Kate Flannery -- unlike her alcoholic, accident-prone character Meredith Palmer on The Office -- is happy, healthy and has something to look forward to in the next few weeks.

The actress-comedian will celebrate the fourth season finale of The Office on Thursday, May 15, and a week later, she'll appear as a talent scout on the premiere of the latest season of the reality competition show Last Comic Standing.

The finale of her hit NBC sitcom is an event made all the sweeter since the season's fate was uncertain due to the writers' strike that lasted three months.

"I think everybody was super-grateful [to return to set]. I think we all missed each other," says Flannery, who is wearing a cheerful black polka dot dress at the NBC press day in Pasadena Friday (May 2). "We all realized that this is probably going to be the greatest experience that any of us have ever had ever. Even Steve Carell has said that. It's just such a special show. We all won the lottery.

"I really hope there's not another strike. And of course, if the actors go out, I want to stand up for our rights, but at the same time, I don't want to miss any work because I love the show so much."

But first, The Office's finale is around the corner, and although Flannery is thrilled with the upcoming episode, she's good at keeping secrets.

"All I can say is it's going to be a monster," says the redhead. "So many unexpected things happen in the finale, it's so good. I think we're more excited than the fans. I really do. I did have some really fun scenes with Rainn [Wilson] so it was really, really fun. No bats or anything in my hair, but yeah, some really great stuff. I think you're going to be excited."

Meredith hasn't had the best luck this season, beginning with getting hit by boss Michael Scott's (Carell) car, gaining her a pelvis cast. Most recently, the Dunder Mifflin Supplier Relations rep received a badly thrown football in the face, thanks to her coworker Pam (Jenna Fischer).

"What's left after being hit by a car and face-hit by a football?" muses Flannery. "I just hope she lives through all these accidents. I think it's kind of fun. I'm having a good time. I've been doing my own stunts. My poor stunt double has just been sitting on the side."

In the future though, the actress would like to see her character get a share of the inter-office love.

"You know, there's been a little sexual tension between Meredith and Creed, but I don't want to say anything," she suggests with a laugh. "He's still calling her Mary Beth, but that's okay."

Flannery hasn't heard any details about the proposed Office spinoff, but she doesn't think Meredith will be going anywhere.

"I don't think the world is ready for a Meredith spinoff just yet," she says. "I don't know if anyone is actually moving from The Office, but we'll see. I don't know if they actually made up their minds about it. So it's still cooking, as they say."

And speaking of cooking, castmate Angela Kinsey's bun in the oven finally made her appearance on Saturday, May 3. Flannery recalls the how the show accommodated her blonde co-star and how the cast rallied around her.

"They kept hiding her pregnancy behind the copier. She always had a big coat covering the belly, files. It's so funny. [She was] the happiest pregnant person I've ever seen in my life," says Flannery. "Jenna and [exec. producer] Greg Daniels' wife Suzanne threw her a baby shower, and all her family came in from Texas, all the gals. It was real fun. Ladyfingers, lady time."

Between Kinsey's becoming a first-time mom, hints of an Office pregnancy and Mother's Day around the corner, Flannery can't help reminiscing on her own mother's best piece of advice: "Don't drink and drive."

Meredith would drink to that.

Comments

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:	optional
URL:	optional
Comments: