Ed Helms On Filling Steve Carell's Shoes & Why He Returned For Another Season - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-07-2012, 10:43 PM

It’s safe to say The Office’s Ed Helms faced one of the most daunting acting challenges of the past TV season — succeeding Steve Carell as the manager of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. But while the show itself struggled a bit to find its creative footing in the post-Michael Scott era, the 38-year-old Helms — who has played the adorkably insecure Andy Bernard since Season 3 — never made his task look like work.

TVLINE | You were in the unenviable position of having to step in for Steve Carell. Did you feel the weight of that?
I never felt pressure to fill those shoes; I don’t think that’s possible for anyone to do. For me, it was just an exciting chance to take Andy to different places. The actual hierarchy of the office itself was altered by bringing in [James Spader]’s Robert California [as Andy’s boss], so there were enough differences that I didn’t feel like, ‘Here I am needing to fill a void.’ It was more like, ‘Here we go in a different direction — let’s see what happens!’ There were places [the story went] that I didn’t understand as well, but the work experience there is just so wonderful and rare. The Office is about the best work experience you could ever hope for.

TVLINE | Can you give me an example of maybe one or two things that you thought were particularly challenging to wrap your head around?
Andy was established very early on as a troubled character — somebody with some personality issues and anger issues. And someone who was ambitious to a fault, but also with a kind of a magnanimous heart that always kept him in check. And to me, that is a really fun character because he’s constantly in conflict with himself — his own ambitions are always fighting his inherent good nature. And I do think that as we sort of tried to find where and how those aspects of Andy fit into more of a leadership role, there was a little too much focus on the good-hearted nature of Andy, and I was kind of working hard to figure that out and understand it. I’m not a writer on the show so some things I don’t have as much control over, but where I started to kind of tap back into what I think is special, unique, and exciting about Andy is when we did start to uncover those insecurities.

TVLINE | Any episodes that you’re particularly proud of from the past season?
I really loved the Christmas episode. I don’t want to pat myself too hard on the back but I also directed that one. [Laughs] Mindy [Kaling] wrote it, and she was right there on the set with me the whole time. I love what Andy kind of went through in that episode with his girlfriend Jessica, while also really struggling with feelings for Erin. I think Ellie [Kemper] did fantastic work in that episode. And much later in the season, I really love the episode where Robert comes in and tells Andy not to hire his wife and then proceeds to just [attack] Andy for not hiring his wife. It’s fun to be in conflict with James Spader. He’s such an intimidating presence.

TVLINE | You recently signed on for another season. Why?
Well, I had a lot of fun this year and it just seemed like, let’s go around the block again! And there have been a lot of discussions internally about some storylines that I’m excited to explore and be a part of. And at the end of the day, as a working actor, you want to be a part of a process that you love and enjoy. And that’s actually a rare thing to be on a set just full of people that you admire and make you laugh all the time. It was a no-brainer.

http://tvline.com/2012/06/07/the-off...9/#more-335546

hawkeye123 · 06-08-2012, 04:18 AM

Nobody can fill Steve Carells shoes.Very funny show! I don't get to watch it much though.When did Carell leave?

Yong Fang · 06-08-2012, 10:27 AM

As I said, I enjoyed the last season. There were a lunker episode here and there, but it still held my interest and humor. I liked that the supporting players got more screen time. James Spader was an interesting addition.

I like the Brit chick. Again, in the minority.

This should be the last season and it should go out with a bang. After next season, the vast majority of the cast would want to go to do other projects. But I have heard from Paul Lieberstien (Toby, who is/was the showrunner) that there is a long term plan to bring in new actors to replace leaving ones and keeping the comedy going...good or bad, dunno.)

And always, and I have bitching about this for SEVEN years!

MORE (UNCLE) CREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TVFactFan · 06-09-2012, 12:17 AM

The Andy character is a JOKE and should never have been manager. Not sure why it didn;t go to the Dwight character

hawkeye123 · 06-09-2012, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The Andy character is a JOKE and should never have been manager. Not sure why it didn;t go to the Dwight character

I agree Dwight should of got it.

06-07-2012, 10:43 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Ed Helms On Filling Steve Carell's Shoes & Why He Returned For Another Season It’s safe to say The Office’s Ed Helms faced one of the most daunting acting challenges of the past TV season — succeeding Steve Carell as the manager of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. But while the show itself struggled a bit to find its creative footing in the post-Michael Scott era, the 38-year-old Helms — who has played the adorkably insecure Andy Bernard since Season 3 — never made his task look like work. TVLINE \| You were in the unenviable position of having to step in for Steve Carell. Did you feel the weight of that? I never felt pressure to fill those shoes; I don’t think that’s possible for anyone to do. For me, it was just an exciting chance to take Andy to different places. The actual hierarchy of the office itself was altered by bringing in [James Spader]’s Robert California [as Andy’s boss], so there were enough differences that I didn’t feel like, ‘Here I am needing to fill a void.’ It was more like, ‘Here we go in a different direction — let’s see what happens!’ There were places [the story went] that I didn’t understand as well, but the work experience there is just so wonderful and rare. The Office is about the best work experience you could ever hope for. TVLINE \| Can you give me an example of maybe one or two things that you thought were particularly challenging to wrap your head around? Andy was established very early on as a troubled character — somebody with some personality issues and anger issues. And someone who was ambitious to a fault, but also with a kind of a magnanimous heart that always kept him in check. And to me, that is a really fun character because he’s constantly in conflict with himself — his own ambitions are always fighting his inherent good nature. And I do think that as we sort of tried to find where and how those aspects of Andy fit into more of a leadership role, there was a little too much focus on the good-hearted nature of Andy, and I was kind of working hard to figure that out and understand it. I’m not a writer on the show so some things I don’t have as much control over, but where I started to kind of tap back into what I think is special, unique, and exciting about Andy is when we did start to uncover those insecurities. TVLINE \| Any episodes that you’re particularly proud of from the past season? I really loved the Christmas episode. I don’t want to pat myself too hard on the back but I also directed that one. [Laughs] Mindy [Kaling] wrote it, and she was right there on the set with me the whole time. I love what Andy kind of went through in that episode with his girlfriend Jessica, while also really struggling with feelings for Erin. I think Ellie [Kemper] did fantastic work in that episode. And much later in the season, I really love the episode where Robert comes in and tells Andy not to hire his wife and then proceeds to just [attack] Andy for not hiring his wife. It’s fun to be in conflict with James Spader. He’s such an intimidating presence. TVLINE \| You recently signed on for another season. Why? Well, I had a lot of fun this year and it just seemed like, let’s go around the block again! And there have been a lot of discussions internally about some storylines that I’m excited to explore and be a part of. And at the end of the day, as a working actor, you want to be a part of a process that you love and enjoy. And that’s actually a rare thing to be on a set just full of people that you admire and make you laugh all the time. It was a no-brainer. http://tvline.com/2012/06/07/the-off...9/#more-335546
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-08-2012, 04:18 AM	#2
hawkeye123 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Posts: 1,390	Nobody can fill Steve Carells shoes.Very funny show! I don't get to watch it much though.When did Carell leave?
	__________________ You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and, loved more than you know.

06-08-2012, 10:27 AM	#3
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	As I said, I enjoyed the last season. There were a lunker episode here and there, but it still held my interest and humor. I liked that the supporting players got more screen time. James Spader was an interesting addition. I like the Brit chick. Again, in the minority. This should be the last season and it should go out with a bang. After next season, the vast majority of the cast would want to go to do other projects. But I have heard from Paul Lieberstien (Toby, who is/was the showrunner) that there is a long term plan to bring in new actors to replace leaving ones and keeping the comedy going...good or bad, dunno.) And always, and I have bitching about this for SEVEN years! MORE (UNCLE) CREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06-09-2012, 12:17 AM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,070	The Andy character is a JOKE and should never have been manager. Not sure why it didn;t go to the Dwight character