TRANSCRIPT
Office Ladies | Episode 290 - All About Jan
Jenna [00:00:04] I'm Jenna Fischer,
Angela [00:00:05] and I'm Angela Kinsey.
Jenna [00:00:06] We were on "The Office" together,
Angela [00:00:08] and we're best friends.
Jenna [00:00:09] And now we're doing the ultimate Office lover's podcast, just for you.
Angela [00:00:13] Each week we will dive deeper into the world of The Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details, and lots of BFF stories.
Jenna [00:00:21] We're the Office Ladies 6.0.
Jenna [00:00:00] Hello!
Angela [00:00:01] Hi, lady!
Jenna [00:00:02] I'm excited for today!
Angela [00:00:03] I'm so thrilled and giddy. I'm actually having a little body buzz.
Jenna [00:00:08] We're doing an All About episode, everyone. As you know, in these All About episodes, we focus on a specific character from the show. We really deep dive into them. They were my friend Angela Kinsey's idea.
Angela [00:00:20] Thanks, lady.
Jenna [00:00:21] You said, "I have this idea. We do these episodes where we dive into a character that's called 'All About Fill in the Blank.'"
Angela [00:00:27] I wish people could see it right now, because your impression of me is very jazz hands.
Jenna [00:00:31] Well, you've got an idea. You've got a vision. I don't know why you've suddenly become a director from the 1920s, but that's how I'm doing you. Well, I'd like to kick things off with this letter that we got from Lauren W. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who said: "Hi, Jenna and Angela. I'm sure I'm not the first person to suggest this, so I'll add my name to the list. We need an All About Jan episode. Melora Harden is absolutely amazing and the character of Jan Levinson is one of the most brilliant creations in TV history." Well, Lauren, we couldn't agree with you more.
Angela [00:01:08] 100%.
Jenna [00:01:08] So today is All About, Jan Levinson.
Angela [00:01:14] Without the gold.
Jenna [00:01:14] Yes exactly.
Angela [00:01:15] So normally in our All About character breakdowns, we pick an area of interest to discuss about that particular character. But we're gonna do this episode a little differently because, Lauren, many people just like you, wanted an All About Jan. In fact, when we put up our folder for questions, we got so many and we thought, "You know what? Let's just take them right to the source and ask Melora." She is gonna join us to answer them all and we don't wanna waste any more time. There is so much to talk about.
Jenna [00:01:46] Yes. As you all know, we had her on the podcast when we broke down "The Client" in season two. She told us how she got her job as Jan and a whole bunch of other fun stuff. Definitely give it a listen if you missed it. She is such a great storyteller and we're so excited to have her back on the podcast because now she's going to answer even more questions about her time on the show. But first, we got a letter. Ethan G. from France, who said, "We know that you have lots of information in the show bible about characters. What does the show bible say about Jan?"
Angela [00:02:18] I mean, it wouldn't be an All About without a show bible moment.
Jenna [00:02:22] Exactly. So I looked it up and here's what I got for you, Ethan. First of all, according to Michael, her name is Janet. Jan is short for Janet. Jan smokes or smells her candles when she's stressed out. She's stressed a lot. Jan claims to be good at public speaking. We don't ever really see this, but she does do a good job of shutting down the idea of unionizing in the warehouse. According to Michael, she's a great limbo dancer. Jan does not like Dwight, the show bible says that. Also, Jan hates that Dwight has her cell phone number. She likes blouses from Liz Claiborne and earrings from Ann Taylor.
Angela [00:03:08] So specific.
Jenna [00:03:09] She is divorced and was a victim of identity theft, all in the same year. She sees a psychiatrist who believes she has some self-destructive tendencies. She often drinks heavily, she specifically likes martinis.
Angela [00:03:23] She also ordered a vodka tonic, I watched.
Jenna [00:03:26] It said in the show bible, she makes her assistant buy her vodka. She also missed her yoga class because she drank too much.
Angela [00:03:33] Mmhm.
Jenna [00:03:35] Jan eventually dates Michael and moves in with him, but has never told him she loves him. She enjoys videotaping their sex. She got breast implants, but complains she has lost nipple sensitivity.
Angela [00:03:47] I can't believe that is in the show bible.
Jenna [00:03:49] It's in the show bible. She likes scrapbooking and soy milk.
Angela [00:03:53] I didn't see scrapbooking coming.
Jenna [00:03:54] After breaking up with Michael, she becomes pregnant after going to a sperm bank. She becomes a single mother to a little girl, records a Doris Day cover album. Then she works as a hospital administrator before becoming an executive at the White Pages and starting a sexual relationship with Clark. We know she refuses to give Dunder Mifflin the White Pages account and that Dwight does eventually get them, but not much is known about what happens to Jan after that. That is what the show bible had to say.
Angela [00:04:25] I loved all the nuggets in there. There was some good nuggets.
Jenna [00:04:29] Real specific stuff.
Angela [00:04:30] I know. Before we chat with Melora, we do this for all the All Abouts, we have to have our favorite Jan moments from the Office Ladies team. Jenna, why don't you go first?
Jenna [00:04:42] Well, I love her speech to Michael in season three, "Back from Vacation." I love it so much. Here it is.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:04:50] Why am I here? In the last year, I've gone through a divorce, an identity theft, a husband who would not communicate. This is neither here nor there. My psychiatrist thinks that I have some self-destructive tendencies and that for once I should indulge them. You following me?
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:05:11] Ah, yes.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:05:12] I think I owe it to myself to find some kind of happiness. You know? I mean, even if it means lowering my expectations or redefining the word itself. This is the thing, you know, I am attracted to you. I don't know why, but I am and I need to follow my instincts. At least that's what Dr. Perry thinks.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:05:43] Who is Dr. Perry?
clip from The Office - Jan [00:05:45] This is the point, okay? You're wrong for me. In... In... Every way, but I still... Find myself wanting to... Be with you.
Jenna [00:06:05] I love how she can barely get out "be with you."
Angela [00:06:09] She can barely say it.
Jenna [00:06:10] There's this big pause, and then it just comes out.
Angela [00:06:15] Alright, Matt, how about yours? Do you have a Jan favorite moment?
Matt [00:06:19] I do, I love the character of Jan. This is such a great performance. I picked the clip from The Client in season two, when she's at the Chili's with Michael and Tim Meadows. I just love this scene. She's just stuck with them. They're doing their baby back ribs song. She just so doesn't wanna be there, but it's just being a good sport and playing along. So I chose this clip from that scene.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:06:45] This brings us to Jan, truth or dare? Tell us about your divorce.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:06:49] Oh no, Michael. Michael.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:06:51] Ooh, right.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:06:51] Michael, please. No.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:06:53] Oh, hey, so you're not going to play. She's not playing.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:06:57] We'd been fighting for a while, he didn't want kids, I knew that going into it, but he also knew that I did. So I guess I thought that he would change his mind, he thought that I would change mine.
clip from The Office - The Client [00:07:06] You didn't.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:07:07] I was stupid.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:07:09] No, no, you were not stupid. Gould was stupid, right?
clip from The Office - The Client [00:07:15] That's right. You're really brave. I mean, you put your arms out there, you slit your wrist.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:07:21] That's true.
clip from The Office - The Client [00:07:22] You said, "World, this is my blood. It's red, just like yours. So love me."
Matt [00:07:29] The look she gives, after he says that is just...
Angela [00:07:33] That is a trio that I could watch all day.
Jenna [00:07:36] It's so good.
Matt [00:07:41] The line I quote most from The Office is also a Jan line from "Dinner Party" when Pam brings her the bottle of wine. She goes, "Oh great, I'll use this to cook with."
Jenna [00:07:50] "This will be great for cooking."
Matt [00:07:52] Yeah, I say that anytime someone gives me a bottle of wine.
Jenna [00:07:58] Sam, do you have one?
Sam [00:07:59] Yes, I do. I think it's a good example of her playing both the straight man and the ridiculous character. It's where Jan pulls Michael into the bathroom of David Wallace's house. Here we go.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:08:11] ...Like your privacy.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:08:12] Shut up.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:08:14] What has gotten into you? [kissing noises] No, no, no.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:08:17] What?
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:08:17] Come on, let's go back to the party.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:08:18] Oh, come on, wait.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:08:19] We're missing everybody. Don't take that! No, stop it! Stop it! Jan! No! No! No means please don't.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:08:28] Slam me up against the wall right here.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:08:29] That seems... I'm not gonna slam you against anything. You're acting inappropriate.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:08:31] I love you so much. I'm acting inappropriate? Forget it. Get out of my way.
Sam [00:08:38] Yeah, it's great. She decides to play both the ridiculous character and the straight man character at once. It's great.
Angela [00:08:44] The two of them are so good together.
Jenna [00:08:48] So good together! No, she's spiraling. So she's going to her default, which is just...
Angela [00:08:53] Hook up!
Jenna [00:08:55] Michael has enraged her. And then it just turns into, just... She's turned on.
Angela [00:08:59] I know.
Jenna [00:09:00] Which is very funny because there's the whole runner with you and Andy planning your wedding on the show. Every time Andy bothers the character of Angela with wedding plans, then she pages Dwight for sex. It was kind of a common theme in the show.
Angela [00:09:17] How people deal with stress?
Jenna [00:09:19] Exactly, they sex it up. Well Angela, what about you?
Angela [00:09:23] Well, I rewatched some compilation videos of Jan scenes. They were such a joy. By the way, did you guys know there's a youtube montage just titled "Jan Being a Walking Red Flag for 36 Minutes Straight?"
Sam [00:09:36] I saw that. That's great.
Jenna [00:09:38] That's the title of it, which is what's amazing.
Angela [00:09:41] So her performances are all amazing, but season three is really a stellar Jan season. My clip is from "The Job." It starts at the corporate offices. David Wallace has just fired Jan. She's called him a "son of a bitch." She says goodbye to Hunter, wishes him all the best with his band. Then she's gonna hop in the car with Michael. She's starting to really spiral and you gotta hear it.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:10:05] Oh god, I mean I just don't understand. It's just so rude, you know? I mean, the absolute nerve of that guy.
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:10:11] I'm sorry about that. That was terrible.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:10:14] No, actually, I think it's good, you know? It's fine actually. I do. I really think it's great that it happened because, you know, my work has always been the thing that's gotten in the way of my happiness. So...
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:10:27] Well...
clip from The Office - Jan [00:10:27] [starts to cry]
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:10:34] No, don't cry. It's gonna be okay.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:10:36] Oh, I know, I just... I'm sorry, it's just these painkillers that I started taking since the surgery. Oh, they make my moods totally unpredictable. Wow! What am I gonna do?
clip from The Office - MIchael [00:10:56] Well, I guess you could come and stay in my condo. I think I could back out of the sale, probably get some negative feedback on my eBay profile.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:11:06] Live together. Actually, wait a minute. This could be great. This could be perfect! You know, my full-time job could be our relationship. I could wear stretch pants and wait for you to come home at 5:15. It could work. This can work, really.
Jenna [00:11:20] Oh my gosh, there's so many highs and lows.
Angela [00:11:22] The journey through that. Like, she's pissed off, then she starts crying, then she's like, "This could work," and she's clapping.
Jenna [00:11:32] "This is great!" Could you imagine a whole life with someone who turns on a dime so quickly like that?
Angela [00:11:37] Michael's face as she's going through all that is like, "Oh no." It's like the roles have reversed. Now he's like, "Okay, I'm going to do this."
Jenna [00:11:49] Amazing. Guys, this has gotten me very excited. I think we should take a break, because when we come back, we will have Melora Harden in studio answering all of your Jan questions.
Angela [00:11:59] I can't wait!
audio cue [00:12:00] [musical sting]
Angela [00:12:03] Well, welcome back to Office Ladies, Melora!
Melora [00:12:06] Thank you so much! It's great to see you guys.
Angela [00:12:08] I know! We're in person! This is super fun.
Jenna [00:12:11] We should confess that we have been chatting for close to 30 minutes before coming on mic. It has just been an absolute delight.
Melora [00:12:18] It has been so nice to see you both. I haven't seen you, in person, in a really long time. Both of you.
Angela [00:12:26] I am thankful though that the cast, we will text or DM. I just am so appreciative of the little touchstones we have, every once in a while, in each other's lives.
Melora [00:12:35] Yeah, it's good. It's sweet.
Jenna [00:12:36] Well, I'm rewatching The Office now with my kids.
Melora [00:12:39] Oh, wow.
Jenna [00:12:40] They're on their first watch of it. We've just gotten to season five. So you've been on my TV every night, basically, as we go through the show. So I feel like I just saw you.
Melora [00:12:51] I need to do that. You know I haven't seen the show since it aired?
Angela [00:12:54] Oh, Melora, you are so phenomenal!
Melora [00:12:57] Isn't that weird?
Jenna [00:13:02] I don't think it's weird. If we didn't do this podcast, I'm not sure I would have sat down and watched it. Now my kid's curiosity, that's why I'm watching it again. Right?
Angela [00:13:11] Yeah, I watched it with my kids, too.
Melora [00:13:14] My kids watched it, but I didn't watch it with them. But I should have. That's a really good idea that you did, that you're doing it together.
Angela [00:13:19] Well, first of all, like Jenna said, we did the whole re-watch, but then I spent last night just watching all of your stuff. Like, the best of Jan, all these clips. You are just so brilliant. I want you to re- watch it just to watch how great Jan is because you have created the most amazing character. You should know (and I know you must know this) that you are on the fan favorite list of Office characters.
Melora [00:13:44] Oh, I love that, that's great.
Angela [00:13:46] Jan makes all the lists.
Melora [00:13:47] Right, right. I love that. Well, I think the show was so amazingly well cast. You know what I mean? I mean, everybody on the show is perfect for who they played. Really, really perfect. It's always those lightning in a bottle kind of moments where people are like, "What is it that made it? Why did that movie? Why was that show?" All those things have to come together and there really is no recipe for that. It is the writing, it is the casting, it is the directing, it is the lighting, it is the sets, it is the props. Like, it all just has to infuse into this little special magical moment. The fact that we were part of something that is so special and that it's lived as long as it has and that people are still as enthusiastic about it as they are... Thanks to streaming and the fact that we can continue to have generations that are just discovering it now. It's extraordinary to have fans that are in their 60's and 70's and fans that are 10. You know?
Angela [00:14:46] I know, right? It's really crazy.
Melora [00:14:48] It's crazy. I had been in this business since I was six years old. I think that when I did The Office, I think literally, it was my 13th pilot.
Angela [00:14:57] Wow.
Melora [00:14:58] So I was really used to things just being on the air as long as they were on the air and then that was it. Just going off the air or just getting put up on a shelf, no one ever seeing them (or some people seeing them or maybe a few people seeing them). Even when it was kind of successful, but then it was over and that's it. So this was all very shocking to me. Where I was in my reality timeline of my age and stuff and in my life, this was just a very unusual experience for me. I don't know if I told you guys about that, that I didn't even believe we were a hit. Did I tell you that?
Angela [00:15:33] No.
Melora [00:15:35] I didn't know we were a hit until we won the SAG Award. The first SAG award. I don't know if you remember, that trophy is made out of bronze and then the base of it is just a solid brick of marble.
Angela [00:15:49] Marble, so heavy.
Melora [00:15:49] And when you are a winner, you walk around all night. You don't carry it at your knee. You don't carry it above your head, you carry it with your elbow bent, up here. Everyone wants to see it, so you're kind of holding it right at your shoulder, right? I woke up the next morning and I could not lift my arm. My bicep was just absolutely, completely dead. I literally needed physical proof. I was like, "Oh, I guess that means we're a hit." I mean, it was just that simple for me. I don't know whether it's the dancer in me, or what, but I needed physical proof.
Angela [00:16:24] That muscle memory of like, "Ow, this pain means that it happened."
Melora [00:16:29] Yes, it means I was carrying an award around all night and we are a hit. It was just surreal to me, really surreal. Anyway, sorry. You didn't even ask me one question and I went on a rant.
Jenna [00:16:40] No, are you kidding? This is what it is!
Angela [00:16:40] This is what it is, this is what we love. So many people wrote in. We put out a prompt, "Hey, Melora's gonna be on the show. Do you have any questions for Jan?" Melora, we got so many amazing questions. So we're just gonna throw a few at you today.
Melora [00:16:52] OK, good.
Jenna [00:16:52] Yeah, sure. Let's kick things off with Peyton W. from Hiram, Georgia, who said, "When first starting the role, did Melora create any kind of character background apart from what was scripted in the show?" And then Lisa R. from Plymouth Lake, California said, "What is Jan's history? We first learn about her past at Chili's, but who is Mr. Gould? And what is that back story?" Did you create any kind of backstory for Jan?
Melora [00:17:22] I don't think so. [laughing] I don't remember that I did that. You know, Jan was so visceral to me. Steve and I had such an interesting chemistry, that when we were playing the characters there was such a distinct push-pull attraction/repulsion that was so visual to me that I really just hooked into that. I think that's really how Greg Daniels and the writers built the character, was really from that tactile kind of experience that I think the audience can feel and I think Steve and I could feel. I remember saying it out loud, at lunch during the pilot. I remember saying, "God, if we get picked up, Michael and Jan have to hook up, somehow, someway." I remember Steve laughing and Greg laughing so hard and me laughing and we were all just like, "Oh my God, that would be so wrong and so right." We all just got it so early that I don't even think there was time to even think that way about this character, this role. I was hired as a guest star, possible recurring character in the pilot. I wasn't even necessarily going to be a regular on this show. I had done so many guest star, possible recurring characters in my career. So as far as like, "Is this going to be some memorable thing?" [scoffs] I just was going in with this visceral feeling I had for her. It seemed to be working, everybody liked it, they were laughing, they were enjoying it. Steve and I had great chemistry when we were working together and it was like, "Let's just go with this."
Angela [00:19:05] A lot of people did write in about the chemistry. Okay. Steve F. from Bryan, Texas said, "Do you remember a first or early moment on set that you knew you and Steve had great chemistry?" It sounds like right from the pilot. But Steve wants you to know that your relationship on camera was truly remarkable.
Melora [00:19:24] Oh, that's so nice. Yeah. I mean, I felt it. I think Steve and I both felt it really early. I have come from a background in improv, but different kind of improv than what Steve had come from. My mother was an acting teacher (and she was an actress herself as a younger woman), she kind of put together her own technique and she taught young people. She taught kids. Her name was Diane Hill-Harden. She taught Leonardo DiCaprio when he was a kid and River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhall and Jessica Biel and on and on. I think that the kind of improv I came from was really playing the truth. So not going for the laughs, but finding the comedy inside the truth. As a kid, I think I was thought of (mostly) as a dramatic actress and then as I got older and then comedy happened for me, people were like, "Oh wow, she's really funny." But I think that's where the chemistry comes from, really. It literally is just that I say, "Steve could throw a ball, it could be a curve ball, and I would get so excited by that and catch it, and then he could throw a straight ball the next time, or an underhanded ball the time, or an overhanded ball next time." And I was just always ready to catch those balls. He was exactly the same way. So I think we had a lot of fun, I certainly did, I can't speak for Steve. But it felt like we both did, but I certainly had a lotta fun tossing those balls in different ways (even subtly) all the time, and I think that does come from a comfort with the unknown. A comfort with improv.
Jenna [00:20:57] Well, to continue that metaphor, I like this metaphor of the idea of pitchers and catchers in improv. I sort of saw myself on the show as more of a catcher of other people's improv. But I think what makes Jan so fun is that you're both, Melora. I think Jan was a pitcher and a catcher, because I would see it on set as well. You'd just toss it right back to him, you know? But you catch it just right too. What fun.
Melora [00:21:27] Yeah, yeah, it is fun. And that's a really great observation about your character. I feel like you're totally right about that, and that was what made her so special, too. Because she just was so always available for that, from anybody! So great, so great.
Angela [00:21:42] Yeah, I think the thing that really spoke to me in everything you said there was just playing the truth because that's the highest brow of comedy, truly. It's not going for the joke. That's the cheapest way to go about getting a laugh, is to go for the joke. If you play the truth, it's so pure and real. You did that so many times as Jan. I was watching you, oh my gosh, last night there was a moment where Jan just finally decides she's going to get back together with Michael. Even though he has sent the email to everyone, Jan, Tan, everywhere, Jan everywhere, it's gone so far. As she's like, "Look, I don't know why my therapist told me just lean into this, but clearly I'm attracted to you. I don't know why." Michael is trying to say back to you that he agrees, but he's so excited. And it comes out like, "And I also, Hence forth. Do the thereby affirm this moment," like whatever, I'm paraphrasing it. But he says so many ridiculous things in a row saying yes, and then you have this moment where you just go [sighs]. Those little moments of you reacting to him are so truthful as Jan.
Jenna [00:22:59] Some of my favorites are your non-verbals. Melora, there's an elevator non-verbal that's literally, like, I'll do it with you when I see it. It's the one where you're like, "Michael, you're a good looking guy, but I just this and you're annoying and I can't stand you." And you say all these insults and "it's just not going to happen between us!" He's like, "You think I'm good looking?" And you get in the elevator and you go "[sighs]". And then the door is shut, it's my favorite Jan non-verbal.
Melora [00:23:33] That one was the one where we got given the candy bag. The scene started in Michael's office, and we walked to the elevator and continue having that argument, get in the elevator, and the doors close. That was that scene where they basically said, "'We're gonna rewrite this scene. We don't like it. Basically, we need you to hit this beat. You guys improvise, we're gonna go rewrite it. We'll be back. Have fun." They left. But we went off, and I do know that definitely that scene is, I would say, 90% improvised.
Angela [00:24:01] Because they were like, "Just go play, we're going to try it."
Melora [00:24:04] Because they weren't liking the way it was playing, the way it was written. Greg was extraordinary that way. That was the first set I'd ever been on with that much collaboration with the writers.
Angela [00:24:15] Mm-hmm.
Melora [00:24:15] And the actors. That was just an extraordinary eye-opening experience. Even what you said, Angela, Greg was extraordinary at that, in terms of weaving in the truthful things. That there are things about Jan that are very much Melora. I had Greg and Paul Feig and his wife and Greg and Suzanne over for dinner one night, and I have a huge painting of myself (this was at an older house that we had) that a friend of mine had painted that was the cover of my second album, called "Purr." It was basically a nod to Gil Elvgren, who was the first pinup painter. Before they could take photographs of women like that, there were painters that would paint women that were just a little cheeky. Where they'd be leaning over and picking up a garden hose and their skirt would be flying up and they'd be going, "Oh!" They have these cute little ruffly panties on and it was sort of a nod to that. My record was called Purr and it was very kind of 50's and 40's inspired music.
Angela [00:25:17] Mhmm.
Melora [00:25:18] So I had this painting over our couch in this very pretty, but small, living room that we had (with hand painted ceilings) and I remember when they came, Greg noticing it. I remember saying, "I often think sometimes people might come in my house and think that I think that's serious," because I'm sitting in this very provocative pose and I've got all these kittens all around me and my leg is out and my boobs are all pushed up and I'm very smiley. And I said, "But you know, it's a joke. It's a jokes that goes with the music. It's perfectly for my record." But sometimes I think people might think that like, "Oh wow, she really thinks that she's all that." I mean, I am all that, but that was a character I was playing for the music. Anyway, so that was where the Warhol of Jan came from. The candle thing came because, again, when they came for dinner I had the whole house lit up with candles. I mean I'm a candle fiend, I just am. Especially back then, but I really would just light the whole with candles. I just thought it was so romantic and so sexy and so beautiful and sets a beautiful environment. And I just think that he was, like, you know...
Angela [00:26:28] Taking notes.
Melora [00:26:28] Yeah, he was just taking mental notes and he gave Jan the candle business because Melora loves candles and stuff. So, anyway, those are funny things.
Angela [00:26:36] Yeah, I love all of that and I love the through lines that they would pull back over and over again. I watched this morning, when Dwight and Pam they think they're making a sale to some unknown person but it's actually Jan at her new job.
Melora [00:26:51] Which season is that?
Jenna [00:26:54] That was in season nine.
Melora [00:26:56] Last season, that's right. I remember that.
Angela [00:26:57] But all of those paintings of Jan are back on the wall in her office and then there's one of her skydiving. But it's just a huge one of herself. I really wondered if you got to keep any of that, if you have any of those.
Melora [00:27:07] You know what, I would love the skydiving one. No, I did get given the Jan Warhol. I have that rolled up somewhere. Then I have the "This parking space reserved for Jan Levinson, Michael Scott's girlfriend."
Angela [00:27:20] Oh, that's so great!
Melora [00:27:22] I have one from the prop guys, yeah.
Jenna [00:27:24] Oh, I love that.
Melora [00:27:26] Yeah, that pretty fun. And I have it in my house, up high outside my door. Because it's up above your eye level, you don't necessarily see it. But sometimes, work people or people delivering packages will see it. And if they see it, they are so excited. Because then they put that with my face and they're just like "Wow!"
Angela [00:27:51] Ah! "Oh my god, I'm delivering to Jan!"
Melora [00:27:53] Yeah, they can't believe it. They're so excited.
Jenna [00:27:55] Alright, we have a question from Vicky G. in Argentina, and I actually have strong feelings about this, so I'm curious to know your answer. Vicky would like to know, "Did Jan ever really love Michael or did she just need him?" And also, a lot of people wrote in asking if Hunter is really the father of Jan's baby, because they think maybe Jan was pregnant at the dinner party. They'd like to know your thoughts.
Melora [00:28:25] Wow, I love how deeply these people think into the storylines, that's really great. I think Jan did love Michael as much as she could. I just think she was quite broken around love. You know, she had this other husband, the Gould guy, and I think that was probably the picture perfect marriage. That's probably what it looked like. And that's what she chose, thinking that was what she should have. He had the right bank account, he had the right job, he have the right clothes, they had the right house, and I think that when she left that... The thing I always was playing, because I remember also, (again, back to Greg) Greg and I did a lot of talking about Jan and a lot thinking. There was a lot of his wheels turning and I could see that, and I think very early on, he said to me something like, "We're having a little trouble in the writer's room reconciling with this idea that Jan would ever be with Michael." I remember this was a real conversation with the writers. I remembered saying, "I think that it really works." It wasn't just because I wanted to stay on the show. I did, but it wasn't really that. It was that I could feel that chemistry that Steve and Melora had. But really, it was Jan and Michael and it was like there was something that was a little broken about Jan that Michael could fill because he was very childlike. He was very childlike, even in his delusional thinking everything was amazing and I think probably at the beginning of the relationship he was like with her. He was like, "How could I get so lucky to have this beautiful, talented, successful woman, strong, powerful woman" that can dominate him, which is what he really loved. I think she was quite dominant of him. I think that he was just like a puppy dog, just like, "Oh my God!" He would show up at the door like a dog with his tail wagging, you know? With his tongue out, like, "What are we gonna do today?" And she would make the plans. So when they say, "Was she really in love with him?" I mean, You know... Was it deep, philosophical, existential love? I don't know. But for those two people, those two characters, I think they loved each other as much as those two could love another human being. So I would say fully "yes" for that. And I wanna know your strong opinions on that, Jenna. Do you think they were?
Jenna [00:30:57] Yes, 100% for all the reasons that you said. I love what you're saying about Greg. It's funny, if Jan and Michael are together, but Greg wanted to make sure it was also truthful and real that they were together. He was saying, "We're trying to figure out 'What's the truth of these two characters being together?' We know what's funny about it."
Angela [00:31:19] Right, right.
Jenna [00:31:20] But I think it is what you were saying, there was a time and place in these two people's lives where they were just perfect for one another and they did need each other. That was one of Vicki's questions. Was it just a need-based relationship? No, I think it went beyond that. I think there was some healing that happened.
Melora [00:31:38] Yeah, I do too. And play. I think they had a lot of playfulness in the fact of her dominance and his passiveness. Where he has to show up at work and be the guy who's in charge and be the boss. He's really not suited to be a boss right? But he is, he's the boss of Dunder Mifflin. It's hilarious, and then she's the bigger boss and she gets to boss him around. I think that was really hot for him. That's what I always got. That was hot for him and hot for her, because I think Gould was much more dominant. I think that wasn't comfortable for her. I always used to say, too, that Jan sort of tossed out her femininity to climb that corporate ladder. That she felt she had to sort be masculine. She had to be kind of one of the guys. I think Michael re-ignited that feminine part of her; that was dominant but playful, and I think he probably could get her to soften in their private moments, in their intimate moments. I always imagined that they had great sex and some really sweet, tender moments, too, where I think they did have that kind of healing flavor that I think you're talking about there.
Jenna [00:32:50] I believe they snuggled on the couch and watched movies.
Angela [00:32:56] I do, too!
Melora [00:32:56] I do, too.
Angela [00:32:56] I think they snuggled on the couch and watched movies, I think they filmed themselves having sex. I think they did all of those things.
Jenna [00:33:01] Well, we know they did that.
Angela [00:33:02] But also they have this super sweet scene where Michael is bankrupt, Jan is spending his money, but he also hasn't been good with his money. They're sitting in the train, the empty train car, and Jan says, "Look, after I lost my job, my friends aren't talking to me. These people abandoned me. Whatever, my family under legal restraints, can't talk to me." And then she's like, "but you're always here for me." And I think there was some real truth to that. Michael was always there for Jan, he really was.
Melora [00:33:38] He was, he was.
Angela [00:33:39] So I think that was healing for Jan, that he didn't give up on her.
Melora [00:33:43] Yeah, exactly. Oh, that's sweet.
Jenna [00:33:46] But what about the baby?
Angela [00:33:48] Was Astrid Kevin Malone's sperm donor baby, or was Astrid Hunter's baby?
Jenna [00:33:57] She wasn't Michael's baby because of the vasectomy and the double condoms that she insisted that he wear. I think we're pretty sure it's not Michael's.
Melora [00:34:06] Definitely was not Michaels. I mean, we had played it that it was that she had gotten a sperm donor. Kevin, no way. That would just be him, you know, being Kevin. But no, I don't think it would have been Hunter's. No, I think it wouldn't have been Hunter's either. I think that would be nice because I'm sure they had sex. But I don't think it was Hunter's, I think I was a sperm donor. I think she literally went and got an anonymous sperm donor's sperm. That would be the way Jan would do it. She would be very meticulous and very cross all the T's and dot all the I's. I bet she didn't get an open one either. I bet you she didn't the one where you can find your father.
Angela [00:34:46] Yeah, she locked it up.
Melora [00:34:47] Because I think she really wanted to go back to Michael, too. I think some part of her was like, "He could help me raise this kid." There's probably some part of her that had that fantasy, which was never gonna be a reality.
Jenna [00:35:00] Okay, I agree. Because, like I said, I'm re-watching the show. We just watched "Fun Run" last night, and that's the one where Kevin finds Jan at the grocery store, and she's pregnant, and he calls Michael. Then Michael comes down, and you have this great conversation. It is so heartbreaking, and it just punched me in the gut. Where Michael is like, "Is it mine?" And she's like, "No." And he's like, "But it has to be mine because you clearly got pregnant when we were together" and you say "I did." And then he says, "I can't believe you cheated on me when I specifically asked you not to."
Melora [00:35:41] That's such a great line.
Jenna [00:35:42] It's such great line and you're like, "I didn't cheat on you." And he's just like, "I can't figure this out," and that's when you tell him, "I went to a sperm bank, Michael." He says "You went to sperm bank when you were with me?"
Angela [00:35:54] It's so hurtful.
Melora [00:35:54] So painful.
Jenna [00:35:58] But then there's this great talking head where Jan explains, like, "Listen, if I were younger, maybe I'd give Michael a shot, but I can't take it. I needed a great sperm from a great guy." Everything you're saying.
Melora [00:36:13] A young, fast, hungry sperm.
Jenna [00:36:17] With great DNA. This was planning.
Melora [00:36:20] She was smart. She was not messing around. She knew this was her last shot to have a kid. Like, "I'm gonna do it, and I'm going to do it now."
Angela [00:36:30] Gosh, that scene is amazing. Well I have a question for you from Amber V. in New Hampshire. Amber says, "What was Melora's favorite Jan storyline?" Rachel O. from South Dakota said, "Is there a storyline you wish would have played out differently or maybe have gotten more depth?"
Melora [00:36:52] I mean, nobody can really look at Jan and not see The Dinner Party storyline being sort of brilliant, as far as just what happened in that evening: the invitation of people over, and all of these characters crashing together in a way that we just didn't see. I mean most of my scenes (all of my scenes really) were with Steve, and sometimes other characters would pop in and out, but nothing significant with Jan was with anyone but Steve, except in the dinner party. Oh, and then also season nine, that one was also cool, because that was with... Who was it with?
Jenna [00:37:26] Rainn.
Melora [00:37:26] Oh, it was you and Rainn, that's right. But mostly you, right?
Jenna [00:37:32] It was mostly the two of us.
Melora [00:37:33] Yeah, that right, that was fun. That was fun.
Jenna [00:37:35] You show me a slideshow.
Melora [00:37:36] That's right. Yes, I remember that. Astrid and I sing that song. I'm singing the song on the slideshow and I'm mouthing the words to it. That's right. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous and the song is completely improvised. That was completely improvised.
Angela [00:37:50] Oh my gosh. Are you kidding?
Melora [00:37:52] Yeah, they just gave me the lyrics and they know I'm a songwriter and a singer. So they were just like, "Yeah, just, I don't know, sing it." So I came up with a whole melody that is so ridiculous, the melody itself, as a melodicist. And as a lyricist, I'm telling you, the melody of that is so ridiculous. I've had people on Cameo ask me to sing that song and I have to go back to YouTube and watch it and I go, "This is the weirdest melody." I have to figure it out again. And I know, I just came up with it on the spot
Angela [00:38:23] It's so bonkers. I was watching it this morning and I don't know how, first of all, you guys got through that without laughing. I don't know how you did it.
Jenna [00:38:31] It was so crazy.
Angela [00:38:32] Wait, I wanna play it. Can I play it? Or is it weird that you're here? Could you sing it? No, I'll play it.
Melora [00:38:38] Oh, I don't know, maybe.
Angela [00:38:39] I have to play it!
Melora [00:38:39] If I listen to it once, I could probably sing along.
Jenna [00:38:41] I remember having to sit there, and it's such a great scene, because Pam's trying to get this sale. She's trying get you as a client. It's the thing where she's really trying to walk a line of remaining a truthful person, but also flattering you, but making sure you don't feel flattered. You call her out, you're like, "Don't patronize me, Pam."
Angela [00:39:07] Oh, I know!
Jenna [00:39:08] It's so good. And I'm like, "I'm sorry. I don't like it. I like it? I do."
Angela [00:39:13] And then you're like, "I like how Astrid writes her name." And Jan's like, "I wrote it." She made it look like a little kid. Okay, ready?
Melora [00:39:23] Yes.
clip from The Office - Jan [00:39:24] [singing] Mommy you're a princess / Mommy you are a superstar / Mommy you the greatest / How could I ever fill your shoes
Angela [00:39:42] [laughing]
Jenna [00:39:45] It's so much at the end!
Melora [00:39:49] I love this. I mean you can tell I did that in one take. That was literally, like, "Just sing it." That's just me making it up. I never thought, in a million years, I'd have to ever sing that for anyone ever again. So it's not even a followable melody, really. It's really not even a followable melody.
Angela [00:40:08] Knowing that you made it up, it makes sense too. Because you're kind of just commenting on the picture, like, she's putting on the shoe and it's too big for her.
Melora [00:40:17] See, that's another thing that Greg wrote in, because Mindy did it first. Because I sang, I did "Les Mes" at the Hollywood Bowl, and I was Fantine. Literally that next episode, Mindy was like, "You're gonna be singing. If you can sing like that, you are gonna sing," and that was when I did the baby shower episode where I came in and sang to the baby, "Son of a Preacher Man."
Jenna [00:40:37] Amazing.
Melora [00:40:38] That was Mindy that wrote that. Then Greg was like, "We're gonna have her be..." And then had me come in and do the Astrid song. "The mommy, what did you learn? I learned about clocks," and that's another one that I improvised. Just they just gave me the lyrics and i just made it up. Never thinking in a million years anybody would get attached to that song. But people know these songs. I'm always amazed by the fans.
Jenna [00:41:06] And also "Threat Level: Midnight," where you get to play the singer.
Melora [00:41:10] Yes, exactly, I mean that was all Greg making my dreams come true. He's such a sweetheart that way. He's like, "Oh, you sing, we're just gonna keep on putting you in here singing in all these different ways."
Jenna [00:41:21] But they did that. They were like, "Oh Ed, you play banjo? It's going in."
Angela [00:41:25] That's right, yeah.
Jenna [00:41:26] "Oh, Rainn, you can play recorder? It's going in." Any talent that you had, they just threw it in there. Like, "Oh, John Krasinski, you're great at impressions? In."
Angela [00:41:35] You know the one though, I used to always say guys, "Can you please like have Meredith belt out a song, sometime and be really amazing?" But they were like, "It doesn't track for Meredith." But Kate Flannery has such a great voice, she did get to sing with Pam.
Jenna [00:41:51] We did get to sing karaoke, that's true.
Melora [00:41:54] Well, karaoke is kind of perfect for her character.
Angela [00:41:57] It is, it is.
Jenna [00:41:57] And they found a way.
Melora [00:41:59] Yeah, exactly. I'm a dancer too, but I had to pretend not to dance when I'm dancing to the Hunter song. You know, there's things you have to do for your character. It would have been weird for Jan to be good at dancing and I tried to dance, like literally, off the beat a little bit.
Jenna [00:42:18] The dancing in that moment is so great. And you'll remember this, Angela, because we were there, which is that you walked over to John and you were like, "Dance with me." And he was so brilliant because he didn't, but that you then awkwardly spin yourself under his seated arm.
Angela [00:42:41] [laughing] So weird.
Jenna [00:42:41] Incredible.
Melora [00:42:42] Oh, my God. It was so much fun.
Angela [00:42:43] We haven't talked about us breaking in scenes yet, but we need to. But when you're singing Son of a Preacher Man, I'm sitting right behind you, at that baby shower. What I wasn't ready for was when you, while holding the baby and you're sitting on the ground, started snapping. You just started snapping. You were so feeling it and everyone is just watching you. When you started snapping, I thought, "I'm gonna lose it. I am going to lose it! Oh my gosh."
Melora [00:43:15] Well, it was such a free environment for those kinds of things, you know? Because I think the snapping, it was just something that came to me in the moment. It wasn't like I planned that or thought that through the night before. So we're very lucky that we had that experience. It really is very special and not always that way. It's not always an environment where that many people can make that much space for each other. People often ask, how it was working with Steve. "What was it like to work with Steve Carell?" I always say, "Well, the best thing about that was that space that we made for each other, that really was very present. And we had also a great connection." To finish that question, would I like an episode to go longer? Where would I have liked to have gone?
Angela [00:44:00] More depth, yeah.
Melora [00:44:00] I would say the end of the dinner party episode was so strong, with her trying to put the thing back together. Trying to get the Dundee back together. And just what had gone on that night and how deep and revelatory that was for their insight into their relationship. I think I did, for a long time, have thoughts of where that could have gone, had they continued the relationship. There were a lot of things I think could have come from that. I even had conversations with Greg about it, I think, about where it could go from there. I think was a little like, "Oh. We could have done so much more together," as a little couple and could have been even crazier and fun. We could have healed and we could have blown up and... So yeah. That's where I would say I could have gone, I could've gone more with that.
Angela [00:44:54] Yeah. I could see that.
Jenna [00:44:56] Yeah, you guys kind of break up, then he moves in with Dwight at the farm, and then we don't see you for a while. But I hear you, in terms of it did feel like we had just scratched the surface, and how fun it was to go into Michael's private home with Jan? And into that relationship that we'd only seen in little glimpses at the office. I mean, I could have spent a whole season just in that condo.
Angela [00:45:28] I mean, I could've watched a spinoff that was Jan in some kind of neighborhood group chat. I mean, what was Jan like in that condo community? I could have watched that.
Melora [00:45:39] No that could have been good. That could have been good.
Angela [00:45:41] I loved it when Michael, like... She wants the car because she's going to yoga, the one car they share, and he's working as a telemarketer and she doesn't know it. But you go to pick him up and he's like, "How was you yoga?" Jane goes, "I didn't go." And she was like, "You drive, I drink too much wine." But I was like, "I wanna see more of Jan's life. It's so amazing to me. "
Melora [00:46:06] Oh, it is. It's is so silly. So silly.
Angela [00:46:12] Well, I'm here for the Jan spin off, I can tell you that. Okay, so I have to ask you, because a bunch of people did write in about this, because you had so many scenes with Steve, was there one in particular that you remember that was so difficult to get through because you were laughing? I know one that you're heavily featured in the bloopers in.
Melora [00:46:32] Well, I mean, obviously the one in the dinner party where he kept throwing the television, when he kept saying about the small TV and it's this size and pulling it out of the wall. That was ridiculous. None of us could get through that. Jenna, you couldn't get through.
Jenna [00:46:48] No.
Melora [00:46:48] I couldn't through that, John couldn't get through it. It was mostly the three of us, right?
Jenna [00:46:53] Yeah. That was before Andy and Angela arrived and we're getting the house tour.
Angela [00:46:59] But even Steve broke in that, and he never breaks.
Melora [00:47:01] No, we all were. I really didn't break very much. I don't think I'm...
Jenna [00:47:05] You didn't. You were good.
Melora [00:47:09] No, I didn't laugh that much, but I could not get through that stupid television. When I come up to the thing to knock on the door, and you and John are in the bathroom?
Jenna [00:47:21] Well, we're up in the hallway, I think.
Melora [00:47:23] Oh, in the hallway.
Jenna [00:47:25] I am sneak eating, and this didn't even make it in the episode.
Melora [00:47:28] Yeah, because the ossobuco wasn't ready yet.
Jenna [00:47:30] Yes, and I'm eating and because every time we broke, we had to retake it. I was like, "You guys, I'm getting really full. Like, I can't eat anymore. I can't eat anymore of this power bar."
Melora [00:47:40] I feel like you were in the bathroom because I felt like we had to keep opening a door. Were we not in a bathroom?
Jenna [00:47:45] There was a second one, I think, where I'm in the bathroom and you had to knock on the door. I don't think that ever saw the light of day. There were all of these...
Melora [00:47:54] And every time the door opened you (or me, one of us would) just crack up so much. You know, it's bad because the first few times the whole crew cracks up with you, right? But you know it's bad when the crew stops laughing because they're just trying to get you to stop laughing so they could get through the scene. Jenna, it was, like, 15-20 minutes.
Angela [00:48:18] You broke the crew?
Jenna [00:48:20] Well, there was this whole runner that you don't really see in the episode. It ended up getting kind of cut out, which was that Pam was always trying to sneak away to eat something, but you were just always right on top of her. So she couldn't...
Melora [00:48:36] The hostess with the mostest, monster.
Jenna [00:48:38] Yes, and that whole idea was so funny to us. Cause it was like a horror movie.
Melora [00:48:47] Exactly, you were just trying to get a snack.
Jenna [00:48:53] It was so good.
Angela [00:48:54] I was at a restaurant in Seattle last week and there was Ossobucco on the menu and the waiter said to me, "Are you going to get the ossobuco?" And did a little wink wink. And I thought, "Oh my gosh, I bet Melora gets this all the time."We had a gal write in Amelia S. from Yukon, Oklahoma, "What is one line that gets quoted to you the most?"
Melora [00:49:23] Gosh, I guess "If you burn it, you buy it," is sort of what people tend to say to me. Or "I guess, that makes me the devil."Or just, "That's what she said." That's the one I hear the most, obviously, right? Everyone says that. You say something, and they say, "Oh, that was what she's said". Or they say something and, "Oh that's what she said."
Angela [00:49:44] Yeah, I thought the best "that's what she said" that I watched of all your clips is when Michael says it in The Deposition -
Melora [00:49:52] The Dying Star? Oh i thought you were going to say The Cocktail episode.
Angela [00:49:54] Oh no, that is brilliant.
Melora [00:49:55] That one's a great moment of "that's what she said." I'm like, "I guess I'll just get back with Michael and dissolve inside myself like a dying star." "That's what said." And it makes no sense. It's not a that's-what-she-said. Jan's using it wrong. She doesn't even know what she's saying and she's a little confused by it. It's such a freaking great bit.
Jenna [00:50:15] I think there is a handle that leads to a "that's what she said," is there not?
Angela [00:50:20] I have it. Melora, I have to tell you that there is a Dunder Mifflin Reddit thread and they put this prompt,:"One line that best captures a character," and this is what they wrote for Jan, which is from Cocktails. "I'm taking a calculated risk. What's the upside? I overcome my nausea, fall deeply in love, babies, normalcy, no more self-loathing. Downside, I date Michael Scott publicly and collapsed in on myself like a dying star. Why is this so hard? That's what she said."
Melora [00:50:50] Oh, that's it.
Angela [00:50:51] Oh my God. "Why is this so hard?"
Melora [00:50:52] Why is this so hard? That's what it is, that's what she said. Okay, there was a set up.
Angela [00:50:59] People think that perfectly encapsulates the character of Jan.
Melora [00:51:02] It does. No, it's really perfect and it was quite early in the show.
Angela [00:51:07] Yes, season three.
Jenna [00:51:09] Well, before we let you go, you've been so generous. We got some fan mail flurries. People had questions about some non-Office related things. So a lot of people are curious how the recasting of "Back to the Future" affected you and how you persevered.
Melora [00:51:29] I was 17 years old and it was a big deal because it was a two picture deal with Bob Zemeckis and Bob Gale and Eric Stoltz, who I had a huge crush on. We had almost worked together several times and at that time in my life I just had a huge crush one him. So I was super excited to do this. Went and did publicity photos. It was on the back lot at Universal. It was a big movie. It was big deal.
Jenna [00:51:55] Had you shot anything? Because we should say, he was Marty McFly, and then you were Jennifer.
Melora [00:52:01] Yes, uh-huh.
Jenna [00:52:03] Yeah. Okay.
Angela [00:52:06] I mean it was, like... It was a go. You were doing marketing for it.
Melora [00:52:09] Yeah, so I had only done some publicity stuff. I had done some costume fittings and I had met everyone, I'd come on the set and the back lot there on Universal. You know, I was part of it. It was fun and I was excited and I starting a week later. Then, yeah, got a call. I remember, I was in my mom and dad's kitchen in our house in in the valley. It was a wall phone, there were no cell phones. I remember my mom answering and saying, "Oh honey, this is for you." She was standing there next to me and Bob Gale and Bob Zemeckis were on the phone together and they both just said, "You now, this is just the most awful phone call I've ever had to make and we just think you're amazing. And we disagree, but apparently, some of the executives at Universal... We've had to let Eric Stoltz go and they feel like it's emasculating to their lead actor to have a girlfriend that's taller than him, and you are quite a bit taller than Michael J. Fox, who we've hired. So we don't want to, but we're gonna have to let you go, and we're just so sad about it," and I burst into tears. I burst into tears. I mean, I was just like, floods of tears. And they sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers you've ever seen, it filled this table. And I was 17. So what do you do? How do you move on? You just move on. A lot of people don't realize that as actors, we're not just good at what we do. We have to also be very resilient people. You also have to be okay with all of the failure. I've done some master classes, or I've taught some things or done shows, and people ask me, "How do you get to be where you are? Especially young people. And I always say that for me to be where I am, I would have had to have failed much more than I've succeeded. There is no way to be as successful as I am, or to be the person that I am, without the failure. We live in a world right now that is so obsessed with success and so obsessed with all the amazing things that are happening in everyone's life all the time and the picture of that on social media. It's just misrepresentative of... Not just what is true, but also what is good for us as human beings. It's important for us, as human being, to fail. By the way, we don't connect over our successes. We connect with each other. We connect to humanity through our failures. So I happen to have some really amazing parents who basically gave me a lot of love for that disappointment, that huge heartbreak, which it was. They held me through it and they helped me go on and they let me grieve and they encouraged me to go to dance class the next day and they encourage me to go school. I went to an audition the next week and I continued and I just went on, I went on. That's what we all do. We move through these things and we don't crumble and we become just a greasy spot on the ground, even though we might think we are. I just was talking to someone yesterday who was saying that he hadn't had someone in his life, he hadn't had a relationship in his life, for years because he was so terrified of heartbreak. And I said, "We have to live. You don't want to live in heartache." Heartache is just suffering, like, a low grade suffer. You want to life in heartbreak, where you just give yourself all of yourself to everything you do, and then you risk heartbreak and you are gonna get heartbroken. But we all have gotten heartbroken, all the time. I had to just put my dog down, four weeks ago. I'm completely heartbroken about it. I cry about it all the time. I'd probably start crying right now if I keep talking about it, but I'm all right. I'm surviving and she's in my memory. People are really interested in that story and I mostly hope that that story encourages people to just go for everything 150%. You might fail and you probably will sometimes and you may get your heartbroken and you will sometimes, but... It doesn't mean you shouldn't keep getting your heart broken. You should, it's good for us. It makes us stronger, our character as human beings stronger. And then we can bring that to our work as actors, or your work as anything you do. If you'll become a better doctor, if you're a doctor. You'll be become a secretary. If you're secretary. You'll a better person, you know? So there's my little rant about heartbreak and Back to the Future.
Angela [00:56:43] I mean, I'm tearing up.
Jenna [00:56:45] Me too.
Angela [00:56:45] Because I'm so just inspired by you. Everything you said was such really wonderful truth. That was beautiful, Melora. That was absolutely beautiful.
Jenna [00:57:00] And some real wisdom, thank you.
Jenna [00:57:04] My thousands of hours of working on myself, self-examination, and help, and great teachers.
Angela [00:57:11] And great parents.
Melora [00:57:13] Great parents, great friends, great coaches. I have a great coach. So if I can share some of that, that's helpful, and I'm happy that it' moved you.
Jenna [00:57:22] Another thing people asked about, I'm so curious to hear the answer to this, will it be filled with as much wisdom? I don't know.
Angela [00:57:30] This is a hard pivot, because I know the next question. So this is a big pivot.
Jenna [00:57:36] People would like to hear about your appearance on "Friends" with the monkey.
Angela [00:57:42] With that crazy monkey that was pulling your hair.
Melora [00:57:43] Well, there's more depth than you might think. So David Schwimmer and I had been on a date. He went to Beverly High. I went to Grant High in Los Angeles. A friend of ours had set us up. When we were 17, we went on a date.
Angela [00:57:57] A lot happened your 17th year.
Melora [00:58:00] Oh, god. Yeah, that's interesting. Wow. Yeah, That's interesting. We had ended up kind of kissing. I don't know if we ever did anything more than that. I think we just kind of kissed. We kind of made out a little, but very minor make out session. But it was very funny because when I went in for that, we had kind of remained friends. The attraction didn't really go very far, but we had a little crush on each other, I guess. Then David was working at the Daily Grill. I tested for five pilots, that season that he got Friends. And it was the first pilot he ever tested for.
Angela [00:58:41] Oh my gosh.
Melora [00:58:42] Ever. And it was Friends. We were all so happy for him because we had just sort of transitioned into friends, you know? He got this pilot, it was this show. Okay, great. I didn't get any of those five that I had tested for, none of those went. So I was just an auditioning actor that season. I don't remember what season it was, was it the second season maybe of Friends? Could've been the third..
Jenna [00:59:12] I mean, the monkey was still around, so it was early Friends.
Angela [00:59:15] Early Friends, yeah.
Melora [00:59:18] And when I went in, I remember Martha Kaufman and the other producers saying that they were so impressed that in the audition, I did not mention that I was friends with David and got the part anyway. When we were on the set, they were all so impressed that David and I were friends. I've worked with animals like my whole life. As a kid, I did a series called "Cliffwood Avenue Kids." People can look that up. Good luck. It was just tons of animals. Then one of the highlights of my childhood career was this series called "Thunder," about a wild black stallion that came when I whistled, which is kind of important to this documentary that I'm gonna be finishing in the next two months. I'm so excited, my decade-long documentary I've been making. But people can look for that, it's called "Hunter's Thunder." But my point is that I worked with so many animals on these shows as a kid, that when this monkey came in, I was fine with him, because I was comfortable with trainers. I was comfortable with animals. But this particular monkey was a bit wild, and I had just done an episode of "Square Pegs" with Sarah Jessica Parker. Like, maybe a year or two before that and they had a monkey on that show, which was a spider monkey too, and that monkey actually bit me. But it bit my finger, but broke the skin. I mean, if that was now, everyone would be freaking out and they'd be sending you to the hospital. For whatever reason, I was just like, "It's fine, just put a bandaid on it." We just put some alcohol and put a Band-Aid on it and I was fine. But I was a little tentative with this spider monkey because of that experience, and yet very comfortable because of all my childhood experience. David really didn't like the monkey at all. Also, the thing you learn when you work with animals or babies, whenever the animal gets it right, that's the print they're gonna take. So you have to be on every single time because they're going to pick the one where the baby and the animal do it right. Now looking at it when I've seen it, I'm like, "That thing was hanging on my hair. It was close to my face." I didn't think about that. I didn't think about how close it was to my face. If it had decided to bite me or just freaked out because it was in front of a live audience and someone could have shouted. They could have laughed. They could've thrown something. You don't know how people are gonna behave. Anyway, it all went well and we were lucky and it was fine and then the monkey was removed and we did the rest. But that's not normally how you do three camera shows. Normally, you do the whole scene, and then you cut, and then everyone applauds, and you move on to the next one. But in that particular one, I think we just did the monkey bit, then we moved on to other part. It's a very short little clip, the monkey part.
Angela [01:01:55] Yeah, but it's full on hanging off your head.
Melora [01:01:57] It's hanging off my head. Yeah, very close to my face, yeah. Nowadays, I'd probably be like, "Well. Maybe my stand-in or stunt double could do that." I don't think I'd want it that close to my face at this point. I just didn't know as much back then.
Jenna [01:02:11] Yeah, now you have the experience of all the many things that have gone wrong on sets. Lots of things.
Melora [01:02:17] Yes. And then, you know, ignorance is bliss in a lot of ways, because I am happy (in a way) that I didn't know, and then I got to just have that and it worked out okay.
Jenna [01:02:30] Sam, I think you have a question for Melora.
Sam [01:02:34] Hi. So my all-time favorite movie, it's from 1991, it's called "The Racketeer." I've seen it probably 100, 200 times. I just noticed recently you play the lounge singer in it. I wanted to just pick your brain, because this came out in 1990, so you were what, 21, 22? Just about filming it. Tell me you took a dress from that day?
Melora [01:02:56] Well, let's see. So, Joe Johnston, the director, and my brother went to film school together. Joe had come to my parents' Christmas Eve party, which we had every year. And I sing, I always sing at the Christmas Eve Party, which they don't have anymore. I would always sing. And, I guess Joe kind of took a liking to me and thought I was very beautiful and loved my voice and loves music. I think maybe he threw my headshot in for the Jennifer Connelly part, but the executives... Whatever. He was like, "I could use her, I could have her," and whatever executive didn't go for it and pushed my head shot aside. But I think it was really up to Joe, who could be the South Sea singer. I remember him calling and saying, "So I have this little cameo I'd like you to do and I'm gonna make it really special and it's gonna be really beautiful. I'm just going to come out of a clamshell and both the songs will be on the soundtrack, and you'll work with James Horner and Billy May," who was this incredible arranger of the 40's. "Would you be willing to go over and sing it with Billy May at his house in Burbank?" He had a house and a little back studio. And I went, and he was probably 80 when we did this, and I went into his little backstudio and he played piano, and I sang a little bit of "Begin the Beginning." And he was like, "Okay, great." So I think he had to sign off on me, which he did. I remember just being on set. I remember Jennifer was lovely and we both had these incredible gowns. The costume designer was extraordinary. Marilyn Vance, she was a big costume designer at the time and she was just a quirky character. So many costume designers are like that. Those big movie costume designers are really interesting characters. She was lovely and we made this beautiful dress. Jennifer had a similar beautiful white dress, also, in this scene in the South Seas Club. I remember when they were setting up everything and Jennifer and I were dancing around, like, we were pretending to be partners and we were sort of dancing and laughing. And it was cute. She was just very sweet and we we're talking and we had fun. So I just remember coming in to the recording session, billy May was there conducting the orchestra, which was a quite a large orchestra. I mean, it could have been 50 or 80 pieces. I'm not even sure, but it was a big orchestra. It was over there on the back lot of Disney and it was in the big recording studio on the backlot. And it was a big deal. I walk in and I'm just like, "Oh my God." And Billy goes, "Oh, we're about to just finish up some horns. Why don't you step into the vocal booth and just sing along? We won't record you, but just sing." And I had never sung with an orchestra. Now, if you're a singer and you're (whatever age I was, 20 or whatever,), it's a big deal to sing with an Orchestra. I had never sung with the orchestra. So I get in the booth and I start to sing. They start to play, I start sing. And I just suddenly hear the [sings] and I lose the melody, because the horns are doing all these counter melodies that the horns play. And I couldn't hear the song. I backed off from the mic and just stopped singing. As we were leaving, Billy was like, "You're gonna sound great." I remember one of the violinists walking by and going, "You just sounded beautiful." And I was like, "Really?" I just lost. And she's like, "You're going to find it." And they were all so confident that I was gonna find it. But I was not confident. I was freaking out and everyone left and it was just Joe Johnston and James Horner. James is in the booth and he goes, "Why don't you just come with me?" We go into the recording area. All the musicians are gone, there's a piano, and James says, "Can you just turn the lights down?" They turn the light down, and he literally sits at the piano and he says,"Let me just play it and let's just sing it," and he plays the piano, and I sing it one time. He goes, "Great, now let's record it." And I'll never forget that, to be in a room like that... It's gonna make me cry. It was beautiful.
Sam [01:07:12] Well, thank you.
Angela [01:07:15] It is really a special scene. And not only do you sound amazing and look beautiful, but the way you're lit. It's angelic.
Melora [01:07:24] It is. No, it's incredible. It's incredible, yeah. I think Joe had a little crush on me.
Angela [01:07:29] Well, he made you shine.
Melora [01:07:32] He wanted to make me look, like, beautiful. And he did.
Sam [01:07:35] Yeah, you look great.
Melora [01:07:37] Thank you, but it really was extraordinary. The clamshell opening and walking down the thing... Couldn't have been more beautiful. Yeah, so that's a nice question. Thank you for the question that brings back memories.
Jenna [01:07:51] Melora, I've just loved talking with you. I could just listen to you talk forever. I feel like I have even more questions than when we started. This was wonderful. Thank you for coming here. Thank you talking to us about your time in the Office, but also for inspiring us. This was great.
Melora [01:08:07] It's so great that you guys do this. It's great that that you've kept the lore of the Office alive for people. Because it is still so relevant and I just am glad that you really got it, that this was a thing to continue to talk about and that you did it with your special friendship that you created on the show. It's really a lovely contribution you're making to all the fans and I know they really appreciate it and it's not something I could have ever imagined doing. But that's because I didn't believe we were a hit until, you know... Like, that's who I am. I love that you guys had some kind of foresight into how this would contribute and the fun that you're getting out of it, too, and the friendship you've built and it's really It's really sweet. Thanks for having me.
Angela [01:08:50] And a wonderful, wonderful reunions.
Melora [01:08:51] I know!
Angela [01:08:51] What a wonderful reunion. And Melora, we are such fans of yours, so you have to let us know when your documentary is ready.
Melora [01:08:57] Thank you. That's nice.
Angela [01:08:58] We'll give it a shout out here if you want to come back and talk about it.
Melora [01:09:01] Yeah. Thank you. That's really nice. I appreciate that. It's an epic, 10-year thing that I've done with my life. So that's a long time to be working on something. So I really appreciate that and I would love to talk about it at some point. It is a very healing, lovely thing. So I would like to do that. Thank You that is very nice for you to offer.
Angela [01:09:19] Alright. Well, we love you.
Jenna [01:09:21] Thanks for being here.
Melora [01:09:21] Thank you guys. Love you guys! Mwah, mwah, Mwah!
Jenna [01:09:23] Bye!
Angela [01:09:24] Bye!
Jenna [00:00:17] Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.
Angela [00:00:19] Office Ladies is a presentation of Audacy and is produced by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.
Jenna [00:00:24] Our senior producer is Matt Beagle. Our audio engineer is Sam Kieffer, and our associate producer is Aynsley Bubbico.
Angela [00:00:32] Audacy's executive producer is Leah Reis-Dennis.
Jenna [00:00:35] Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz.
Angela [00:00:37] Our theme song is "Rubber Tree" by Creed Bratton.