IAM Rainn WILSON - Dwight from the Office and the founder of SoulPancake - AMA!

I think I was supposed to add this... proof: http://imgur.com/1S8y6

VOTE MORE - I can't pick the best questions, idiots!!!!

How am I doing compared to Obama and Zach Braff.

HI. I don't know how this works exactly

You're doing perfectenschlag.

;)

I'm going to talk about The Farm, appropos of nothing. We shot the 5th Office episode as a pilot for The Farm. Because of a death in the family we meet Dwight's brother and Sister and uncle as well as Mose's brother, Zeke. It will air as a stand alone Office episode this winter. NBC has it right now, is going to test it with audiences and will decide whether or not to pick it up.

PErsonally, i think its just terrific. IT's weird and yet accessible. it's a rural family comedy! Geese and goats and Schrutes and hijinx at the Bed and Breakfast.

Will there be any cameos from people in The Office?

Yes!

Buy my fucking book.

I have to pee. Be right back!

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yes

Hey Rainn! This is the first AMA I've actively waited for, so hopefully my question gets noticed.

Out of the many cast members on The Office, who do you think you're most likely to keep in touch with after the show is over? You seem to have great chemistry with the whole cast, so it's tough to tell from a viewing perspective.

Also, are you still in touch with Steve Carrell?

I truly love the whole cast. I suppose I'll stay bestest friends with Angela and Jenna. Oscar just had a baby girl! Named August. I'm going to kidnap her and sell her in Venezuela. I still see and talk to Steve occasionally too.

I love you guys, I really do. Thanks for being such cool fans of the Office and SoulPancake and Super and LIFE! I'm going to a table read right now for the next episode. Wish me luck. see you soon.

Devote your lives to making the world a better place, too please.

I love you.

Please acknowledge me , Mr. Wilson

Acknowledged.

How do you feel about "the Office" post-Steve Carell?

I think some mistakes were made in the Office last season creatively. That being said I think some of the best, most interesting and funniest stuff we've ever done was last season. The Talahassee stuff was pretty sublime I thought. The Episode when I had an appendectamy was brilliant.

Do you believe that these mistakes were made because of the absence of Michael Scott, or because of the change in main writers?

Paul Lieberstein (Toby) had been running the show the two seasons before Steve left and was doing a great job. There was something about the energy of the ensemble that was off. James Spader is one of the greatest actors known to man but the chemistry with him and Ed running the office was a bit dark and needed to be brighter and more energized. IMHO.

So many questions! I don't know what to answer!!!!

Are you paralyzed with existential angst?

no, you?

I'm spending most of my time just reading through your comments and questions and not actually typing. That sucketh for thee. I've got to wind this up now. I'll do another one again sometime.

I'd like some more interesting questions, please.

What is your relationship with Mindy Kaling like? I read her book and she makes it sound like you're frenemies

I adore Mindy. She is a force of nature and a sweet sweet heart. We also give each other shit mercilessly.

Also, I hate her.

• You (and Greg Daniels?) did a great job converting Gareth to Dwight. What do you consider to be the most important tweaks/changes you made to Gareth, to make him fit an American audience?

• You have said that Ricky Gervais captured a generation with his style of comedy. What do you think will be "the next thing", that captures the next generation?

• What advice would you give to young people who wants to enter the TV/Movie writing business?

• I also made a wallpaper based on your character http://i.imgur.com/HcvEu.jpg

My advice to starting in the business is to TRAIN! STUDY! APPRENTICE! There's this myth that "I have talent" so I'm going to show up to LA and be famous. It's a craft that takes years (if not decades) to hone. I went to a 3 year acting school and then did 3 years of theatre touring, regional theatre and off and on broadway before I did any film or TV. And I studied the whole time. FInd the best teachers/programs and work your ass off LEARNING for 10 years. Don't worry about fame. Worry about your art, your craft, your soul. That will lead to a rich, full life.

I think you look the best with a short beard and no glasses. When do you think you look the best?

Long beard. Eye patch. Crotchless panties.

Question:

Out of all the characters you've played, which is your favorite and why?

Arthur Martin from 6 feet under

Why?

It was the first role where I got to really show what I can do both comedically and dramatically. He was 'out there' but a 3 dimensional human being - that's the kind of role I like best. Taking a role that could be a cartoon and humanizing it - finding the soul underneath the absurdity.

You made him so awesomely creepy, I loved it!

The thing was I didnt think of him as creepy at all. I thought of him as completely guile-less and open-hearted which, of course, comes off creepy!

How does Nick Offerman smell in real life?

Like fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

What your favorite funny scene/joke/line that never made it to the final cut of the show.

Dude. i did a shirtless talking head monologue in Dothraki for the last episode and it was hysterical. Didn't make the cut. No idea why.

What do you believe are the reasons for The Office having lower ratings this season? (As indicated by your co-star Jenna Fischer)

Most all TV shows have lower ratings this season. Also NBC didn't promote us one bit.

Do you ever worry about being typecast? If so, do you plan on taking roles that go against that type in the future?

I will always be known for Dwight and I'm fine with that. I'm so fucking grateful for the role! I have always been an actor and i'll just keep acting and people will see my range BUT they'll still say "hey, there's Dwight from The Office!"

What is your favorite opening scene from The Office?

I have a ton of great favorite pranks. I loved when Jim moved my desk to the bathroom and Kevin was in there. I love the paper mache' desk. I love the fax from future dwight.

Yo Reddit I have a tasty Halloween treat for you: Chew on some sweet talk with me & Serj Tankian (System of a Down) in the new episode of Metaphysical Milkshake on SoulPancake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLoc3PjEVe8 (We aired it early just for you, reddit dudes.)

Vote on November 7th!

How awkward was the sex scene with Ellen Page?

Not awkward! A W E S O M E!

I gotta run. Going to pick up Elon Musk in my pimped out van. It's been real.

I loved your movie Super, do you have a plan to make more movies like this? Please respond.

Most of my movies have bombed. People have loved Super and The Rocker after the fact but not enough to go pay money for them when they were at the theatre.

What do you think about the English version of the Office?

I fucking love the english office. Some of the greatest TV OF ALL TIME.

If I may, what led you to the Baha'i faith?

Also, do you have a favourite season of the Office?

Big fan :)

Edit: Baha'i not Bahai'i. I'm an idiot.

I grew up a Baha'i. Most of my family is Baha'i. I know it has a weird name but it is a beautiful religion. I left it for a LONG time but have come back. My Faith is very important to me and gives me purpose and connection.

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Yes

hi.

After watching the office bloopers/extras you tend to see a good chemistry within the cast. Is it as fun to work on the set as it looks?

Yes. Its crazy fun. Its too much fun, really. The hours are tough. Its hard being funny at 7 am - then shooting throughout the whole day and having to be just as funny at 6 PM. But we get paid well for it, so SUCK IT UP, WILSON!

when was the moment you realized "I'm going to love being Dwight Schrute"

Were you auditioned for that role ?? how was that experience ????

I was THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO AUDITION FOR THE AMERICAN OFFICE. I did a terrible ricky gervais immitation for the part of Michael but nailed "Dwight". I knew the part would be mine. I just knew exactly how he needed to be! It was an instinct thing.

What is your favorite hot sauce?

Tapatio

How'd you get involved with Tim and Eric?

P.s. when you're yelling at Kevin Bacon at the end of Super, I cry like a bitch every time.

I saw their first season stuff courtesy of Emma Stone and Teddy Geiger on the set of the Rocker and I called them and said I was a big fan and asked to do something with them. Love those guys. Excited for Tim's dark new indie comedy "The Comedy".

What does the female vagina look like?

your face!

Other than The Office, what is the funniest half hour on on tv right now?

Louie.

1. Was it hard reaching such emotional depth in Hesher?
2. Any fun or interesting stories from House of 1000 Corpses?
3. What was Tim Allen like during filming of Galaxy Quest?

It was very challenging doing the deep emotional work for Hesher. I didn't talk to people for most of the shoot and stayed inside myself for the most part, listening to Bon Iver and trying to access grief. It was a workout! But I'm very proud of that movie and of my work in it.

And watch the Office on NBC! ;)----0

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Bob Dylan. Can you hook that up?

Hi! Big fan! I love Soul Pancake. How were you approached with the idea and what sparked your interest on the project?

It was my idea. Along with Josh Homick and Devon Gundry. I wanted a safe, fun, cool place on the web to explore what it means to be a human being. I mean there's a billion pages to discuss world of warcraft but no place to discuss what happens when you die.

What is your favorite small town you've been to in the US?

John Day, Oregon

If you weren't an actor, what would you like to be doing right now?

My wife and I have been doing more and more work in Haiti. I believe in the power of education to uplift and empower children to change their lives and their countries. I would like to do even more work there when the Office is done.

How do you feel about becoming a popular meme as well as your popularity on the show?

I love that Dwight is a bobble-head, a graffiti, a meme and an icon of weirdness for a generation. So thankful to the fans for making Dwight a legend of TV.

me & Serj Tankian (System of a Down) in the new episode of Metaphysical Milkshake on SoulPancake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLoc3PjEVe8 (We aired it early just for you, reddit dudes.)

Who do you think is the funniest Office character besides yourself?? Kevin? Andy? Jimmy? Pam? Creed??

Craig Robinson.

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Steve Carell is one of the greatest comedy actors of all time. Like Peter Sellars great. It was an honor to work with him.

(that was a joke, it's the 6th)

Biggest accomplishment?

Working on my marriage for 17 years and raising an 8 year old who is filled with Joie de Vivre, creativity, joy and humanity.