, the initial script for "Search Committee" was approximately 75 pages long
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, in their Office Ladies podcast, unearthed a fantastic piece of trivia from the show’s co-creator Paul Lieberstein: the episode "Search Committee" was initially 75 pages long. Angela Kinsey’s reaction was perfect, calling it "like a small phonebook," with Jenna adding, "I mean, movies are often 90 pages or a hundred pages". For a typical 44-minute episode, a script usually clocks in around 40-50 pages. At 75 pages, it was far too long—at least 10 pages over the limit. This massive page count is the genesis of the "initially updated" phrase, as the entire creative team knew a major overhaul was coming. the office search committee script pages initially updated
Directors and writers used these updated pages as a launchpad. For instance, Catherine Tate’s character, Nellie Bertram, had her interview style heavily modified on the fly. The initial script pages laid out her bizarre business philosophy, but the specific, unhinged rants about replacing job interviews with dynamic performance art were refined through collaborative pitching on set. Impact on the Cast and Legacy , the initial script for "Search Committee" was
Writer and showrunner Paul Lieberstein (who played Toby) had the massive task of "stuffing in" a high-profile lineup of guest stars, including Jim Carrey, James Spader, Catherine Tate, and Will Arnett. According to B. J. Novak, the script was ultimately for its allotted time slot, leading to several necessary cuts. The "Cliffhangers" Document At 75 pages, it was far too long—at
Managing physical updates introduced massive vulnerabilities:
So the next time you watch Dwight interviewing a psychic or Kevin eating chili off the floor, remember: some writer, on a Tuesday afternoon in April 2011, initially updated that joke. And television changed, just a little bit, for the better.
Read a retrospective recap of the guest star performances and "creepy psychological tactics" introduced in the script via deleted scenes from these 75 pages, or do you need help comparing the original script to the final aired version?