The Office Season 3 Minor Spoilers & Speculation
August 30, 2006 by Kath Skerry
OK, ok, even I realize that I’m more Office-obsessed than usual. But this is the 2nd biggest week in the history of the show (sorry but not even an Emmy win can surpass the greatness that was the season finale) and if there is scoop to share, then I will share it.
So this first bit of news is not really spoilerish, BUT, it came directly from a good source – an email from Producer Kent Zbornak. Here’s what Kent has to say about what we can expect in season 3…let the speculation begin.
“Season 3 will have you… shocked/sad/elated/confused/happy/troubled/anxious- just like life.”
On to a few more minor Office spoilers courtesy of TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello. In his weekly column, Mike answered a few questions about our favorite Dunder Mifflinites, and offered up some tiny tidbits on an upcoming storyline.
Question: Anything regarding Jim and Pam coming up on The Office?
Ausiello: It’s all about timing on the Emmy red carpet. Case in point: Just as I was about to thrust my tape recorder in Jenna Fischer’s face, John Krasinski walked over and I got the two of them together! What follows is our hilariously scoopy, albeit brief, threesome. (Hint: Believe Jenna, not John.)Ausiello: Does Pam choose Jim?
Jenna: You’ll know what happens in the first episode.
John: Babies.
Jenna: You won’t have to wait any longer than the first episode.
John: When we open on the maternity ward, you’ll know exactly what happens.
Ausiello: Is it good news?
John: It is good news.
Jenna: Yeah, it’s good news.
John Krasinski is really pushing hard for this babies storyline. I guess that’s hit go-to when asked the Pam & Jim questions. Hopefully I’ll get a little more scoop when I talk to J. Kras (more on that later!!!) But both agree it’s good news. And we know for sure that Jenna is pulling for Jim & Pam, so maybe that’s telling us something…then again, maybe not.
Question: Can you give me anything on The Office?
Ausiello: Ricky Gervais, a nominee for Extras, gave me some exclusive details about the episode he’s penning this season.
“It’s Michael desperately trying to be PC, as usual, and failing miserably. And Jim and Pam send Dwight on a wild-goose chase. They [send him off on an] investigation, and there’s a very, very embarrassing moment.” Gervais also hinted that there’s a “little bit” of a development in the Jim-Pam saga. “It was great writing it. And the strange thing was, I wasn’t thinking of [the original British characters] David Brent and Tim and Dawn. I was thinking of Michael Scott and Jim and Pam. We wrote for them. Even though we sort of acted it out, which is how we do stuff, we were totally writing for the American version. I think it’s great, by the way. I genuinely think it’s great.
First off, I can’t WAIT for this episode, since I love all things Gervais & Merchant. But more importantly, there were a few hidden clues within Ricky’s response. Pam & Jim will be pranking Dwight together in an upcoming ep. Partner pranking is very hard to accomplish when (a) you aren’t in the same office, and (b) you aren’t on good terms. So it seems that our Jimmy and Pam will be partners in crime (and let’s home something else) before too long. And I can’t even to begin to speculate on the “little bit” of a development with the Jam storyline. If I speculate anymore, my head just might explode. It’s best to wait until September 21st. If I can wait.
Other Office goodies…
BJ Novak offered up that they will indeed be heading to Dwight’s Beet farm this season (no new news there). But BJ seemed to infer that Dwight was somehow initiating Ryan into the Dunder Mifflin family…frat-style. God, I hope that includes lots of cloaks and candles (I’m thinking The Skulls here people). Wait, does that mean that Ryan is no longer the temp? Interesting.
Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson…not Gould) spilled that Michael does indeed make a choice in his love life, and he chooses Carol. In turn, Jan starts micro-managing the hell out of Michael. I guess she’s still a little bitter.
Greg Daniels mentioned in a post-Emmy interview that we will meet Dwight’s twentysomething year old nephew, Larry Schrute (although, I can’t be sure this one isn’t a foiler, or said in jest.)
Finally, yes, I consider driving to Van Nuys on my last day in California. I had the address of the set and everything, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. With my luck, I would run into a cast member and look like a huge stalker. I’m sure Krasinski already thinks I’m a bit off my rocker (but one day I will explain to him, and you, my rookie theory, and my adoration might make a bit more sense). Did I mention that the cast went to a party less than 2 blocks from where I was staying? I still didn’t get to meet any of them? Ugh.
I’m going to post a seperate thread on this later, but PLEASE try to join us for the LIVE Office TVj session over at BuddyTV.com Thursday night at 8:30pm EST. I’d like to see if we can’t get a good, consistent crowd going. If we do, there’s always a chance of a cast member perhaps joining us at some point.
Wow…this post suddenly feels like my Office Thursdays at GMMR. Well, it’s a week to praise the Best Comedy on TV, right?
Thanks to Zeppo1630 for the pics.
This is my first time commenting on the GMMR site, though I am a HUGE fan. GMMR, thank you soo much for the superb coverage of everything The Office. I check this site so often I have it committed to my fingers’ muscle memory.
Props to this thread in particular as it had me nearly toppling over in my chair from sheer excitement. I love how long, comprehensive, detailed, and JAM oriented it is! I hope Sept 21 arrives before I burst–meanwhile I’ll be waiting anxiously for the next thread (which I hope will be related to the J Kras thing you mentioned earlier in the post).
Believe me when I say that you won’t hear me complaining about Office-centric posts.
No offense to “the office,” but Arrested Development should have won… But, “the office” was my secound choice. Then “Curb your enthusiasm.”
There is no “should” in this category. Everyone has their own opinion. I LOVE LOVE “arrested development” but I am glad “The Office” won.
And the Dundie for ‘Best Spoiler Disection’ goes to…..
GMMR!!!
Thanks for all the spoiler speculation. I seriously can’t get enough. I am excited that I get to watch the east coast feed of the season premiere, though I will be in Kansas. I won’t be able to come to your site and spoil myself like I did for the finale. I will be visiting my parents and I already asked them if they would take my little one out for ice cream so I could watch in peace. Is that sad? I will be joining you for that chat, though just for commercials (computer is in another room). When do we get the info on your chat with JK? Can’t wait!!
Yay for ‘Office’ spoilers!! It turns out that I don’t work at all the day before and the day of the season premier, so I’ll be hitting the season 2 DVDs hard those 2 days! Then I’ll go to work on friday and be all super excited and drive my co-workers nuts 😉
GMMR – this is my first time posting, but I just had to pop in and say I’m addicited to your site and your Office-centric posts are my favorites! I’m so curious to find out what your big news is and all of the people you met out in LA. Don’t keep us in suspense! 😉
I’m going to try and join your chat tonight, but if I miss it, good luck!
Aw, thanks for all the love guys. And so many first time posters. We LOVE to hear from everyone that visits us. Well, I don’t want to make a big deal about it right now because I have NO details, BUT, I will in fact be interviewing John Krasinski. sadly not in person, but I’ll take what I can get. I know you guys would be excited to hear from him. Again, no details, but I’ll be back once I know something.
Thanks for all that. And the Jim desk once again. I swear, that desk picture is going to drive me nuts between now and the premiere. I was actually sitting her counting all the stuff they would have to “replace” on the desk for…let’s say…an E! interview or an Emmy intro if said stuff wasn’t there before hand for “various” reasons.
I think I’m losing my mind.
“Jim and Pam partners in crime in an upcoming episode” music to my Jam deprived ears!!!! And I am really excited to hear that you’ll be interviewing John Krasinski!!!!!!!!!!! nice work GMMR!
If you know where the set is, please email me the address. I wil be in CA. shortly and I need to go check it out.
Thank you so much for The Office post! I love ’em! I, too, am so excited to hear about another prank via Jim and Pam. I absolutely love when they play pranks on Dwight together, so this made me happy! And i am super excited for your interview w/ John! You lucky girl, you! I’m jealous (for probably the 5th millionth time) 😛
I live 2 hours away from LA and i’ve visited it before often…why the heck haven’t i gone to the set?! Too shy i guess ^^;;
I agree with everyone else – your Office-centric posts are fantastic. Every little bit of Office news makes it a little easier to get to premiere day. I’m heading on vacation across the country from Sept 9 to the 17 to visit my bestest friend… is it sad that I’m wishing it were Sept 21 already?
I heard the PC thing Michael tries to do is some sort of Indian culture thing for Kelly. From the horse’s mouth.
Cooljammer…I demand that you reveal your sources!!! Ha ha
Great Office scoop, as always, GMMR! Thanks!
I just found out that the local NBC station in Chicago is airing the Bears pre-season game tomorrow instead of the NBC lineup! That means I’m missing the mini-Office marathon! Don’t they realize that The Office just won the Emmy and there might be a lot of people in the area who will want to catch it? I love the Bears and all, too, but it’s just a pre-season game! 🙁 I can’t even figure out if they’re going to air the episodes at another time.
They asked someone, one of the writers, where the Office cru is going this year, and he said “a paper convention in Philly, the beet farm, and on location at Scranton.” it was also mentioned that Michael might try to do some sort of Indian thing, which I can only assume is for Kelly.
thanks for your tireless Office spoiler-ing 🙂 I feel spoiled, but only in the best way possible. I guess if I can’t meet J Kras, I’m happy for you to be my/our proxy – very excited for you!
I feel your pain mg714, we are getting a Giants game in NY. I’m so bummed 🙁 I was looking forward to my weekly office fix. I’m so overworked, I’ll probably still be in the office at 8:30 anyway. I’ll try to stop by the chat though.
Thanks GMMR for great post, I love all your Office info.
We are?! I’m in NYC! I want Office!
That’s because I lent my Office CD’s to my friend so he can watch them all. and I just checked my cable guide. giants v. pats.
ugh
WAit…Pats/Giants game? Damn. According to my TV listings, I have The Office on. But there is no way they aren’t going to show a Pats game in Boston. Damn!!! J. Kras or Tom Brady – a girl should never have to choose.
You might get lucky if the Pats have a contract with a non-NBC affiliate. And even though I’m not even close to being a Pats fan, you are right. You shouldn’t have to choose between those two.
The Pats game is on ABC (Channel 5 – WCVB) here in Boston…woo hoo
Here’s some semi- spoilers…….. Someone “buys” a “twister” game and “changes” all the rules. There will be a wedding in season 3, but whose? Kevin Bacon will guest star. JJ Abrams, Robbie Benson and Harold Ramis are set to direct episodes. Someone gets knocked up. There will be a cross over between The Office and House (both Universal shows).
Foilers and spoilers from our “mystery” officefreak?! LOL!!!
Season 3 (Autumn 2006 – Spring 2007)
NBC has renewed The Office for a third season. It was announced that The Office will move to a new time slot at 8:30 PM (Eastern/Pacific), pushing it up one hour from its time slot for the 2005-2006 season. The season premiere will be on September 21, 2006. [4]
One of the twenty-five episodes will be written by the creators of the original British series, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.[5]
A number of new cast members are appearing in the first half of the third season. Ed Helms, best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show, will appear in at least ten episodes. [1] Charles Esten, who has appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway? and originally appeared in the “Valentine’s Day” episode in season two, will play Dunder Mifflin Stamford regional manager Josh Porter. Rashida Jones of Boston Public will also play a recurring role. Helms and Jones will be new employees at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. [2]
In mid-July 2006, executive producer Ben Silverman stated that Mackenzie Crook, Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis from the British version of The Office will put in appearances in another episode in the third season. [3] [4] However, producer Kent Zbornak revealed at a University of Southern California panel discussion on “The Office” at the end of that month that, unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts, the actors are no longer planned to appear in the third season. [6] B.J. Novak confirmed the scheduling conflicts in an August 27th interview, but stated they still intend to include the British cast in some way, although it won’t be how they had originally intended. He also would not say if the British actors will be playing their original characters. [5]
Brian Baumgartner revealed in his TV Guide blog that the cast will go to a “convention in Philadelphia, a Hindu festival, a beet farm and, rumor has it, a trip to Scranton, Pennsylvania.”
rashida in scranton means that jim will have to stay in scranton for rashida to be a love interest.