Thursday, May 8, 2008
Joel Chandler Harris MADE The Office
Posted by: lain // Category: Inappropriate Beer Drinking, Joel Chandler Harris, The Office // 11:20 am
Earlier this year, the staff of the Wren’s Nest directed you to an awesome Uncle Remus name drop on The Office. Please recall–
Recently, in a series of mind-boggling coincidences, evidence has linked Joel Chandler Harris not only to the themes and jokes of The Office, but also to the professional development of its cast.
In short–Joel Chandler Harris MADE The Office.
Curious? Read on.
The other night I was hanging around Twain’s Billiards and Tap, obviously researching the friendship between Joel Chandler Harris and Mark Twain. (You may recall that Joel Chandler Harris also MADE Mark Twain.)
From across the bar an acquaintance recognized this executive director diligently taking notes. We had a brief discussion–
Her: “Say, do you know the television show ‘The Office’?”
Me: “I don’t really have time for this.”
Her: “Do you know Kevin from The Office?”
Me: “Look–I am very busy.”
Her: “Do you know that he grew up in Atlanta?”
Me: “Yes, yes, as did fellow cast member Ed Helms. I noted it in my blog several months ago, thankyouverymuch. Now if you don’t mind, I’m busy drin–researching.”
Her: “Wait! Did you know that in 6th grade Kevin from The Office performed in a school play based on the Uncle Remus stories?”
Me: “Lady! Pleas– No, no I did not.”
Her: “Did you know that an encore performance of that very play was performed on the stage at the Wren’s Nest?”
(Probably not the same performance.)
Me: “Get. Out.”
I thanked her for the information, and promptly returned to my research.
Now, if we can assume that…
(a) Joel Chandler Harris created both the character Uncle Remus and the now-museum home The Wren’s Nest,
(b) Kevin from The Office’s professional career got its start in a 6th grade play that was based on the Uncle Remus stories and performed at the Wren’s Nest,
(c) Ed Helms, who also grew up in Atlanta, has also quite probably visited the Wren’s Nest,
(d) This one time the writers from The Office used “Uncle Remus” as a punchline,
…then we can safely deduce that Joel Chandler Harris MADE the second best show currently on television. (The first best is definitely Rock of Love. I mean 30 Rock. One of those, anyway.)
What’s that?
You say Ricky Gervais made The Office? Please.
Stephen Merchant? Nope.
Mindy Kaling? Come on! Be serious.
It was Joel Chandler Harris people, Joel Chandler Harris. Clearly, royalties are in order.
In closing, thank you to Mark Twain who inspired (one might say made) Twain’s Billiards and Tap, which supplied the venue for this fortuitous meeting and inspiration for this blog post.
And thank you again to Joel Chandler Harris who inspired (ahem) Mark Twain.
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