Filming Locations: The Office (NBC U.S. TV Show: 2005 - 2013)
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| Image courtesy Fanpop.com |
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| Image courtesy Barnes & Noble |
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| Image courtesy Spoiler TV |
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| Image courtesy Stuffpoint.com |
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| Image courtesy Insidetv |
After 9 hilarious seasons, The Office (U.S.) will air its last episode this Thursday on May 16, 2013 with a special 75 minute show. To celebrate the success of this series, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the show's filming locations in the SFV which are well known by now. A majority of the show was filmed in Van Nuys to fill in as Scranton, Pennsylvania which is discussed below.
The Office is an American comedy television series broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). It is an adaptation of the BBC series of the same name. The Office was adapted for American audiences by Greg Daniels, a veteran writer for Saturday Night Live, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons. It is co-produced by Daniels' Deedle-Dee Productions, and Shine America, in association with Universal Television. The original executive producers were Daniels, Howard Klein, Ben Silverman, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, with numerous others being promoted in later seasons.
The series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. To simulate the look of an actual documentary, it is filmed in a single-camera setup, without a studio audience or a laugh track. The show debuted on NBC as a mid-season replacement on March 24, 2005, and features Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak and Ed Helms among the main cast. Series star Carell, who portrayed Michael Scott, left the series near the end of the seventh season. Since its debut, the show has aired 199 episodes and is currently airing its ninth season, which has been confirmed to be the series' last. The series is scheduled to conclude with a one-hour finale on May 16, 2013.
The first five seasons of The Office received critical acclaim, were included on several top TV series lists, and won several awards including four Primetime Emmy Awards, one of which was for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006. The series initially debuted to low ratings, but during its second season it became the highest-rated scripted series on NBC and was eventually chosen to follow Super Bowl XLIII. Off-network syndication of The Office began in late 2007 on TBS and Fox-owned stations in the United States (Wikipedia).
The filming locations from The Office were originally found by IAMNOTASTALKER.com so big props to that site for posting. All images shown below courtesy IAMNOTASTALKER.com unless noted.
The Office was primarily filmed at the Chandler Valley Center Studios located at 13927 Saticoy Street Van Nuys. This location is behind the former GM Plant as well across the train tracks from the former Schlitz Brewery site that I discussed in the Tower of Wooden Pallets post. According to a Yahoo article published on February 25, 2009, the author provided a list of recognizable items that could be seen from the street level at the time the article was published. Today, no references to the show can be found. You can also see more at IAMNOTASTALKER.com. [August 23, 2014 Update]: IAMNOTASTALKER discovered that the Scranton Business Park from Season 1 was not first filmed at Van Nuys but actually in Culver City, you can read more here. [End Update].
The filming locations from The Office were originally found by IAMNOTASTALKER.com so big props to that site for posting. All images shown below courtesy IAMNOTASTALKER.com unless noted.
The Office was primarily filmed at the Chandler Valley Center Studios located at 13927 Saticoy Street Van Nuys. This location is behind the former GM Plant as well across the train tracks from the former Schlitz Brewery site that I discussed in the Tower of Wooden Pallets post. According to a Yahoo article published on February 25, 2009, the author provided a list of recognizable items that could be seen from the street level at the time the article was published. Today, no references to the show can be found. You can also see more at IAMNOTASTALKER.com. [August 23, 2014 Update]: IAMNOTASTALKER discovered that the Scranton Business Park from Season 1 was not first filmed at Van Nuys but actually in Culver City, you can read more here. [End Update].
- The entrance to Dunder Mifflin
- The Dunder Mifflin Parking Lot
- Various "Dunder Mifflin" and "Vance Refrigeration" signs
- Michael Scott's office window that looks out over the parking lot. (In reality, the interior of his office is a set located in the soundstage next door.)
- Michael Scott's parking sign
- Prop cars belonging to various characters in the parking lot. (Complete with prop "Pennsylvania" license plates.)
- The location of Michael Scott's "staged suicide attempt" from the episode "Safety Training"
- And more! (The better you know the series, the more you will recognize!)
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| Above images courtesy BTTFtour.com |
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| Dwight Schrutes car can be seen from the street. |
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| In addition to Dwight's car, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly's car can be seen followed by Andy's Prius and Meredith's mini-van. |
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| Props from the show stored in a nearby parking lot state Jim Kit, Elevator, and Vance Refrigeration. The above images courtesy Living In A Television Show. |
The next images show the location today which unfortunately has no references or props from The Office as in the previous pictures above.
The Chili's Grill & Bar from Season 2, Episode 1, "The Dundies" and Episode 7, "The Client" was actually filmed at the former Black Angus Steakhouse (now demolished) at 14640 Roscoe Blvd in Panorama City. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER regarding this location.
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| Above images from "The Dundies." |
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| Above images from "The Client." |
Michael Scott's condo was located at 7303 Bonnie Place Reseda and was purchased in Season 2, Episode 3, "Office Olympics". The condo which Michael mistakes as his was filmed in Season 6, Episode 22, "Dream Team" is located at 7302 Bonnie Place Reseda. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Oscar Martinez's house which was revealed in Season 2, Episode 13, "The Secret", was filmed at 5232 Longridge Avenue Van Nuys not too far from the location above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Jan and Dwight meet at Paty's Restaurant in Season 3, Episode 3 ,"The Coup" which is located at 10001 Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Phyllis Vance's Wedding from Season 3, Episode 15, "Phyllis' Wedding", was filmed at the First Church of North Hollywood at 4390 Colfax Avenue Studio City which has also been used for other TV shows, commercials, and films. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Pickwicks Pub was used in Season 3, Episode 18, "Cocktails" and in Season 4, Episode 9,"Local Ad." Pickwicks is located at 21010 Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Also used in Season 3, Episode 18, "Cocktails" was David Wallace and his wife, Rachel's, home used to throw a party for all of the Dunder Mifflin managers. This home is located at 5133 Louise Avenue in Encino. and is the original home of the Adohr Milk Farm. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
In Season 3, Episode 19, "The Negotation", The Hungry Fox Restaurant was used which is located at 13359 Sherman Way in North Hollywood. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
The Westfield Fashion Square Mall was used as Steamtown Mall in Season 3, Episode 22, "Womens Appreciation." This mall is located at 14006 Riverside Drive Sherman Oaks. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER regarding this location.
Pam buys the lamp from the estate sale during Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure was from Season 4, Episode 1, "Fun Run", is located at 5306 Longridge Avenue Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Jim and Pam's house was filmed in Season 5, Episode 8, "Frame Toby" and Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" at 13831 Calvert Street Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
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| From "Frame Toby". |
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| From "Michael's Last Dundies". |
Darryl Philbin's house is located at 14152 Emelita Avenue in Van Nuys. This location was used for Season 6, Episode 2, "The Meeting." You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
The Smokehouse Restaurant was used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" which is located at 4420 West Lakeside Drive in Burbank. With this restaurant located across the street from Warner Brothers, it has become the popular hangout for Hollywood folks going back to 1946. This location is also popular for film shoots and was recently used in the 2012 film, Argo. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Also used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" was the location of the church for Pam and Jim's wedding which was the Congregational Church of the Chimes located at 14115 Magnolia Blvd in Sherman Oaks. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Also used in Season 6, Episode 4/5, "Niagara" was the location for Pam and Jim's wedding hotel which was the Sportsmen's Lodge located at 12825 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. This hotel has been popular with Hollywood folks and has also been used for a variety of film shoots. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
In Season 6, Episode 21, "Happy Hour", Jillian's was used as Sid & Dexter's Sports Bar which is located at 1000 Universal Studios Blvd in Universal CityWalk in Universal City. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
In Season 7, Episode 15, "The Search", Kung Pao Ching Bistro was used as Mr. Choo's Food Restaurant which is located at 11838 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. Also the Civic Center Gas Station and Mini Mart were also used in this episode which is located at 6171 Van Nuys Blvd in Van Nuys. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Meredith Palmer's house was located at 14142 Emelita Street in Van Nuys. This home was used in Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" which is also next door to Darryl's house mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Toby Flenderson's house is located at 5752 Calhoun Avenue in Van Nuys. This home was used in Season 7, Episode 21, "Michael's Last Dundies" which is a couple blocks northeast from Jim and Pam's house mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTASTALKER regarding this location.
Kelly Erin Hannon's Florida house from Season 8, Episode 18, "Last Day in Florida" and Episode 19, "Get the Girl" was filmed at 7777 Cherrystone Avenue Panorama City which is directly behind the Chandler Valley Center Studios mentioned above. You can see more at IAMNOTSTALKER for finding this location.
Its possible that other episodes were also filmed in the SFV but I have not had the opportunity to review all 9 seasons to find them so enjoy the above mentioned locations. I remember watching one episode where Burbank Blvd in the Sepulveda Dam was used for a driving scene to re-create the look of a bucolic Pennsylvania. Also, Hansen Dam was used as Lake Scranton while Dwight's farm was filmed in Simi Valley. If you know of any other scenes filmed in the SFV, please do share.
On a separate note, a majority of the cast lives in the SFV including Jenna Fischer (Pam) who purchased the Casey Stengel estate in Glendale in November 2012 (before Glendale, was living in Studio City), Steve Carell (Michael) lives in Toluca Lake with a prior home in Studio City, Rainn Wilson (Dwight) used to live in Van Nuys on Hamlin street which was from 1999 to 2002 but now currently resides in Agoura Hills, Rashida Jones (daughter of Quincy Jones) attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks along with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, and Angela Kinsey (Angela) lives in Valley Glen to name a few.
You can view more SFV Filming Locations here.
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Marty Mcfly
Anything and everything about the San Fernando Valley. This blog will take you back in time when the valley was covered with dirt and orange groves to a leader in the space race to its current status as America's suburb. Come along and join me on this adventure, I guarantee you have been influenced/impacted by the San Fernando Valley in one form or another even if you have never visited or heard of the SFV.
Awesome post! Great to see all the filming locations. This has been my favorite sitcom for the past however many years. I hung in there watching every new episode to the bitter(sweet) end tonight. The show's definitely had its time and there's no reason to keep going.
ReplyDeleteSince we're discussing valley places...I actually first found out that The Office was filmed right here in the valley from an employee of the Blockbuster that used to be on Chatsworth and Zelzah. I was renting a movie with Steve Carrell and he asked me if I was a fan of the show. I told him that I was and he told me where the studio was. I was completely skeptical, but I checked it out anyway, and sure enough, all the signs and Dwight's car were visible from the street.
Also, I happened to be playing trivia at Pickwick's last night and they mentioned that their bar is used as Poor Richard's on The Office. They even have a plaque up and everything. They're quite proud of it.
it's great these old blog, lot of nostalgia really, should never, delete these sites / vlog or other, no matter, how we name them. That rocks really
DeleteThanks. This is a great show that a lot of people can relate to especially in corporate America. It was also shot in a unique way with the single camera which made presented the story in a new novel way compared to other sitcoms.
ReplyDeleteI too was surprised to learn that this show was filmed in Van Nuys and a majority of the non-studio scenes in the SFV.
Pickwicks is awesome, had some fun times there.
Balboa park and Woodley park.
ReplyDeleteThe Van Nuys Flyaway was used for the airport scenes with Darryl, nelly, Toby and Andy in the last episode of the series
ReplyDeleteYou could also add in the trivia episode that the bar was actually the federal bar in North hollywood.
ReplyDeleteGood site.
ReplyDeletecool site great info
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know which bowling alley they filmed at for the episode Dream Team? The one Ryan worked at.
ReplyDeleteIt is the bowling alley in the corner of Winnetka and Vanowen.
DeleteWonderful page! Note - you might edit where it says 'Pam and Dwight meet at Paty's Restaurant in Season 3, Episode 3 ,"The Coup"' to say *Jan* and Dwight.
ReplyDelete