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Steve Carell: Post strike, 'The Office' is as strong as ever

Mar 15, 2008, 02:28 PM | by Joshua Rich

Categories: On the Scene, ShoWest, TV Biz

15526__office_l EW.com caught up with Steve Carell in Las Vegas on Thursday evening, where he introduced footage from his summer comedy Get Smart to the ShoWest convention. It seemed like a perfect time to ask him what's going on at Dunder Mifflin now that the Hollywood writers strike is over. "We just shot the first episode [since the strike ended]," Carell said. "We finished last night at midnight and I think it's really, really good. Michael has a dinner party and it's just terrible." He added that the episode (which airs April 10) was written before production shut down. "We did the table read before the strike and it killed at the table read. It's just been sitting there for three months."

So what impact does Carell think the strike had on The Office — did it affect morale on the set or, perhaps, the show's story lines in some way? "I don't think it affected the story lines, but I think it affected people's morale in a good way, in that the writers have come back extremely strong and energized," he said. "I think everyone feels that way. Everyone is very excited to get back to work and there's a sense of hope and fun." Carell said he was going to head back to L.A. and start shooting the second of the season's last six episodes on Friday.

susan Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 07:02 PM EST

I love Dwight! Sorry Angela. Dwight loves me more. Oh yeah & I don't like cats!!!!

guy Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 11:46 AM EST

Angela is pregnant, it will either be written into the show or she will disappear (sorry - move) to another branch :)

Hayley Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 05:47 AM EST

wow it was only 3 weeks ago since a friend introduced me to y first ep of the office and now i've every episode and cant wait for more!! yaya

jenbeeps7474 Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 07:30 PM EST

The Office is my crack! Elizabeth, I agree, I am dying to see "Get Smart".

Office Fanatic Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 08:52 AM EST

The Office is the best show on TV. When each season ends, I get depressed and then smile when I remember that I can buy the DVD!! Have all seasons, including the British version. Love it all!! BTW, as great as the British version is, I feel the American version has got it beat. Great writing!!

Neesha Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM EST

Well, Rosie, now aren't you just special!!

Rosie Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 08:13 PM EST

I just adore the office. I wear office t-shirts, use office office supplies, and just imitate all the situations on the show at work. Everyone just loves me because my name is Rosie.

probie Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 03:25 PM EST

I watched the rerun last week where Jim and Pam stayed at Dwight's bed and breakfast. Fortunately, the Jim and Pam plot hasn't hijacked the show - it's as good as ever. The Dwight/Angela situation is great. I think it would be hard to mess this show up. It's that darn good. Everyone complains about Jim and Pam but Dwight and Angela and Michael and Jan are also couples. I think it opens the door for more plots like Tobey's crush on Pam, Angela going out with Anger management dude. Michael having a dinner party sounds great. I think we are all so hungry for good TV after the strike, we'll take anything.

JEFF Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 02:17 PM EST

30 Rock is very good, but the Office is the funniest show on TV. I can't believe that there are people who don't watch this.

E.P. Sato Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 09:05 AM EST

Oooh Lee, that's awesome! Since there's two potential squires (Dwight and the guy who calls Jim "Tuna"), I expect to see at least a few episode's worth of "who's the father" fodder. Plus, you know Micheal Scott's going to make a few Jamie Lynn Spears jokes to Angela before that pregnancy is through...

Elizabeth Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 07:04 AM EST

I saw the preview for Get Smart last night.. anxious for that too!

Brad Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 11:54 PM EST

Sorry if the above is incoherent - went out for drinks :)

Brad Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 11:53 PM EST

I'll remain hopeful that the strike reenergized them, because I honestly founf most of the season before the strike to be a tremendous letdown. They got Pam and JIm together but didn't do anything with it, they took most of the storylines outside fo the office robbing the show of the group dynamic so good.With only a handful of episodes remaining, I thik it might be a good thing that an arc needs to be developed quickly before the finale.

Lee Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 09:35 PM EST

The actress who plays Angela is pregnant in real life--is a Dwight/Angela pregnancy going to be written into the show?

Rosie Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 03:56 PM EST

I could not love this show more, but I certainly hope one ep this season gives us a Pam-Jim flashback. What happened on that first date to get them to now? Come on! Too good to not show us!

jfdu Sat, Mar 15, 2008 at 11:54 PM EST

Ya, he is a great guy. I remembered I've seen him at the celeb club wealthychats.com not long ago. His profile is great and there're many topics saying him this or that. He is very popular there.

tex mex Sat, Mar 15, 2008 at 09:33 PM EST

Yay for The Office, for Steve Carell, for positive morale! Can't wait to see the new stuff!

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