We realize this is the part of the book everybody is most inclined to skip unless they think they might be mentioned in it. But you’re really missing out if you don’t read it all. For instance, you’d never learn about Linh Le, a woman who we’re pretty sure has superpowers. Without her endless patience, humor, and organizational skills, this book probably never would’ve existed, or at best would’ve been a pile of Post-its and a notebook full of illegible scribbles. She held us together when all hope seemed lost. Linh, in the words of Kevin Malone: “You. Are. Awesome.”
A lot of amazing, talented people took part in the podcast that inspired this book, and we’re grateful for their time and willingness to share their stories with us. We’re going to list them all, and you should read every single name, even if you think there are no surprises here. Maybe we snuck in a name that doesn’t belong. Can you spot the non-Office name?! (See, we told you it was going to be worth it.) A big thank-you to Greg Daniels, Kevin Reilly, Paul Feig, Allison Jones, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Teri Weinberg, Steve Carell, John Krasinkski, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Ed Helms, Creed Bratton, Andy Buckley, Oscar Nuñez, Amy Ryan, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Melora Hardin, Paul Lieberstein, Mike Schur, Jen Celotta, Lee Eisenberg, Bill Russell, Brent Forrester, Ken Kwapis, Randall Einhorn, Dave Rogers, Claire Scanlon, Matt Sohn, Veda Semarne, Laverne Caracuzzi, Debbie Pierce, Kim Ferry, Emily VanDerWerff, Billie Eilish, Tim Holmes, and Michele Dempsey. (Did you catch the mystery name added to make sure you’re paying attention? You did if you’re a Celtics fan.)
There are so many more people not included in this list, people who played vital roles on the show, both on- and off-screen, but either due to time constraints or unprecedented historical happenings (hello, pandemic), we weren’t able to connect for interviews. We love you and you’ll always be part of the Office family.
An extra-special thanks to the amazing podcast team who helped us create both our first Office podcast and the Deep Dive: Joanna Sokolowski, Julia Smith, Benny Spiewak, Tessa Kramer, Alyssa Edes, Emily Carr, Russell Wijaya, Diego Tapia, Margaret Borchert, Christian Bonaventura, Liz Hayes, Hannah Harris, Alec Moore, Seth Olansky, Bart Coleman, Ellen Horne, Charles Michelet, Sheldon Senek, Joe Berry, Rich Boerner, Matthew Rosenfield, Alex Mauboussin, Lucy Savage, Syeda Lee, Judson Pickward, Jack Walden, Jonathan Mayor, Andrew Steven, David Lincoln, and of course, Bill Russell, five-time NBA Most Valuable Player. (Editor’s note: Bill Russell actually had nothing to do with either the podcast or the book you’re currently reading. We regret the error.)
Thanks to Ian Kleinert, our literary agent, who we prefer to think of as our wartime consigliere, and our fearless leader, Custom House’s editorial director Peter Hubbard, who’s like the Gandalf of editing, and the rest of the amazing team at Custom House/HarperCollins: Molly Gendell, Jessica Rozler, Alison Hinchcliffe, and Michelle Crowe. Thanks to the tireless support of Kevin Anderson & Associates, especially Eric Spitznagel, who helped us piece together this jigsaw puzzle of interviews. Your prose is as beautiful as your soul. (Wait, did we sign off on that? Peter, please cut that line before we go to print, okay? [PH: The line stays!])
Thanks to the incredible team at NBC who helped us secure photos and cover art: Pearlena Igbokwe, Masami Yamamoto, Rebecca Marks, Eric Van Der Werff, Jason Hoffman, and Geoff Hansen. A big thanks to Chris Haston, who took a great deal of these photos. We feel seen.
We’d now like to dispense with the royal “we” so that two of our authors can offer some personal thanks. We recommend reading them both in their entirety to unlock the special “clues” hinted at earlier in the book. (Remember to use your special Office Oral History decoder rings!)
Brian Baumgartner still remembers that moment, back in October 2019, when he “met at Propagate’s offices in Hollywood with an idea, to tell the story of The Office from the perspective of all the key players. This is the result. I want to thank Ben Silverman and Greg Daniels for their belief in me. Thanks to my team: Ryan Zachary, Megan Smith, Ben Jaffe, and Ted Gekis. And to my biggest fans, my parents. I literally wouldn’t be here without you. Most importantly, thanks to my family for their unwavering support, their perpetual energy, and above all, for their patience. From multiple trips to New York and Scranton to late-night recording sessions and edits, they were always there to keep me going and help me through. This book is for them.”
Ben Silverman would like to acknowledge “all our friends and allies in the UK including Henrietta Conrad, in whose home I first discovered the show; Charles Finch, my partner in running William Morris during the height of Cool Britannia and who introduced me to the best of Europe; Ricky and Stephen, who gave us this opportunity; the brilliant Greg Daniels, the heart and soul behind the show; and of course Brian Baumgartner, my collaborator and partner. Lastly, nothing would be possible without the great taste I was surrounded by my entire life, from both my parents, Mary and Stanley, and now my children, Meyer and Madeline, who motivate me along with my life partner, Jennifer, to tell and share our history.”
Last, but absolutely not least, we want to thank our partners at Propagate. You know who you are, but we’re going to share your names anyway. Howard Owens, Drew Buckley, Greg Lipstone, Isabel San Vargas, and especially Leili Mostajeran, Diego Tapia, Hannah Harris, Christian Bonaventura, and Max Evans for their work on the book.
Congratulations! You read the entire acknowledgments. Your commitment to The Office has been recognized, and your honorary Dundie will be delivered to your home address in the coming weeks.