1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: Hi. I'm Ellie Kemper and I played Aaron Hannon on 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: The Office. Hello there, everyone, here we are. We're back 3 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: another episode of the Office Deep Dive. I am your host, 4 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: Brian bam Gartner, and I'm just so happy you're here. 5 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: So welcome. Uh. Today's guest is someone really dear to me. 6 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: I love her and we share a special bond that 7 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: only comes after one person has sat on the other 8 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: person's shoulders in a pool of lukewarm water for eight 9 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: hours straight. I mean, we all have that friend, right, Yes, 10 00:00:54,200 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: you guessed it. It's Ellie Kemper. Now listening back to 11 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: this one. This was a bit of a trip for 12 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: me because I spoke with Ellie in April of Does 13 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 1: anyone remember something that was going on in the world 14 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: around that time? No, not murder hornets, No, not not 15 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: Kanye running for president. Now, it was the early days 16 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: of the global pandemic known as coronavirus. So I talked 17 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: to Ellie over zoom. This was back when zoom was 18 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: still a new thing. I didn't even know what a 19 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: zoom was at that point. But you're gonna hear us 20 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 1: trying to figure out the technology talking about quarantine. We 21 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: were so naive back then. Anyways, enough about that, Let's 22 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: just focus on our conversation, our great conversation, and and 23 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: the great episode that I have for you. So sit back, relax, 24 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: and listen to the soothing sounds of and the hilarious 25 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: Ellie Kemper, bubble and squeak. I love it, Bubble and 26 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: squeak on bubble and squeaker cookie, every moment left over 27 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: from the nab pole. Am I in the meeting? Oh? Ellie, 28 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: you are in the meeting? Can you hear me? Okay? 29 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: I actually don't know. I can hear me? Okay? Can 30 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: you hear me? Okay? I can hear you? Crystal clear? God, 31 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: that's so great, Ellie. It's so nice to hear your voice. Brian, 32 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: I have still been looking It's so nice to hear 33 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 1: your voice. I have still been looking forward to this 34 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: for many reasons. I mean, originally this meeting is being 35 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: did Okay, we got it, and I was looking forward 36 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: to it, of course for obvious reasons. And now during 37 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: this unimaginable time, it is so nice to hear your voice. 38 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: I know. Are you all okay? Yes? We are hungering down. 39 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: You guys just decided to get out of New York. 40 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: We were actually in Montreal when like mid March or 41 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: whenever everything started shutting down, so we were already out 42 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: of New York. We decided better to avoid going back there. 43 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: So that's why we came to St. Louis, which is 44 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: where I'm Do you know I'm from here? Yeah? No, 45 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: I know, No, I know Jenna Phillis. Yeah, all of 46 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: you guys, have you seen Phillis or no? Because you're 47 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: social distancing, social distancing, I've seen have you seen? I've 48 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: seen no one. I feel like I don't know how 49 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: to interact with humans anymore beside my family. Is that 50 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: going to be weird? I think it is. Well, we 51 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: were once going to do this in person. We were, 52 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: but it's so nice to hear from you, I mean 53 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: over the phone. Yeah. I just can't believe it. Like, 54 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: what was it two months ago when we were trying 55 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: to meet up in New York and it seemed like 56 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: a very normal Like it was just like logistics that 57 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: got in the way. But it was like, oh, yeah, 58 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to be New York. Oh great, You're flying 59 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: to New York on an airplane with other passengers and 60 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: I'll meet you downtown and I'll give you a hug 61 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: and like lick your palm. Yeah, there won't be any 62 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: issues with those things. No, exactly, Um, Ellie, So what 63 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,679 Speaker 1: were you doing? What were you doing before the Office? 64 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: What was I doing? Okay, so I was about to 65 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: say very little, but that's not true. I was doing commercials. 66 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: That's how I was earning money through commercials. In terms 67 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: of I guess creative opportunities. I was doing mostly unpaid 68 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: work at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and I was 69 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: doing two person shows and one person shows an actual 70 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: improvisation and um. But professionally it was mostly commercials up 71 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: until that point, I think I had I had, like, oh, 72 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: I I did something on a show called Daily Pops, 73 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: which I think was on MTV. It was like an 74 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: eight series, eight episode series. Um, I want to say 75 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: that Kim Kardashian made a cameo. And I'm technically Kim 76 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: Kardashian's co star. I think she made a cameo in 77 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: one of these Daily Pops. You work together, We worked together, 78 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: worked together, inspired her. But yes, um, I mean obviously 79 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: The Office was my enormous we big break. Did you 80 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: watch the Office, Brian did. I watched The Office. I 81 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: devoured The Office. I was an enormous Office fan. You 82 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: don't know what this is like because obviously you were 83 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: on it from the start. But I loved The Office. 84 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: I watched it every week. It's very strange to go 85 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: from watching a television show that you happen to love 86 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: and then being in the room with everybody. I actually 87 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: the first day, of course, felt surreal for many reasons, 88 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,119 Speaker 1: but it's it's weird when you I think maybe anyone 89 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: has had this experience. If you watch someone on a 90 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: screen and then you see them in person, it feels otherworldly. 91 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: And particularly because I already loved everyone on it and 92 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 1: admired them so much, it felt even stranger because yeah, 93 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: I was a huge fan. It's very weird. I really 94 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: tried to play it cool. Well, so wait, literally, you 95 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: watched it Thursday night? Yes, yes, I did. I lived 96 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: in New York at the time, and we always my 97 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: my whole family was a fan of the Office. Have 98 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: I told you that? Mos make sure reminded us of 99 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: my older brother John college, like when John was in college, 100 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: So we had like a big joke about that. But yeah, 101 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: I lived in New York and I watched the Office 102 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 1: every Thursday, and had you met Alison Jones before? No, 103 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: So I met with Greg and Mike, Greg Daniels and 104 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 1: Mike Sure. I think I was meeting with them for 105 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: Parks and Recreation. This was before Parks and Recreation was 106 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: had aired, and I think that's what it was about. 107 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: I really don't know. It was sort of just a 108 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: general hello. And after that I met Alison when I 109 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: actually read for Parks and Recreation, which it wasn't called 110 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: Parks and Recreation, it was like untitled make Sure Project. 111 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: And then I didn't get a part on Parks and Recreation. 112 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: But then they called me back later for the Office 113 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: and your first day on set? Were you nervous? I 114 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: was so nervous. I first, okay, I can't remember the 115 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: actual very first person I met. I remember telling John Krasinski, 116 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: who I had read was an intern at Conan and 117 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: I had been an Internet Conan because my first scene, 118 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: John is making a Jim Jim excuse me, It is 119 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: making a copy at the copy machine, and I'm like 120 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,119 Speaker 1: sitting there and I was like, like, in between takes, 121 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: I was like, so, um, yeah, um, you've interned to Conan, right, 122 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Why did I feel they need to strike up conversation. 123 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: I am the new person. I think I should stay 124 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: quiet until spoken to. But I was unusually bold and 125 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: he said, oh, yeah, you know colne In And I 126 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: said I had turned there too. That was it. I 127 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: don't know if somebody walked away, somebody saved me, because 128 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have kept that conversation going 129 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: very well. And then and then the big news, Brian, 130 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: I had to dye my hair that day. I have 131 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: red hair, and as soon as I got there, they 132 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: were like, you have to dye your hair brown. And 133 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: I remember, Mindy, I saw in the morning and I 134 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: saw in the afternoon, and I had brown hair in 135 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: the afternoon, and she said, why did you let them 136 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: do that? I would never let anyone dye my hair 137 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: like uh, because in my first jobs ever, they can 138 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: do whatever they want. Anyway, why did they dye your hair? Well? 139 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: Do you know? I still don't know. I think the 140 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: reason was they said it looked at this new character's 141 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: hair looked too close to Pam's color. But I never Pam, 142 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: never Jenna, But I mean the character Pam. Pam didn't 143 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: have red hair, did she like was it jest study. Yeah, 144 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: I guess I'm not real good at hair, I'll be 145 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: honest with you, honestly, apparently neither of my But anyway, yeah, 146 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: first day memories are sort of blurry because I was 147 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: so I don't know, I don't think you can relate 148 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: to this feeling because, like I said, you were there 149 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: from the start. But it was just so it was 150 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: first day of school, but to the millions of degree 151 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: because it was like I already I'm like in awe 152 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: of all these people and I'm the new girl. Don't 153 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: mess anything up. Yeah, I did fairly recently. Actually, I 154 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 1: had a similar experience. It was not such a CULTI show. 155 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: But being a guest star is a very difficult thing. 156 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter who you are. It's tough. It's tough. 157 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: It's just because you, like you just said, it doesn't 158 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: matter who you are, because in that moment, you're the guests, 159 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: and so it's like their home. And so I think 160 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: it's ner wrecking to start any new job, but when 161 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: it's already in motion and you're the You're the thing 162 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: that's being added, it's totally nerve wracking. And especially I 163 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: don't know what your arc what like they for the 164 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: office was written as a four episode arc, so I 165 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: felt like, Okay, this is finite amount of time, and 166 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: you want to do an excellent job, but you also 167 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: want to be deferential to the people who have already 168 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: you know, the regular cast, like the family that's already there, right, 169 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 1: So that's what I was going to ask you. So 170 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: when you showed up, it was originally just for four episodes. 171 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: That was That was what your understanding was. That was 172 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: my understanding. Pam was going to work at the Michael 173 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: Scott Paper Company and they needed a temporary receptionist in 174 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: the meantime, and then Pam ended up getting promoted to salesperson. 175 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: And that's why my character state which I couldn't believe 176 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: that that had happened, but yes, that's how I have 177 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: always perceived it. I think that's what happened. And when 178 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: did you get an idea that you might be around 179 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: a little bit longer? I truly think because it was 180 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: how man Brian. I was worried this would happened. I 181 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: was like, I don't know if it happens to you. 182 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: I'm like alarmed by my memory sometimes because it can 183 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: be so fuzzy okay, few, it's bad and like, right now, 184 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: I can't remember if those four episodes were the last 185 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: four episodes of that season or if there were a 186 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: few more. Maybe they added it, right, it was definitely 187 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: the end. I didn't find out until that season had 188 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 1: wrapped that they were going to keep my character on, 189 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: So I don't think I got any angling that it 190 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: might be longer than four episodes. I think it was 191 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: just like, Okay, just do this for a month and 192 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: then get out without messing anything up. Well, I want 193 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: to share with you something that Claire Scanlon actually told me. 194 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: What Claire said was that a lot of people would 195 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: come in and it was basically a four to six 196 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: episode audition. And she remembers watching you in one of 197 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: your early episodes and you had some scenes with Steve, 198 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: and she remembers in the editing bay watching that and 199 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: saying to herself, Oh, she's going to be around for 200 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: a while. Oh, you're gonna make ry that is That's 201 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: the sweetest compliment. That's the biggest compliment, because there's no 202 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: higher praise and something like that, because I so admire 203 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: the work that you guys do and how you put 204 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: up the show so anyway, that's very kind of you 205 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: to share with me. But of course you the actor 206 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: never feel sure of anything because he's like, this could 207 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: all go away tomorrow. What do you think that Aaron, 208 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: the character of Aaron brought to the office. Well, I 209 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: feel you know, I felt like my own difficulty was 210 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: playing Aaron would just be that some of the things 211 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: she said, we're so cartoony and so uh, sort of cartoony, 212 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: I think is the word, because I don't want to 213 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: say she was flaky or did s or anything like that, 214 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: because I do think she was smart, but she said 215 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: a lot of things that a more grounded person wouldn't say. 216 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: At the same time, you know, she had these very 217 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: serious arc with Michael and these series arts with Andy, 218 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: and you know, there was some real depth to this character, 219 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: and so I felt like what she brought to the 220 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: office was certainly some levity. She was such such an 221 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: odd bird, but that she also, um, I hope she 222 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: brought some sweetness and I think she wanted to be 223 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: very good at her job, and she was very earnest 224 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,599 Speaker 1: about it. But I also think that unintentionally he was 225 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: sort of funny, not not knowing that she was being 226 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: funny because you know, not totally grounded, right. I think 227 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: Paul fig directed one of your first episodes and he 228 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: talks about directing a talking head that you were giving 229 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: and he was taken with you and your energy and 230 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: the character and how different it was from everybody else 231 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: on the show. It's a bunch of disgruntled, put upon 232 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: office workers that are you know, I have to deal 233 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: with this crazy boss that makes them crazy, and all 234 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: they want to do is punch in and punch, shout 235 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: and go home. And why would anyone want to work 236 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: in a paper company? Whereas Aaron's energy was very positive 237 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: and she just loved being there. Yes, that I feel, 238 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: and you hit it on the head, you know. Family 239 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit over it, Oscar maybe over it, 240 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: but Aaron lived for it. She loved being there. Like 241 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: you can imagine her getting ready for work in the morning. 242 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: She wanted to excel at her jobs. She wanted to 243 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: do a very good job, you know, I believe, within 244 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: like thirty seconds in the audience, meeting this new character, 245 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: she agrees to go by her middle name, like yeah, yeah, 246 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: I'll go by Aaron, Like she just wanted to be there, right. 247 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: It occurs to me, however, that Aaron agrees to change 248 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: her name on the first day and you agreed to 249 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: change your hair color on the first day. Right, this 250 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: is where I get worried, because you're right, and I 251 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: worried some of the things Aaron would say. I'm like, 252 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: the writer is making fun of me. Ellie here, I 253 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: might say something that, um do you could not be 254 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: more And I'm sure when people meet you they assume, oh, 255 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: he's going to be like Kevin, when you are the 256 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: polar opposite of Kevin, like the polar opposite. Well, I 257 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: feel like I'm a little similar. Well, you're infectious energy, 258 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: oh good, wow, and positivity. Positivity. I hope that I 259 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: share Aaron's positivity. But yeah, how what do you think? 260 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: I feel like there's some characters in casts who do 261 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: sort of overlap a bit. I mean, I know this 262 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: is that you were asking the questions, but I feel 263 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: like you overlap with Kevin. Not at all. I hope 264 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: the least. I think the least. I hope, I hope 265 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: the least. Is there anything I don't think there's anything anyway. 266 00:15:53,920 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: I well, I enjoy sports. There's something there's yes, And 267 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: I might be a little childlike at times, well who 268 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: is So? You had a number of relationships throughout the show. 269 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: I mean probably in some ways your your central relationship 270 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: you brought up is was your relationship with Michael. It's 271 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: almost a father daughter thing going on in a way, 272 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: as like a mentor someone you look up to. You're 273 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: probably the only character that looks up to Michael Scott. 274 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: Like she never felt like beaten down by him or 275 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: rolled her eyes at him, you know what I mean, 276 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. No, on the contrary, she she adored 277 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: him like he was I think an inspire ration to 278 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: her and just like he was just the tops I 279 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: think to Aaron, because I remember when Aaron meets Holly, 280 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 1: She's just like so it's almost like she's territorial. She's like, 281 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: this is the lady who's stealing Michael's heart. She she's 282 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: just so skeptical of this woman because she feels like 283 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: no one is good enough for Michael Scott. Which is 284 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: really funny, and it definitely felt like a father daughter relationship. 285 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: I thought it was very tender and very sweet and 286 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: very well written that I think the way they the 287 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: writer's crafted that whole relationship was it was really sweet. 288 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: Why do you think they bonded a little. To use 289 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: your word, I think they are both a little childlike. 290 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: I mean, you're word about something else entirely was just 291 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: a word. I just heard that. I said, you didn't 292 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: describe it as child like. What you just said that word, 293 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: and now I love it. I think that they both 294 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,479 Speaker 1: are a little childlike. I think that they're they're both odd. 295 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: And I think that um, Aaron didn't have and she 296 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: never ever had a stable frontal figure in her life, 297 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: and certainly not a strong male figure in her life. 298 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: And I think that she found that in Michael. I mean, 299 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: just by definition he was her boss. I think there 300 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: was this thing of like admiring him and looking up 301 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: to him. But that also when she got to know 302 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: him a little, I think that she I think he 303 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 1: was kind to her. I don't think he I don't 304 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,719 Speaker 1: want to say mistreated, but I think he was like 305 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: fair and respectful to her, and so I think she 306 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 1: just sort of clung to that. And like I said, 307 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: I mean, well, although my favorite episode for Aaron is 308 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: Secretary's Day and when she when Aaron is like even 309 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: weirding out Michael, she like out weird Michael Scott they're 310 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: having lunch together and Michael just can't take it anymore 311 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: because she's so strange. That's when I felt like, oh wow, 312 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: well so yeah, so even he seems much more grounded 313 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: in this in this world than she is. That was 314 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: one of the best days of my life that I 315 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: just remember. We we sat that restaurant scene on a Friday, 316 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: and I was like, I couldn't believe how lucky it 317 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: was to be able to be in a scene speakerl 318 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: like that that it was just MINDI wrote it, and 319 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: I believe Steve directed that episode, and it was just 320 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: like the real because like, who on the planet is like, 321 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: there's no one really, So yeah, again, you started from 322 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: day one, So I don't know if you ever had 323 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: that feeling of like did it all wait? Well, I 324 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: will do my separate interview with you where I asked 325 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: the question. But I'm so curious to know how it 326 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: felt to you guys, because I had such a different experience, 327 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: obviously because I came into it midway and it was 328 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 1: like my whole time there felt like I felt a 329 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: little bit giddy. I don't know if if you had 330 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: that you were there from the beginning, Well, if you 331 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: listen to this podcast, then you will get the full 332 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: detailed answer, but the short The short answer would be 333 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,479 Speaker 1: nobody was famous before it started, and nobody, no, nobody 334 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: knew enough but immediately his ability to improv in the 335 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 1: moment on topic is I don't know, I think he's 336 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: maybe the best person on the planet at that Oh 337 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: I do too. And to be honest with you, Brian, 338 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: sometimes when like the director would say, okay, now you know, 339 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: like fun run whatever, I was like, guys, I would 340 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: think to myself, I'd be like, let's just let Steve 341 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: have a fun run because he's um. Do you think 342 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: that you sorry? Do you think that Aaron and Andy 343 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: were a good match? I never thought so. Is that 344 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: terrible to say? I don't know. I felt like and 345 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: he was a bit too childish. I don't think he 346 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 1: was ready to um take care of Aaron the way 347 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: she needed to be and I and I think Aaron 348 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: was ready to take care of him. But I felt 349 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: like it was uneven in that respect. So yeah, I 350 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: I I love Ed. I love that we got to 351 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: be in so many scenes together, but that actual it 352 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: never felt quite fair to me that relationship. I feel 353 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: like it was uneven well, and then she chose to Gabe. 354 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: Was he a better match? Who should Aaron be with? 355 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know. I don't think that 356 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: was a better match. And I adore Zach, but I 357 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: do not. I mean, that was a very strange mass. 358 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: And then I also felt like with Jake Lacey, I 359 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: didn't feel that was quite right either. I don't know. 360 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: It seems like she I don't know who Aaron should 361 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: be with, but someone like odd but also able to 362 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: take Again. When I say take care of her, I 363 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: don't mean she needs to be taken care of, but 364 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: I mean how a couple takes care of each other. 365 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: So I don't know. I didn't feel like she ever 366 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: quite got her right match in that show. Do you 367 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: know that I pitched Kevin and Aaron getting together, Ah, Bryan, 368 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: I think that would be a pretty reasonable relationship. I 369 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: went up to the writer's room and I said, if 370 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: Kevin could mature just a little, there was something about 371 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 1: their energy that I thought was right. It's almost like 372 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 1: the static being and the hummingbird that goes around, but 373 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: somehow still their energy is matched in a weird way 374 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: that actually makes perfect sense to me. I love that pitch. 375 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: I'm sorry I wasn't there for it. I should have 376 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: should have called you Anne. What you know what I 377 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:43,479 Speaker 1: had in that writer? Um, I don't think I ever 378 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: went to the writer's room. What did you have? Any 379 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: favorite moments? Some of the favorite things when Aaron really 380 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: like you know, like lived out how crazy she was. 381 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: I loved those moments. I loved Cafe Disco. I loved 382 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: that episode. I loved Dancing with Mindy and it was 383 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,679 Speaker 1: just like a weird episode that was so funny. I 384 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: loved that episode. And um, oh my gosh, I loved 385 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: the bus episode directed by Brian Cranston. Brian, you remember 386 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: we all almost died. Yes, we almost were given carbon 387 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 1: monoxide poisoning, to name one of many ways we almost died. 388 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: I at the time, I don't think I was enjoying it, 389 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: And now in retrospect, I'm like, that was fun. Um. Oh, Brian, 390 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: you'll remember I went my pants on that bus during 391 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: the Shibuya roll call. Um. It was like, I don't 392 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: know what you guys were doing, but I got a 393 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: case of the giggles and I went my pants and 394 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: I was like, how long can I had this wish? 395 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: I just fessed up right away. And I did fess 396 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,959 Speaker 1: up right away, and all the ladies were like, oh, 397 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: you need know the skirt, Like nobody was face and 398 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 1: literally all the guys because I had said it sort 399 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: of loudly because there was no word of the guys 400 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: didn't understand it. But the women, the ladies had my back. Um, 401 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: how do you feel like things changed with Steve leaving? Oh? 402 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: My gosh, O wait, sorry, a baby is crying. It's 403 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: the monitor. I'm going to turn down the blast I 404 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: promised someone is watching the baby. Isn't it scary how 405 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 1: you can just turn down the monitor and then it's 406 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 1: like the baby isn't crying anymore that my husband's lasting, 407 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: I swear. Okay, Um, it's embarrassing how upset I was 408 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: about Steve leaving. And I feel like there was one 409 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: moment when my grain was like, why are you sackcause 410 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: because I was like, I think how long? I guess 411 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: he was on for two seasons while I was there, 412 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 1: and then there were two seasons were there two seasons 413 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: after he left? Yeah, So it's not like I shared 414 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: nearly the amount of time that you guys did with him, 415 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: but I felt so it felt like a very bitter 416 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: sweet time. I don't know, how did you feel, Oh, 417 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: I was incredibly difficult. I'm glad you say what do 418 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: you think? What do you think the greater loss was. 419 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: It's not a trick question, Okay, Steve or Michael Ryant. 420 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:18,719 Speaker 1: That's a very good question. Oh well, of course I 421 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 1: have to say Steve because he was such a leader, 422 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: and he was such a quiet leader, and he was 423 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: the backbone of the whole show, and so you know, 424 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: he was just like hard working, never complained, kind, quiet, 425 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: did his job, generous, selfless. I feel like he's the 426 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,719 Speaker 1: supreme example of how a person should behave and so 427 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,400 Speaker 1: it was of course an enormous loss when he left. 428 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,719 Speaker 1: I mean, everybody carried on, okay, it's not like everybody 429 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: went crazy. But who was it? I feel like, um, 430 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: it was Kelly Cantley, one of our assistant directors for 431 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: those of you just joining us at the end, and 432 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 1: she said something like I think it was her who 433 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: said that he kept everyone in like he was the 434 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: head duck and he kept all the little duck laings 435 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: in line. And it's true, like when he was gone, 436 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: I feel like, okay, well Dad's not here, and maybe 437 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: you know, people wouldn't come to set right on time 438 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: or whatever, like a little very tiny transgressions. But yeah, 439 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: I felt like that was a real that was an 440 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: energy that was really you know lost. But yes, as 441 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: an office, I feel like Michael was when he was 442 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: a backbone of that workplace as well. So of course 443 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: the whole D'Angelo vickers, I mean that was brilliant. That 444 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: eased the transition. I thought with Will Ferrell, oh my gosh, right, yeah, 445 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: that was great. Well, and there were, you know, in 446 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: the end, a lot of big guest stars that came 447 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: onto our little show that we weren't supposed to have 448 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: known people right like Cathy Bays, James Spader. That was 449 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,199 Speaker 1: more than a guest star, I guess. Yeah. How do 450 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: you think that their energy changed things? That's a good question. 451 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: I mean I feel like they, you know, they're all 452 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: such excellent actors that it I mean this in a 453 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 1: in a complimentary way, that they blended into the um 454 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 1: energy of the office. But on a personal level, I 455 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: felt like, oh, I can't believe these giants are in 456 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 1: this room with us, because it is such a drab 457 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 1: of everyday office and then you have these I feel 458 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: like it's always steel surreal because you have these huge 459 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: people coming in, but they're not in the world of 460 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: the office, right, that's interesting. I I loved Robert California. 461 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: I thought that he I thought he was such strange, 462 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 1: but I thought that his addition to the office was 463 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 1: actually great and that he was never going to be 464 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: a replacement for Michael Scott, but that it was just 465 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: a different energy altogether, and I thought it suited the office. 466 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: I mean dunder Milin like pretty well, where it was 467 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 1: just I mean, he was strange, Brian that character. Yes, yes, 468 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: do you remember Pool Party? That's the episode that I 469 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: referenced being when people are like what was your least 470 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: favorite or what was the hardest episode? I always a 471 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: pool party, and it was remember the pool being particularly 472 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: like a great temperature, and I feel like it was 473 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: it felt like many days in that pool, right, many days, 474 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 1: many many days. Yeah. Yeah, I don't I always I 475 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: don't have I don't have like traumatic memories of that, 476 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: but I just remember that I was like, this is 477 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: It's just always an episode that I remember, I guess 478 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: because it was it distribushed itself by being in a pool. Also, 479 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: I feel like the week before is when we got 480 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: the heads up like, oh yeah, you guys are going 481 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: to be in a pool for the next week at 482 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: the table where they were like, oh yeah, do we 483 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: not mention you You're gonna be in the pool for 484 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: a week? Swim right right. So the finale of the shop, 485 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: we come back for Dwight and Angela's wedding, and there's 486 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: also a Q and A that we do. Yes, there's 487 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: a Q and A the cast of the documentaries, you know, 488 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: answering questions from the documentary that aired. I know personally 489 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: that's when aaron parents who are in the audience, asking 490 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: questions and what a like beautiful, beautiful end I thought 491 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: for Aaron anyway, like a beautiful end to her arc. 492 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: Aaron never really had a permanent family, like growing up, 493 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: she was in foster homes. And I just loved that 494 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: the writers arranged that for Aaron at the end, to 495 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: meet her birth parents. That was so And of course 496 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: you couldn't have gotten too better. It was Ed Begley Jr. 497 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: And Joan Cusack, who you're like, by the way, do 498 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: you know I still have Joan not to creep you 499 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: out or Joan qu sack out? But I still have 500 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: her card again. She gave me her card again. I 501 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: said something like either complimented her card again or I 502 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: said it smelled so good or something. This is on 503 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: the last day, so you're gonna have it. She took 504 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: his off and she gave it to me. Well, but 505 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: did she give it to you too? Used for a minute, 506 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: or was she like, no, you take this, She said 507 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: you can have it. You know, maybe she literally just 508 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: meant you can borrow it, and I never gave it back. 509 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: All right, well, yeah, it's very possible I misinterpreted that. 510 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: That would seem about right. Oh my gosh. By the way, 511 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: do you remember that was during the finale obviously, remember 512 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,640 Speaker 1: we had to work like two saturdays in a row, 513 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: and we were like, oh my gosh, I can't believe it. 514 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: That was the only I think Saturday I ever worked 515 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: on that show. No, I think I enjoyed just every 516 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: minute of it. I don't know what you're talking about. 517 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: I will share this with you. We don't have this 518 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: on tape anywhere, but I will share this with you. 519 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: We were very very well behaved cast. Some would say churchly, 520 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: but you know, there were a few of us that 521 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: were maybe visited Kevin's bar that he had in the 522 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 1: finale that maybe had a little bit to my just 523 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: to drink on set. There you go and well committed 524 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: to tape. Okay we haven't recorded, but it took until 525 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: the finale to do that, right, Yes, exactly, a very 526 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: well behaved guest until Kevin's Bar. Yeah, exactly. Did you 527 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: go to the Rat Party in Scranton? Yes, First of all, 528 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 1: the Rat party that night, Like I remember, we wrapped 529 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: on a Saturday, and I believe I met you and Angela. 530 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: I just remember that we drove to the Rat party 531 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: together and then yeah, that was so much fun that night. 532 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: I just remember the l A Marathon was the next 533 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 1: day and I was like, how is anyone running? Because 534 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: we were absolute but um, the Scranton Rap Party was 535 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: one of the best weekends of my life. That was phenomenal. 536 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,719 Speaker 1: And do you remember how Christina was, Brian, It was like, 537 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: there's not a cloud in the sky. The baseball game, Brian, 538 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:53,479 Speaker 1: did we throw Wait? What happened? Why were we at 539 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: the somebody who threw out a pitch? Somebody did? No, 540 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: we were just doing a Q and A in the 541 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: baseball stadium because they needed the biggest venue that they 542 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: could fine, Oh my gosh. And then we went to 543 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: was at the backyard fence backyard Adale House. Oh and 544 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: then we just like we're behind the bar. That was 545 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: unbelievable was that the most special weekend ever was the 546 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: best and the people who lived there are so welcoming 547 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: and warm and kind. That was really an amazing event. 548 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: Have you been? Oh wait, you told me where you 549 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: were on your way there when we couldn't meet up 550 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: in New York. I just went yes. I went back 551 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: to the to the ballpark, I went back to the 552 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: Backyardale House to revisit some sites and to talk to 553 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 1: some of the folks there, I mean, and really talking 554 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: to them about how crazy it is that The Office 555 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: was big when it was on, and it seemingly has 556 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 1: only grown in popularity since two thousand seventeen. It has 557 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:06,360 Speaker 1: over a hundred fifty three billion minutes watched streaming. Oh 558 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: my god, it with a B. I mean that I 559 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:15,479 Speaker 1: again as a fan, because I have this perspective. It 560 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 1: makes perfect sense to me. It's a comforting show. It's 561 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: a healing show. It's not cynical. It's like a really 562 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: kind show. And and I think when you're watching it, 563 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 1: you feel like you know these people intimately and like 564 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 1: and what I love is kids who were too young 565 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: when it was first on and watch it now. I mean, 566 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: these kids are in middle school, they're high school. They 567 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: don't know what an office workplace is, but they know 568 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: what school is and they know and I think that's 569 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 1: how they relate to it, is that it's it's any 570 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: it's any situation where you're with the same people day 571 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 1: and day out, and everyone has these very distinct personalities 572 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 1: and it's an infinitely relatable show. But so I understand 573 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 1: why people watch it so much because I did too. 574 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: And it's like, I think, with Netflix, no one could 575 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: have ever predicted how many people would view this show, 576 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 1: don't you feel I feel so lucky that we got 577 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 1: to be well again as a newcomer. I feel so 578 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 1: lucky that I got to have any parts in it. 579 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: But it's really cool, Like how how how people are 580 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: still watching it? Yeah? It is. If it weren't for 581 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,759 Speaker 1: The Office, where do you think you would be? Now? 582 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, Actually I take that back because on 583 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: the same day that I auditioned for the Office, I 584 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:34,720 Speaker 1: also auditioned for a show called Cophouse and cop House 585 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: was a pilot written by the brilliant Adam Resnick, who 586 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 1: I adore. I don't think that the show was ordered 587 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: to series, but I think I would have been in 588 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 1: a pilot called cop House, and from there, I don't 589 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:51,360 Speaker 1: know what I would have done. That's very interesting. You 590 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: were almost on cop House. I was almost the star 591 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: of cop House, so I would have done that and 592 00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 1: the oh, I don't know what. Yeah, I don't know what. 593 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I hope I would have found 594 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: work somewhere else, but nowhere would have been, of course, 595 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:14,439 Speaker 1: of course as special as the office. Ellie. It's so 596 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,960 Speaker 1: great to hear your voice. I'm only sorry that I'm 597 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,399 Speaker 1: not seeing you in person and probably won't until two 598 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:25,919 Speaker 1: two when there's a vaccine, but it is so thank 599 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: you for talking to me. It is so wonderful. I, 600 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: like I said, I've been looking forward to this, just 601 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,959 Speaker 1: like selfishly as it picked me up separately. We need 602 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: like a two hour long just personal catch up. I 603 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: know I would love that, and I will tell you that. 604 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: At some point, I think Rain posted a text exchange 605 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 1: between you and him on the internet and I saw 606 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 1: it and I was like Oh my god, why aren't 607 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: Ellian I texting like that? Because it just really made 608 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 1: me smile. I don't know why we're not texting like that. 609 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 1: And also Rain Will said, I was like, he didn't 610 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 1: not tell me he was going to post that to 611 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: his millions of followers, like luckily everything was fine, but 612 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,879 Speaker 1: yeah he wasn't. Again, just tell me the joke because 613 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:12,760 Speaker 1: it will make me laugh. What was you can't remember 614 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 1: it either? Everything about what it was. It was about money, hute, 615 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,359 Speaker 1: We'll have to look it up something totally. I feel 616 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 1: like it was bordering on inappropriate and then it was 617 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:26,479 Speaker 1: actually fine. Rain is so weird, like when he says 618 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: he's I feel like he and Dwight are weird in 619 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: such specific ways and wildly different ways. But they're both 620 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: very weird people. But except Rain is actually like extremely kind. 621 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 1: Well I guess White was kind, but um, it is 622 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: the funniest thing he no text out of the blue, 623 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: the most insane thing, and it makes me so happy 624 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 1: that I know him. But anyway, yes, he posted that exchange. 625 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: We need to start texting not a regular occurrence with Rain, 626 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: and what it happens is like, but don't you feel 627 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:57,919 Speaker 1: that we with so many people from the office where 628 00:36:57,920 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: like you don't hear from them for a while, and 629 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: then you do and it's like no time is past. 630 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: I totally I totally feel that way. All right, Ellie, 631 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,240 Speaker 1: I will talk to you soon. Thank you so much, 632 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,319 Speaker 1: Thank you, Brian. This is what a bright spot in 633 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:13,560 Speaker 1: this otherwise bleak time. So I'm so good to hear 634 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 1: your voice. Once everything is calmed down, we're having the biggest, 635 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 1: like celebratory dinner out in a restaurant. It might be 636 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:24,040 Speaker 1: five years from now, but we're doing it. Sounds perfect, okay, alright, alright, 637 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:42,280 Speaker 1: by bye. Oh there you have her, Ellie kemper, Ellie, 638 00:37:42,520 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: we are on. We are so on for that dinner. 639 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: I just hope it's not five years. Please let's not 640 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 1: have it be five years. Thank you Ellie for your wit, 641 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:56,720 Speaker 1: for your insight. I always have the most fun talking 642 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,840 Speaker 1: to you and to my dear listeners. I had so 643 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: much fun bringing you this interview. So please come back 644 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: next week and join Ellie and I for that dinner. 645 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 1: We'd be happy to have you. Um. But in the meantime, 646 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:16,200 Speaker 1: before the dinner happens, like subscribe review us on whatever 647 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 1: platform you see fit it helps us so much, so, 648 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:35,240 Speaker 1: thank you in advance and have an excellent week the Office. 649 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:39,480 Speaker 1: Deep Dive is hosted and executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, 650 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:44,840 Speaker 1: alongside our executive producer Langley. Our senior producer is Tessa Kramer. 651 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 1: Our producers are Emily Carr and Diego Tapia. Our social 652 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:53,320 Speaker 1: media producer is Liz Hayes, and our intern is Hannah Harris. 653 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 1: My main man in the booth is Alec Moore. Our 654 00:38:56,840 --> 00:39:00,360 Speaker 1: theme song Bubble and Squeak, performed by my great friend 655 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: Creed Bratton, and the episode was mixed by seth Olandsky 656 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:14,840 Speaker 1: h