Mrs. Conception

Our trip to Scranton this Saturday for The Office Convention was a good time. Although it was raining, and I seemed to be the only one without a Dunder Mifflin umbrella, there was lots to see and the cast was everywhere (especially Craig Robinson, aka Darryl from the Warehouse, who must have some sort of teleporter to be so many places in so little time). At the Steamtown Mall, we got our Dunder-Mifflin stock certificates (although, sadly, I bled all over mine from a cut on my finger that I don’t know how I got), plus they were giving out t-shirts that said “Schrute You.” Under tents downtown, there were autograph signings and tons of merchandise to be bought by fans. The Scrantones concert at the street fair included a few cast members, and the Q&A at the University of Scranton was really great. The gym was packed, they warmed up the crowd with an Office blooper video and some silly Scranton-made music videos, and it was really long, which gave all the actors ample time to talk and be hilarious. We took some video of some of the more enjoyable stuff. Click on the pic to see:

Ed Helms (Andy) singing & doing impressions at the cast Q&A

Craig Robinson and the Scrantones cover Radiohead’s Creep

Mr. Andrews even looked like a really big fan when we were shopping in the University of Scranton bookstore (I got a Scranton I.D. holder) and was able to recite some lines from the episode “Traveling Salesman”, which was playing in the store (“Fool me once, strike one. Fool me twice, strike three.”).The city of Scranton was extremely involved (a funeral home even got in on the action, advertising a funeral for Ed Truck on Sunday followed by a screening of the episode “Grief Counseling.”) and the locals really seem to love the show. After my two trips to Scranton, I am certain that if I ever create a T.V. show, I’ll set it in a place that doesn’t normally get television exposure. Why set it in New York or L.A. when you can set it in a small city with lots of character and really, really excited residents?

Thanks, Scranton, and Office employees. I will always remember ya!