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LOBSTER HAT gets big chance
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BY JOSH MCAULIFFE
STAFF WRITER
While the Dunder Mifflin gang has often talked about going for a bite at Cooper’s Seafood House, they’ve never actually been seen setting foot in the place.
That’s about to change. The beloved Scranton restaurant is finally going to get its close-up.
A cameraman representing the Scranton-set NBC comedy “The Office” was at Cooper’s during Thursday’s lunch hour shooting interior and exterior shots of the restaurant that will show up as secondary footage during an upcoming episode of the show.
Alan Pierce, a freelancer from Yonkers, N.Y., shot just about every last inch of Cooper’s, from the ship to the bar to the Whale Room. Mr. Pierce had been here twice before on behalf of “The Office,” including an assignment during which he filmed exterior shots of the Mall at Steamtown for a spring 2007 episode in which Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) takes the office’s female employees on a field trip to the mall.
“I give them much more than they need, and they choose what’s best for them,” said Mr. Pierce, who on his way home planned to shoot some interstate highway signs that would also be sent to the show.
A couple of weeks ago, producers from the show contacted Mari Potis, membership director for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and the show’s Scranton-related props liaison, about coordinating the shoot. The episode, she was told, will involve Michael visiting Cooper’s, possibly for one of the restaurant’s well-known complimentary petite lobster tail birthday dinners. (The scenes involving the actors will be shot on a Los Angeles-area set.)
Attempts to reach “Office” Executive Producer Greg Daniels were unsuccessful.
Cooper’s has been mentioned several times on the show, but this will be the first time it will appear in an episode. Poor Richard’s Pub, the bar at South Side Bowl, was prominently featured in the 2007 episode “Cocktails,” although no actual footage was shot there.
Mr. Pierce shot several tables of people having lunch at Cooper’s, most of whom were assembled by Ms. Potis. At one of the tables was Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank Chief Operating Officer Dan Santaniello, who was celebrating his birthday with friends Cathy Langan, Joann Marsili and Lori Reed.
Should the footage of Mr. Santaniello and his party end up in the episode’s final cut, he’ll be easy to pick out — just look for the guy wearing the lobster hat with his back to the camera.
“I think it’s great. Anytime you get on a nationally televised show, it’s a great experience,” Mr. Santaniello said. “Especially when you get on with a lobster hat.”
He and the others in his party said they were big fans of the show.
“Absolutely,” Mr. Santaniello said. “You have to be if you’re from Scranton.”
For its part, Cooper’s plans to roll out the proverbial red carpet for its national television debut. Co-owner Jack Cooper said the restaurant will hold a viewing party the night the episode airs.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Mr. Cooper said. “It’s going to be great.”
Contact the writer: jmcauliffe@timesshamrock.com
That’s about to change. The beloved Scranton restaurant is finally going to get its close-up.
A cameraman representing the Scranton-set NBC comedy “The Office” was at Cooper’s during Thursday’s lunch hour shooting interior and exterior shots of the restaurant that will show up as secondary footage during an upcoming episode of the show.
Alan Pierce, a freelancer from Yonkers, N.Y., shot just about every last inch of Cooper’s, from the ship to the bar to the Whale Room. Mr. Pierce had been here twice before on behalf of “The Office,” including an assignment during which he filmed exterior shots of the Mall at Steamtown for a spring 2007 episode in which Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) takes the office’s female employees on a field trip to the mall.
“I give them much more than they need, and they choose what’s best for them,” said Mr. Pierce, who on his way home planned to shoot some interstate highway signs that would also be sent to the show.
A couple of weeks ago, producers from the show contacted Mari Potis, membership director for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and the show’s Scranton-related props liaison, about coordinating the shoot. The episode, she was told, will involve Michael visiting Cooper’s, possibly for one of the restaurant’s well-known complimentary petite lobster tail birthday dinners. (The scenes involving the actors will be shot on a Los Angeles-area set.)
Attempts to reach “Office” Executive Producer Greg Daniels were unsuccessful.
Cooper’s has been mentioned several times on the show, but this will be the first time it will appear in an episode. Poor Richard’s Pub, the bar at South Side Bowl, was prominently featured in the 2007 episode “Cocktails,” although no actual footage was shot there.
Mr. Pierce shot several tables of people having lunch at Cooper’s, most of whom were assembled by Ms. Potis. At one of the tables was Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank Chief Operating Officer Dan Santaniello, who was celebrating his birthday with friends Cathy Langan, Joann Marsili and Lori Reed.
Should the footage of Mr. Santaniello and his party end up in the episode’s final cut, he’ll be easy to pick out — just look for the guy wearing the lobster hat with his back to the camera.
“I think it’s great. Anytime you get on a nationally televised show, it’s a great experience,” Mr. Santaniello said. “Especially when you get on with a lobster hat.”
He and the others in his party said they were big fans of the show.
“Absolutely,” Mr. Santaniello said. “You have to be if you’re from Scranton.”
For its part, Cooper’s plans to roll out the proverbial red carpet for its national television debut. Co-owner Jack Cooper said the restaurant will hold a viewing party the night the episode airs.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Mr. Cooper said. “It’s going to be great.”
Contact the writer: jmcauliffe@timesshamrock.com
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