Kate's Office Blog

The Office drunk is in NYC, and I'm only slightly hung over. I am here in the city that doesn't sleep with the cast that doesn't sleep. The cast of The Office is in town for the announcement of the new season. It's the same week that our Season 4 wraps up in a nice bow [Thursday at 9 pm/ET]. I am one lucky redhead.

I am a former New Yorker and the only thing better than being back in NYC is being here with Dwight, Andy, Kevin, Phyllis, etc. I passed my old restaurant, the Red Eye Grill on 7th Ave. (across from Carnegie Hall). A lot has changed in nine years. NYC loves The Office. I took a picture on 6th Ave. with a family who had run into and taken a photo with Kelly (aka Mindy Kaling) one hour before! Now I am just representing Dunder Mifflin, the people's paper company (what was that jingle that Darryl wrote?). We are bringing a little Scranton to the Big Apple.

The one-hour finale will be this Thursday, and get ready. We all signed confidentiality agreements so I can only say that we are going out with a bang! We truly do have the greatest writers on TV. I am not just sucking up to get more lines, I swear. I think they have out done themselves. Twists, turns, answers and new questions.

As some of you know, a few of the Office cast got to be talent scouts on Last Comic Standing. Angela and Oscar did the L.A. show and Brian Baumgartner and I did the Minneapolis show. We got the cold end of that stick. It was 11 degrees below zero when we were there. The comedy was a little more cold, a littler more fresh. Well-preserved. Our episode airs June 12th, I think. I just did a bunch of publicity for LCS with Josh Gomez from NBC's Chuck. Josh is adorable. He plays a big geek but he is a big cutey. We had a good time talking about the comedians we watched and hand-picked to move on the finals. It was a big responsibility — people's lives change! The winners get a really good ride. They get their dream of being a stand-up on a whole new level.

Josh did the San Francisco show. Check your local listings. If you haven't watched Chuck, you should. It is a great concept and Josh Gomez and Zach Levi are really terrific and adorable. Ladies, you enjoy!

I can't wait for you to see the season finale of our show. It is a monster. One hour. Jam-packed! Hey I said Jam, and I should have said "Jam." "Jam" is a term used by Office superfans referring to Jim and Pam. (Together they are "Jam.") Not unlike last year's "Dwangela" referring to Dwight and Angela. Or Michael and Jan together, they are "Man." (OK, I just made that up right now. Should it be "Jichael"?)

How about Meredith and her true love, Vodka? "Mondka"? Never mind.

Thank you for watching The Office! NBC, Thursdays. Season 4 DVDs coming late summer/early fall. We just did the commentary! You are the greatest fans in the world (and NYC, too).

Let me know what you think!

Hey, all you Office drunks! Did I stutter? I mean, hey all of you drunk on The Office. I am the only drunk in the office. It is like being drunk with laughter, the Office fans say. I have been getting the wildest fan mail lately. I have recently received an artist rendering of a Big Gulp in my honor. I have been sent airplane bottles of liquor. I have gotten flasks in the mail. I have gotten strange photos of me doing the limbo on the "Booze Cruise" episode. (How low can ya go?) This tops all! Some soon-to-be-married fans actually invited Meredith to their wedding in Ohio. I was incredibly flattered and surprised. (Who would risk that bar bill?) I politely declined on the RSVP card but I will be with them in spirits. Oops. I mean in spirit. (Last year, as I was walking thru the lobby of the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, I was pulled into some wedding photos of the bridal party. I know they didn't plan that.)

The next episode is called "Did I Stutter?" Stanley (aka the very dry Leslie David Baker) gets into it with Michael. Look out! Written by the very talented B.J. Novak, the episode was directed by Randal Einhorn. For the big Office fans, Randal is our director of photography and our camera man. He and Matt Sohn do the best camerawork in the business, let me tell you. Did you know that they are true documentary cameramen? They have both worked on National Geographic projects around the world. They have also worked on Survivor. They are why The Office feels like a documentary. They are like another character on our show. They are truly what makes our show so different from other fake documentary shows. They are great guys and they do amazing work with unexpected turns and twists! We have to be in character at all times incase we get caught by the camera!

Last week I had a fat lip from Mindy. from Mindy's script, that is. She wrote that I got hit with a football in the face. I want to quote our good friend Jennie Tanster's article on OfficeTally.com (the perfect fan site for all things Office). Here are some of the questions and answers:

Officetally.com: "There were a lot of physical gags in last night's show, like Pam hitting Meredith in the face and Toby scaling the fence and jumping over. I was wondering if the actors performed those or stuntmen?"

Mindy Kaling: "Paul [Lieberstein, Toby] is a great guy but no, he didn't do his dangerous stunt. Kate, on the other hand, did hers — several, several times and without complaint. It was amazing and terrifying and I'm not certain she hasn't suffered internal brain damage from the repeated blows to the head. I'll find out at the wrap party."

OfficeTally.com: "Kate, did you want answer that question as well, How many takes did that take you? Were you hit each time with a Nerf football, and the sound effects were put in later? Was makeup applied to your face so that you looked more and more bruised with each subsequent scene?"

Kate Flannery: "Doing my own stunt was fine. I can no longer read, but I'm fine. At first it seemed like a good idea. I thought I owed it to the fans to take one for the team, Then after the first four takes, I was like, "That was cool. That's it, right?" Ten takes later I was ready for an Advil and a session with a good therapist to examine why I said yes in the first place. My stunt double got paid to sit and watch. Yes, I had a stunt double and I still did it myself. That doesn't add up. My math skills are obviously dwindling as well. The makeup was sort of trumped up each time thanks to Lavern Caracuzzi, the head of the makeup department. She even gave me that 'Marlon Brando cotton in the mouth.' Please don't worry. I didn't get a scratch in all the 14 takes we shot. Thanks for asking."

Go to Jennie's website for a longer version, photos and links to live interviews. She was just visiting the set last week. She had to sign a confidentiality form. The season finally is going to be a monster! And a secret. I don't care how many drinks you buy me I ain't tellin'. Did I stutter?

Thanks for watching our show. Cheers!

NBC's The Office airs Thursdays at 9 pm/ET and reruns on TBS Tuesdays at 10 and 10:30 pm.

Howdy, fans. The drunk from The Office is here, and I am celebrating. I and all of Dunder-Mifflin will be back on the air this Thursday, and all you fans can drink to that! I know that a lot of you are sick and tired of the dry reruns. This Thursday is not a mirage. Not an oasis. We are officially out of the desert. Let the "Dinner Party" begin. The Office is back.

This week was a blast. This redheaded drunk has been doing her own stunts this week. We all got to go to the opening of John Krasinski's Leatherheads. John is great in this movie! I know it's a football film but I think he knocked it out of the park. He is a star! He was funny and adorable. I am not talking about George Clooney. John gave George a run for his money in the "hot guy" department. The movie is really fun. Go see it!

I loved the 1925 clothes and the locations. The time period was like another character in the film. The party had a 1920s theme. Most of the cast of The Office were there to support John. The premiere was at Grauman's Chinese. That is the greatest theater. It's a dream come true to open your film there! We had fun, and my boyfriend and I even danced to the orchestra. John's very tall family came out for the opening. They are awesome folks from Boston. Did you know that John's father is a doctor at the same hospital where Mindy Kaling's mother is a doctor? Talk about a small world! Another coincidence: Leatherheads opened the same week I got hit with a football in the face 14 times. (The cameraman said it was 10 times, but it felt like 14.)

Yep, I did my own stunt again on The Office. I decided to do it because Jenna was throwing the football. I underestimated her abilities. Jenna Fischer has a good arm! I got to take home one of the flower arrangements from Angela [Kinsey]'s baby shower (thrown by Jenna and Greg Daniels' wife, Susanne, who is Angela's sister-in-law), and when I asked Jenna if she was giving me the flowers out of guilt, she said yes! Angela's sisters, mother, aunts, female cousins and her 90-year-old grandma flew in from Texas for the shower. It was lovely! Tea sandwiches and pink roses and two kinds of cake. The fluffy pink robe with bunny ears I gave her elicited a lot of oooohs and ahhhhhhs. I am very happy for Angela. She will be a great mom! She is so happy that this baby is coming, she beams! Of course she was very pregnant when we shot this episode. Let the "hiding the belly" begin! Good drinking game, huh?

One more thing. There is talk of a spin-off of The Office. The cast got an e-mail giving us a heads-up about the announcement. We have no other info than that. We don't know nothin'! I don't know if they even have any details to release. Personally, I think it should be a British spin-off. Starring Ricky Gervais. Full circle, baby! If it were a Meredith spin-off it could be called "The Bar." (Don't hold your breath, sports fans.)

Thanks for all of the "Office coming back on the air" love. A lot of fans came to my Lampshades' show this past week as well as to the improv show I did with Ed Helms and Oscar Nuñez the other night at IOWest. People were just squealing with excitement over our return. Thank you for all your support during the strike. Let's put that behind us and sing the theme to Welcome Back, Kotter! (Or not.)

"Dinner Party" airs this Thursday at 9 pm/ET; it's written by Lee and Gene and directed by Paul Fieg. I'll drink to that!

Related:
• Photo gallery: Why TVGuide.com readers love the Office staff!
• NBC's New Schedule Offers Super (Bowl)-sized Office

Hey, it's your favorite drunken redhead here, from the corner of the office. What an interesting time for our show. We have had another great week of pretending to work in a paper factory. And when I say "We" I mean ME!

The scripts just get funnier and funnier. This past week we' worked with Jeff Blitz directing. Jeff directed the "Convict" episode from last season, remember? He is an Academy Award winner for a short film he did in 2007. We have the best directors. Our show's exec producer, Greg Daniels, said he should submit this new episode for an Academy Award. Now, we all know you can't submit a TV show for an Academy Award. (Creed just explained that to me at the water cooler.) Awards are weird. We have the fans to tell us how important we are. I have two SAG Awards on my mantle, for Best Ensemble. The show won an Emmy for Best Comedy last year. The producers are the only ones that get to keep the Emmy. Steve Carrell has won a Golden Globe for playing Michael Scott, but he hasn't won an Emmy for it yet. He is so talented. It is baffling.

What a great week I have had. I am not just saying that because I am drunk. My bf and I just celebrated two years! Can you believe it? I may have to tear up my Spinster's Club card. We celebrated by going dancing to surf music at this Tiki Club. I am living the life! (BTW, "bf" is short for boyfriend and "BTW" is short for "by the way".)

This week at The Office has been nights these days (and by "days" I mean daze). That means all the cast and crew and our internal clocks are screwy. John Krasinski gets super giddy. He hasn't slept much promoting his new movie with George Clooney, Leatherheads. I am very excited for John. He is so talented and he's handling all this with a lot of grace. That guy is going places. We were all getting pretty giddy shooting late this week. Angela [Kinsey] is a trouper. She's acting for two, ya know. Those late hours are pretty intense for that unborn child. Come to think of it, it's intense for me, too. It's hard to believe I was once an unborn child. Good thing my mother wasn't afraid to have a drink or two and smoke those Kent 100's in the soft pack or I wouldn't be who I am today. (BTW, Jenna [Fischer] is throwing a baby shower for Angela this weekend and I am going to party!)

Also this weekend I presented at the Genesis Awards for the prevention of animal cruelty. (Last year Phyllis and I presented together.) I am very patient with animals. I was awakened the other night by the sound of a crazy loud TV in my building. I knocked on the door to ask them to turn it down. I knocked and I knocked, but all I heard was the barking dog. Turns out that no one was home and the great Dane had sat on the remote. Yup! I am very patient with animals. The Genesis Awards will air on Animal Planet sometime this spring. I'll let you know.

If you didn't catch my appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on March 17th, you can go to www.OfficeTally.com . I am also going to be on The Florence Henderson Show soon but I don't know when. She has a website, so go check it out. I was a little nervous with Florence since I replaced Jane Lynch as Carol Brady in the stage show The Real Live Brady Bunch. Flo was a very good sport. I explained to Florence that at that point in the tour we were playing 3,000-seat houses so the makeup, wig and the pant suits had to be "over the top" when they showed a picture of me as Carol and I looked like a drag queen. Check it out if you get a chance.

I am living the life and I have been having a great time. And by "I" I mean we! You are, of course, included in that we. Thanks for listening and watching. The Office is on Thursdays on NBC and Tuesdays on TBS. Cheers!

Our Returning Favorites Guide offers preview for The Office (returning April 10) and 40 other shows.

Dunder-Mifflin fans, unite! The paper company is returning to regular work. It is I, Meredith, the drunken redhead in the corner. We have some catching up to do. Here's hoping you are not as drunk as I am. I am a pro. As Tom Cruise once said to Jack Nicholson, "You can't handle the booze!" St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching and I have a lot to drink to.

St. Pat's day has always been a big holiday for me and my family because my family owns a bar. If you are in Philadelphia, our bar is T.A. Flannery's on 21st Street. Have a drink and don't worry! You can have a drink and catch up!

The Office has a lot of catching up to do also. We are back at work after that nasty fake vacation that some people called a strike. Everyone is so grateful to be back. We were out late the other night shooting at "Michael's condo" for the "Dinner Party" episode. The episode is hilarious! NBC staff photographer Chris Haston (who just so happens to be my boyfriend) was working that night taking pictures, not just of the scenes but of the smiling crew and actors alike. It was a really fun night. It's great to be back with the work family! I don't know what was in the air but the conversation seemed deeper, the lights more interesting, the breeze cooler — even the craft-services food tasted a little better. Let's face it — when we count our blessings, it is great to be on The Office. I am one lucky redhead. Even my booze tastes better.

Paul Feig is directing "Dinner Party" [airing April 10]. He has done many episodes, such as "Halloween" and… ah, I am too drunk to remember what else. This gives you something to look up on IMDB. Do you know that website? If you have a bet about who was in a movie or something, you can go there to settle it. It lists the cast and crew of everything. And you can actually go to the discussion boards of actors and leave your two cents. I have had several strange things said about me there. People get into it! Freedom of speech. That is why some people drink.

Anyway, back to Paul Feig. He was one of the creators of Freaks and Geeks, a brilliant show. Paul likes to wear a suit and a tie at all times. I am not kidding you. I think he must sleep in one. The last days filming his episodes the crew pays tribute by wearing a tie and a jacket all day. (You can't expect them to wear a whole suit.) It is pretty cool. Paul is so great to work with.

One cool thing about the strike is that Angela [Kinsey] is now very pregnant. It is interesting to see how the show hides it! She'll be the one holding the giant box or the pile of coats. And of course, she is the one behind the copier! Everyone seems rested and happy.

The other cool thing is that Steve [Carell] got some rest. He works hard for the money.

Did you know that John Krasinski will be in George Clooney's new movie, [Leatherheads]? That will be out very soon. John's mug is up on billboards all over town. Pretty cool! No matter what, we have The Office and that will always be something to be proud of.

One more cool thing — this drunken redhead will be on Craig Ferguson on St. Patrick's Day! I can't wait. I used to wait on Craig when I worked at a restaurant in Beverly Hills and I always liked him. Hope you can catch it! Set your TiVo, and I will keep you posted on The Office. We have some catching up to do.

Welcome back, everyone! I know, I know. Long time no see. I guess you are aware that there was a strike. A very strange and frantic strike. But now it’s over. It is behind us and it is now time for the drunken redhead to move forward and face the world again. To say that I have missed you all terribly is an understatement. The strike was an altered state. A constant off-balance feeling. A "FOG," which stands for “Freakin’ Opportunity for Growth”.

I had my doubts and fears like anybody on TV who used to wait tables for 20 years. I have been busy performing, picketing, auditioning, working with a singing coach, getting political, doing some charity events, waving in a parade and just plain worrying.

I’ve just returned from Minneapolis with the very funny and talented Mr. Brian Baumgartner. We were the judges for Last Comic Standing there. We had a ball. Angela [Kinsey] and Oscar [Nunez] did the same thing in L.A. It was interesting sitting through all that stand-up. I think I was a bit of a Paula Abdul to Brian’s Simon Cowell. He was tougher than I was. I just hate telling people "No," especially on TV. I was pleasantly surprised by the talent. There were some truly funny folks (and a few scary ones, too).The town really rolled out the blue carpet, like one big sheet of ice. It was darn cold. A balmy 11 degrees below zero! We went to some crazy outdoor ice bar that had a fire pit a few feet away, just to really confuse your body. The people in that town couldn’t be nicer. Brian and I had fun partying and coat shopping. (Don’t ask.) I bought a copy of Steve Martin’s new book, Born Standing Up,to keep me in the right mood. (It’s a great read!)

I need you all to forgive me for not writing more during the strike. In the beginning I was picketing and doing my part. I got to sing with Creed [Bratton] and the Scrantones. We sang some Pete Seeger union songs and some other famous faces stopped by to join us, including Lily Tomlin. Someone made a short that included clips from that day called "Which Side Are You On?" It’s on YouTube. I was in the Laguna Beach Holiday Parade, and Christmas came and went with no solution, and then January felt like the longest yard. I went to Mazatlan to Estella del Mar for their charity golf event. It was great! I don’t really golf so I felt like a rodeo clown. Just puttin’! The club raises money to further educate the local children of Mazatlan who don’t normally get past a sixth grade education. College es mui bien. (Did I say that right?) Golfers know how to party. I think golfers are just alcoholics with money and sticks. And what is wrong with that?
Estrella Del Mar is famous for the Coco Loco, a drink that will knock you into next week, in a good way. They put it in a coconut right off the tree! Unreal.

It wasn’t until the SAG Awards that I had a reality check. The reality that The Office would one day return! How bizarre that a surreal glam, star studded award show is my reality check. I borrowed a beautiful gold dress from designer Dina Barrell and jewelry from Erica Courtney. The L.A. Times picked me as "HAPPIEST NOT TO BE WEARING A MUMU." What ever that means. Winning was amazing but it was mostly great to just to see everyone in our cast again, all together. Steve [Carell] was in the middle of jury duty that week. The hardest working man in show business finally had a little down time, but I think the government decided he wasn’t busy enough so they put him to work. I am sure he would make a good juror. He’s a good listener. You have to listen well to be a good actor. Steve’s new movie, Horton Hears a Who, is coming out soon. Go see it!

Angela, Ed Helms, Oscar and I did a special IO West benefit for the people hurt by the WGA Strike, with Kate Walsh. It was a really fun improv show. Angela was out there, all pregnant and what not. They were all very funny! We may do another show next month like that. Kate Walsh has been campaigning for Barack Obama and she invited me to the rally after the debate before super Tuesday. He was amazing. I don’t want to talk you into anything, but consider this man for president. He is quite a presence. I was very impressed and I felt a real sense of hope.

The Lampshades, my comedy act had shows coming up next month and hopefully a new video in the works. The Lampshades have a show March 1st and 15th at the Improv Olympic West in Hollywood, and March 6th at the Steve Allen Theater with Rudy Casoni. Go to TheLampshades.com.

OK — I will see the Office family very soon and we will make some new magic. Thanks for hanging in there. Thanks for all the support. Thanks for good thoughts. Hope you are not sick of reruns by now.

The Office will return! Life will go on.

The drunken redhead in the corner will return.

Cheers!

Hey-ho, Dunder-Mifflin fans. OK, I know — who am I calling a ho? Takes one to know one. It is me (or should I say I?), Meredith, the Office party gal here to let you know what to expect this week. This week the multi-talented Steve Carell decided to get off his butt and write another script. I am being facetious, of course... about getting off his butt, not writing another script. Steve is one of the hardest-working men in showbiz. I don't know when he finds time to sleep.

Have you seen Dan in Real Life? If you haven't, you should. Our whole cast got to go to the opening two weeks ago at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, which I had never been to before. That was the most intense red carpet that I have ever been on outside of the Emmys. Those Hollywood Boulevard theaters really do it up. The photographers were screaming my name to the point where I couldn't see straight — and I wasn't even in the movie! It was a really fun night. Steve is great in this film. It is a very sweet and funny story with a lot of heart. Steve is appealing and adorable. It is the perfect autumn love story. Ladies, if you can, sneak out of work early and catch a 4 o'clock show that gets you out just after dark and just in time to get home to dinner on time.... Are you with me? Maybe stop by for one quick snort on the way home?

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Steve Carell. You remember him. He wrote the very funny "Casino Night" episode from Season 2 and he hasn't written an episode since. I think he has outdone himself. "Survivorman" is Michael Scott's attempt at roughing it in the wild. While he is gone, he has put Jim in charge. And Jim is pushed beyond his comfort level.

We had a lot of fun party scenes in this episode. Ain't no party like a Scranton party 'cause a Scranton party don't stop! This is the dream job, baby.

Which brings me to the very sobering truth we are all facing right now: the big fat writers' strike, which began Monday morning. It has been pretty crazy. I am very sad to say that we are not working right now. Steve wouldn't cross the picket line. (He is also a writer. Can you blame him?) While I am very sad about not working, I agree with the writers. I think they need to fight for these issues on the table. The Internet and DVDs are making someone a lot of money, but not writers or actors. I have no idea when this will get resolved, so please be patient. We have to stand up for what we believe. Let's hope the resolution comes quickly without much job loss. If you don't pray, maybe you should start. If you don't drink, maybe you should start.

So for all you Office fans, enjoy this new episode while you can. I am going to keep my nose clean, my drawers clean, my closets clean, etc. I got some time on my hands. Thanks for all your support.

Watch The Office Thursdays at 9 pm/ET on NBC. I'll drink to that.

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 [Nuñez] 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.

I think somebody put something in my drink. It's been one of those weeks that nobody in their right mind would believe. Being the quiet redhead in the corner of Dunder-Mifflin is certainly paying off in spades. This past week I got to lift up my skirt in front of Jim and the whole world when I asked him to sign my pelvis cast. You wanted to see more of Meredith? You got it! Honestly, what is next?

I couldn't be more pleased. I think last week's promo helped me to get a very-last-minute call last Thursday from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno! You heard me right. Remind me to buy Joaquin Phoenix a drink next time I see him. He canceled and suddenly there was room on the couch for little ol' me. If you missed it, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdTgXS41M2M. Jay was really cool. I didn't really let him get a word in edgewise. He could not have been nicer. It felt like jumping out of an airplane. Meredith fans cheered when they showed the accident again.

All I can say is getting hit by that car was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am sure I have an ex-boyfriend or two who have rewound and played that hit over and over again. Enjoy, fellas! My gift to you.

Since last Thursday my phone has not stopped. Friends I haven't spoken to in 20 years have called and I got a free meal at my old restaurant! Not too shabby.

This week's episode of The Office, "Money," marks the directing debut of Paul Lieberstein, aka Toby from HR. He is a great director. He also wrote this episode and he was in it. What can't he do? He is the Woody Allen of The Office. Paul is the most humble and low-key guy I know. I am so happy for his rise to a new level. Which is more than I can say for Michael Scott this week. Michael has gotten himself into some bad financial trouble. He tries to declare bankruptcy by shouting it across the office. Steve and Melora [Hardin] have some great scenes, and Angela's life is about to get more complicated at work. (I'm not telling, but Dwight is not a happy camper.)

I know this is a short blog for me, but this has been a great week and I got some celebrating to do.

The Tuesday TBS reruns are going strong. I hope you will watch The Office Thursday nights on NBC and know that as of last week, we are officially the No. 1 comedy on TV! Isn't that cool? It's as cool as The Tonight Show. And getting a free meal from your old job.

Thanks for all your support. Will I see you in Scranton at the end of the month for the Office Convention? Let me know, and thanks.

Meredith gets plastered!

Hey, guess what? It's time for a new episode of The Office — "Launch Party." NBC has been promoting this episode as the return of Meredith. Me! In case you haven't been watching the new season, I got hit by Michael's car. I was in the hospital last week so now I am back with a cane and a pelvis cast. All this and no booze in sight. Have you seen the commercials?

Meredith gets plastered. Literally. This is a bit of a Spoiler alert here. I would not have revealed the plaster pelvis cast until Thursday. The four hours I spent getting the cast made was totally worth it. I love the smell of plaster of Paris and vodka. This week is my week. Getting used to walking with a cane is not easy, unless you're wearing tap shoes. I want to tell you how much I appreciate the fans' concern for ol' Meredith. But really, I'm OK! This week is a very funny episode about the launching of Dunder Mifflin's new website. Angela and Dwight have yet to resolve their differences, and Michael and Ryan are going at it again. I don't want to give away more than the commercial does, but let the techno wars begin. There is a party in the conference room and I am the drunken redhead in the corner with a cane. I like booze. I get a beer in this episode. It's a fake beer called Schelp. (Sounds smooth, huh?) As Michael Scott once said, "Like booze ever killed anybody."

Speaking of parties, it looks like The Office Convention is happening in a few weeks (Oct. 26-28) and will be… drum roll please… in Scranton, Pennsylvania! Where else? Isn't that cool? There will be lots of festivities there. It should be crazy. I am going and so far the other cast mates scheduled to appear are Oscar (Oscar Nunez), Phyllis (Phyllis Smith), Kevin (Brian Baumgartner), Creed (Creed Bratton), Angela (Angela Kinsey), Kelly (Mindy Kaling), Toby (Paul Lieberstein), Bob Vance (Bobby Rae Shafer), Darryl (Craig Robinson), our executive producer Greg Daniels (who just won an Emmy for "Gay Witch Hunt"), and me. You know what they say: "Ain't no party like a Scranton party cause a Scranton party don't stop." For more info go to OfficeTally.com or TheOfficeChat.com. For ticket info, you can Google Scranton Office Convention.

I am told that for one weekend we will feel like the Beatles! I am told we won't be able to walk anywhere or go anywhere without being mobbed! Do you hear that, Scranton? Don't let me down! Please quench my thirst for attention so I don't have to embarrass myself by getting too drunk and taking off my top or something lame and desperate that I'll regret until I get good and drunk again. I really have no idea what to expect except Pennsylvania beer like Yuengling, Rolling Rock or Genesee Cream Ale. It's going to be fun. I have a friend from high school (also in Pennsylvania) who is a doctor in Scranton, in case anyone gets so excited they have a fit or something. I am told that the Scrantones will be there, too. They are the band that plays the theme to The Office at the beginning of our show. They are going to rock that town silly and I might sing a song or two with them. It's all very surreal. I don't really need to be mobbed. It's good enough to be on the best show on TV. OK, now after all that, do not forget to watch The Office this week in yet another one-hour format at 9 pm/ET on NBC. It's the second to the last week of one-hour shows. Thank you for watching, and I hope to see you in Scranton.

The redheaded, recently pelvically challenged Dunder-Mifflinite Meredith, here. That was one of the most incredibly cold openings we have ever had on our show! Huh? I don't mind taking one for the team. Yes, I did my own stunt in the Season 4 opener of The Office and I have the bruises to prove it. (I actually had to put makeup all over my arms at the Emmys. I didn't want anybody thinking that my boyfriend beat me.) There was padding on the ground, so don't worry. It was kind of a cool thing. It's a rush! After doing that stunt I feel like I can do anything.

I love The Office in the hour format. It holds up nicely. You get to relax a little, in a good way. A half hour leaves you wanting more. Not a bad thing. I hope you feel that way about Meredith. I don't think I have worn out my welcome. If you are a true Office junkie and can't get enough of the new hour-long episode, there are a few deleted hospital scenes on NBC.com. Man, I had a ball. I got to improvise with Steve [Carell] — I don't usually get to do that one on one. He is such a pro. I state the obvious. I had a bunch of scenes and I didn't even have my drink on! I guess I had my painkiller on. Is that right? Pain medication counts. (Creed steals my medicine in a deleted scene, and I explain that Kahlúa is not booze.)

We had a big screening party for the Season 4 opener at a fancy Hollywood club the other night. You can see the pictures on WireImage.com or Gettyimages.com. We watched it on a big screen together. Sushi and lots of appletinis were served. A step up from Angela's party-planning committee fare, usually served in the conference room. The crazy club lighting made my hair look like I was on fire. Or should I say, fiya! We had fun. And Office fans will be happy to know that our ratings were better than ever on Thursday. Seriously. It was the most watched Office episode ever. It's been party central since the Emmy Awards. I got to go to that big Fox party last week. You know the one where Mr. 24, Kiefer Sutherland, left and got a DUI. I tried to get the keys away from him, but he wouldn't ride in my minivan. And let's face it. He's Jack Bauer. You don't wrestle the keys away from Jack Bauer, dude. That was a bummer. Thank god I have cruise control. My minivan just drives itself home. I guess booze and BMWs do not mix. As Michael Scott once said, "Like booze ever killed anybody."

So as per my cracked pelvis, I am recovering nicely. So nicely that I am not in the next hour-long episode, "Dunder-Mifflin Infinity." (I am technically still in the hospital, busy with physical therapy, flirting with the interns and stuff like that.) I can tell you, however, that this episode addresses the older employees feeling the age gap from our new high-tech boss and former temp, Ryan. I caught Creed with a bottle of black shoe polish near his head. He was fooling nobody! What a trip.

Thanks for all the Meredith love. Don't worry, TV injuries are better than real injuries. You get to get out of the hospital bed and drive home every night. Here's a little trivia from "Fun Run": My nurse was played by Silvia McClure, who used to be the cocktail waitress at my live stage show, The Lampshades! We have a live show Oct. 6 at I.O. West in Hollywood (www.theLampshades.com). And check out TheOfficeChat.com every Thursday night before or after the show. It's where you can talk to other Office fans (and sometimes Office cast members and writers show up to chat, too). TBS reruns are Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET. (Doesn't everyone look so young and weird in the first season?) Please watch The Office this Thursday night at 9 pm/ET on NBC. We are on fiya!

Kate Flannery, aka, Meredith, aka Dunder-Mifflin's drunken redhead here. And I am drunker and more redheaded than Season 3. It's true. My hair is so red I got a Happy Meal with my last salon visit. I thought I'd jazz it up a little this year.

I am thrilled to be back for Season 4 doing the Office blog for TVGuide.com. I mean it. I love you guys. I love you. And I say that, not like an emotional drunken mess on the verge of tears and screaming at the top of my lungs, "I frickin' love you, man!" Unless you prefer to think of me that way. There is so much that has happened in the last month and in the last week but I am going to keep the focus on two things: the season opener and not getting sick (too much partyin' at the Emmys).

As for the cast of The Office, we left work in April and we didn't get to see each other until June in NYC when NBC announced the new season at the upfronts. We all had a great time. And then Jenna fell at the NBC party and hurt her back. It was a nasty fall down these marble steps. Angela did not leave her side. She was laid up for several weeks there and she's had a pretty intense summer of recuperating, but I promise she is much better now. I know you've read about her. The whole thing was pretty scary. And no, she was not drunk.

I didn't get to see everyone together again until the Television Critics Awards. We won for best comedy. David Chase spoke for The Sopranos and Alec Baldwin talked about being shirtless while meeting David Chase in the men's room of a restaurant while he was drying his sweaty shirt 10 years ago. Greg Daniels' speech was hilarious and super-nerdy. He compared our cast to Harry Potter's. I love Greg. I frickin' love him, man!

Season 4 is about to begin airing and may I say, I am very excited about the season opener. Ryan the temp is now Michael's boss. Look out! And Jan has moved in with Michael. Duck! And Jim asked Pam to dinner. Don't breathe! I got to do some great scenes that I cannot talk about until next week. But I will say I had a few really fun scenes with Steve. And a fun scene with Rainn and the whole cast and no, it is not the booze talking. Greg Daniels wrote and directed this first episode.

All you frustrated Meredith fans can relax. Your cards and letters have worked, baby. Or if you just thought about writing, it helped. I attribute my fun storyline to a little thing called The Secret. I didn't catch that episode of Oprah, but The Secret is an interesting concept that's taking the greedy little world by storm. (Greed with a halo.) I've got the secret. I don't drink in public anymore. My drinking is the secret. My dirty little secret. So please don't tell anybody.

We've been back to work since the first week of August and it's been weird because we've been shooting these one-hour episodes since then. Long hours and catching up, the new TBS Tuesday night's reruns of The Office (how cool is that?) and then, of course, there were the Emmy Awards. In case you missed them, The Office didn't win best comedy. Greg Daniels won for writing "Gay Witch Hunt"! Thank god! I would have felt kicked in the stomach otherwise.

But there were other wins that night. A ton of support from celebs. (The father of Anna Nicole's baby is an Office fan! Go figure!) Rainn Wilson beat Kanye West. And Steve Carell was sort of given the Emmy he didn't officially win by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, one of the funniest moments in Emmy history in my opinion. If you haven't seen it, go to Officetally.com and watch the clip. He told me he actually said to his wife, Nancy, "I'm going up!" And so he did. He did the victory dance anyway, and all the Office fans can join him.

We have a great show even if we didn't win best comedy this year. I frickin' love it, man! Please watch The Office's Season 4 premiere episode, "Fun Run," this Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 pm/ET on NBC. It's better for us if you actually watch instead of just TiVo. I'll give you all the dirty little secret details next week.

The drunken red-headed Meredith here from the corner desk of Dunder-Mifflin with my Season 3 wrap-up. I've had great fun writing the weak, I mean weekly Office blog. I am so shocked and pleased that people actually read this and comment. In my comments I've heard from: old friends, high school and college friends, friends I haven't spoken to in years and years, new friends, as well as people I've met in the grocery store or fans who saw me in Philadelphia on a train, or in Kentucky at a restaurant. Not to mention MySpace crossover fans and new Office fans.

Thank god people get to give me their two-cents here or I would have gotten way off track — very sarcastic, angry, mean-spirited, you know? Like when I used to write my "morning pages." Did anyone else do The Artist's Way? How about the Official Bartender's Guide Book? Now that's good reading.

I had such a blast this season — on set and off. Winning an Emmy award for Best Comedy and a SAG award for Best Comedy Ensemble — both such incredible experiences. Off the charts. Not to mention the people I've met — the actors and the fans in NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Louisville, Vegas, Vancouver and L.A. Hell, I got to be in the parade at the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago. When I think about it all, my head is going to explode.

Speaking of NYC, I just met the cast in NYC last week for the upfronts. We had fun together. But, it's true: Jenna Fischer hurt her back at the NBC party and she is still recovering in NYC. She is in pain right now, but the doctors say there is no permanent damage expected. I'm sure she will be back next season! Keep her in your thoughts. Pain stinks. That's why people drink. Anyway. Where was I? And where is my drink?

How about that finale? Can you believe it? Lots of questions answered in the finale. Didn't I tell you? I think I told you. It's so bright this morning I can't see straight. I told you. Full one-hour episode. Like a movie. I got a nice moment with Jim and his sexy haircut. Was I drunk or did Jim actually ask Pam for dinner? "Dinner." I think that's code. "Din-din." Is that code? Or just dumb? The point is that the elephant in the room has not only been addressed but asked to dinner. Makes Season 4 seem filled with possibilities — like an empty glass in front of a full bar.

So Dunder-Mifflin fans and friends, what a great season of support and laughter we've all had. Are you with me? Keep in touch. Write me at my MySpace.com/kateflan page or visit the website theLampshades.com. As for the Lampshades, we have two shows coming up in June at I.O. West in Hollywood (June 2 and 4, at 8 pm). I promise to check in here at TVGuide.com a few times over the summer.

In the meantime, you can watch Office reruns this summer, and John Krasinski's new movie, License to Wed, and Steve Carell's Evan Almighty. We go back to work in early August, so school's out for the summer. Nice! Have a great summer. Have fun at camp. If you're over 21, have a cocktail. I'll be watching.

Thanks for a great season! You guys have been more fun than Bartles and James put together. All my red-headed love. Cheers!

Meredith from The Office here. Where has my drink gone? Where has Season 3 gone? It seems like only yesterday I was licking hand sanitizer in the season opener. I hope you all have enjoyed this year as much as I have. I've been topless, had a bat in my hair, and hit a parked car in the mall. Are you happy now? Is it enough? Is it ever enough?

The season finale is finally here. The rumors are true: We shot more than one ending. The rumors are totally true: The cast doesn't know how it ends. I remember we were at the beach shooting "Beach Games" when we read this jam-packed awesome finale script out loud. We were so excited that we almost had another hot dog eating contest. Not. It's a great script. Lots of questions answered. Lots. The Office fans have been anxiously awaiting a one-hour episode, and guess what? You got it. That's an extra half hour to drink.

And speaking of partying, I just partied with the Dunder-Mifflin gang last night in NYC! We finished shooting about a month ago, so it was great to see everyone again. I'm so lucky to work with these people. We were all in town for the industry upfronts, i.e., when the networks announce next season's programming. We saw the Heroes cast (I danced with Sylar at the party), and I had a nice chat with Tina Fey and her husband. I love Tina. She went to a rival high school in the Philadelphia suburbs so we always talk Philly. I love her show. It just gets better and better. I sat with Jenna and John Stamos from ER for a while. Funny guy. I can't tell you everything that happened at the party yet, but the Office cast had fun. Everyone looked great. Angela had bangs. Steve was all smiles, and Rainn had a new beard. And by "beard" I mean an actual beard. He's not gay. Oscar's gay. But only on TV. And I'm drunk. Still drunk.

I just want to warn you that one hour is going to feel very satisfying. Everyone is always complaining that The Office flies by so fast. Too fast. One thing we learned in NYC is that we will be doing 30 episodes this season. 30! That's like Bewitched or something. Back in the old days they used to make more episodes, and it felt right. So Season 4 is going to feel very satisfying. Like when you finish a six-pack. Ahh! Mission accomplished. Right?

As I write this, I realize it is almost the completion of my Office Season 3 celebrity blog. I am so proud of myself. I thought I'd be too hungover or feel too sorry for myself to finish a blog each week. Who's got the last laugh now? It's been so much fun writing something that the fans and friends actually read. Please comment and tell me what you think. I will be back next week to wrap up the season in a nice little bow. I am most grateful to you for reading this. Without you, I am nothing. And without The Office, we are all nothing. We'll that's not completely true....

The season finale begins at 8 pm/ET. Don't forget. You'll be disappointed if you miss it. If you're over 21, get a six-pack; with an hour, you'll have the time to finish it. Let me know what you think, and thanks.

I love being on The Office even when it's not in the office. This week's episode is "Beach Games" and it was shot out of the office, or as we say in the business, "on location." That means off the regular premises. Write that down, young upstarts. I do my best to spread the knowledge I have acquired through the school of Hollywood's hard knocks. Take notes, kids. OK, so as you guessed by the title, there is a beach involved this week. The beach at Lake Scranton, that is. No St. Tropez tan here. Just the pasty and the pale. (I personally lead the pack in the pasty department.) There is nothing like beachin' and boozin'. Not as easy working in the sun every day. I must say I now have a newfound respect for the actors/models on Baywatch. I feel your pain.

We got to work with the great Harold Ramis again for this episode. We shot at a fake beach at the reservoir of a dam off the 118 above Hollywood. The sun was hot. Did I mention it was hot? Lots of umbrellas and sunscreen. Stanley got a scratched cornea from the sand. The hotdog-eating contest made me particularly sick. Well. Sick of hotdogs. This episode had a lot going on. Hot coals and floating bodies. This was an intense episode. I feel spoiled working in the regular office now. I just needed some perspective. Drunken perspective.

And speaking of drunken perspective, the Kentucky Derby had mine. If you read last week's blog, you know that I was at the 133rd Kentucky Derby. I was really there — not just at the bar watching with the regulars. The Derby itself was a trip. It was like being at a wedding, except there were only horses involved. Lots of hats and people you don't know — except if they're famous, and then you only feel like you know them. Hats and suits, and I wore my horse headdress. We had a great group at our table. My parade buddies! Milena Govich from Law & Order, April Bowlby from Two and a Half Men, Navi Rawat from Numbers and Kate Linder from The Young and the Restless. We did a lot of Derby-related partying. We had a blast. Greg Grunberg from Heroes was hanging out with me (five minutes counts, right?) and I met Uncle Junior from The Sopranos. It was pretty surreal. I met the Doublemint Twins at the Barnstable Brown party. Jerry O'Connell from Crossing Jordon and Ross, The Tonight Show intern, were there; I also met Dr. J, aka Julius Irving, my favorite basketball star from the 76ers in Philly! If it wasn't him, he sure looked a lot like him. This was the real deal, baby. I had such a great time there. I got to be in the parade with a Mint Julep. There truly was room for one more drunk at the Derby. I was in a Corvette in the parade with a bunch of roses on the hood and my driver, a funny guy named Red, told me he drove Jerry Mathers, aka Beaver Cleaver, and Eddie Haskell last year. If you don't know who they are, look it up! He said that if Beaver had a $100 bill for everyone who came to the parade, he would have paid them to not be there. Not me, baby. I love a parade!

The Office is going to be great this week. It's on at a special time! Thanks for watching. Counting down to the end of another great season! I get to see everyone next week, so check back in.

Love you. Mean it. That's show biz talk. Write that down!