Jenna Fischer shares the hilarious challenge in ‘Pam’s Replacement’

Fairly a handful of of us who are superfans of The Location of operate have generally wondered why Dunder Mifflin preferred to carry in a replacement for Pam’s second maternity depart.

In the Company workplace Girls podcast with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the ideal superior mates and co-stars broke down “Pam’s Option,” episode 7 from Season eight. (Fischer had been on a transient podcast hiatus following breaking her shoulder.)

Fischer pointed out that all by means of Pam’s initially maternity go away, she was just performing the receptionist profession. But by the eighth year, she’s the workplace administrator and continue to covers some receptionist obligations in essence, Pam is now carrying out all of the at the rear of-the-scenes employment that continue to preserve the business enterprise workplace functioning quickly.

To recap, Pam is obtaining entirely prepared to go on maternity depart, but she’s sensation insecure about staying replaced. In addition, Pam challenges that Cathy, performed by Lindsey Wide, is younger and far far more eye-catching that she is, and that Jim will be captivated to her. Cathy will even be sitting at Pam’s desk, suitable subsequent to Jim.

Meanwhile, in the warehouse, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin — or Kevin and the Zits as they are affectionately recognised — are obtaining a jam session. Robert California asks to sign up for them just ahead of kicking them all out following his outdated bandmates exhibit up. 

Pam’s getting pregnant fears land on Jim and Cathy.

Fischer reported even even so she was in truth pregnant when filming the episode, she wasn’t upset by any of the jokes about pregnancy. In point, she appreciated that the dialogue specials with some of the insecurities pregnant people may possibly possibly have about their attractiveness at the time. (The episode was developed by Allison Silverman Jones, who was expecting at the time.)

“I imagined this episode was so completely written and so beautifully highlights some of people today insecurities,” Fischer recalled.

Pam enlists the help of Dwight to figure out if Jim finds Cathy eye-catching, but inquiring Jim outright — not to point out Dwight’s rude crotch-grab — just does not appear to carry out. 

Who is Mike Tibbets?

A single of the strategies Pam, Dwight, and Kelly try to uncover out how Jim seriously feels about Cathy is the set-up take a appear at. Pam asks Jim which a single of his mates he would established Cathy up with. Appropriate absent, Jim suggests Mike Tibbets, aka “the most monotonous-hunting man I know.” Of study course, Jim is previously onto Pam’s prepare and picks Mike on intent.

“That is a bring about for me,” Fischer recalled. “So, filming the scene at Kelly’s desk exactly where by she pulls up the photograph of Mike Tibbetts — I never ever know if you viewed the bloopers of it, [but] we could not get by means of it.”

Fischer stated that she and Mindy Kaling did not get to see the prop photo of Mike ahead of they recorded the scene. When they pulled up the photograph, it was of a popular-on the lookout guy with a receding hairline, black-framed glasses, and a huge smile. In basic, he is not terrible — “I do not see what is so hideous about him he is purchased the broad encounter of a brewer,” Dwight opinions — but most probably not a actually like match for Cathy.

“The scripted line that Mindy is supposed to say is, ‘Maybe he would be higher if he modified his hair.’ But the person they picked had no hair,” Fischer stated. “We in no way came back from it. I do not know if I have at any time laughed so difficult, like my stomach harm. My giant pregnant belly.”

Kaling even sent in a voice recording to the podcast recalling her challenges with the scene and its absurdity — specially, the ridiculousness of Kelly’s opinions. In the episode, the line that manufactured it to airing was, “I necessarily imply, I guess he’d be ok with hair. Ok, you ought to actually see if he’ll get hair plugs.”

Lastly Pam, Jim, and Dwight head to a nearby pharmacy for a lie-detector take a appear at. Jim’s blood strain is elevated, so  the pair decides to depart and telephone his overall health care provider quickly following grabbing Cece a toothbrush.

The warehouse band receives a new member — and then a new band.

Also in this episode, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin are joined — in the end! — by their as properly-remarkable-for-college boss Robert California, played to icy perfection by James Spader. They are thrilled and confident they are going to now be BFFs for each day living. But not so fast! 

Robert California’s genuine close mates demonstrate up, and they are accurate musicians — on the show and IRL. The on-show screen crew capabilities Robin Swenson, Linda Taylor, and Steve Moore. Moore’s backstory is what will get you trivia evening.

Moore, also acknowledged as the Mad Drummer, was strong by NBC for a aspect in Robert California’s band quickly following Moore’s on line video, “This Drummer Is at the Fully incorrect Gig,” went viral. (He replaces Kevin on drums in this episode.) Kinsey claimed she study interviews with Moore following his appear in which he talked about how superior and down-to-earth everyone was at the filming. 

“He explained this: ‘Every distinct individual I encountered appeared to be in a fantastic mood and joyful to see me,’” she talked about. ‘And this developed all the significant distinction, as I was clearly out of my element and a anxious wreck.’”

Kinsey particulars out that this is not the 1st time Kevin was replaced in his band — preserve in thoughts Scrantonicity vs. Scrantonicity two? 

“I noticed a handful of other people converse about this on the net, and I skilled been contemplating the identical situation,” Kinsey stated. “This is the second time Kevin has been pushed out of his personal band. He was in Scrantonicity! They kicked him out. He had to wide variety Scrantonicity two. Kevin and the Zits, he just obtained kicked out of.”

In the end, Darryl, Andy, and Kevin are observed outdoors the warehouse playing audio alongside one particular a different and embracing “The Zits” determine.

Scranton’s hometown sort is potent in the episode.

Kinsey pointed out that it appeared the prop crew had developed a holiday to Scranton ahead of the episode. She stated she observed products from Gerrity’s Supermarkets and Wegmans, equally of which have their headquarters in Scranton. But the prop that she identified the most curious was a blank ebook getting study by means of by Dwight. Kinsey, who had pretty a handful of scenes with Rainn Wilson, explained she believed that the book was a final-moment addition. She stated Wilson loved props she surmised that he’d advised the crew he necessary a prop for the scene and was handed the blank reserve. 

“So it could possibly have been a final-moment believed,” Kinsey reported. “And to stop any challenges with clearance, [prop master] Phil Shea most probably gave him a guide with no safeguard or title.”

Even although Fischer and Kinsey are in the remaining stretches of The Company workplace episodes, the quite ideal superior mates promised that the Company workplace Ladies would proceed. They are scheduling some one particular of a type articles, and even contemplating a “High-priced Workplace Girls” recommendations spin-off podcast. Would you want help on your possess workplace atmosphere day-to-day life? Permit them know! 

You can stream episodes of The Workplace atmosphere on Peacock and comply with with each other with the podcast every and each week on Earwolf, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher.