How Improv and a ‘Candy Bag’ of Ideas Helped The Office Cast Deliver Comedy Gold, According to Melora Hardin

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It seems clear that improvisation significantly contributed to The Office becoming the cherished series we know today. However, what truly set it apart were the innovative ideas generated by the team to support the actors during filming. Melora Hardin, portraying Jan Levinson, recently shared a similar anecdote in an interview.

According to Entertainment Weekly, while speaking with Steve Kmetko on his Still Here Hollywood podcast, Hardin revealed that scripts often came with what she called a “candy bag” of extra lines for actors to choose from if they wanted to. These additional lines were optional and not required for the performance.

In the television series, the characters played by Jim Halpert (Hardin) and Steve Carell’s Michael Scott had a romantic dynamic on-screen, which lasted from Seasons 2 to 4. The actress revealed in an interview for a podcast that she spent much of her time acting alongside Steve Carell, who was also known for his role in Evan Almighty.

In her comments, she praised Carell as exceptionally skilled, explaining that he could return any type of throw – be it a straight shot or a curveball – implying their shared background in improvisation with the actor Beautiful Boy.

Hardin went on to express that it’s truly delightful for an actor who has honed their skills in improvisation to collaborate with another actor who shares a similar backdrop.

During the pilot, the actress remembered being motivated to freestyle acts, not just during rehearsals but right on set as well. She specifically credited director Ken Kwapis, whom she described as “extraordinary,” for overseeing the pilot’s production.

In that particular episode, the actor remembered a moment when her phone rang during practice. She admitted that she promised the crew she’d prevent such distractions in the future, but the director asked her to keep it on, finding it amusing. He even jokingly suggested that if someone called, she should pick up the phone.

On the podcast, she shared, “I felt right at home here. It seemed like a team that appreciates playing in character as much as I do, and they had faith in our skills.

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2025-01-15 12:52