Lauren Graham for Office spin-off?
So, while we’ve been speculating here on our own about The Office spinoff, others are doing the same. TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello, one of my favorite TV chatters, was asked in his column about said Office spinoff and whether it may be the perfect spot for Lauren Graham. Hmm…very interesting.
Ausiello agreed with the writer, that especially in light of the big deal Lauren inked with NBC, it makes sense. He wrote, “It would be insane not to at least consider Graham for the gig. Are you with me?”
Yes, I am, Mike! Frankly, I think Lauren Graham would be terrific given the quality writing the folks at The Office have been able to consistently produce. She’s a wonderful comic actress. Her award-worthy stretch on Gilmore Girls proved that. She was in the classic mold of a screwball comedy queens like Rosiland Russell, Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck and Carole Lombard. And in TV terms, that’s Mary Tyler Moore territory.
But like any other actor, Lauren needs good writing — really. She was lovely in Because I Said So with Diane Keaton, but the movie was dreadfully bad. And in Evan Almighty, opposite Steve Carell, she barely registered because she was given nothing to do! Therefore, if The Office spinoff stars Lauren Graham, make sure she’s challenged and write something funny. With the right words — like Amy Sherman-Palladino’s for Lorelai Gilmore — Lauren will shine again. And Steve Carell, put in a good word for Lauren — you owe her!
Speaking of Amy, she has to be smarting from the swift — and deserved — demise of The Return of Jezebel James. Here’s an idea: if Amy’s looking for a new gig, hire her for The Office spinoff. She knows funny — pre-Jezebel, that is. Jezebel was so ill-conceived that even Lauren Graham wouldn’t have saved it.
Lauren Graham Biography
Lauren Helen Graham (born March 16, 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for her acting role in Gilmore Girls.
Lauren was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. When she was five, her parents divorced. Her mother, Donna Grant, moved to London to join a rock and roll band. Lauren and her father, Lawrence, moved to the D.C. area where he became a congressional staffer and single parent. She traveled extensively with her father while growing up. He is currently a lobbyist for the chocolate and confection industry.
Lauren discovered acting while in elementary school. Graham attended Langley High School, where she took part in the Drill Team which is a mix of Dance and Cheerleading. She began acting in community theatre and any other production she could find. She graduated from Barnard College/Columbia University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Lauren then moved to Texas where she earned a Master’s Degree in Acting from Southern Methodist University in 1992.
After completing her education, Lauren returned to New York where she worked as a cocktail waitress and aspiring actress. In 1995, she moved to Hollywood. In addition to her many guest starring and co-starring roles on prime time TV, she had three starring roles on failed sitcoms before landing the lead role of Lorelai Gilmore on the WB’s Gilmore Girls (2000-present), for which she is best known. In addition, she has had many roles in theatrical movies, including several NYU student films and several major studio releases. She has appeared in the movies Bad Santa, The Pacifier and Sweet November. She appeared on Third Rock from the Sun as a grad student who caught the eye of Dick (John Lithgow). In addition, she has appeared on the hit comedy Seinfeld (as one of Jerry’s dates), as well as on Newsradio and Law & Order. She would like to return to the stage and hopes she will never have to do a Porky’s movie or be asked to have plastic surgery.
She is currently set to appear in the movie Evan Almighty, playing the role of Evan’s wife.
Lauren Graham is not married and lives in West Hollywood. She dated actor Tate Donovan. As of February 2006, she is dating actor Marc Blucas.
When Graham appeared on Law & Order in 1997, actor Scott Cohen also guest starred. Three years later when Graham started Gilmore Girls, Cohen became a regular on the show as Lorelai Gilmore’s boyfriend and then fiancé, Max Medina.
She dated Robert Maschio during his senior year at Columbia University and helped persuade him to try out acting as a career.