BirdMan21
Ex-Ex-AP Hype Man
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Having Pam back is so helpful to the show....hers and Jim's interaction is about as funny as it gets. And the ending for Dwight was just hilarious
The Office (Season 5) (spoilers)
- Thread starter abomb
- Start date
Great Onion AVC interview with the immensely talented Craig Robinson.
http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/craig_robinson
Excerpt;
AVC: How did you become involved in stand-up?
CR: Comedy chose me. I always had this urge to be silly that I couldn't control. I remember my father having me read "The Three Little Pigs" to him, and I would improv all around the story, like when one pig's house got blown over, he put on his gym shoes and took off. My father is cracking up and telling me, "Hey, wait a minute. Read that part for your mama again." Ever since I can remember, I've always been silly. Then I got to the point in college where my people would always tell me things I was saying. They would come back and say, "Oh man, I was trying to remember that story you said," and repeat back to me my bits that I didn't realize I was doing. I was just being Craig. That led me into comedy. We had a talent show, and I saw a couple of my buddies. Up until then, I thought comedians—I didn't know any, I didn't see any, so they weren't real people to me. Once I saw a couple of my buddies do stand-up at a talent show, I realized it could be real. I became fascinated with it. That's all I wanted to do.
AVC: What's your stand-up act like?
CR: It's musical. It depends upon if I have my band with me or not. Usually it's me at a keyboard cracking jokes, being flirtatious, and telling some stories. I like to keep it organic. My main goal is to connect with the crowd. I leave room for improv. Whatever happens, happens. When I bring my band with me, it turns into the Craig Robinson comedy dance party.
AVC: It sounds a little jazz-like.
CR: Exactly. You have the basic act, and whatever happens in the room around that. You've got to leave some room for that.
AVC: What was it like appearing in the short film "Prop 8: The Musical"?
CR: That was crazy. It was like being in high school and getting ready for a play or for a concert. It was awesome. I worked with Jack Black, who was hosting the videogame awards on Spike TV. I just did that this past Sunday. "Prop 8" was a good opportunity to go in and work with all those people. Margaret Cho was awesome. I don't have anything bad to say. We had fun just learning the steps and the songs.
AVC: What is it about?
CR: It's about, obviously, Proposition 8. [The controversial California ballot proposition banning same-sex marriage. —ed.] It talks about how the people who were for Prop 8 came in to spread some hate so they could take away the rights of gays to marry. The musical starts out, the people who didn't even know Prop 8 was about to exist were just happy that they were able to get married and be gay and be gay and married. Then the Prop 8 people came in, and I played one of those people, and there was a Mormon priest and priestesses, I guess. I don't know. Then Jesus came in, who was Jack Black, and was like, "Well, the Bible says lots of things, if you want to go by the Bible." It was done by Marc Shaiman, who has done all these amazing musicals that won Oscars. After Jesus leaves, Neil Patrick Harris gets up and says, "Hey, gay marriage will save the economy." So it is a very funny and cute idea. Obviously, it is in support of getting Proposition 8 overturned.
AVC: What are your own feelings about Prop 8?
CR: I voted no. I would like to see it overturned. It is a form of discrimination.
AVC: Was Darryl originally conceived as a regular Office character?
CR: I think he originally was supposed to be on the sidelines. They created the character, so I don't know what their thoughts were. They definitely created the character for me. After about three years, they made me a regular.
AVC: How did you feel about Darryl breaking up with Kelly?
CR: I was like, "What's next for Darryl if he isn't dating Kelly?" I'm fine with it, though, because these writers always have something up their sleeves. I never know what the story is going to be until I'm at the table read. I'm always looking forward to what's next.
AVC: At the same time, having you date Kelly was a way to get more screen time.
CR: Like I said, I'm happy with what's going on over there. They always give me a chance to shine. I can get out there and score 40 points, or score five or 10, so I'm cool with it.
AVC: One of the best moments from this season was a long shot of your character walking to his car after Kelly dumped him. What kind of direction were you given on that scene?
CR: Randall Einhorn, the director, was like, "You walk out and you can smell the flowers. You can taste the air—it's so fresh." We shot it several different ways. One was the way you saw, and another was me busting out the door like a kid who just got out of school for the summer. My arms were up and I'm screaming. We kept with the subtlety, though, and I loved the way it played.
AVC: How much input do you have into the character?
CR: Once we are filming, we have some leeway to play around, but I just go with what the writers are going with, and play it out.
AVC: One of my favorite scenes is when Darryl is talking to Michael Scott about the fluffy fingers that all the gangs do. Is it difficult not to laugh when you are doing an incredibly ridiculous scene like that?
CR: Yes. You have to stop and start again every once in a while. That's the beauty of working with Steve Carell, because it makes you a better actor, especially in those scenes. You are like, "I'm just going to hold it. I'm just going to hold it." Sometimes you can make it through entire takes.
AVC: One of the running gags of The Office is Darryl teaching Michael Scott about black culture, which he's woefully ignorant about. Where do you think Michael Scott gets his ideas about black culture before he seeks out Darryl?
CR: I think he just watches television and movies and assumes everything from there.
AVC: Do you think Michael Scott looks up to Darryl like he's the cool kid he wants to impress?
CR: Oh, absolutely. Michael idolized Darryl in so many ways.
AVC: Do you think Darryl has some level of affection for him?
CR: Darryl treats Mike with kid gloves. He knows he doesn't mean harm, but it's like, "Yo, you go too far each and every time." He tries to keep the kid gloves on him, but at the same time, he has to exercise patience.
http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/craig_robinson
Excerpt;
AVC: How did you become involved in stand-up?
CR: Comedy chose me. I always had this urge to be silly that I couldn't control. I remember my father having me read "The Three Little Pigs" to him, and I would improv all around the story, like when one pig's house got blown over, he put on his gym shoes and took off. My father is cracking up and telling me, "Hey, wait a minute. Read that part for your mama again." Ever since I can remember, I've always been silly. Then I got to the point in college where my people would always tell me things I was saying. They would come back and say, "Oh man, I was trying to remember that story you said," and repeat back to me my bits that I didn't realize I was doing. I was just being Craig. That led me into comedy. We had a talent show, and I saw a couple of my buddies. Up until then, I thought comedians—I didn't know any, I didn't see any, so they weren't real people to me. Once I saw a couple of my buddies do stand-up at a talent show, I realized it could be real. I became fascinated with it. That's all I wanted to do.
AVC: What's your stand-up act like?
CR: It's musical. It depends upon if I have my band with me or not. Usually it's me at a keyboard cracking jokes, being flirtatious, and telling some stories. I like to keep it organic. My main goal is to connect with the crowd. I leave room for improv. Whatever happens, happens. When I bring my band with me, it turns into the Craig Robinson comedy dance party.
AVC: It sounds a little jazz-like.
CR: Exactly. You have the basic act, and whatever happens in the room around that. You've got to leave some room for that.
AVC: What was it like appearing in the short film "Prop 8: The Musical"?
CR: That was crazy. It was like being in high school and getting ready for a play or for a concert. It was awesome. I worked with Jack Black, who was hosting the videogame awards on Spike TV. I just did that this past Sunday. "Prop 8" was a good opportunity to go in and work with all those people. Margaret Cho was awesome. I don't have anything bad to say. We had fun just learning the steps and the songs.
AVC: What is it about?
CR: It's about, obviously, Proposition 8. [The controversial California ballot proposition banning same-sex marriage. —ed.] It talks about how the people who were for Prop 8 came in to spread some hate so they could take away the rights of gays to marry. The musical starts out, the people who didn't even know Prop 8 was about to exist were just happy that they were able to get married and be gay and be gay and married. Then the Prop 8 people came in, and I played one of those people, and there was a Mormon priest and priestesses, I guess. I don't know. Then Jesus came in, who was Jack Black, and was like, "Well, the Bible says lots of things, if you want to go by the Bible." It was done by Marc Shaiman, who has done all these amazing musicals that won Oscars. After Jesus leaves, Neil Patrick Harris gets up and says, "Hey, gay marriage will save the economy." So it is a very funny and cute idea. Obviously, it is in support of getting Proposition 8 overturned.
AVC: What are your own feelings about Prop 8?
CR: I voted no. I would like to see it overturned. It is a form of discrimination.
AVC: Was Darryl originally conceived as a regular Office character?
CR: I think he originally was supposed to be on the sidelines. They created the character, so I don't know what their thoughts were. They definitely created the character for me. After about three years, they made me a regular.
AVC: How did you feel about Darryl breaking up with Kelly?
CR: I was like, "What's next for Darryl if he isn't dating Kelly?" I'm fine with it, though, because these writers always have something up their sleeves. I never know what the story is going to be until I'm at the table read. I'm always looking forward to what's next.
AVC: At the same time, having you date Kelly was a way to get more screen time.
CR: Like I said, I'm happy with what's going on over there. They always give me a chance to shine. I can get out there and score 40 points, or score five or 10, so I'm cool with it.
AVC: One of the best moments from this season was a long shot of your character walking to his car after Kelly dumped him. What kind of direction were you given on that scene?
CR: Randall Einhorn, the director, was like, "You walk out and you can smell the flowers. You can taste the air—it's so fresh." We shot it several different ways. One was the way you saw, and another was me busting out the door like a kid who just got out of school for the summer. My arms were up and I'm screaming. We kept with the subtlety, though, and I loved the way it played.
AVC: How much input do you have into the character?
CR: Once we are filming, we have some leeway to play around, but I just go with what the writers are going with, and play it out.
AVC: One of my favorite scenes is when Darryl is talking to Michael Scott about the fluffy fingers that all the gangs do. Is it difficult not to laugh when you are doing an incredibly ridiculous scene like that?
CR: Yes. You have to stop and start again every once in a while. That's the beauty of working with Steve Carell, because it makes you a better actor, especially in those scenes. You are like, "I'm just going to hold it. I'm just going to hold it." Sometimes you can make it through entire takes.
AVC: One of the running gags of The Office is Darryl teaching Michael Scott about black culture, which he's woefully ignorant about. Where do you think Michael Scott gets his ideas about black culture before he seeks out Darryl?
CR: I think he just watches television and movies and assumes everything from there.
AVC: Do you think Michael Scott looks up to Darryl like he's the cool kid he wants to impress?
CR: Oh, absolutely. Michael idolized Darryl in so many ways.
AVC: Do you think Darryl has some level of affection for him?
CR: Darryl treats Mike with kid gloves. He knows he doesn't mean harm, but it's like, "Yo, you go too far each and every time." He tries to keep the kid gloves on him, but at the same time, he has to exercise patience.
EDIT:
Abomb does not want to punch me because I don't like this show.
Abomb does not want to punch me because I don't like this show.
WHAT?
arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
bump
back on tonight
preview looks hilarious
back on tonight
preview looks hilarious
great ep.
arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
just watched last nights episode
good stuff - helped start to ease the pain from last night.
good stuff - helped start to ease the pain from last night.
Louis
DJ Roomba
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2005
- Posts
- 5,316
- Reaction score
- 2
That had to have been the funniest opening scene for The Office ever.
We had to pause it during the opening credits so my wife could quit laughing.
We had to pause it during the opening credits so my wife could quit laughing.
arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
just watched that opening segment again...classic.
Also, they have a new intro credits scene
Also, they have a new intro credits scene
Chaplin
Better off silent
Well, they did a good job of surprising you with the one thing you would think would never have happened.
dogpoo32
meh
Was a good episode. I wish they hadn't shown the baby shower episode before it. That one bugs me. I think everyone had a nice role in the newest episode.
I wonder where they take it from here.
I also wonder if there will be a new episode next week.
It seems like I've won a contest when I get to see a new episode in back-to-back weeks.
Back in the day TV shows used to have lots of new episodes before taking breaks.
What happened?
STRINGER BELL!!!!!!!
Wire fans rejoiced when Charles walked in the room.
Wire fans rejoiced when Charles walked in the room.
BTW, Kevin's numbers that were wrong are going to a) save the day and/or b) burn stringer bell in the end.
That. Was. Awesome. Since he is an English actor, you can hear his accent on a few scenes. That makes two Wire people on The Office so far.
Noted.
Absolute Zero
ASFN Icon
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- Aug 9, 2005
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- 8,915
Just watched the episode online last night where Michael quits. Gulp! Hope this is only temporary. There is no Office without Michael!
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
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Last nights episode was absolutely horrible. WTF. Pam? Really? Give me a freaking break. LAME!!!!
BirdMan21
Ex-Ex-AP Hype Man
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2004
- Posts
- 2,718
- Reaction score
- 38
Ya I am really not sure what to think about the episode. My only thoughts is that the office is gonna go down hill huge with Kevin answering the phones and they are gonna force Pam to come back and she will only come back with Michael or something like that. Cause this show just doesn't work without the Pam/Jim and the Michael/everyone else combos.
Hazzard29
Registered
At least you guys saw the episode... my directv went out, so I missed Earl and The Office
