Rich Sommer is going from a work environment rife with sexual harassment, gender bias, racial discrimination and lewd conduct, to a work environment rife with, well, sexual harassment, gender bias, racial discrimination and lewd conduct. The only difference now? It’s 2008, not 1962.
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Sommer, who plays Mad Men’s bespectacled and bow-tied ad exec Harry Crane, has put in for a (temporary) transfer to the Scranton branch of Dunder-Mifflin. In other words, he’s guest starring in an episode of The Office.
Details about Sommer’s role are being closely guarded—an Office insider would only reveal that his character “ties in with a surprise twist”—but this much I can tell you: He’ll turn up in the comedy’s Sept. 25 season premiere.
Reaction to this clever interoffice crossover? Theories as to who Sommer might be playing? Share with the class below!
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So it’s news now when a minor supporting character on one show with a cult following cashes a check as a character actor in a walk-on on another show with a cult following? Let’s discuss his seminal work as that dude in that one Cingular commercial too.
I’m sorry, but it must be a REALLY slow news day if your big stories are some guy with a minor role on a show no one watches guest-starring on The Office and a couple of actors from a show that no one watched 10 years ago reuniting on SVU.
And let not any one forget the earth shattering intensity that Sommer brought to his role as Anne Hathaway’s gay-but-straight friend in ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’
That performance alone shows that Ausiello is DEFINITELY earning his, what I hope is miniscule, paycheck.
I think he may end up playing a new love interest for Jan or for Amy Ryan’s new character, but either way I think he will be in conflict with Michael Scott.
He looks a little like Steve Carrell. I’m guessing he’s unveiled as Jan’s sperm donor and he’ll be so similar to Michael that she’ll realize she may as well have just had a baby with Michael.
How much do you want to bet he ends up being Jan’s sperm donor?
Christ, why is everyone here so bitter all the time? There’s not going to be ground-breaking, earth-shattering news every single day of the week. Not every story will appeal to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth posting. For Office fans and maybe Mad Men fans, this is definitely news worthy of posting. I know it’s fun to complain about things, but it’s a little ridiculous sometimes.
LOL, you people are a-holes. FYI, both The Office and Mad Men are not cult shows, they are very popular and critically acclaimed. The Office has won many emmy’s, and Mad Men was recently nominated for several Emmy’s, and will probably win one when the award show airs.
If you all don’t like Ausiello or his news, WTF are you doing here reading it & commenting on it? PATHETIC = you mofos. Get a life.
WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL, KEEP IT COMING!!
How is Mad Men A Cult show, it got 16 Emmy Nominations. It Also won the Golden Globe For best Drama and Best Actor.
People need to stop complaining. You’ll get your news on “Two and a Half Men” and “Boston Legal” later.
I think he looks vaguely like John Krasinski and/or Ed Helms. Jim or Andy’s brother? I could see him involved in Pam’s story at New York or involved in Jan’s life somehow.
Ucch, love him. Can’t wait for the premiere!
He looks like he could play Kevin’s younger brother!
Yeah–thanks for the news! He’s great in Mad Men. Can’t wait to see him on The Office
I suspect he’s going to be Jim’s roommate Mark, who I don’t think we’ve seen before, right?
As someone who watches both of these shows, thanks for the scoop!
yes! i love him and mad men and the office! i think he’ll fit in nicely
I say bring it on with all the news you have, someone is bound to appreciate it! Thanks for feeding my Office/Mad Men addiction!
Before Michael Ausiello began writing this blog, this site was a waste of time. He writes interesting, up-to-date information about TV shows, not all of which anyone watches (hopefully b/c we have jobs and lives at some point).
But he does a good job of covering a boat-load of shows and information, and his posts are spot-on, funny and well written.
I appreciate that he’s taken time to write about shows like Mad Men, which I went back and watched during the dull writer’s strike. It’s turned out to be a gem, and has given me something great to watch this summer. As for The Office, it’s a classic.
Michael — keep up the good work, and keep telling us about all of the shows and news that’s out there. I, for one, would love to hear more about shows you think are under- (or over-) rated. And I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the new shows that are coming up for the Fall.
Oh my god, people don’t get the Ausiello Files at all do they. He covers so much TV it’s amazing. Maybe the way EW’s presents the stories makes them look bigger than they are, but if you look at it as a continuous blog throughout the day, it’s just wonderful how much is payed attention to. God I can’t stand some people
Sommer’s work in the season one finale of Mad Men (‘The Wheel’) was just heartbreaking. Great to see he’s exercising his comedy chops. And i concur with recent comments – the morons who aren’t interested in news like this should try the drudge report. Keep it up, Mike! Love ya work, all the way down from Sydney, Australia.
I’m gonna bet a case of Snapple that this guy is going to be delivering Jan’s baby. So no OB role for Ausiello this time around I guess.
I love Harry Crane. I love the Office. I love Michael Ausiello. That is all.
So Sommer is playing the frozen pop to Jan’s baby?
Is it possible his character will be named “Pete Olson”–all grown up?
I think he looks a little like Pam’s ex, Roy. Ausiello said he’s part of a twist right? Maybe it has something to do with Pam and Roy? I hope not though. I think we’re all over Pam and Roy. I would like to see Pam and Jim stay together. I think the writers are good enough that they don’t have to create conflict to keep their story interesting. And I don’t care how big or small the news is. Keep it all coming!
Bears, Beets, BattleStar Gallatica
If you are a fan of The Office, yes this is big news because he isn’t merely a day player…HE IS INVOLVED IN A TWIST. God, if you are going to start acting like an idiot about the content, at least READ THE CONTENT.
“I suspect he’s going to be Jim’s roommate Mark, who I don’t think we’ve seen before, right?”
We have seen Mark in Email Surveillance in Season 2. He’s the one who jokes with Dwight about loving Birkenstocks.
Ah, yes…It wouldn’t be an effective Ausiello post without some miserable trolls starting off the festivities. Why not go to any other number of entertainment sites who essentially repeat everyone else’s scoops by using the words “as reported on…” and then dumb it down for the mainstream crowd? Really. No actual updates to offend your delicate sensibilities.
Lynne – A little harsh, but you’re right. It’s TV news, he’s reporting on TV. No need for people to be disrespectful because he’s covering a show they don’t watch.
By the way, the posters on the bottom, despite their sarcasm obviously remember this guy from previous work. Reason would indicate that others remember him too, and this would make it noteworthy.
Rich Sommer is terrific in Mad Men. I am thrilled for his temp work over at Dunder Mifflin, but I hope he’ll still be at Sterling Cooper, too.