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« Kate's Office Blog
January 11, 2007: "Traveling Salesmen"
Happy new year, Office fans. Meredith here. Last week's episode was on during my vacation, but now I am back!
This week's episode is "Traveling Salesmen." Have you seen the promos with Phyllis and Karen with big hair and too much makeup? Hilarious. Pennsylvania women have it going on. I'd like to give more away, but I can't — I can't remember much. It's not just the booze. I have to fit 10 pounds of news in a five-pound bag! We shot it eight weeks ago, and we've had a break for the past eight weeks. And in those eight weeks we all traveled and did cool stuff, like get talk shows and do Vegas gigs and get nominated for two Golden Globe Awards (one for Steve Carell and one for best comedy). We also got nominated for two SAG Awards (one for Steve Carell and one for Best Ensemble in a Comedy). While children are starving in Africa, I am working hard on getting my dress — the SAG Awards do not refer to our aging bodies. Too bad, after all those Christmas cookies.
As most of you know, I am the only cast member of The Office who is a Pennsylvania native. My Christmas trip to Philadelphia started on the plane ride where they showed The Office in-flight (always a little surreal), and the movie Invincible with Mark Walberg — a great Philly movie. It looked a lot like the first Rocky. It reminded me of being at my dad's bar in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia in the '70s. They really got the look and the feel right. And the volatile, rough Philly Eagles fans (even the accents). May I say, the Philadelphia fans of The Office didn't throw snowballs at me. I couldn't believe how excited Philly fans are about The Office. I did the local Philly 10 show on NBC 10, where I actually made a drink on TV at 10:15 in the morning! I love that town. If you want to take a look, here's the link. It was pretty cool. Philly fans are not known for being phony.
Thanks to all the Dunderheads I met at my brother's bar (T.A. Flannery's) and at my sister-in-law's surprise party, and to all the fans in Borders in Wynnewood, and to my junior-prom date who met me for a coffee after all these years. Thanks to the wedding party at the Four Seasons hotel who saw me in the lobby and pulled me into their wedding photos! BTW, the bride's name was Jenna! I am not making this up! There were some fans I met in Suburban Square and on the train to NYC and at the morning show where I had just driven 120 miles to Scranton the week before to meet Rainn Wilson! Thanks to the Dwight and Meredith fans. Rainn and I swapped Pennsylvania-fan stories this week. Did I mention that my sisters and I actually gasped out loud with excitement when we saw John Krasinski in Dreamgirls at the Anthony Wayne Theater in Wayne, Pennsylvania? (TMI?)
Philly was great. I came full circle. Yes, I did see Rocky Balboa. What a great tribute to the city of Philadelphia — I freaked out at the scenes in the Irish pub on Walnut Sreet, where I worked in 1986, and also at the scene with my college acting teacher, Johnny Hobbs Jr., who was one of the fight commissioners. Thanks, Sly. You moved the soul of this stonyhearted, redheaded drunk.
So it's a new year. What a funny episode last week, appropriately named "Back from Vacation." I actually had a big stunt in the warehouse during the inventory that required a stunt double. My stunt double was also Linda Hamilton's stunt double in Terminator 2. Drunken Meredith wandered back during the inventory and climbed a shelf to count, when the entire shelf of giant boxes came down on her. Poor Meredith. You can see that scene on NBC.com, along with some other deleted scenes.
We just started up to work this week and it is so great to see everyone. We really are like a family — a family who wears a lot of makeup and is very well lit and gets paid to be together. We are very excited for the upcoming episodes and the upcoming awards shows. Last year Steve was nominated and won with the most memorable speeches ever. This year the whole show is nominated, too. I know we will have fun. The Office cast knows how to party, so we are going to have a blast no matter what. Thanks to all the Philly Office fans for the homecoming. Thanks to all The Office fans everywhere. Please watch The Office this Thursday at 8:30 pm/ET on NBC, and please watch the Golden Globes on NBC this Monday night, and keep your fingers crossed for Steve and the rest of The Office cast. You are the best fans ever.
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Jan 10, 2007 4:38 PM
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Kate, you not only succeeded in making me laugh but you also made me homesick for the mainline and my Bryn Mawr days. I hope that you preceded or followed that movie with a chocolate chip scone from great harvest or a black and white milkshake from Minella's--or an awesome blossom from that fine establishment next door if it was too crowded.
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Jan 10, 2007 4:51 PM
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FINALLY!! I've been refreshing TVGuide.com just waiting for your new blog to appear.
So excited to know you are back on set. New episodes are on the way and that makes me a happy girl.
Best of luck at the Golden Globes and the SAG awards...you know we will be pulling for ya.
I also flew cross country recently and was lucky enough to catch an ep of The Office. Of course they cut it off too early. I asked them to circle the runway until Jim and Pam ended their phone call, but they refused.
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Jan 10, 2007 4:53 PM
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Hi, Kate! Great post, again. I'd love to hear more stories about what fans out there say to you when they see you, and other famous person stuff.
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Jan 10, 2007 4:58 PM
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Yay! I missed your blogs. This was a great, fun blog. Thank you and more importantly, congratulations on the nominations!
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Jan 10, 2007 5:18 PM
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Always so funny, and yes you do have the best fans but that's because you have the best show eva!! It's good to know that all of you (cast members)get along so well, even if you are getting paid to be around each other  it makes the show that much better that much realistic. Anyways love the show and love your character.
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Jan 10, 2007 5:33 PM
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i just watched all the deleted scenes, Hilarious when you fell off the shelves!!, Can't wait for tomorrow!
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Jan 10, 2007 5:39 PM
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My sister and I also gasped when John popped up on the screen when we saw Dreamgirls. We knew it was coming, but that didn't stop us from giddily poking each other and whispering to our mother, "IT'S JOHN! JOHN! THERE'S JOHN!"
I'm so excited for the Golden Globes! Two years ago, I managed to sneak through a bunch of back alleys and find the back entrance with a few friends of mine. (Apparently, security guards are willing to ignore twenthysomething women who aren't where they're supposed to be when you give them a big smile.) Ever since then, the Golden Globes have held a very special place in my heart. Best of luck to all of you!
Finally, the show needs to be made an hour long so all of the Meredith scenes don't wind up deleted! I've had enough of this!
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Jan 10, 2007 6:39 PM
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Congrats on the nominations! Hope you guys make a clean sweep!
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Jan 10, 2007 7:32 PM
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Very cool... I thought I'd seen all the deleted scenes from last week's episode, but I haven't seen yours yet. (I also need to find that promo with Karen and Phyllis and their big hair!)
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Jan 10, 2007 11:50 PM
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"While children are starving in Africa, I am working hard on getting my dress."
LMAO! I totally know what you mean (especially, the email I sent you...thanks for your support!).
You have the BEST job!
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Jan 11, 2007 12:03 AM
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Welcome back, Kate! We missed you! It sounds like you had an amazing time back home in Philly. My sister is moving there for work this year so I'm really excited for her. I will tell her to stop by Flannery's.
I loved your warehouse stunt scene. I had no idea it was a stunt double though! The Office needs more Meredith in the episodes and not just the deleted scenes, damn it!
I hope you have an amazing time at the Golden Globes on Monday- I can't wait to see your dress. And I know Steve and the show are going to win. I am sending positive vibes your way!!!
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Jan 11, 2007 2:24 PM
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Kate, you are a true gem. I really enjoyed this blog, hearing all about your holidays and run-ins with fans.
I enjoyed Rocky Balboa, too! I thought it was a great tribute to Philly, but also to that character. It reminded me of the heart that was in the first Rocky.
Can't wait to see the new episode tonight. And keep these awesome blogs coming!! 
--Brad
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Jan 11, 2007 2:40 PM
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I am looking forward to tonight's episode. Thanks for the blog update. Enjoy being back at work!
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Jan 11, 2007 5:38 PM
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I'm not going to jinx you or anything but you are going to win. Both the Office and Steve Carell. I can feel it.
Another great blog, Keep them comming Kate
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Jan 11, 2007 7:59 PM
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