AI Summary
5 min readThe Audition That Changed Everything
Jenna Fischer walked into her first audition for The Office wearing an outfit she'd actually worn as a real administrative assistant — her side gig while trying to make it as an actor in Los Angeles. Her hair was frizzy, she wore almost no makeup, and she was 29 years old. The casting director, Alison Jones, had given her two notes before she went in: "Do not try to be funny" and "Don't look hot." Then she added the most important piece of advice: "Dare to bore me with your audition."
When Greg Daniels, the showrunner, asked her in character what she did at Dunder Mifflin, she said she was the receptionist. Then he asked if she liked working there. She said, "No." That was it. No joke, no clever line, no performance. She just looked at him and he started laughing. Fischer says she knew in that moment she understood the character completely: "Everything she's not saying — that's her thing."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:00) **Auditioning for Pam Beesly** - Jenna Fischer recounts her months-long audition process for *The Office*.
- 2 (04:38) **Sourdough as a Lifeline** - Fischer explains why she started baking bread during a career crossroads.
- 3 (06:58) **The Starter as a Commitment** - Fischer shares her philosophy on maintaining a sourdough starter.
- 4 (09:07) **Choosing Family Over Fame** - Fischer reflects on her decision to step back from TV to be present for her children.
- 5 (11:00) **The Office's Unsung Heroes** - Fischer describes how the podcast highlights the crew who made the show possible.
- 6 (13:02) **The Long Road to Dunder Mifflin** - Fischer details her nine-year struggle in LA before booking *The Office*.
- 7 (16:24) **Screen-Testing with Steve Carell and Bob Odenkirk** - Fischer describes the final test where she read with two possible Michaels.
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Show Notes
This weekend we welcome Jenna Fischer to the pod! Jenna is author of two books. She hosts the Office Ladies Podcast along with Angela Kinsey, and she stars in the upcoming film Nimrods, in theaters August 14! We're so thrilled to have her join us at the table.
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