"Artists shouldn't retire. That's part of the deal."
Conversations with five creatives behind the hit sitcom The Office
Reading our way through two decades of interviews, essays, and columns from The Believer.
Karen Filippelli, played by Rashida Jones
With acting, the stark reality for women is that it’s nearly impossible to get older in an elegant fashion as an actress. Either you’re fighting your age, or you’re having to own it in a way that feels inelegant, or you’re Meryl Streep and you’re an angel from God. She doesn’t count.
Read the full interview from Issue 98 of The Believer.
Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell
I try to do things that would make me laugh. But I don’t think I understand it well enough to talk about it. The thing that I’m always trying to do, no matter how broad or ridiculous the character, is to find something about him that is grounded and believable. Because if you don’t believe there’s an actual human being there, then it’s not funny. Human behavior is funny. If you take away the human, it’s just a thing trying to make you laugh. And that’s not funny.
Read the full interview from Issue 84 of The Believer.
Creed, played by Creed Bratton
I think you die if you stop working. I don’t understand people retiring. I guess, like, if they’re doing a nine-to-five, I understand them retiring, but artists shouldn’t retire. That’s not part of the deal.
Read the full interview from Issue 146 of The Believer.
Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling
I think that just because you bare your soul or underwear or private moments, it doesn’t necessarily make for entertainment, or good writing, or funny writing.
Read the full interview from Issue 85 of The Believer.
Writer and Producer Michael Schur
The only thing you could ever hope about a show is that it survives. You just put it out for the world and hope people like it. That kind of collaborative spirit—that’s the essence of late night. It’s what informed The Office, Parks and Rec, and now Brooklyn. The fun part is getting together with your friends and making something. All you can ever hope for is the chance to keep making it.
Read the full interview from Issue 113 of The Believer.
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