New book about ‘The Office’ tells ‘Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s’
From a press release:
When did you last hang out with Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, and the rest of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin? It might have been back in 2013, when “The Office” finale aired… or it might have been last night, when you watched three episodes in a row. But either way, 15 years after the hit television show first aired, it’s more popular than ever, and fans have only one problem – what to watch, or read, next.
Fortunately, Rolling Stone writer Andy Greene has that answer. In his brand new oral history, “The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s,” he will take readers behind the scenes of their favorite moments and characters with its creators, writers, and actors.
Greene tells the true inside story behind the entire show, from its origins on the BBC through its impressive nine-season run in America, with in-depth research and exclusive interviews. Fans will get the inside scoop on key episodes, from “The Dundies” to “Threat Level Midnight” and “Goodbye, Michael,” including behind-the-scenes details like the battle to keep it on the air when NBC wanted to pull the plug after just six episodes and the failed attempt to bring in James Gandolfini as the new boss after Steve Carell left, spotlighting the incredible, genre-redefining show created by the family-like team, who together took a quirky British import with dicey prospects and turned it into a primetime giant with true historical and cultural significance.
“A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at ‘The Office.’ Even though the show was my home for many years, I still learned a lot by reading this book. I couldn’t put it down!” said Jennifer Celotta, executive producer and writer on “The Office.”
Hilarious, heartwarming, and revelatory, the book gives fans and pop culture buffs a front-row seat to the phenomenal sequence of events that launched “The Office” into wild popularity, changing the face of television and how workers see their office lives for decades to come. “The Office: The Untold Story” will be released by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, on Tuesday, March 24.
“When Andy Greene interviewed me for this book, he was actually the first person to mention that I had acted in a TV show. … I thought up to that point that I was actually working at a paper company. But in any case, I loved the book. It’s spot on, with great background stories, and I learned so much,” actor Creed Bratton said.
Greene is from Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Kenyon College, and is now a senior writer for Rolling Stone, where he’s worked for the past 15 years. He’s written cover stories about Radiohead and Howard Stern and feature articles about Bill Withers, Nathan Fielder, Steve Perry, Pete Townshend, Stephen King, and many others. He lives in Brooklyn, New York and is scheduled to appear as a guest at The Office Super Fan Festival at The Marketplace at Steamtown and Levels Bar & Grill in downtown Scranton on Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26. Learn more about the inaugural event and purchase tickets here.
“A tremendously fun must-read for anyone who loves the show! Andy Greene gets you inside the entire process, including the show’s creation, casting, what happened inside the writer’s room, and what actors were thinking during specific scenes. Reveals so many inside details about the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, many that even I didn’t know – and I played the owner!” actor Andy Buckley, who played David Wallace, said.
“At times poignant, at times hilarious, and always fascinating, Andy Greene’s ‘The Office’ is a treasure chest of new details and photos,” Jennie Tan, founder of the top fan site officetally.com, added.
“Along with your DVDs and bobbleheads, you must add this to your own superfan collection.”
