STEVE CARELL
(Michael Scott)
On how the cast perfects such squirm-inducing comedy:
What is the key to awkwardness? Um...that's a hard thing to decipher. I think it's different for everyone. Certainly those pauses, the absence of words, can lead to incredible awkwardness. I think of myself in any sort of situation with a woman when I was younger as an example of extreme awkwardness. It's having nothing to say, not knowing what to say, not knowing how to react, having no frame of reference for a given situation. It's hard to break down — I think once you start to overanalyze, it's not funny anymore. So I think we tend not to overthink why it's awkward or uncomfortable. It's the kind of thing you just know when you feel it, and this show has a way of feeling that way quite a bit. My dad has such a hard time watching it. He really enjoys the show, but it IS so awkward, and there are so many sort of cringe-inducing moments, that several times during the show he has to get up and get a soda or a snack, any sort of excuse to relieve the tension.
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