The “Christmas Party” episode from Season 2 was a cast favorite. From left: Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute and Steve Carell as Michael Scott. (NBC via Getty Images)
ll dysfunctional things must come to an end, and so it is with the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. NBC’s “The Office,” which made stars of Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, Jenna Fischer and Steve Carell, ends its nine-season run this Thursday with a one-hour finale, preceded by an hourlong retrospective.
The retrospective will feature interviews with producers and cast members, as well as rare audition videos including “Parks and Recreation” star Adam Scott’s audition for the role of Jim. The finale itself will take place months after the airing of the show’s fictional documentary, and will be structured as a reality-show-style reunion special.
We asked the cast to share their favorite episodes, as well as some memorable behind-the-scenes tales.
ELLIE KEMPER
(Erin Hannon)
Funniest at-work experience: “Work Bus” (Season 9). “This was directed by Bryan Cranston, and it takes place on a bus. Something funny was happening, and we were trapped on this bus and I was laughing so hard that I wet my pants. I thought, if I don’t announce this, then people will still see, because it’s really noticeable. So I decided the safest way was to just say, ‘I just wet my pants.’ The ladies took it in stride, but the guys were disgusted. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) said, ‘I feel like I’m in a nightmare.’ Because we were trapped on this stinky bus, and I go and pee on it. He was not wrong for saying that.”
Next up: Kemper awaits the fate of a pilot she filmed for NBC called “Brenda Forever.”
KATE FLANNERY
(Meredith Palmer)
Favorite episode: “The Injury” (Season 2). “Michael [Scott] burns his foot on a George Foreman Grill, because he likes to wake to the smell of bacon every morning. I thought it was one of the smartest episodes of our show.”
Funny behind-the-scenes memory: “Moroccan Christmas” (Season 5). “I had an improvised chase scene with Steve Carell in a parking lot that was probably the most insane thing I ever shot. We were fighting in a car so Michael could get me into rehab. Meredith gets out of the car, and he’s chasing her through the whole parking lot. Then, inside the center, he’s literally dragging me by my arms, and I’m so exhausted that I’m dead weight. We didn’t choreograph it. It was all improvised. There were two people dressed exactly like us [standing by] in case one of us got hurt. It was so insane. I lost my voice from screaming through the whole thing.”
Next up: Performing with her comedy act, The Lampshades.
CREED BRATTON
(Creed Bratton)
Funny behind-the-scenes memory: “When we first went to the [real life] Office convention in Scranton, PA, Kate [Flannery], Oscar [Nunez] and I were walking down the street, and all of a sudden, these brakes squealed. These people jumped out of their car, left the doors open right there in the street with people honking behind them, and came over to get autographs. It started getting out of hand. The police had to take us back to the hotel, because ‘The Office’ cast is like The Beatles in Scranton. We couldn’t walk around.”
Next up: Bratton recently released Acts 1 & 2 of a three-act album called “Tell Me About It” — with Act 3 out May 21 — that he calls, “An Audio Biography about LSD, Unemployment & Third Acts.”
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER
(Kevin Malone)
Favorite episode: “Christmas Party” (Season 2). “Explosively funny, and the first episode that was truly an ensemble. Everyone had something to do, including Meredith exposing her breasts for the first time. It was also the first time we got over 10 million viewers.”
Funny behind-the-scenes memory: “Secret Santa” (Season 6). “Michael dresses up as Santa, and the first person to sit on his lap is Kevin. I don’t think they could find enough footage where people were not laughing. [Steve] was laughing through his beard, and I could hear him laugh, which was making me laugh. We shot that scene over and over, and every single time, everyone, especially Mindy Kaling and John Krasinski, could not stop laughing.”
Next up: Sold a pitch for a new show to ABC with “Office” executive producer Greg Daniels.
JAKE LACY
(Pete Miller)
Favorite episode/memory: “Work Bus” (Season 9). “The entire experience of shooting that episode was so insane. There were so many things that didn’t go as hoped, and that [kind of experience] brings people together. The ventilation from the truck that pulled us was feeding into the AC unit of the bus we were shooting in. Then there were a couple of turns that were taken a little sharper than planned. Bryan Cranston (who directed the episode) helped build this moment where I turn and move a fan, and the fan blows papers all over the place. Initially, we had two or three papers, and he was like, ‘Let’s make this a stack — just blow papers everywhere.’ That makes it more fun to watch.”
Next up: Recently shot a pilot for CBS called “The McCarthys” and a film called “Obvious Child.”
THE OFFICE RETROSPECTIVE
Thursday, 8 p.m., NBC
THE OFFICE FINALE
Thursday, 9 p.m., NBC