Scaly and I were palsed for many, many years. Yeah, yes. Until the tractor accident. Oh, gosh. Oh, yeah. And, you know, but we have Scaly here stuffed and dressed like The It Clown, thanks to Miles.

Miles, you are a genius, and you should get all the awards they have in the entire world. Thank you, ladies. I'm really sensing a vibe from you and Miles here. I don't know if anyone else is picking up on that. I just see an artist. When I see an artist, I call it out, even if I'm out in the world, you know. Okay. That's what I do.

I'm in charge of the neighborhood watch. I call out beauty when I see it. That's right. Thank you, Michelle. I've done my absolute best to make Scaly the alligator that he was, the one that we remember. How did you get his lips to roll back? So his teeth show, that is just phenomenal. Well, it's a little helium insert.

You injected helium in his lips. That makes sense. The lips have like a floaty quality too. Yeah. Yes. That is just pure genius right there. I'm going to take that. I'm going to use it someday.

I don't know how. But I'm following it back in my brain. If I'm being honest, I've been thinking about getting the lip fillers. Now I'm thinking I want the helium filler. Oh, yeah. I could see that on you. I think it would be good, right? I could totally see that on you.

Always showing off the teeth. There's got to be. some way that this could benefit the neighborhood watch. Oh, we've got lots of ladies that have no upper lip left anymore. You know what happens how you just get that thin line. It happens.

It happens. It happened to me. It's hard to take it seriously. It is. Well, no one can see your teeth for one. So that's awkward. I think there's something about seeing people's teeth. It's primal. Mm-hmm. Right?

Yeah. You've got to show your teeth or people think something's up with you. Yeah. And I need to be trusted as head of the neighborhood walk. Whether you got good teeth, bad teeth, or none at all, you've got to be able to see them. That's right. Even if it's more in gummy, then tooth. You can't trust a person unless you see their teeth.

Thank you, Maas. Thank you. Do you have a little helium? Can you hook a couple gals out? It hasn't been approved for human testing yet. It's animals and the animal was dead. Okay. We cut to a doctor's office.

I said I just wanted helium in my upper lip, and now I can't eat or swallow anything. Well, man, what possessed you to think that helium should be injected directly into your lips? Now, that just sounds like an accident waiting to happen. When you say it out loud like that, it doesn't sound so smart, but I was at this celebration of life for an alligator. And there was this very beautiful man named Miles, and he told me that helium in my lips could show my teeth. Well, ma'am, listen, we're going to get you some kind of treatment, but we have different tiers of treatment,

and we're going to have to do a quick little background check just to see which... I have the paperwork right here. Oh, wonderful. Credit score and everything. Credit score. What does I have to do with my upper lip? Oh, what is that, a four? 30?

My goodness. There's a shelf over there. If you just go look at that shelf. It's on the ground. Yes. It's just a bunch of rusty scalples. Yes. Oh.

We're going to be able to just poke a little hole in there. And then there's, I think there's a bottle of alcohol or peroxide down there. That should clean everything out. That's all we can do for you. But thank you so much. much. Tell a friend. Going to get a scalpel.

We cut a Michelle to a more of a holistic doctor's office. Michelle, I just want to say, I'm so sorry for what you experienced at the regular doctor's office the other day, trying to fix your ailment. So, so much. You're absolutely so welcome. I just want you to know that we also are ready to help you and treat you here. at Holly's holistic office. How long so I have to hold the crystal?

You're going to have to hold the crystal for about two weeks. Yes, yes. And that crystal you have there, you'll see it's sort of like an amethyst. I hope I'm pronouncing that right. That is based on a police report and a credit check that we ran on you. Seriously? Yes. Amethyst?

Yeah. If not that. that we would have given you just such a big, beautiful crystal with other properties. But this is, unfortunately, all we were able to provide for you today. I understand. Thank you so much. You're so welcome. Normally, this goes over so poorly with our clients, but I'm just so pleased at your positive attitude.

And I feel like this is the sort of thing I would love to have from most of our clients here. There's this lovely attitude, this vibe that you're bringing in. I just appreciate that you gave me some water because I was so thirsty. Water is definitely not in your tear. I am so sorry. Just consider yourself lucky because, you know, water, what is it anyway? I'm looking at my assistant here to see if they could tell me. I'm just here to spread good vibes.

That's all I'm doing over here. And the vibes are right, so. I'm not so sensitive. If you didn't have anything, I can take a sip off. We cut Michelle to a Sunday church service where prayer requests are. being given it. And yet, I believe you were about to say something, I'm sorry, or should I go ahead? No, it's, it's okay.

We have, we have two pastors at this church, and we can, we can share it, we can share the love. Amen! Yes, just as our Lord would want us to do. So please, we'll, well, one sentence at a time, okay? After you, Diana. All right. Hello, everyone.

Welcome to Sunday Church. Woo! Woo! Woo! We're getting ready for some prayer requests. And we've got one here coming from, I believe this is directed from Clark, a neighbor of one, Michelle. Michelle, hello, we see you in the audience.

Hello, those. Hi, looking, Michelle. Doing great, Michelle. We see Michelle has deteriorated even more from the holistic office. Yes. And we have a prayer request that Michelle can get the care she needs, Diana. Yes, yes. Can we give her the care that she needs?

No. Unfortunately no. Not. Her credit score and police report, we looked over it and we think God says you got to wait just a little longer. And, you know, normally we would make an exception for these documents not being in line. We also have a report card from her third grade teacher, and it's all check minuses. Yeah. People of the whole bitch. And Michelle, at this point, I don't know what you're saying.

Yeah, Michelle, we really want to help you. I do believe through the power of faith that I am going to understand. So I'm going to keep trying. We cut back to the birthday party. Dad, why is Aunt Michelle here? She is such a downer. Esmeralda, she had nowhere to go. Even the church wouldn't help her out.

They wouldn't even accept a prayer request for her. I know. So she's just going to be sitting in the chair. Miles, please. Can you do something? She's going to just ruin the party. She is throwing off. the feng shui in here with those lips.

They're so swollen. And, Ezzie, if she sits in that chair, I am going to snap and pose. Don't snap. I'm going to snap and pose. Katie, please, if I could, if there are anything I could do for you or your father, please don't snap. This is my daughter's birthday. Everything's writing on this.

Okay. Let me get in there. I'm Miles. There's no challenge that I cannot rise to. Someone get me a piece of fabric. I'm going to just wrap her. Some lipstick, we can just put a little red on there or pink, more pink. Here's a carpet swatcher that I had from a carpet we were sampling.

Go ahead. Okay. Scissors. I can do something with that. Ships, sip, sip, sip, snip. Michelle. Okay. Just don't move.

What did she say? Does anybody know what she's saying at this morning? I don't know what she's saying. What? I'm not liking this. Miles, I'm getting the sense that you think Michelle is trying to cramp your style, and I can assure you she's just looking for help. I'm just going to wrap this.

Oh, this is kind of cute. If I do that, it's kind of like a cake topper. The lips are kind of like a cake topper, a big kissy face, you know, and biting. If you just sit here next to the cake, there's your other. shade of pink, and boom, that's somewhat attractive. Happy birthday, happy birthday, Esmeralda, happy birthday. And we fade to blast. You guys, that was our improv show.

I had a blast. I hadn't done this in a really long time. It was really fun, and you guys are so good. Yes. That was so much fun. All the moves that were being. made and just the communication from just a look across a table. There was some social commentary in there as well.

A little bit, you know, the tears. There was layers. Yes. Yeah. And I'm so sorry, I broke a few times, but there's just so funny stuff. That's having fun. Usually when I would break on stage, I would go look in a cabinet. That was like my, like, as I started to laugh, I'm like, oh, something over here, something

over, looked through a drawer, like, turned my back to stay. stage. That's a pro level tip for improvisers. Take that. Look into a cabinet. Was it always like very strict like do not break or? No, no. We just tried not to. But you know, I mean, when you're on stage with people who you just respect and they make you laugh so hard, it's inevitable. I would try to let myself have a little more freedom if I'm maybe on the backline. Yeah. Not in a scene to react to something, but even sometimes in a scene like I probably, I think I did today just cackle because of something one of you said. Same, same. Well, that wraps up our show for today. And Jenna is back. Hey, lady. Hi there. Oh, I just loved this episode. Thank you guys for putting this together.

I loved hearing you both do improv. I listened to it one morning because, you know, and I miss you guys. So I was really excited to hear your voices, and I was listening while I had my morning coffee. And ladies, I literally spit out my coffee during the callback to the awful credit score at the church. I just loved that not even the church would help you because of your low credit score. That was a funny runner. The whole thing. I mean, it was great. And Sam, your sound design on that was chef's kiss.

perfect. I also want to say a big thank you to Michael Norton for sharing with us about his time on the office. I am sorry that I miss getting to reconnect with him. He'll just have to come back. He can come back. He could come do a Friday chit-chat. He sure could. And I also just want to give a special thank you to my friends and improvisers Connor McCabe and Marcus Fulmer for coming in and doing some improv with us. Yes, you guys. Thank you so much. And we also want to give a shout out and thank you to Kate Lannery and Tim Newman for answering their phones when we called them and giving us those great suggestions. And thank you guys so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed Michael's Improv class,

and we'll see you next week. Yes, we will see you next week. And listen, if you're going to be in Chicago between now and October 19th, will you please come see my play, Ashland Avenue at the Goodman Theater? We really will have to close as of October 19th. They're putting something else in the theater. So we will get kicked out. This is our final extension. But, guys, this is it the last couple of weeks. Go see it. Guys, you're going to love it. And I'm going to just tell you where I'm going to be real fast. Josh and I's cookbook, as you know, comes out October 21st. You can pre-order now. We really want to get on that New York Times bestseller list. And I guess that's the way you do it. But we're coming to a few cities. We are going to be in Ridgewood, New Jersey,

October 21st at Bookends Bookstore. I'll put this in our stories. We're also October 23rd, going to be in Dallas, Texas, at Interabang Books, and October 26 at Diesel Bookstore in Santa Monica. We'd love to meet you and chat, and I'll put all that in stories. Thanks, you guys. Lady, I can't believe that literally, like, the day I'm flying home is the day you're flying off to do all your book stuff. And I'm going to have to wait another week before I get to see you in person. I know, I know. We need some real BFF time, lady. We do.

All right, guys. Thank you so much for listening. We'll see you next week. See ya. Thank you for listening to Office Ladies. Office Ladies is a presentation of Odyssey and is produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey. Our executive producer is Cassie Jerkins. Our audio engineer is Sam Kiefer and our associate producer

is Ainsley Bubicoe. Odyssey's executive producer is Leah Reese Dennis. Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz. Our theme song is Ruppertree by Creed Bratton.