After last season’s stunning finale, including Andy’s surprise proposal to Angela, Jim’s failed proposal attempt and a secret tryst between Dwight and Angela, what’s ahead for the employees of Dunder Mifflin?
Paul Lieberstein writes, produces and portrays Toby on The Office, and Amy Ryan plays Holly Flax. The two gave us a few hints about season five, which premieres on September 25 on NBC.
Is there a fixed number of episodes that you [Amy Ryan] will be doing or there the possibility that you might stay longer?
Amy Ryan: I’m back in New York. I’ve filmed my six episodes. I don’t have any plans at this moment to come back.
What separates your role on The Office from all the other TV and films you’ve done?
Ryan: Lipstick. It’s been a wonderful departure just to be in the world of comedy. Most of my career, I’ve been in these heavy dramas, rooting for the underdog. It’s kind of like being like a kid with all my friends, and we’re just playing.
This question is for Paul. How was it that you went from a producer to someone in front of the camera, and what led to Toby being such a sad sack?
Paul Lieberstein: It actually started as an experiment for the writers to get some in-front-of-camera experience, to perform the comedy we write. Then, Kevin Reilly, president of NBC, and he was watching dailies, and I think he forgot I was a writer and said, “The red-headed guy. He’s kind of funny. More of him.”
I’m assuming that Toby is going to come back eventually. Is it his love for Pam that brings him back?
Lieberstein: I think what brings him back is failure to escape. There was a friend of mine, one of the writers here, who decided to live poor in Hawaii. He collected enough money. He was just going to go do it. We had a going away party and he was back in two weeks. He was lonely. No one would talk to him. He got robbed on the beach. So that was basically our model for Toby.
Do you think Toby could find happiness in a job elsewhere, specifically outside this office?
Lieberstein: I don’t know if happiness is in Toby’s future. It’s kind of something you bring with you everywhere you go.
Is Dwight going to continue to try to haze Holly?
Lieberstein: Yeah, the hazing stopped. Dwight pretty much accepts what Michael accepts. He hazed her in kind of a miscommunication with Michael. She came in as a HR person, so he instantly hated her.
How did last year’s writers strike affect last season?
Lieberstein: I think it affected it really positively. It let us do a group of episodes in the fall, and then take a break to see how those episodes came out, and really respond. I think in the spring came some of our strongest episodes. I think it’s kind of the model of HBO, where they’ll make 13 episodes of The Wire and come back strong. Creatively, I was very happy with it.
Has Holly figured out that Kevin might not actually be special?
Ryan: Yes, she finds out the hard way.
I read that Stephen Merchant [co-creator of the British series] is directing an episode. Can you tell us what it’s been like having him on set?
Lieberstein: He was in the writers’ room with us rewriting it. He brings with him this initial integrity of the documentary that the British one had. He calls us out when we go too far or get too personal with them. We had a scene in the bathroom, and he’s like “Really? I don’t think this follows the documentary.”
Are there any other high-profile directors directing episodes this season?
Lieberstein: Jason Reitman.
This question is for Paul. You wear a lot of hats on set: acting, directing, producing, writing. Is there one you prefer?
Lieberstein: I love writing, and seeing the actors perform it awesomely. I think that’s the greatest joy on the show.