NBC’s ‘The Office’ season 9 spoilers: More on Jim, Pam, and the documentary crew
Did you love seeing “The Office” finally break the fourth wall during this past episode? In doing so, we learned that there were friendships that existed behind at this point between the employees and the documentary crew … which makes plenty of sense given that the characters have been together for years on end now.
Of course, who would have thought that the first member of the crew we would have been given the opportunity to meet would be Moe Howard? Of course, we’re really talking here about Chris Diamantopoulos, best known for his role in the recent “Three Stooges film (but who also has upcoming roles on “Community” and the “Arrested Development” revival). We have not seen the last of his sound guy Brian; while NBC is not confirming his status in the next two episodes, he will be a part of the fifteenth installment of the season entitled “Couples Discount,” which has a distinct Valentine’s Day feel to it.
Check out the official synopsis from NBC’s press release below:
“The Office pairs off into pretend couples to take advantage of a Valentine’s Day discount at a local mini-mall. Erin (Ellie Kemper) assures Pete (Jake Lacy) she will break up with Andy (Ed Helms) when he returns, but he has good reason to doubt her. Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) share a meal with Brian, the documentary’s sound man.”
So how meta is “The Office” going to get with this? The illusion that has been created for us thus far is that we are watching a documentary about life at a workplace, but is the crew so far deep into the lives of these characters that they actually are now a part of the documentary themselves? While it may not be the case with everyone on the filming crew, Brian clearly does have a role to play in the upcoming story.
Do you like how this twist takes “The Office” that we knew and spins it ever so slightly? If you want to read Steve Carell’s thoughts on why is isn’t returning to the show, you can do so over here.
Photo: NBC
Drew
January 31, 2013 @ 10:13 pm
You guys don’t think they are trying to set up Pam and Brian (the sound guy)… I feel like they have really humanized Jim in this season and it is really sad…
James Avestruz
January 30, 2013 @ 10:25 am
Kel they use lapel mics and boom mics to produce the actual show, I’m not sure why you deem it bad writing to include a sound man just because there’s also lapel mics. You’d need a sound mixer if you were only using lapel mics anyway. Most real documentaries run both kinds of microphone in case something goes wrong, because wireless mics can crap out at a moment’s notice in the field.
Joe
January 29, 2013 @ 2:17 am
Kel, it’s completely believable that there would be a boom mic had they actually been filming a documentary. Yes, they have established that personal mics (lav mics) are used for the interviews and in other situations (when Michael exits for the last time)…however, it is much more common for a boom mic to be used in the type of scene depicted when the sound guy was shown. Also, I’m not sure where you get the idea that there’s “always been a camera and no sound guy.”
Kel
January 27, 2013 @ 11:51 pm
They’ve already broken the fourth wall in the past. And the idea of the sound guy doesn’t make much sense. They’ve already established in the past that they use personal mics not a boom. And if you look at past video it’s clear that’s always just been a camera and no sound guy. So suddenly adding a sound guy now for convenience of story is not the best writing.
Brendan Wanderer
January 27, 2013 @ 3:34 pm
One moment I was questioning whether the almond butter on my toast was stale. The next I was weeping like a baby. And then seconds later felt as if I was in the room.
Blown away.
Joey
January 27, 2013 @ 6:01 am
I was just amazed by Pam and Jim arguing and then seeing the camera crew just topped it all off! Jaws were dropped on that day.