“The Office” Webisodes are coming to NBC.com this Thursday, July 10th.
06/08/2008 - Brian Baumgartner - 6th Annual "TV Land Awards" - Arrivals - Barker Hanger - Santa Monica, CA USA © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos
The show that pioneered webisodes two years ago is back with another clever installment, “Kevin’s Loan.” The series online fan base will love seeing the maneuverings of Kevin, Oscar, Darrel as they try to figure out Kevin's financial future.
In "Kevin's Loan," the second series of "The Office" webisodes, Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) pursues an unorthodox solution in an effort to pay back his looming gambling debts. This installment also stars Oscar Nunez, Leslie David Baker and Craig Robinson.
Mindy Kaling (she will cover the upcoming games in Scranton) and Brian Baumgartner spoke to Monsters and Critics and a few other journalists in a conference call about the Webisodes that will be airing four weeks in a row starting Thursday, July 10.
Mindy, how do you split up your acting and writing obligations to the show - how do you manage that?
Mindy Kaling: Well because I don’t have a huge part on The Office most of the time I’m writing or, you know, preparing for writing. I would say that it’s probably like a 70/30 split, although jokes and episodes that are written by other people because I’m a producer and sort of acknowledge that I should be looking always sort of aware for any punch up which means like if there could be a joke that could be funnier or something like that.
Which is good because I’m miserable at keeping a straight face as Brian knows and if I can - the less time I’m on screen the less there is a possibility I’ll ruin several takes by laughing at something that Brian or Steve or Rainn does that’s hilarious. So I think that benefits everybody.
What’s one of your favorite episodes that you’ve been part of writing?
Mindy Kaling: My favorite episode that I’ve written is probably from the second season called The Injury. It’s probably our broadest episode so people critique it for that but it’s also just one of the - just one of the goofiest and most fun.
Our M&C readers love your blog by the way. I read through it the other day, and I’m curious to know do you still hate lipstick?
Mindy Kaling: I still - especially since it’s the summertime I’m still not a fan of Lipstick. I’m a big fan now, yes. I’m so happy that you read that. You just stirred my ego in the hugest way.
Brian Baumgartner: Oh man, you know, I would say two but they’re really for nostalgia sake. I don’t know if they’re actually still the best but the first I would say is actually the first episode that we produced after the pilot which was Diversity Day.
And it was doing that that I was like okay we have a really cool special show here if people give it a chance. Just because I felt like we were doing something really bold and different and talking about race in a way that people hadn’t in so long.
The second one again was sort of a launching for us, was in the second season, the Christmas episode. I felt like that was sort of where the show in terms of everybody had something to do in terms of the ensemble and really the show from that place on a practically level. It really took off in terms of audience size and acclaim and so forth. So those two were certainly special to me.
The Office
What are you guys looking forward to going back to see again in Scranton - maybe that you didn’t experience the first time?
Mindy Kaling: I’m just ready for the food. I - the entire time we were there we toured all of like the different competing hotdog places and supers but I never got to have any food. So what I’m hoping is I’ll have like 20 minutes to sit down and like eat a lobster with a bib on like Scranton people. That’s like kind of the most exciting for me.
Brian Baumgartner: I heard they’re actually, Mindy, they’re not allowing you to eat when you’re there.
Mindy Kaling: No, is that part of my contract, not eating?
Brian Baumgartner: That was part of it. There’s no eating, you must work the entire time. That’s what NBC has dictated. Sorry about that.
Mindy Kaling: This is the worst.
Scranton awaits
Brian Baumgartner: I am excited, I am going back actually I think a week after Mindy. And one of the things that I am excited to do is I’m going to - I’m sure you guys have been seeing the lovely promos on NBC for Celebrity Family Feud but we did participate in that for a local Scranton charity called the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania and it’s located right in Scranton. And it is for victims of child abuse and they also do education and prevention programs.
I am very excited actually to go and meet those people that we played for.
How much fun were the webisodes to make?
Brian Baumgartner: Well you know Steve Carell may be the star of The Office but I am huge on the Internet. I am like a complete and total star of two minutes clips online.
So it was fun. We got to work with people doing different things. Brent Forrester was directing and he’s one of the writers on the show, and kind of got together guerilla style with a crew.
I think they turned out really great. I just saw them last night actually and yeah I’m proud of them. And I think it’s something cool that The Office does too that we’re able to sort of get original clips going over the summer when everybody else is dark. And, you know, hopefully the fans enjoy them.
Mindy Kaling: And I saw a sneak peak and Brian is amazing in it. He’s very, very funny and I think people who are big fans of Kevin, which seems to be all of America, will be very excited to see this new adventure.
Mindy what role will you be playing in The Office games?
Mindy Kaling: Oh I’m definitely trying my hand at some of the events. I’ve perused what the events are and it seems as though someone with my athletic abilities which is none can do - I could do fairly well. Especially if people feel they should let me win because I’m on The Office. So I’m hoping to sweep the events in all categories.
Brian Baumgartner: Is there a hotdog eating contest?
Mindy Kaling: Oh my God, I hope so. Something - if there’s not a hotdog eating contest then there should be some kind of food where like you just have to eat an enormous quantity and I’ll be ecstatic.
Brian Baumgartner: : I was surprised when we went to that convention back in let’s pretend it was the end of October, I think that’s about right, I mean that so many people came. We had people there from Ireland and Toronto.
These guys from Toronto came down, they drove down, we met them at this place, Poor Richard’s, and I was like okay are you guys going to be there tomorrow for the events and they were like, “No we have to work so we’re probably turning right back around and going home.” So they literally drove from Toronto down to Scranton, Pennsylvania for like one night in the hopes that they could like hang out with us for a little bit.
And then they had to just turn right back around and go home. So it was like being there and with all of the people, you know, people from the area of course and also the people not from the area. It was - well that was an experience that I will not forget.
Brian, do these Webisodes present any additional challenges for actors as compared to full length episodes?
Brian Baumgartner: Well that’s interesting. I mean I think that the challenge in - I mean obviously as I understand we were sort of the first primetime show anyway to sort of do these extra episodes so that was a couple of years ago when we did the accountant series and, you know, this just being our second one as well.
I think that there’s a particular rhythm that you have to find that’s different. The idea anyway is to sort of wrap up a sort of at least semi satisfying story within two, two and a half minutes. But also make it connect to sort of the whole series, if you look at sort of the whole thing as an episode or a mini episode or whatever.
So I would say that would be the challenge. We’re dealing with just a much smaller crew and fewer people which in some ways because Mindy isn’t around it makes things much easier but it’s also it’s just you’re - more people are having to do more things which I think is cool. It’s sort of an old school like create a theater piece kind of guerilla filmmaking.
But, the crew is still the same and so we all have a short hand of working together and so it doesn’t present too much of a challenge in that way. And I think most of the challenge actually is sort of in with the writers and having to sort of wrap up, some sort of satisfying morsel in two, two and a half minutes and also connect it to something larger.
Kaling
How did you get involved in The Office games?
Mindy Kaling: Oh well I was honored that they asked me to come and be an MC. I mean I do stand up comedy in addition to writing so it was great for me to come out there and be at the Scranton convention was so fun. So they I thought great, another excuse to go back to Scranton, I’ll take it.
Brian Baumgartner: I wanted to follow up on the first part of her answer. When they cast the show they cast - well the cast me and so they really felt like the show - because it takes place in Scranton that we were too hot. We were too sexy and they really wanted to bring some realism in so they were like what about Mindy?
So they brought in Mindy to really kind of like average us out...
Mindy Kaling: Right, we had to offset Brian’s extreme good looks.
Brian Baumgartner: Yeah, yeah my hotness. Yeah.
Mindy Kaling: Because they thought of Oscar as like the Scranton Ricky Martin and so they were like how do we tone that down.
Brian Baumgartner: Yeah, exactly. Exactly, yeah.
Brian, do fans ever think you are like Kevin?
Brian Baumgartner: Nobody ever lets on right away that they think that. But then after awhile if the conversation goes beyond a sentence then I invariably will get like, some comment like, “You talk different.”
I wanted to say, “Well yeah I guess I do.” Like I don’t really know how to respond to that in that way but I mean it’s - I actually think I don’t know exactly what it is but Kevin has this like everybody wants to have a beer with him thing.
So it can be a dangerous proposition at any drinking establishment because everybody wants to like buy Kevin -- not really me -- but like have a shot or a drink of something with Kevin. So I don’t really know what that’s about. I don’t really feel like he’s boozed it up so much on the show but there is some sort of big guy loveable oaf thing that people respond to I guess.
Mindy are you going to be writing with the spin off?
Mindy Kaling: I will be sticking on the mothership for as long as I can tell. Although the spin off from what I’ve heard sounds amazing and that will be really fun for those writers.
Can you elaborate the status of Paul Lieberstein and BJ Novak. As they do more behind the scenes are we going to see a little bit less of Toby and Ryan this season coming up?
Mindy Kaling: I think that we, without giving away anything from this next season, I think that we will be satisfied with how much we see Toby and Ryan. Because both of them have, you know, Toby disappeared in the finale of last season and Ryan seemingly is arrested. So solving tying up those stories will be interesting and we haven’t seen the last of Toby what I can tell of him.
Those are the worst. So personally I don’t mind seeing less of him. I’m just kidding everybody.
Brian these Webisodes are the example of what SAG is fighting for more compensation for actors, any comments?
Brian Baumgartner: I mean initially I would say very much two years ago when we did the first set I think that was - we were very much a Litmus test. And, you know, it sort of changed I think the way everybody was looking at online and what the networks were requesting for making performers and writers and directors do in terms of additional content.
I think now it’s a little different because all of the contract - whatever (SAG) decides all of the contracts here on out are going to have an online component that they’re going to require writers and directors and actors a sort of a part of their package. And I don’t know what form that’s going to take.
To me the dispute between the guild and the producers is much more about that other kind of material where they want to create actually new programs and original stories. I think that the jurisdiction there is really much more what this dispute is about. I mean the reality is that the networks feel that it is beneficial to have supplemental material for their shows. And whatever (SAG) and they work out, they’re going to make that a part of their contract.
What they’re arguing about right now is really kind of irrelevant for this kind of thing. I mean obviously for me for example yes, you’re right. I mean they have to come and figure that out on an individual project basis with me at the moment. But going forward it’s going to be part of the contracts one way or the other.
So I don’t know if that answers your question but I think the dispute is much less about this than it is about when they want to try new material or try new shows and how those programs, you know, who has jurisdiction over those.
Entertainment Weekly had the British Office in the top 10, they had your Office in the 70’s or 80’s - do you want to say anything to that?
Brian Baumgartner: Well, you know, first of all I love Entertainment Weekly and I hope they never say anything bad about me. And second of all, you know, TV Land would certainly rebut that in that we were just named a new classic or the new classic show from TV Land, which was actually a total gasp, like it was us and the Golden Girls getting like a lifetime achievement award so just us being able to share the stage with Bea Arthur was - and Gary Coleman that was pretty cool.
Mindy Kaling: Well, the original Office I think everyone in the cast and crew we think of as kind of a perfect show.
Brian Baumgartner: Oh it’s terrible, terrible.
Mindy Kaling: Just that, yeah, I mean it’s like as a writer certainly the writing in that show is so amazing that I - of course it should be in the top 10, if not the best show ever. And so, you know, we’re honored just to be ever thought of. Entertainment Weekly has been pretty good to us so I can’t complain.
Brian Baumgartner: The British Office was terrible and let’s face it we have far exceeded…
Brian - what’s Kevin gambling on?
Brian Baumgartner: What isn’t he gambling on? Well I think that he loves sports gambling. I mean I think that that’s been in a couple of episodes. It was actually also sort of a call back to the original Webisode series of a couple of years ago where he was betting on sports.
But as in the episode that I can’t remember the title that was directed by Harold Ramis that was written by BJ Novak...
Mindy Kaling: Safety Training, Safety Training.
Brian Baumgartner: Safety Training, you know, he made a bet that - he basically said that anytime you can get odds you should take it even if it’s a horrible bet. So I guess I’m rolling with the fact that he would pretty much bet on anything.
Carell
Mindy - the end of The Office games is the beet eating contest. How would you have done at that?
Mindy Kaling: Look, I know a lot of people think of me and they like, oh that girl is really sexy, that girl is really put together, she would never do something as unladylike as a beet eating competition. Well let me just say that that is not true. I will be eating beets as fast as humanly possible and I hope to win. Yes I’m seeing a lot of the events, yes I am a cast member on the show, but does that mean I’m not going to force myself to eat thousands upon thousands of beets, no not at all...
Brian Baumgartner: Thousands?
Mindy Kaling: Really sexy. Yes thousands. You know, like I don’t get the rep of somebody who can eat a lot of food but I’m going to and that’s what I can bring to this.
(Mindy has to leave for appointment…)
Hey,well I was just going to tell Mindy I love her Comedy Death Ray work...
Brian Baumgartner: Okay. I’ll let her know...I’ll write that down.
Brian, what other projects do you have, and the Webisodes, do you have anything else going on?
Brian Baumgartner: I do other writing and I have written something that’s, well, hopefully going to be done very soon. But aside from that that I can’t really talk about I did just shoot a movie Into - it’s called Into Temptation with Jeremy Sisto and Kristin Chenoweth.
And that was really exciting for me because it’s a drama. And, unlike a lot of these Office guys who came from improve or from stand up I, you know, I’m really just from the theater. And so having an opportunity as much as -- and truly I mean this -- as much as I love working on The Office and love playing Kevin, you know, being able to do something different during the off season now was very pleasurable.
Have you seen any of the German, French or the Quebecois version of “The Office” and your particular character as to how they render him?
Brian Baumgartner: No! No,. I haven’t. And of course I was joking before about the British version, I’m a huge, huge, huge fan of that show. And we’ve talked about it but no we haven’t - maybe we should get NBC to find us that. That would be fun to see.
Brian – regarding you extreme sexiness…how has Kevin evolved style-wise?
Brian Baumgartner: Whereas I am not a producer on the show I believe I’m still wearing the same Dockers and kind of heavy, heavy, hot material wool sport coats. I’m not quite sure how - that’s weird that it’s happened that way. But yes, my - I mean I think that actually Kevin has evolved quite a bit but his wardrobe has not. And they’re really pushing down my sexiness I think. They’re afraid of it.
How would you do in “The Office” trivia game?
Brian Baumgartner: You know, when we finished the first six episodes we were like - well at that point they hadn’t been on the air. So then they came on the air and our audience wasn’t great and then Kevin Reilly was nice enough to bring us back. And when we did another six, so we did a total of 12, six the first year and six the second year, and I - it was our last day of shooting those six. And we took a break, we had no idea if we were coming back. Most people think we got an order of 13 that second year which is actually not true at all.
And I was with Rainn and Steve and myself and we were in Rainn’s room and Steve said, “Well at least we got to do 12.” And we truly thought we were going to be done. And so the first 12 episodes I’m really good at, like I’ve really got those down.
So I can’t remember much. Actually I will admit not to like give NBC.com any more publicity than they all ready get because I know that so - everybody loves that site. But I did go on that site looking for something and I saw Office trivia on that site and I tried a game and I was terrible. So I don’t...
Brian, could you give us any insights on your own back story. What happened there with Stacy, And where you see them going with Kevin relationship-wise?
Brian Baumgartner: I love that. I mean thank you for bringing up that moment. Because I really loved that moment too because it, obviously something that’s been very important in terms of the show is - in terms of Michael’s development and, you know, he can be such an ass and such a buffoon.
But, we work really hard to give him those moments where he’s redeemed. Where you see what - at least the potential for being a good man is there or being good at his job or whatever. And, I really saw that as one of those kinds of moments for Kevin where you see him a very small victory in life, being able to get back to the parking spaces. But for him sort of a very large redeeming moment for him.
In terms of what happened I don’t know if we’ll ever know. I did hear some very funny ideas on what happened. One of which was that she was married the whole time, that Stacy was married the whole time, but I don’t know, if that’s ever going to play itself out.
But I think sort of with that near the end of the year and then obviously the story in the finale where he maybe he has a slight more confidence. Or is at least excited by the attention he’s getting from the new HR person. I would say def- Kevin’s definitely on the prowl and so we’ll see if he can get lucky maybe sometime the first part of this year.
Brian, how will Kevin’s relationship with Holly evolve do you think?
Brian Baumgartner: I have recently heard how it is going to play out and I can only say I guess at this point that it will play out from here. We’re still so far off now and obviously everything can change. But I was so thrilled that she’s coming back. She was fantastic to work with, I thought she brought a great new color and level to the show. She’s a fantastic actor and was really fun for me to work with. And it really - it was fun for Kevin to be able to play in that way as well.
I mean some people said it was sort of a joke that had been setting up unbeknownst to anybody for four years but I feel like when it played itself out it was very funny. It - well it did very well in our table read, I’ll say that. And yeah, I’m thrilled she’s coming back and I do understand that she will have - she and Kevin will have some more interactions coming up the first part of the year.
Kevin’s big vice is gambling. What about you?
Brian Baumgartner: Wow. That I can talk about, unknown number of people listening. I like to gamble. I would not say that I’m like Kevin actually. But I do enjoy blackjack and poker. Again, I’m like way, way, way less involved than he is.
Do you dominate in any of the other games?
Brian Baumgartner: Well this is the story. They knew that I would kick everyone’s ass at The Office games event. If I can say ass, I guess I just did. So they didn’t want me to do that so they invited Mindy to come and like try to eat beets or whatever she’s going to do.
I was actually on a radio show where the host challenged me to an M&M eating contest. And I lost actually. So I might be slipping a little bit in that regard.
Are you looking forward to doing more Webisodes?
Brian Baumgartner: Yeah. We had a great time with them this summer. I know that NBC is going to keep us incredibly busy this year, you know, doing the regular episodes. I don’t know if a primetime episode, whatever you call them now.
How has the success of this how changed your life?
Brian Baumgartner: Wow, well, even taking into account of course my extreme sexiness that we discussed earlier I am a fairly distinct looking guy and I’ll just tell you a brief story about that.
I was shooting a movie in Vancouver with John Krasinski and Mandy Moore. And the three of us were sitting at dinner and a group of people came over to the table to me for me to get up and take pictures and sign things for them.
And I wanted to yell, of course I didn’t, like look who else is sitting at this table. This is Mandy Moore and I’m sure the guy you all love, John Krasinski. But I think that there’s, my - well let’s just say distinctive head that I think draws people’s eye. And so I think actually in some ways I get a little more attention actually than most of the other people.
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