I could have sworn it was Joey Lauren Adams in that first scene but then it definitely wasn't.

Yeah, when Jerry pointed it out I believe the quote was "Jerry! That's superheated water. Nothing can live in that!"

It got a little rough in season two with Phil being consistently an awful person, but they really pulled the group dynamic together well. Plus Forte's patented absurdity.

I thought she was taking a picture of his completed crossword/jumble. I thought it was really sweet.

I was wondering the same thing. She was like a bizarro Chelsea Peretti.