Idris Alba Interview On NPR's Fresh Air

NPR's "Fresh Air" program recently spoke with Idris Alba.

" Actor Idris Elba is best known for his stint on HBO's acclaimed drama The Wire, where he played Russell "Stringer" Bell, a drug dealer and aspiring real-estate mogul.

Although "Stringer" never made it in the corporate world, Elba will soon be donning a suit: Starting next week, he'll play Michael Scott's new boss in NBC's popular prime-time comedy The Office. The trade journal Variety reported in January that he'll be with the show for a six-episode arc, playing "a no-nonsense hire at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office who will throw Michael Scott into turmoil."

Click HERE to read and listen to the interview.

Chili's Manager Does Stand-Up!

Hey gang!

Christopher T. Wood, our favorite Chili's Manager, just checked in and shared this great clip of some of his stand-up act, as well as letting us know to check him out in a new Verizon commercial and an upcoming episode of Without A Trace!

Glad to hear you're doing well Chris!

Who Would You...uh...Kiss?

Check out video of John Krasinski, Cloris Leechman, and others revealing their ideal on-screen kiss!

See the video here!

Jessica Alba and Cast Interview About Superbowl Episode

Bobby Ray Shafer's Showdown with Cloris!

It turns out that Bobby Ray Shafer has a history with upcoming guest star, Cloris Leachman.

In his new MySpace blog, Bobby Ray discusses how he met Ms. Leachman, and her advice on relating to actresses.


Read his blog entry here.

The Office New Hire!

From Variety:

"Thesp Idris Elba has been cast on "The Office" as a new rival to Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell).

Elba, most recently seen in Guy Ritchie's "Rocknrolla," will appear in six episodes later this season. Details are slim on his plot line, other than he'll play a no-nonsense hire at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office who will throw Michael Scott into turmoil.

NBC is expected to announce Elba's casting during the Peacock's portion of the TV Critics Assn. press tour on Thursday."

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Happy Holidays From Madge!

(Thanks to Karly Rothenberg for sending this in to the fans!)

First Jack Black, Now This!

It's official: Jessica Alba will join Jack Black as a guest star on the Super Bowl episode of The Office. For proof, go here...

In one plot of the special post Super Bowl episode of The Office,... (click HERE if you want to know).

The special hour-long episode titled "Stress Relief" will premiere immediately following "Super Bowl XLIII," Sunday, February 1 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET; simultaneously to all time zones) on NBC. Season five of the Emmy-Award winning series will continue airing in its regular time slot; Thursdays (9-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC.

Happy Holidays From Staple's Own Paris!

(Thanks to Yvette-Nicole Brown for sending this in for the fans!)

Jack Black To Guest Star

Jack Black is going to be on The Office! He will guest star on the hour-long post-Superbowl episode on February 1st.

NBC's Official Release: "Multitalented actor Jack Black ("Kung Fu Panda," "Tropic Thunder,") is set to guest-star in the upcoming post Super Bowl episode of "The Office." The announcement was made by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

In one plot of the special post Super Bowl episode of "The Office,"... (click HERE if you want to know).

The special hour-long episode titled "Stress Relief" will premiere immediately following "Super Bowl XLIII," Sunday, February 1 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET; simultaneously to all time zones) on NBC. Season five of the Emmy-Award winning series will continue airing in its regular time slot; Thursdays (9-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC."

More details of his role on the show are hush-hush at this point, so we don't know what he'll be doing. Feel free to speculate in the comments!

First reported on EW.com HERE.

[photo: EW.com]

Hilary Duff - The Next Purse Saleswoman?

On ScrantonBranchOffice.com we have news from People.com that they got from MTV. Got all that?

Anyway, as a part of Hilary Duff's new exclusive deal with NBC, she gets looks at new shows, as well as the opportunity to appear on current ones.

""I would love to do something on The Office," Duff tells MTV. "30 Rock is great – very funny. Many people have done lots of guest spots on it this season."

While in Scranton, Greg Daniels mentioned that they were thinking about bringing in some named guest stars (i.e. Carol Burnett as Michael's mother) and the fans booed. He asked if the fans wanted guest-stars who are already very famous and a resounding "NO" was shouted back.

How about you? Would you want to see Hilary on "The Office"?

Read more here...

Voice From the Office Universe With...

... Trevor Einhorn, Actor.

Recently NBC aired the season four episode entitled "Job Fair". It's also currently on Hulu for your viewing pleasure.

Being a week out from the SEASON FIVE premiere, we caught up with another Voice from within The Office Universe.

Trevor Einhorn has appeared in shows such as Joan of Arcadia, Sons and Daughters and played Frasier's son, Frederick, on Frasier. In the world of Dunder Mifflin, Trevor played "Justin" a kid just trying to get an internship at his high school's job fair. Michael didn't want him (at first) but we did so we could get his TwoCents on working on the show!

Enjoy!

ScrantonBranchOffice: Tell TheTwoCents readers about yourself and how you started in "show biz".
Trevor Einhorn: I started acting when I was five. My older sister of three years wanted to act, and I got schlepped to all the auditions. It was at one commercial audition when my sister came out with a cookie, and I said "wow they give you food at these things?" That was it, I was sold. Who knew that my love for cookies at age five would turn into a career.

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Andy, Captain Jack and Mr. Brown Love Obama

Thanks to SBO reader Lori J. for the tip.

Amy Ryan Returns for Season 5

Golden Globe and Academy-Award nominee Amy Ryan reprises her guest-starring role as Human Resources representative, Holly Flax, for multiple episodes in season five of the Emmy-Award-winning comedy “The Office.” Amy Ryan’s character, Holly Flax, was introduced in the season four finale episode, “Goodbye, Toby,” as Toby Flenderson’s (played by Paul Lieberstein) human resources replacement.

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ScrantonBranchOffice Exclusive Interview - Jackie Debatin

Recently we were able to chat with Jackie Debatin who Office fans know and love as "Elizabeth the Stripper" from the "Ben Franklin" and "Fun Run" episodes of "The Office".

To help us celebrate tonight's Office season four finale, Jackie has agreed to share a little about herself, her character and what's coming up next.

Enjoy!

ScrantonBranchOffice: Could you tell our readers about yourself and how you started in "show biz"?
Jackie Debatin: I'm orginally from Southern Illinois, and moved out to LA in 1992...I knew one casting director, that a professor of mine introduced me to...Looking back now, I'd say it was a crazy move....I had studied theater in college and knew I wanted to be an actress...It took a long time to get things going honestly....I just got little bit parts here and there, and keep it going...I also run my own Accounting company here in LA, so that keeps the money rolling in when acting is slow...which was of course so funny when they had Dwight ask me to answer phones in the "accounting" dept in THE OFFICE...

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The Five Families of the Scranton Business Park

Welcome to the post for The Five Families of the Scranton Business Park! This is the group that Kevin and Andy called together so the Dunder Mifflin folks could get back their parking spaces in the "Chair Model" episode of "The Office".

I will let Kevin Malone describe them for you:

"The five families are the five companies of Scranton Business Park. The bosses rarely meet."

There's Michael Scott, Regional Manager, Dunder Mifflin.
Without Michael around to take the heat. Andy Bernard and Kevin Malone went to the meeting in his place.

Click HERE for our ScrantonBranchOffice/TheTwoCents interview with Brian Baumgartner who plays Kevin Malone.

Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.
We all know and love Bob Vance. You can even suit-up in all kinds of Vance Refrigeration merchandise. You can click on the NBC Store for all the goodies or click on over to his Myspace page.

Click HERE to read our ScrantonBranchOffice/TheTwoCents interview with Bobby Ray Shafer who plays Bob Vance - Vance Refrigeration.

Paul Faust of Disaster Kits Limited. They call him "Cool Guy Paul."
The man who knew they could have done this meeting by e-mail.
Yes, there really is a Paul Faust and yes he really runs an adventure website! And yes "Cool Guy Paul" and Paul Faust are one in the same.

Click HERE to read our ScrantonBranchOffice interview with Paul Faust who plays Paul Faust.

W.B. Jones of W.B. Jones Heating and Air. Grade A Bad Ass.
It's quite clear that this man is the brawn of the five families. His workers are taking up the parking spaces that are causing Andy, Kevin and the gang to walk an entire block from the extention parking lot. Upon a request from Paul Faust he simply gives them back their parking spots. Yes, you call call 1-800-984-3672!
W.B. Jones, aka Barry Sigismondi, where are you? SBO wants to talk to you!

And Bill Cress of Cress Tool and Dye. Bill Cress is super old and really mean.
Bill Cress isn't a fan of sillies and didn't take too kindly to Kevin's whining about the walk from the extention parking lot, and the amount of sweat that caused him.
Bill Cress was played by Terrence Beasor who has been doing character and voice-over work for years.

Click HERE to read our ScrantonBranchOffice exclusive interview with Terrence Beasor!

Amy Ryan to Appear on Finale!

NBC released this information as a part of their May Sweeps announcement...

"On Thursday, May 15th back-to-back hour finales of "My Name is Earl," guest-starring Milano, and "The Office," featuring Oscar-nominated guest star [Amy]Ryan, will wrap up the season for those acclaimed comedies from 8-9 p.m. ET and 9-10 p.m. ET respectively."

Amy Ryan has been in "Gone Baby Gone" (Oscar nomination), was a regular on "The Wire" and was in "Dan in Real Life" with Steve Carell.

Update: New pic from NBC.

WHO could Ryan be playing? Oh the possibilites!! Head over to COMMENTS and let's discuss! (Warning: I would assume possible spoilers will be discussed - don't go into comments unless you want to know.)

ScrantonBranchOffice Exclusive Interview with Dwight's "Night Out" Date!

Cassie Fliegel is the lucky actress who was picked of all the basketball team to make-out with one Mr. Dwight K. Schrute during April 24th's episode of "The Office" entitled "Night Out".

I caught up with Cassie after the episode aired to get her thoughts on everything about the episode - acting, trailers and of course the big kissing scene!


ScrantonBranchOffice: Could you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and how you got your start in the "biz"?
Cassie Fliegel: Sure, I moved to LA after graduating from Harvard (2006), to pursue a career in film and television. I had done a lot of theater back in Boston, but had to start from scratch when I got to California. You know, doing background work to get my vouchers, acting in student films to add to my reel, sending out headshots and resumes to agencies, etc. Eventually I landed an agent and got some smaller parts in films, television, commercials, infomercials, all that good stuff...

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SBO Exclusive Interview With Drew Powell

I recently had a quick second to chat with Drew Powell who played the bartender/waiter from Poor Richard's Pub in the "Local Ad" episode of "The Office" this season.

In keeping up with our quest to learn all about the people who make "The Office" special I asked him to give us a little 411 on who he is. Here's what he had to say:

ScrantonBranchOffice: How long have you been working in the 'biz'?
Drew Powell: I've been an actor all my life but a "professional" for the last 9 years. I've been blessed to have had a lot of varied and interesting roles over my career so far.

SBO: Were you a fan of the show before you got the role?
DP: I was a huge fan of the BBC version of "The Office" and therefore was VERY suspect of this new American version. I boycotted it for the first season but eventually gave in and have been a fan ever since.

SBO: What was it like to be in a show you were a fan of?
DP: It was great fun to be in a show that I'm such a fan of. There were a few funny lines that didn't make it to air for various reasons, but it was great regardless.

SBO: Any chances we'll see "The Bartender" again?
DP: I'm hopeful that the producers and writers will see fit to bring my character back at some point. I mean, Poor Richards will no doubt continue to be the hang out for the folks of DM. I don't know, maybe a love triangle between Jim, Pam and the bartender who looks slightly like her old fiancee? I can see it!

SBO: What's coming up for you?
DP: I'll be on ER tonight! Thursday April 24th.

A HUGE thank you to Drew Powell for helping us to continue rounding out the Office world around us! Be sure to look for Drew tonight on ER after an all new "The Office"!

SBO Exclusive Interview with "Dinner Party" Cops!

I've been fortunate enough to chase down the two gentlemen who helped Michael finally leave Jan.

I recently chatted with Gary Weeks (Cop 1) and Steve Seagren (Cop 2). They were the duo who arrived to break up the "Dinner Party" on the Office episode of the same name.

Gary Weeks has been seen in everything from Major League 3: Back to the Minors, to The Kid to television shows including The O.C., Chuck, 24, Summerland, Veronica Mars and much more.



Steve Seagren has popped up in Yes,Dear, Still Standing, ER, Cold Case, Arrested Development, Elizabethtown, Curb Your Enthusiasm, My Name is Earl and many more shows.


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