Jenna Fischer shares the hilarious problem in ‘Pam’s Substitute’ | Digital Noch

Many people who’re superfans of The Workplace have typically puzzled why Dunder Mifflin wanted to herald a alternative for Pam’s second maternity depart.

Within the Workplace Women podcast with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the very best associates and co-stars broke down “Pam’s Substitute,” episode 7 from Season 8. (Fischer had been on a short podcast hiatus after breaking her shoulder.)

Fischer identified that in Pam’s first maternity depart, she was simply doing the receptionist job. However by the eighth season, she’s the workplace administrator and nonetheless covers some receptionist duties; in essence, Pam is now doing the entire behind-the-scenes jobs that hold the workplace working easily.

To recap, Pam is on the brink of go on maternity depart, however she’s feeling insecure about being changed. Plus, Pam worries that Cathy, performed by Lindsey Broad, is youthful and extra enticing that she is, and that Jim will probably be interested in her. Cathy will even be sitting at Pam’s desk, proper subsequent to Jim.

In the meantime, within the warehouse, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin — or Kevin and the Zits as they’re affectionately identified — are having a jam session. Robert California asks to affix them earlier than kicking all of them out as soon as his outdated bandmates present up. 

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

Fischer stated though she was truly pregnant whereas filming the episode, she wasn’t upset by any of the jokes about being pregnant. In truth, she appreciated that the dialogue offers with a number of the insecurities pregnant individuals might have round their attractiveness on the time. (The episode was written by Allison Silverman Jones, who was pregnant on the time.)

“I assumed this episode was so nicely written and so fantastically highlights a few of these insecurities,” Fischer recalled.

Pam enlists the assistance of Dwight to find out if Jim finds Cathy enticing, however asking Jim outright — to not point out Dwight’s impolite crotch-grab — simply doesn’t appear to work. 

Who’s Mike Tibbets?

One of many methods Pam, Dwight, and Kelly attempt to learn the way Jim actually feels about Cathy is the set-up take a look at. Pam asks Jim which one in all his associates he would set Cathy up with. Instantly, Jim says Mike Tibbets, aka “probably the most boring-looking man I do know.” After all, Jim is already onto Pam’s plan and picks Mike on function.

“That could be a set off for me,” Fischer recalled. “So, filming the scene at Kelly’s desk the place she pulls up the picture of Mike Tibbetts — I do not know in case you watched the bloopers of it, [but] we could not get by it.”

Fischer stated that she and Mindy Kaling didn’t get to see the prop picture of Mike earlier than they recorded the scene. After they pulled up the picture, it was of a regular-looking man with a receding hairline, black-framed glasses, and a large smile. General, he is not horrible — “I do not see what’s so ugly about him; he is received the broad face of a brewer,” Dwight feedback — however in all probability not a love match for Cathy.

“The scripted line that Mindy is meant to say is, ‘Possibly he can be higher if he modified his hair.’ However the individual they picked had no hair,” Fischer stated. “We by no means got here again from it. I do not know if I’ve ever laughed so exhausting, like my abdomen damage. My large pregnant abdomen.”

Kaling even despatched in a voice recording to the podcast recalling her problem with the scene and its absurdity — particularly, the ridiculousness of Kelly’s feedback. Within the episode, the road that made it to airing was, “I imply, I suppose he’d be okay with hair. OK, you need to see if he’ll get hair plugs.”

Ultimately Pam, Jim, and Dwight head to a neighborhood pharmacy for a lie-detector take a look at. Jim’s blood strain is elevated, so  the couple decides to go away and name his physician after grabbing Cece a toothbrush.

The warehouse band will get a brand new member — after which a brand new band.

Additionally on this episode, Andy, Darryl, and Kevin are joined — lastly! — by their too-cool-for-school boss Robert California, performed to icy perfection by James Spader. They’re thrilled and satisfied they’re going to now be BFFs for all times. However not so quick! 

Robert California’s actual associates present up, and so they’re actual musicians — on the present and IRL. The on-screen crew contains Robin Swenson, Linda Taylor, and Steve Moore. Moore’s backstory is what is going to win you trivia night time.

Moore, also called the Mad Drummer, was solid by NBC for an element in Robert California’s band after Moore’s video, “This Drummer Is on the Improper Gig,” went viral. (He replaces Kevin on drums on this episode.) Kinsey stated she learn interviews with Moore after his look wherein he famous how good and down-to-earth everybody was on the filming. 

“He stated this: ‘Each individual I encountered gave the impression to be in a fantastic temper and comfortable to see me,'” she stated. ‘And this made all of the distinction, as I used to be clearly out of my ingredient and a nervous wreck.'”

Kinsey factors out that this isn’t the primary time Kevin was changed in his band — keep in mind Scrantonicity vs. Scrantonicity 2? 

“I noticed a couple of different individuals discuss this on-line, and I had been considering the identical factor,” Kinsey stated. “That is the second time Kevin has been pushed out of his personal band. He was in Scrantonicity! They kicked him out. He needed to type Scrantonicity 2. Kevin and the Zits, he simply received kicked out of.”

Ultimately, Darryl, Andy, and Kevin are seen exterior the warehouse enjoying music collectively and embracing “The Zits” identify.

Scranton’s hometown fashion is robust within the episode.

Kinsey identified that it appeared the prop crew had made a visit to Scranton earlier than the episode. She stated she noticed gadgets from Gerrity’s Supermarkets and Wegmans, each of which have their headquarters in Scranton. However the prop that she discovered probably the most curious was a clean e-book being learn by Dwight. Kinsey, who had many scenes with Rainn Wilson, stated she believed that the e-book was a last-minute addition. She stated Wilson liked props; she surmised that he’d informed the crew he wanted a prop for the scene and was handed the clean e-book. 

“So it might need been a last-minute thought,” Kinsey stated. “And to keep away from any issues with clearance, [prop master] Phil Shea in all probability gave him a e-book with no cowl or title.”

Whereas Fischer and Kinsey are within the ultimate stretches of The Workplace episodes, the very best associates promised that the Workplace Women would proceed. They’re planning some distinctive content material, and even contemplating a “Pricey Workplace Women” recommendation spin-off podcast. Would you need recommendation by yourself workplace life? Allow them to know! 

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