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« Kate's Office Blog
Office Convention!
Meredith here from The Office! The big-time show that takes place in small-town Scranton. How can I describe our cast trip to Scranton? Where do I start?
I have returned from the first annual Office Convention, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where we were treated like royalty. Were you there? Did I have a drink with you? Did I do anything stupid? Steve [Carell], Rainn [Wilson], John [Krasinski], Paul [Lieberstein] and Jenna [Fischer] were absent but all the rest of the cast were there. They missed out! Too bad.
I have never met so many wonderful people in one weekend. Everyone wanted to sign my cast. The sweetest fans in the world. I have never been offered so much booze before. It was a major good-time party.
The town of Scranton literally closed the schools and opened its heart to us. The families who volunteered were so terrific. Lots of big Irish-Catholic families that I can relate to. The insanity began with Al Roker, 3,000 screaming fans and the University of Scranton cheerleading squad. Creed [Bratton], Oscar [Nuńez] and I were on the first segment of the Today show. Wow! We usually don't get cheerleaders. FANominal! I know, I know — put down the pun and keep drinking. We actually needed police escorts to go anywhere. Very surreal. I felt like Jerry Lewis in France! We did a Q&A in the U of S Gym with 4,0000 fans.
The Office Olympics were a blast. They had fireworks for us at the rooftop dinner with Mayor Dougherty and the president of U of Scranton, Father Scott Pilars. Never had fireworks before, unless you count bar fights and kissing the wrong guy as fireworks. And yes, it's been a while since I have partied with a priest, and believe me, they know how to party.
I got to sing with the Scrantones — the band that plays the theme to The Office. I got to play keyboard on the theme song. My piano teacher is very proud and so am I. I started off the show singing Meredith's new theme song, Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," aka "Hit Me Mr. Michael Scott." Creed sang some Grass Roots and we did a number together, the Pennsylvania Polka. Craig Robinson sang some Gnarls Barkley, Melora Hardin sang her original songs, Ed Helms sang "Werewolves of Pennsylvania," and Brian Baumgartner, aka Kevin, closed the killer show with the song "Roxanne!" Scrantonicity lives! It was an amazing show. We all felt like rock stars. Bob Thiele is the leader of the band and he has a Scrantones MySpace page, so go say hi!.
Were you there? The lookalike contest was one of the many unbelievable moments of the Office Convention. I got my picture taken with the Meredith winner. She had a bat in her hair, a drink in her hand and it looked like she was wearing Depends for a cast. The imaginary world meets the real world. All the places we talk about on the show are real with real people. Great people. Great beer! And the most amazing time of our lives was fully documented.
Thanks to all the folks who came in from Canada, Texas, Oregon, even Ireland! Merciful Jesus! I left my heart in Scranton, along with my voice. It's taken me a few days to talk but it was worth it! If you're not sick and hung-over, then you didn't really live. Our cast will never forget this trip. I hope it's the first of many. Sorry Trekies — we got you beat. It doesn't get any better than this! I am so grateful for this experience. Let the cast of Heroes go to France. The Office cast is happier in Scranton. Next year? Piss or get off the pot! (Local ad was really fun to watch while we were in Scranton.)
"Branch Wars" is this week's episode and it's the return of Rashida Jones, aka Karen. So please watch early and often.
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Nov 1, 2007 2:16 PM
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Another great blog Kate!! Sad to have missed the events, but glad to catch up on it all week.
xo
Kath
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Nov 1, 2007 3:14 PM
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Sounds like you had a blast, Kate, that's very cool. What's nice about The Office cast, from what I can tell, is that you all seem genuinely excited by your success, and flattered by the fan attention. You all seem like "normal" people who happen to be on a hit TV show, and that is a high compliment. I'm glad that you're enjoying yourself! You deserve it.
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Nov 1, 2007 4:31 PM
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Kate,
It was great to have all of you here in Scranton. Every one in the cast was wonderful to the fans. Too bad I couldn't "party" at the Bog with everyone(not a great idea when you're with your teenaged daughter). We can't wait until next year. Maybe a trip back for Parade Day?
To reiterate what Craig had the crowd chanting all weekend long: "Scranton.. What?..The Electric City!"
Take care,
Kate O'
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Nov 1, 2007 4:55 PM
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I really wish I could have gone to the convention. It sounds like everyone had an awesome time!
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Nov 1, 2007 7:06 PM
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the convention was such a great time, thank you so much for coming! i wish i could have met you personally but i did see you at most of the events. you and creed sounded wonderful singing the pennsylvania polka! sorry to hear you got sick.
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Nov 6, 2007 3:52 PM
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Hey loved seeing you at the convention. Only could go on Sunday(damn work) but had a great time. My wife has a great pic of your shoulder as you walked past us on your way up to the podium at the bloggers breakfast.  Next year, we'll be there all weekend, and I'll be taking the pics!
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Nov 6, 2007 4:06 PM
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Loved seeing you there!
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Nov 6, 2007 5:03 PM
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Kate!
Thanks so much for coming to the convention. It means so much to everyone that you all had such a great time. You were all so much fun. This is definitely something none of us will ever be able to forget. I hope there are more to come.
Lisa
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Nov 6, 2007 5:26 PM
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Kate, it was indeed the most amazing time of everyone's lives, cast and fans alike.
Yes, I was there. I was EVERYWHERE!
I did not come home sick though. What on earth is wrong with me?! I came home exhausted and unable to concentrate on anything I needed to concentrate on because I couldn't stop thinking about the weekend. Does that count? I hope you feel better soon if you don't already. But it was worth it, right???!!!
Well, it was all absolutely mind-blowing. I'm going to leave it at that, otherwise this will turn into a novel like the one I already wrote to you before. As you said, sorry Trekkies, we got you beat!!!!!! That should be your new MySpace quote.
I'm not really sure if I had a drink with you. I had a lovely conversation with you at the casino though, but I can't remember if you had a drink in your hand or not. I did, tee hee.
And you know what was funny? When you showed up late to the blogger's breakfast Sunday morning. Partied a little too hard the night before, perhaps? Tee hee again. Is that art imitating life or life imitating art? :p
Anyway, let's be sure do to it all again!
P.S. You were treated like royalty because you ARE royalty!
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Nov 6, 2007 6:10 PM
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Sounds like an amazing time! I definitely have to make it next year! We redheads have to support each other 
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Nov 6, 2007 8:27 PM
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Great blog, Kate! I'm thrilled to hear that you and the cast had as good a time as we, you fans, did. It was an amazing weekend, and you all couldn't have been more wonderful. Every encounter I had with a cast member, writer, or producer was nothing short of superb! One of my only regrets was not being able to see you perform with the Scrantones. I guess it just means I'll need to catch another Lampshades show before long! 
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Nov 6, 2007 11:12 PM
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Kate, I really enjoyed meeting you at the convention. I enjoyed your many performances. It was so fantastic to witness the camaraderie between the cast members. I was right on the side of the stage at Casino night when Creed finished playing and you came over and cheered him on and congratulated him. I loved seeing how supportive you are of one another.
It was very strange to watch the new episode after meeting you. You are so very different from Meredith in real life. My brother was one of the (many) fans who kept telling you how beautiful you are in real life. To be able to transform from the wonderful personality that you displayed to us at the convention to Meredith on the show is an incredible feat. Great job! I don't know if I will ever watch the show in the same way though.
I hope the convention is back next year, though I don't know if it will ever be quite the same as the first year. This was the most phenomenal experience of my life and I want to thank you, as well as the rest of the cast / writers / producers/ crew who showed up. You guys are fantastic and really thrilled your fans (especially this fangirl) to pieces. Kudos to you!
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Nov 6, 2007 11:35 PM
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I was there and it was awesome!! I'm so glad you all had as much fun as we did. I can't wait for next year
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Nov 7, 2007 1:44 PM
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