Apparently we'll have hour-long episodes in September again.

You should also cross-post the information in the scheduling thread, because that's not completely a spoiler.

Will do.

Yeah, it's not completely in the spoiler arena, but I thought we'd start here.

YYYYYAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!! Thanks for the news Mixed!

yep

Yay, i dont care where its posted, as long as im here to read it

I am creating this a bit early if we learn of any information from tonights blog with Paul Lieberstein and if there are any insights to Season 5 given.

There will be questions answered starting at 10pmEST here.

Filming/production begins late July for Season 5.

Does anyone have any knowledge regarding Amy Ryan's status as Holly for Season 5? Will she become a regular actor for THE OFFICE, just stay for the season premiere or pop up for a few eps sporadically during the season? Cuz there's no alternative to Jan for Michael if Holly isn't a regular character.

Well, in the blog with Paul last night he said this:

Was Holly written with Amy Ryan in mind?
She was, actually. We're huge Wire fans here and the whole show has been talking about her for a while. We had her in mind but didn't know that we would get her. We're so happy she came aboard as Holly Flax, replacing Toby Flenderson.

It's not concrete, but I do think she'll be back next season. I'm not sure if it'll be forever, either. And maybe, just maybe, her affections for Michael will come in handy if Michael wants a favor about Ryan. Just putting that out there.

OOOO! I like your thinking.

Speculations for Season 5:

1. JAM - Excitement will continue to build as Jim again struggles to create the perfect setting to propose to Pam. Pam will continue to be patient - but may begin to think Jim is "pulling her strings" so to speak, or that he may be insincere or conflicted about proposing.

2. DWANGELA - It's hard to say how Dwight and Angela's situation (Phyllis walking in on them) will play out. Possibilities:

Phyllis will tell someone (Angela has been treating her bad), rumors will quickly spread - Andy loses his cool again
Phyllis keeps the secret and has a sort of "stranglehold" on Angela, meanwhile DWANGELA sparks are flying and Andy remains oblivious

3. MICHJANOLLY (lol?) - Michael; in his cumbersome attempts to be in a livelong relationship, will try to support Jan. Eventually it will lead to another blowout between them as (forgive me, ladies) the already-hormonal Jan deals with pregnancy. Meanwhile, Michael and Holly will get to know (and like) each other. Kevin's interpretation will be hilarious.

More later...

Yeah...I wouldn't like to see Pam doubt Jim's devotion to their romantic friendship.

I could definitely see it happening though, especially if Jim continues to issue fake proposals. I could easily see Pam getting very frustrated. I hope Jim has enough upstairs to know when to stop. That is, if he hasn't prosposed already, and we haven't seen it yet.

That's how I feel too. Jim needs to reassure Pam of his dedication to their relationship, why Jim has liked from the start. Their relationship cannot just relapse to their old friendship; it could make the JAM lose the fresh chemistry we had anticipated from the very beginning of The Office.

I think that when Jim reassured Pam that he was thrilled about the internship and promised that the distance wouldn't be a problem, that he showed Pam his dedication.

Jim's reaction was genuine for her internship.

Jim MORE than reassured Pam! He knows what she wants and is willing to do anything for her and see her.

Transcript

Pam: Hey. [kisses Jim on cheek]
Jim: Hey... What?
Pam: Guess who just got into the Pratt School of Design.
Jim: No way! What did I say? I said that they'd love those sketches. Congratulations!
Pam: Oh, thank you! I don't know why I doubted it, because I'm so clearly awesome!
Jim: Yes! So when do you start?
Pam: I don't know, I didn't read it carefully, I just saw "congratulations" and I skimmed the list, I saw my name, I came in here to tell you and get a snack.
Jim: Wow. Busy morning.
Pam: So, you know it means I have to go to New York for three months...
Jim: It's not a big deal. I'll come visit you. And you'll visit me. It's only two hours away. It'll be fine. That part's gonna suck, but it'll be great.
Pam: Yeah, it sucks, but it'll be great.
Jim: See how easy that is?
Pam: Ohh... [they hug; she laughs]

I agree that she is knows Jim is in it for the long haul, but I could easily see her getting frustrated with waiting for him to propose, and if he continues to joke about it, she could feel like she's being lead on some too.

I personally think that's NOT going to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

Ooooh, and here's a thought:

Pam is going to the Pratt school of design in New York...
Ryan got fired from his corporate job in New York...
Jim has actually been trying and caring about his job, and applied for the position before... He even said criticized the website to David Wallace....

JAM moves to New York??!

im a newbie here.

Can i just say that i was a little let down yesterday with the way they left things with jim and pam in the end. I was really hoping for something. I am a little tired of this back and forth, will they won't they stuff.

I really want pam to propose to jim. for once i would like to see her profess her love for jim. I feel like jim is always sacraficing things for their relationship and is always talking about how he feels for pam. I think that pam should go after jim and show him how much she loves him. Basically we just need more jam scenes.

Also i really want a good hot steamy kiss/love scene with jim and pam. We only got three kisses this WHOLE ENTIRE season. Come on you gotta give the audience more than that. Maybe have a episode where we get to see them at eachothers house, sleeping together and see how they are outside of the office. I have been with this show since the beginning and i have to say that jim and pam belong together so lets just do it already. I can't take this agony any longer.

True...Jim does support Pam's decision to undertake the internship and figure out her art profession outside the office. He has no problem about the distance; why should they, right? That all makes their relationship "perfect", as Pam mentioned.

I totally agree with you besslyinlust and think that jim does completely support pam and the distance won't be a problem. But how much longer can this realtionship go on without having any climax. When will we see them fight and actually work through problems together, be there for eachother. Also i really hope that the writers don't take this realtionship to the "we are on a break" moment and have that last for the whole next season. Something needs to happen whether it be good or bad. In the end i believe they will end up together i just hope the writers don't turn this show into the back on and off again coupley thing. That would completely ruin the realistic aspect of jim and pam.

I agree ultimate. I completely don't want to see another Rossy/Rachaely type thing-the thought makes me sick. I would like to see some realistic struggles as they begin their engagement period. If anyone has ever seen the shows "Bridezillas" or "Whose Wedding is it Anyway" you know there is plenty to work with there! There will also probably be some issues arise from their summer separation.

Pam as a Bridezilla-that I'd love to see LOL!

Okay, that ^ would be hilarious. I could totally see Phyllis asking Angela to do something and Angela refusing, then Phyllis being all like, "Oh. Really Angela? *raise eyebrows*". Then Angela would rool her eyes/grit her teeth and say, "Of course I'll do that for you Phyllis. Nothing would please me more..."
That would pretty much make my entire life.

I am a newbie so be patient if I am not doing this right!

I really like this idea and have been thinking about how this could be done within the context of the show. So, here is a skeleton outline of how this could play out:

1. Pam comes back from her 3 month course in NYC totally energized about working in graphics design. She becomes more frustrated about her job as a receptionist and decides to look for a new job. This is the path the writers have been hinting at for the last part of season 3 and for most of season 4. Pam has gotten a new level of self-confidence in her artistic abilities that was not present before and she will want to use those skills.

2. Jim will be approached by David Wallace about Ryan's old job. This would make sense since Jim was the original choice to fill the vacancy in the first place and David Wallace and Jim seem to like each other. Jim thinks about the fact that he really wanted this job in the past and it provides more money to support both Pam and himself. Also, maybe his first assignment would be to get the website fixed and ready for real customers? I think it has been stated in previous episodes that DM is losing customers due to the lack of a website that allows customers to purchase products directly from DM.

3. Jim accepts the job but hasn't proposed to Pam yet. Jim finally decides to quit waiting around for the perfect moment and instead proposes to Pam out of the blue. Pam enthusiastically accepts realizing that her dream of marriage is coming true to the one man she has really loved all throughout the series.

4. After some sort of marriage ceremony, they move to NYC with Jim working in corporate and Pam finding a new job in graphics design. Maybe instead of working at a new company, she gets promoted to a position in DM corporate that will use her design skills?

I'm sorry for the long post, but this idea makes a lot of sense on many levels. It would provide a nice ending to Season 5, but would give a good starting point to season 6 as well. Also, with Jim and Pam no longer in Scranton, maybe more emphasis could be given to characters like Creed and Meredith who are really interesting but who haven't gotten much screen time.

I agree ultimate. I completely don't want to see another Rossy/Rachaely type thing-the thought makes me sick. I would like to see some realistic struggles as they begin their engagement period. If anyone has ever seen the shows "Bridezillas" or "Whose Wedding is it Anyway" you know there is plenty to work with there! There will also probably be some issues arise from their summer separation.
[/quote]

I definately hope that their are issues, i know that sounds bad but i want to see them fight for eachother. When they finally were together it was like yes, they finally got it right but now as the realtionship develops they should fight for eachother to let it be known that they want eachother.

I wonder if when the season starts up again the three months will have passed or if they will just be starting or if they are in the middle of the three months?

eh I don't know about that. I think that I'll stick to reading jam with problems in fan fiction. On the acutal show however, i'd just like to see it play out the way it plays out: nothing too fake.

"nothing too fake"

Agreed 100%. And after all they went through (Pam engaged to Roy, Jim moving to Stamford, the whole Karen thing & Jim almost going to corporate) they would not waver in their relationship. Especially some random Toby hook up!

Oh boy...I motion to boycott this show if JAM should fall under that "Ross/Rachel" category!

I think we will see some elements of your proposed scenario DSFVP, (love the screen name btw). Many of them would fit into the possibility that the show will wrap up at the end of the 5th season.

*sighs*

For many years The Office gets compared to Friends(hard to type that) and I am still at a loss as to why? They were/are comedies and they were/are and on NBC, but the compassions stop there. Friends couples were a joke there and dont get me started on the laugh track

The Office stands alone, to me

Definitely. Nothing compares!

Not to offend, but I hate Friends with a fiery passion.

I like DSFVP's ideas, but really I couldn't bare to see this couple go through any more than it already has. I thought everything with Roy, Karen, Stanford, and of course Micheal has made JAM invincible. Then I watched that ep. and realized, if I expected a guy to ask me to marry him and he didn't, I would be crushed. My one concern is that since Jim didn't propose and Pam was expecting it I don't really know how solid this couple is, especially since their going into this three-month-long-long-distance-relationship, I mean if they had stopped the show thirty minutes in, they would have gone into the summer fine, but seriously did you see Pam's face when she was taking the pictures with Toby, that girl does not think she is in a "solid" relationship. This is what's so depressing, and I just have to hope that they can get through this problem. My only comfort is in hoping that the writers will through me for a loop and Jim and Pam will get secretly engaged over the summer, and also thinking up the multiple ways Phillis will black-mail Angela, I just want everyone to live happily ever after, is that too much to ask well maybe it is since this is supposed to be realistic. Oh well, I'll try to repeat the mantra until September.
P.S.-Glimmer of hope, maybe the webisodes will reveal the condition of Jam, Okay I guess I only have to repeat the mantra for a few more weeks.

The webisodes won't reveal anything important about Jam.

Although I hate how the writers left things, I have to respectfully disagree with you. Yes, she was disappointed that Jim didn't propose, but, after the scene in the conference room, and her TH, there's no way that she has doubts about being in a solid relationship. Although it was initially a great opportunity for a proposal, it's almost unreasonable to assume that a proposal, especially a supposedly 'ass kicking' one, is going to take place at any specific time. I understand that you would be upset if you expected a proposal, but what's to say that it won't happen the next night? Obviously Pam is disappointed, but if that is going to actually have a negative affect on their relationship come season 5, then there's a problem here.

Thanks for the compliment about my screen name, mixedberries. I had originally wanted to use SchruteToKill but already took it.



Thanks for the compliment about my screen name, mixedberries. I had originally wanted to use SchruteToKill but it was already taken.

Ignore the extra post above, I must have done the same reply twice. In case anybody doesn't already know, SchruteToKill was the name given by Rainn Wilson for the title for the new Office spinoff next year.

Does anyone kno if any of the orignal office characters are going to be making apperances or is this new spin off a completely wanna be new cast?

I agree with you. I think this couple has been through a lot together but I actually want to see them fight and work through things together. We only get to see the "after shots" we never get to see what happens in the moment. I hope that the writers change that next season. We had a lot of after shock this season and that dissapointed me a little bit. (With the exception of the finale) I want to see something happen in the moment. With all of the characters.

Im hopeing that the writers throw us a curve ball and pam proposes to jim because she can't wait any longer not be married to this man for the rest of her life. that would be an interesting story to tell.

You know, Jim has been carrying this ring around awhile, what if he got a little careless and put it somewhere Pam might stumble upon. Then they could have a little fun with the Jam style joking where Pam plays Jim a little about the engagement like he played her.. perhaps it would spawn a proposal... The new incontrol Pam might even plan a convenient romatic getaway this summer while she is in NY. Perhaps the engagement scene will be an "instant replay"

The problem is, how likely are they to have a big fight in the office? It's not like the camera follows them around before and after work.

There are comparrisons because Friends is probably the easiest to compare to for the sake of storyline arcs of the "main" relationships. The are both 1/2 hour comedies that had "the couple" from episode one. It's really hard to name another show similar to that.

The shows are completely different, Jim/Pam vs Ross/Rachel is completely different, but if you want to discuss TPTB thought process on how to make a basic storyline and template for the end-game, they aren't all that different.

As much as people hate it, the Ross/Rachel thing was huge for it's time and place. Find another show that we can compare, and I'd be happy to use that as an example instead.

Was this posted anywhere? From Kristen:

JBV in Escondido, Calif.: Any word on The Office spinoff?
I still can't shake this feeling that it could be Jim and Pam in the big city...Bonkers, right? But she's going to art school, and if Ryan does happen to return and hear that message Jim left, he could be packing up his desk. Argh! But I'm sure that's a ludicrous idea, 'cause the OG Office needs them. I also know the initial plan was to bring in a new person (i.e. Rashida Jones) to Dunder Mifflin Scranton and then spin off that person, but because of the strike it didn't pan out. I'm also told by a source, "The rumors that it's definitely Dwight or it's definitely Andy are false. But it is someone who will be taking a big risk." (Duh on that second part. Though I do trust Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, the producers of the spinoff, fully.) Anyway, I might die if someone doesn't tell me soon, so weigh in with any theories in the comments below, OK?

Yes, it was posted here, in the thread for all E! News.

Does anyone think that Jan's baby might be Hunter's? If you go back to the Dinner Party episode, and listen to Hunter's song "That One Night"....hmmmm.....

I think it could be. It would make sense, and by introducing that song, they left open the possibility. I'm not sure what is going through Jan's head these days to think which one is the lesser of two evils: sperm donor or cheating.

I have to admit, with everything that has happened, it sure seems like they are readying JAM for a spinoff. I can't see how it could happen, since they are the only sane people in the office, and they seem to balance out all the crazy happening elsewhere. But I can't imagine what other premise they are building on.

If they removed one of them(Jim or Pam) it would never work. Although it might sound good to the writers to break them up to cause more tension, the fans would go off on them and it would not be good. Also, my 2 cents about the Ryan thing-I just can't see how there is any way Ryan could return to his former position. Even if he were to get out of those charges, there is no way in a million years a corporate office would rehire someone they accused of something so serious. They must have evidence or he wouldn't have been arrested.

I think I posted it somewhere else, but I could see them hiring Karen for that position. She is already an established character, she now has experience as a manager, and it would cause alot of awkward situations with her having to visit Scranton and being directly over Michael and Jim.

The actress who plays Karen is good, but not good enough to carry her own show. The only actors currently on the show who could carry their own show would be Steve Carrell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, and Ed Helms. The other actors are great in supporting roles, but that's about it.

The actress who plays Karen is already on a new show on Fox- Unhitched

Unhitched (previously known as The Rules for Starting Over) is an American television comedy that aired as a mid-season replacement on FOX from March 2, 2008 to March 30, 2008.
Produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Conundrum Entertainment and Watson Pond Productions, the series was greenlit and given a six-episode order on May 11, 2007. [2]

On May 15, 2008, FOX officially cancelled the series

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unhitched

It just seems like the writers are trying to push the audience away. I mean I understand the strike and supported it, but after they came back, you would think they would make up for lost time with amazing episodes, but really, they have been about average. Not that "chair model" and "did i stutter" weren't great, I guess I was just hoping to be blown away by every episode after such a long wait. And this finally was great too, but it just wasn't amazing, I mean not like "Casino Night" or even the season three finally, it just seemed average. I don't know I guess they must have had to through the most recent episodes together, and maybe they had got out of rhythm during the strike, but I just hope that that the summer will be spent getting back into the swing of things and making more of the amazing episodes that we have grown to know and love