Jenna Fischer Says ‘The Office’ Cast Used Instant Messaging to Film Scenes

In a recent episode of the Office Ladies podcast, Jenna Fischer shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes detail about ‘The Office’. According to Fischer, John Krasinski played a pivotal role in enhancing the show’s dynamics by introducing instant messaging into the mix. 

During a discussion about the show’s portrayal of Jim and Pam’s long-distance romance, Fischer explained how Jim and Pam’s screen names, Jim9334 and receptionitis15, came to be. “John Krasinski went around to our computers and set up instant messages,” Fischer said. “When we got the Internet, he did this so we could joke around in the background of scenes.”

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Fischer recalled her surprise when Krasinski set up her instant message screen with the handle “receptionitis15,” a nod to her character Pam. She described her initial reaction, saying, “I was like, ‘What is this name?'” Fischer and co-host Angela Kinsey also discussed how Krasinski helped everyone get familiar with the new chat tool, noting Kinsey’s screen name was “MSaccountant.” Kinsey added, “We really kept on theme for our characters. We were so tickled that we could now IM each other during scenes.”

Fischer further revealed that the instant messaging wasn’t just for cast interactions. “We weren’t just IMing each other either, I would IM with fans during scenes,” Fischer shared. She reminisced about using MySpace to communicate with fans while filming, saying, “I would write things and say, ‘When you watch the episode ‘Healthcare,’ there’s going to be a scene where Dwight is talking about hot dog fingers, and I’m IMing you during this scene.'”

The playful behind-the-scenes activity extended beyond the cast’s personal interactions. Fischer also credited costar B.J. Novak for initiating some of the fan interactions. “I kinda remember now you guys doing that,” Kinsey recalled. 

“And we’d be like, ‘What? You’re talking to people right now?!'” This fun and innovative use of instant messaging added an extra layer of authenticity and camaraderie to the show, showcasing the creative and playful spirit of the ‘The Office’ cast.

-Sushmita Sarkar