Brian Baumgartner Reflects On ‘The Office’’s Christmas Episode

In keeping with Brian Baumgartner, the success of “The Workplace” may simply be its personal Christmas miracle.

The actor, finest identified for his function as Kevin Malone, joined former co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey on a particular vacation bonus episode of their “Workplace Girls” podcast to reminisce in regards to the beloved sitcom’s festive episodes and the influence that they had.

Baumgartner, who starred within the hit NBC sequence from 2005 to 2013, mirrored on how his recollections of the present’s vacation episodes are deeply tied to what was occurring “outdoors” the fictional world of “The Workplace.”

The actor admitted that he believes that “The Workplace”’s first Christmas episode was a turning level that catapulted the present to mainstream success and solidified its place in tv historical past.

“It is about what was occurring outdoors. And as I am certain you guys have or will speak about, like, that very first Christmas episode,” he informed Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. “It did not launch the present. It wasn’t the primary episode of the present. However that episode actually launched the success of the present.”

“That episode turned our largest viewers for the reason that premiere,” he added of the season 2 episode, “Christmas Celebration.” “And from there, , then Steve [Carell] wins the Golden Globe, like, three or 4 weeks later, all the things begins occurring.”

“We turned a nook,” Kinsey, who performed Angela, chimed in. “You understand, at that time, we did not actually have a full order for the season. And so they began — after that, it turned clear we have been gonna be round for some time.”

Fischer, who performed Pam, remembered the vacation episodes as among the most “joyous” to make. “We actually could be in these, like, group occasion conditions for a lot of the episode.”

“I am certain we have been very arduous to wrangle,” she added. “We have been most likely, like, making an attempt to make a TV present with a room stuffed with 6-year-olds or one thing, doing all our bits.”

The primary Christmas episode of “The Office,” titled “Christmas Celebration,” aired on December 6, 2005, through the present’s second season. Broadly considered a fan favourite, it’s credited with serving to solidify the sequence’ recognition.

The episode follows Michael Scott (Steve Carell) as he throws an workplace Christmas occasion that shortly goes off the rails. Initially, the crew is ready to change considerate items by a Secret Santa recreation, however Michael turns it right into a chaotic Yankee Swap (White Elephant) change.

This creates pressure as some workers had put vital effort into their items, like Jim (John Krasinski), who offers Pam (Jenna Fischer) a teapot stuffed with mementos referencing their inside jokes. Others, like Michael, ignored the $20 present restrict, with Michael gifting a $400 iPod to showcase his generosity and search approval from the crew.

The episode highlights the quirky dynamics of the workplace, from Angela’s strict management over the Christmas tree to Kevin’s pleasure over a footbath present. Because the occasion progresses, Michael tries to salvage the temper by shopping for liquor for the crew, resulting in hilariously awkward moments.

The episode strikes a stability between humor and coronary heart, additional creating Jim and Pam’s budding romance whereas showcasing Michael’s determined want for validation. It turned a cultural touchstone and stays a vacation basic.

“Christmas Celebration” additionally marked a turning level for the sequence, demonstrating how “The Workplace” may flip relatable office situations into comedic gold. It earned the present its first Emmy nomination for Excellent Single-Digital camera Image Enhancing for a Comedy Sequence and performed a big function in constructing momentum throughout its second season, serving to “The Workplace” transition right into a mainstream hit.

The trio reminisced a few chaotic second from the 2009 episode “Secret Santa,” the place Carell’s Michael Scott, dressed as Santa, had Kevin (performed by Baumgartner) sit on his lap. Fischer shared that the forged couldn’t make it by the scene with out breaking into laughter.

“Should you watch that episode, persons are breaking within the background,” Fischer stated. “We by no means, ever bought a take the place folks held it collectively the entire time lengthy sufficient to really put the present collectively. I feel they only gave up. They have been like, ‘Overlook it. That is what it’s.’”