Kate Flannery by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com
Just as fans of the original version of The Office learned about the existence of the industrial town of Slough, where the U.K. series was set, now everyone knows about Scranton, Pennsylvania, where employees of the U.S. version report to work. In fact, thousands of fans of NBC's hit half-hour comedy ventured to northern Pennsylvania this weekend for the first Office convention, which runs through Oct. 28.
The event began Friday morning on the Today show, with Al Roker introducing the University of Scranton cheerleaders. Throughout the town, local businesses, including but not limited to those that have been featured or referenced on the series, made the most of the influx of visitors, setting up special booths, hawking souvenirs and inviting fans to revisit memorable scenes from the show.
While cast members such as Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer could not make it to the convention, Dunder-Mifflin is being well represented by Kate Flannery (aka Meredith), Creed Bratton (Creed), Ed Helms (Andy), Oscar Nunez (Oscar) and Craig Robinson (Darryl).
"The convention is an amazing success! It is 'fan'-omenal," Flannery told TVGuide.com via e-mail on Sunday morning. "I just left the Bloggers Brunch, where about 800 once-faceless Internet fans came to life. We all feel like Jerry Lewis in France!"
All told, Flannery — like Meredith, drunk, but in this instance with adoration for the show's enthusiastic followers — raves, "Scranton and the fans have far exceeded our wildest expectations. This is a time I will never forget, no matter where my careeer goes." — Reporting by N.F. Mendoza and Matt Webb Mitovich
Were you able to make it to the Scranton convention? Share your stories — and photos, if you've got 'em! — here in Comments.
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