Transcript: Our chat with 'Office' Emmy nominee Rainn Wilson
"I was sure I would not get the nom," confessed "The Office" star Rainn Wilson during our chatroom powwow on Tuesday afternoon. He conceded that he's "not trying to be modest," just realistic about the fact that Emmy voters might punish him for portraying "a big annoying nerdy fascist." Once he received the bid as best supporting actor in a comedy series, he chose "The Coup" as his sample episode to give judges. The reason: "I know it wasn’t a big fan favorite, but I thought it showed the best range for my acting as Dwight," he added. "I love how long the scenes are . . . so much absurd psychology. My favorite moments are 'Crentist' as my dentist's name. I also loved pouring the syrup all over my breakfast and thereby sabotaging my chances at a promotion." (Special thanks to "Jenny" for editing this transcript.)
Rainn Wilson: Howdy everyone. Tom, thanks for having me. Anything you want to ask to start things off?
Tom O'Neil: Rainn, let's talk about the episode you submitted to Emmy judges.
Rainn Wilson: I submitted "The Coup." I know it wasn’t a big fan favorite, but I thought it showed the best range for my acting as Dwight
Megzy I love that episode
booradley it is a good choice for Dwight
lostdundie His most wacky episode, for sure
Tom O'Neil: Tell us a few more details about the episode.Do you have some favorite moments?
Rainn Wilson: I love how long the scenes are... so much absurd psychology
Rainn Wilson: I love the breakfast with melora
Atypical I thought "The Coup" was a great Dwight showcase.
Rainn Wilson: My favorite moments are "Crentist" as my dentist's name
Rainn Wilson: I also loved pouring the syrup all over my breakfast and thereby sabbotaging my chances at a promotion
Andrea a.k.a. mexicanity I loved it And they way you pulled of leaving to see Crentist was awesome! So funny! I love the Dwight dance too!!
sajjadali Rainn, have you spoken to Jenna Fischer since the emmy annoucements?
Rainn Wilson: Jenna and I were ectstatic.
lostdundie Team Pamight!
Rainn Wilson: perhaps directly after john
Rainn Wilson: just got text from john k
ziggystarduzt Tell him we love him? A lot?
Rainn Wilson: he said 'where the f.... are you?"
booradley nice!
Tom O'Neil: John did a chat session with us last year
Emilymg I watched the office bloopers for season two and I nearly died laughing during the scene when Dwight is asking tony about ...the female anatomy. you guys look like you have a BLAST on the show, but how could you not?
Rainn Wilson: never on the set... but when I watch the shows - I howl
Rainn Wilson: the guy who throws the confetti
Rob L Rainn - funniest person on set - who cracks everybody up?
Rainn Wilson: Steve is like mercury mixed with lighting mixed with a comedy cougar
mlsenn Rainn you were featured in my Yale psychology class for classical conditioning when Jim was giving you mints with the sound of the computer. How does it feel to know you are helping teach Ivy League students?
Rainn Wilson: that Yale story is hysterical!
Rainn Wilson: I must tell the writers
Tom O'Neil: Rainn, answer whatever questions you see on the screen here -- ignore others
Rainn Wilson: Cool, thanks Tom
Atypical Were you a fan of the original "The Office" Rainn?
Rainn Wilson: I was a huge BBC "Office" fan
Professor Chaos you're one of the few "Office" cast members to NOT cameo in "Knocked Up." What's up with that?
Rainn Wilson: I’m not on the Judd Apatow short list for some reason
BabsonLacrosse Steve should have been the little miss sunshine guy to beat Eddie Murphy
Rainn Wilson: I agree babson
NateDoggg Do you have any advice for John Krasinski or other cast members who want to get nominated next year?
Rainn Wilson: I was really sad about John not getting a nom
sajjadali John Krasinkini, did deserve to be nominated too!
Rainn Wilson: he holds the show together and his acting is beautifully subtle and hysterical
Megzy and he is beautiful too
Rainn Wilson: He's also the coolest guy you could ever know and one of my best friends
Rainn Wilson: I plan on making sweet sweet love to him when I bring home the statue!!!!
Professor Chaos Did you get the Arrested Development audition (to play Gob) as a result of Six Feet Under?
Rainn Wilson: I can't remember when I auditioned for GOB if feet had aired
Megzy thank goodness you did... I cant picture anyone else as Dwight to be honest
sorano Rainn, the first table read is this Saturday. Will this be the first time y'all will see the script? Rainn Wilson: yes, I have not read any script. excited to read one on Friday and see everybody
djwhite Rainn what is your fave Jim/Dwight Prank?
BTN favorite prank question is good
Rainn Wilson: that sequence with Jim as Dwight and me as Jim was one of my favorite scenes of the season
Rainn Wilson: john killed in that scene
Megzy when will you come to Detroit?
Rainn Wilson: any other questions? not about Detroit?
Megzy oh wait... jk
Rainn Wilson: I just got back from Toronto where I was shooting a comedy called THE ROCKER
Rainn Wilson: I play a failed heavy metal drummer who gets a second chance at fame
Rainn Wilson: by joining his HS nephs rock band
ziggystarduzt I play bass and guitar, we could start a band.
Rainn Wilson: I learned how to drum on THE ROCKER
Rainn Wilson: I’m hoping to sit in on the kit for a song
Rainn Wilson: my 3 year old sees me on TV all the time and says "that's dada"
Rainn Wilson: but he'd rather watch Curious George
Rainn Wilson: or Shrek
NateDoggg have you thought of doing voiceovers?
Rainn Wilson: I’ve tried to do voiceovers but I never get cast so I stopped auditioning
Rainn Wilson: I’ve auditioned for them for years - not one job
NateDoggg what? you've got such a great voice!
Rainn Wilson: I sing pretty awful - but I love it
taciturn how many words of yours do we have to mark today
Rainn Wilson: mark all my words. always
sajjadali Rainn, did any other The Office members call you that day of the nominations - straight after, what did they say?
Rainn Wilson: our producer beat my publicist by about seconds and gave me the good news
Rainn Wilson: I was sure I would not get the nom.... not trying to be modest
Rainn Wilson: and Dwight is a big annoying nerdy fascist
BC Who is your favorite co-star on "The Office"?
Rainn Wilson: I can't name a fave office costar
Rainn Wilson: I love them all for different reasons.
Rainn Wilson: really happy that "darryl"craig robinson is coming back as a series regular Rainn Wilson: he adds so much to the show
booradley that is good news about craig
senza Do you read "CREED THOUGHTS" on the NBC Office page? They are hella funny
Rainn Wilson: creed thoughts are funny
Professor Chaos Is BJ Novak going to stay listed as one of the primary cast members?
Rainn Wilson: bj is an integral part of the cast
Rainn Wilson: he brings a lot of humanity to the absurdity
Rainn Wilson: very believable - your average joe... more than, hunky romantic Jim
Megzy I saw your stand up on comedycentral.com or something
Megzy you were funny but you only did a few jokes
Rainn Wilson: you saw my stand up? how is that possible/ I’ve only done gigs????!!!!
Megzy it was on The office LJ community!
djwhite Rainn we need to see Dwight at a national karate tourney
Rainn Wilson: Dwight would kick all ass in karate.. even norris
Boomer Rainn -- Of course, last year your show won the big prize of Outstanding Comedy Series. What was that experience like for you that night?
Rainn Wilson: just realistic. Emmy voters are notoriously conservative
Rainn Wilson: Yeah - the rocker has an awesome cast
Rainn Wilson: arnett, applegate, lynch, fred armisen
BabsonLacrosse I want to bang christina applegate!
Rainn Wilson: good luck babson!@
mlsenn What's your favorite part about going to award shows?
Rainn Wilson: Award shows are big ridiculous spectacles...
Rainn Wilson: I try and go and remember that just years ago I was paying rent with those credit card checks
Rainn Wilson: and that in NYC I drove a moving van for a living
Rainn Wilson: SNL was one of my top greatest life experiences
Rainn Wilson: I loved the sketch where we were all singing danny's song. sudeikis wrote that
Rainn Wilson: sudeikis also wrote the office parody
lostdundie The SNL'ers were pretty dead on as Jim, Pam, Stanley and Angela
NateDoggg is rashida jones going to be back this season?
Rainn Wilson: rashida will be back for a few. she and ed helms brought sooooo much to the last season
Megzy I loooveed Karen and Andy
Rainn Wilson: andy makes me belly laugh.
JennyinIndy Rainn- Are Dwight and Angela going to "come out of the closet" this season?
ziggystarduzt I hope that we get little Dwangela babies .. SECRET Dwangela babies..
Rainn Wilson: I want to make lots of little schrute babies with angela...
Rainn Wilson: im sure that's going to be in the cards... but I have no idea about anything for next season
mlsenn I love “Almost Famous.” What can you say about working with Cameron Crowe as the director?
Rainn Wilson: cameron crowe was the man. I would give anything to work with him again. I wonder if he remembers me or watches the office...?
JennyinIndy Rainn-Is there anyone you are excited to meet at the Emmys?
Rainn Wilson: I really want to meet tony soprano
lostdundie I read on E! that Rainn wants to meet Terry O Quinn[Locke]
Rainn Wilson: and locke from lost is my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ziggystarduzt So what's your favorite show, Rainn?
Rainn Wilson: I love lost
Rainn Wilson: I love lost
Rainn Wilson: I seriously love lost
Rainn Wilson: have I made myself clear?
JennyinIndy Rainn- Not everyone is as lucky as you. Name someone who deserves a bobble head that doesn't have one yet
Rainn Wilson: I wish I could be the only bobblehead
Boomer Yes, you've got a great chance to win!! You've got to climb over Jeremy Piven to do it, though.
Rainn Wilson: I actually took a class with piven's mom in Evanston when I was 198
Rainn Wilson: 18
Rainn Wilson: she is an amazing acting teacher
Rainn Wilson: I recently got kind of stalked in Toronto
Rainn Wilson: geeky girls followed me
Rainn Wilson: waited for me to finish dinner
Rainn Wilson: followed me back to my hotel
Rainn Wilson: and were shaking as they asked for an autograph
ziggystarduzt Us Canadians are passionate about our celebrities.
Rainn Wilson: like they had met the Beatles
mlsenn You're bigger than the Beatles Rainn.
Rainn Wilson: they practically cried.... I was like. dude. I’m a big dork.
Rainn Wilson: I like the Beatles analogy
ziggystarduzt Maybe they thought you were one of the Beatles.
Rainn Wilson: I’m like a retarded ringo
mlsenn Have you considered writing or directing any episodes of “The Office?”
Rainn Wilson: I have really no interest in writing or directing the office
Rainn Wilson: I like just showing up and playing Dwight
Rainn Wilson: keep things simple
JennyinIndy Rainn-What ringtone do you currently have on your phone
Rainn Wilson: my ringtone is a classical bach ditty
DestroyPhone keep it simple stupid
Rainn Wilson: but I’m hoping to get an iphone soon
JerseyGirl Dwight is far from simple)
Rainn Wilson: I’m so classy
Professor Chaos Did you sit in during any of the Arcade Fire soundchecks on SNL?
Rainn Wilson: I got to befriend arcade fire. iwrite win alot
Rainn Wilson: he's awesome
babypook I drum too
Rainn Wilson: cool babypook
babypook thanks Rainn
Rainn Wilson: I love the seahawks and the jets
Rainn Wilson: I love the knicks
Rainn Wilson: and the mariners
twoten do you think you'll ever host snl again?
Rainn Wilson: supposedly I could come back and host. they liked me apparently
Rainn Wilson: I’m good with cue cards
Angelica haha
Atypical You should do stand-up.
Megzy Rainn I found the stand up link it's on the laugh factory website!
Rainn Wilson: ok. I need to shut that down... the website
Rainn Wilson: I’m a terrible stand up
mlsenn Did you always want to be an actor Rainn? What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
Rainn Wilson: advice to aspiring actors... good question
Rainn Wilson: first study the art of acting
Rainn Wilson: there is a serious craft that comes with it
Rainn Wilson: also study the business of acting and know that it is a separate skill entirely
Rainn Wilson: never confuse the two.
Rainn Wilson: getting an agent is you running your own business
Rainn Wilson: but FIRST you must learn, work, study and get really humble about your acting
Rainn Wilson: do as many plays and classes as humanly possible
Rainn Wilson: and then, maybe, years later, you'll get a gig on six feet under and your career will take off
Rainn Wilson: I spent years never making over 22k a ear as an actor
mlsenn Thanks Rainn. I really appreciate the advice
JennyinIndy Rainn- I don't want to be an actor but want to be rich...any advice?
Rainn Wilson: for those want who want to be rich...
Rainn Wilson: real estate or porn
Aura porn it is!
taciturn Rainn, it's degrees today and my A/C is busted. any tips for keeping cool?
Rainn Wilson: put ice on your balls, taciturn
Rainn Wilson: my beard is gone.
LauraH the beard looked great
Rainn Wilson: thanks Laura
Rainn Wilson: I wanted a big biker 'stache for THE ROCKER but FOX thought I looked like a child molester
mlsenn Do you miss anything about living in Seattle?
Rainn Wilson: I don't miss Seattle
Rainn Wilson: love it
Rainn Wilson: but don't need to live there
Rainn Wilson: I really like Portland and Vancouver... don't tell them in Seattle about that
ziggystarduzt YAY! YAY! Vancouver is the best!!!!!
Rainn Wilson: my mom sells jewelry at the public market
Rainn Wilson: I live at luck place, la, ca
Rainn Wilson: stop on by!
Megzy hahahaha
Aura lol Laura
JennyinIndy Rainn-What's in your ipod or future Iphone?
Rainn Wilson: WHITE STRIPES RULE
HeyMandaBaby jack white= guitar god
Rainn Wilson: we will be shooting straight through this year. eps
Rainn Wilson: with many hour episodes
Rainn Wilson: and supersized ones
Rainn Wilson: a loooooong season
Emilymg is there a blooper reel for season ?
Atypical I can't wait for the season DVD set to come out.
Rainn Wilson: there s a great blooper reel on season
Rainn Wilson: hysterical
Rainn Wilson: I want to say "Join the Dwight Army of Champions" or
Rainn Wilson: "we are warriors" if I win
Rainn Wilson: you guys have any acceptance award speech ideas?
ziggystarduzt Yeah, accept it in character.. that would be beautiful.
Boomer Be sure to thank all of us.
NateDoggg bark your acceptance speech!
Rainn Wilson: I also thought about thanking Steve’s wife, Nancy
Tom O'Neil: ACCEPTANCE SPEECH "I just heard that this award is only gold-plated. Jeeez! After all I've been through!"
lostdundie Advise Jenna to say she feels God in....something if she wins
Rainn Wilson: jackhammer
Rainn Wilson: I would say Jenna is a lock!
Rainn Wilson: so is locke!
Rainn Wilson: if Steve wins I’m going to run up and snatch the Emmy and throw it to tony shalhoub
Rainn Wilson: and then throw up on his shoes
Rainn Wilson: and then break down crying and throw myself into a timpani
Rainn Wilson: Steve is going to win. mark my words
NateDoggg what did you think of little miss sunshine?
Rainn Wilson: I love little miss sunshine
babypook me too!
Megzy such a funny movie
Rainn Wilson: beautiful. my favorite in years
taciturn I want to see it
Rainn Wilson: its also john k's fave
Megzy Ill be your stylist I need to break into the business
Rainn Wilson: I’m going to wear dolce and gabbana
BC Who are Dolce and Gabbana?
ziggystarduzt a dolce and gabbana KILT?
Emilymg the office is the best show on TV right now, I watch - episodes a day....if it doesn’t win I am going to jump onto a trampoline from the top of my office building.
Rainn Wilson: that's so cool, Emily
Rainn Wilson: I love our fans. They are so rabid!
Rainn Wilson: they live for the show...
MoxieTime sounds like he could hurt someone ;-)
Rainn Wilson: moxie -that's a great idea!
Rainn Wilson: Dwight is a transformer
MoxieTime thanks -)
taciturn Rainn, are you a wes Anderson fan?
Rainn Wilson: I love Wes Anderson. Royal tenebauams I’ve seen times
Rainn Wilson: it has a lovely sadness to it
mlsenn Rainn, do you like acting for film or TV better?
Rainn Wilson: I like both
Rainn Wilson: the great thing about film is that you have a whole arc and character to build over pages
Rainn Wilson: very challenging
Rainn Wilson: you know there’s going to be an office convention
Rainn Wilson: in Scranton.
Tom O'Neil: 'Office' fans are (delightfully) crazy
HeyMandaBaby I'M GOING!
Rainn Wilson: in October I think
Rainn Wilson: and there's talk of a documentary on office fans
Rainn Wilson: there are office parties where people dress as their fave character
NateDoggg oh, sweet
Rainn Wilson: its really nuts
Rainn Wilson: but awesome
Megzy I was gonna be Pam for Halloween but my guy friend wouldn’t be Jim
Rainn Wilson: you guys should go to the convention
Emilymg oh question, I haven’t seen the UK version...but at some point will this documentary be shown to the characters or something? Will we get to see the purpose of it??
Rainn Wilson: Emily - good question
Rainn Wilson: Greg has said that later on - a couple years the cast will incorporate the documentary more
Rainn Wilson: I wonder how much they run...?
Tom O'Neil: I have a house in the Poconos not far from Scranton
Rainn Wilson: we can all stay at tom's house!!!! Thanks tom!
Tom O'Neil: yeah, party at Tom's house!
Rainn Wilson: I went to Scranton for a promotional visit
Rainn Wilson: it was crazy
BTN Buy any paper!!!
Rainn Wilson: - thousand fans showed up
sorano I went when Angela and Brian was there in May. Absolutely insane.
mlsenn Rainn, if you're ever in NY you should come and do a Master's Tea at Yale.
Rainn Wilson: I will never do a masters tea at Yale
Rainn Wilson: I’d rather eat my own poo
Aura Don't like tea?
Rainn Wilson: I don't like tea or Yale
Andrea a.k.a. mexicanity should we do a bachelorette party there then or just do it in Vegas??
Rainn Wilson: I will, however, do a bachelorette party in Vegas!
Rainn Wilson: and porn
BC I have fun, hitting on the bride-to-be, I bit a gummy worm off her shirt, lol.
Rainn Wilson: gummy worms are funny
Rainn Wilson: I always try and put the word 'gummy worm' into improvs
Rainn Wilson: Scranton is a great place to invest
Rainn Wilson: the architecture is lovely
Rainn Wilson: and the hills around it
Emilymg I am from PA and never been
Tom O'Neil: When the anthracite coal mines shut down, the people stayed and don't have jobs
Rainn Wilson: it’s going to blossom. Mark my words
Tom O'Neil: yeah, architecture is lovely, that's true
Rainn Wilson: I want to buy a coal mine
Rainn Wilson: I would be in favor of updating the credits
Rainn Wilson: I’ve lost a lot of hair in the last years, if you'll notice in the credits
Ziggystarduzt But you look as cute as you shake that shredder and feed a credit card throught it.
Taciturn Rainn, everyone used to say I looked like Jim, then he goes and changes his hairstyle and I’m getting no women anymore. Will his old hairstyle be back?
Rainn Wilson: funniest person on the set is john
Rainn Wilson: have you guys seen the movie "once"? its amazing
BabsonLacrosse it was a lot better than the departed
twoten I loved "once"!
JerseyGirl I just watched it this weekend, Steve was so good in it
senza What was the best concert you've been to?
Rainn Wilson: best concert- RADIOHEAD at the greek- hands down
ziggystarduzt AUGH! Radiohead... I love them soooo much.
HeyMandaBaby im seeing the police this weekend!
Rainn Wilson: nirvana - saw their final US show in NYC
Rainn Wilson: unreal
Rainn Wilson: yes, we start filming on Monday. The first episode is titled "fun run"
Rainn Wilson: so, you can imagine the lack of fun... that will be had by all
Rob L: Rainn, who is your dream co-star?
Rainn Wilson: dream co-star is rip taylor
Emilymg Rainn boxers or briefs?
Rainn Wilson: boxer briefs
sajjadali Rainn do you watch ''Weeds''?
Rainn Wilson: never seen weeds
Rainn Wilson: stopped smoking it in
Rainn Wilson: when I saw the face of God
Rainn Wilson: I’m writing a script about a down and out alcoholic ninja living in the San Fernando Valley
Rainn Wilson: the God story is true
Andrea a.k.a. mexicanity do tell...what did GOD say?
Rainn Wilson: I swore to the face that I would never smoke again and I quit
Tom O'Neil: Well, at least you know God exists
sajjadali Do you watch ''The Closer'' Rainn? Have you met Kyra Sedgewick - did you notice she sort of hmm'ed (don't know if in a positive/negative) way when they mentioned your name in the Emmy announcement\
Rainn Wilson: didn't watch kyra announce I was asleep
George Jetson I also heard that there's an Office video game in production featuring the cast as bobbleheads. O
Rainn Wilson: yes there is going to be a video game
Rainn Wilson: and there is going to be TONS more office merchandising
Rainn Wilson: Question Any last questions? I have to callkrasinski back
Rainn Wilson: here's his number
JerseyGirl will there be a dundies and/or Halloween episode this year?
Atypical I hope you guys do another great Christmas episode. That should be an annual tradition for the show.
Rainn Wilson: I want another dundies episode!
Rainn Wilson: thanks so much you guys
senza Thanks Rainn - you're a class act. )
JerseyGirl I hope you win the Emmy
Rainn Wilson: this has been so much fun
Tom O'Neil: GOOD LUCK ON EMMY NIGHT, RAINN
Rainn Wilson: thanks for inviting me, TOM!!!!!
Tom O'Neil: THANKS FOR CHATTING WITH US
Boomer Tell John to submit a better episode next year. That is why he wasn't nominated this time (seriously).
Boomer Thanks, Rainn!!
Rainn Wilson: You're awesome. Thanks for your support of the show.. too
Rainn Wilson: Thanks all of you!
lostdundie Team Dwight!!
babypook good luck!
BabsonLacrosse love you Rainn!!
Rainn Wilson: I want to make rough love to all of you!!!


