Ellie Kemper

you guessed it. It's Ellie Kemper. Now listening back to this one. This was a bit of a trip for me because I spoke with Ellie in April of Does anyone remember something that was going on in the world around that time? No, not murder hornets, No, not not Kanye running for president. Now, it was the early days of the global pandemic known as coronavirus. So I talked to Ellie over zoom. This was back when zoom was still a new thing. I didn't even know what a

zoom was at that point. But you're gonna hear us trying to figure out the technology talking about quarantine. We were so naive back then. Anyways, enough about that, Let's just focus on our conversation, our great conversation, and and the great episode that I have for you. So sit back, relax, and listen to the soothing sounds of and the hilarious Ellie Kemper, bubble and squeak. I love it, Bubble and squeak on bubble and squeaker cookie, every moment left over

from the nab pole. Am I in the meeting? Oh? Ellie, you are in the meeting? Can you hear me? Okay? I actually don't know. I can hear me? Okay? Can you hear me? Okay? I can hear you? Crystal clear? God, that's so great, Ellie. It's so nice to hear your voice. Brian, I have still been looking It's so nice to hear your voice. I have still been looking forward to this for many reasons. I mean, originally this meeting is being did Okay, we got it, and I was looking forward

to it, of course for obvious reasons. And now during this unimaginable time, it is so nice to hear your voice. I know. Are you all okay? Yes? We are hungering down. You guys just decided to get out of New York. We were actually in Montreal when like mid March or whenever everything started shutting down, so we were already out of New York. We decided better to avoid going back there. So that's why we came to St. Louis, which is where I'm Do you know I'm from here? Yeah? No,

I know, No, I know Jenna Phillis. Yeah, all of you guys, have you seen Phillis or no? Because you're social distancing, social distancing, I've seen have you seen? I've seen no one. I feel like I don't know how to interact with humans anymore beside my family. Is that going to be weird? I think it is. Well, we were once going to do this in person. We were, but it's so nice to hear from you, I mean

over the phone. Yeah. I just can't believe it. Like, what was it two months ago when we were trying to meet up in New York and it seemed like a very normal Like it was just like logistics that got in the way. But it was like, oh, yeah, I'm going to be New York. Oh great, You're flying to New York on an airplane with other passengers and I'll meet you downtown and I'll give you a hug and like lick your palm. Yeah, there won't be any issues with those things. No, exactly, Um, Ellie, So what

were you doing? What were you doing before the Office? What was I doing? Okay, so I was about to say very little, but that's not true. I was doing commercials. That's how I was earning money through commercials. In terms of I guess creative opportunities. I was doing mostly unpaid work at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and I was doing two person shows and one person shows an actual

improvisation and um. But professionally it was mostly commercials up until that point, I think I had I had, like, oh, I I did something on a show called Daily Pops, which I think was on MTV. It was like an eight series, eight episode series. Um, I want to say that Kim Kardashian made a cameo. And I'm technically Kim Kardashian's co star. I think she made a cameo in one of these Daily Pops. You work together, We worked together, worked together, inspired her. But yes, um, I mean obviously

The Office was my enormous we big break. Did you watch the Office, Brian did. I watched The Office. I devoured The Office. I was an enormous Office fan. You don't know what this is like because obviously you were on it from the start. But I loved The Office. I watched it every week. It's very strange to go from watching a television show that you happen to love

and then being in the room with everybody. I actually the first day, of course, felt surreal for many reasons, but it's it's weird when you I think maybe anyone has had this experience. If you watch someone on a screen and then you see them in person, it feels otherworldly. And particularly because I already loved everyone on it and admired them so much, it felt even stranger because yeah, I was a huge fan. It's very weird. I really tried to play it cool. Well, so wait, literally, you

watched it Thursday night? Yes, yes, I did. I lived in New York at the time, and we always my my whole family was a fan of the Office. Have I told you that? Mos make sure reminded us of my older brother John college, like when John was in college, So we had like a big joke about that. But yeah, I lived in New York and I watched the Office every Thursday, and had you met Alison Jones before? No, So I met with Greg and Mike, Greg Daniels and Mike Sure. I think I was meeting with them for

Parks and Recreation. This was before Parks and Recreation was had aired, and I think that's what it was about. I really don't know. It was sort of just a general hello. And after that I met Alison when I actually read for Parks and Recreation, which it wasn't called Parks and Recreation, it was like untitled make Sure Project. And then I didn't get a part on Parks and Recreation. But then they called me back later for the Office and your first day on set? Were you nervous? I

was so nervous. I first, okay, I can't remember the actual very first person I met. I remember telling John Krasinski, who I had read was an intern at Conan and I had been an Internet Conan because my first scene, John is making a Jim Jim excuse me, It is making a copy at the copy machine, and I'm like sitting there and I was like, like, in between takes, I was like, so, um, yeah, um, you've interned to Conan, right, Why did I feel they need to strike up conversation.

I am the new person. I think I should stay quiet until spoken to. But I was unusually bold and he said, oh, yeah, you know colne In And I said I had turned there too. That was it. I don't know if somebody walked away, somebody saved me, because I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have kept that conversation going very well. And then and then the big news, Brian, I had to dye my hair that day. I have red hair, and as soon as I got there, they

were like, you have to dye your hair brown. And I remember, Mindy, I saw in the morning and I saw in the afternoon, and I had brown hair in the afternoon, and she said, why did you let them do that? I would never let anyone dye my hair like uh, because in my first jobs ever, they can do whatever they want. Anyway, why did they dye your hair? Well? Do you know? I still don't know. I think the reason was they said it looked at this new character's

hair looked too close to Pam's color. But I never Pam, never Jenna, But I mean the character Pam. Pam didn't have red hair, did she like was it jest study. Yeah, I guess I'm not real good at hair, I'll be honest with you, honestly, apparently neither of my But anyway, yeah, first day memories are sort of blurry because I was so I don't know, I don't think you can relate to this feeling because, like I said, you were there

from the start. But it was just so it was first day of school, but to the millions of degree because it was like I already I'm like in awe of all these people and I'm the new girl. Don't mess anything up. Yeah, I did fairly recently. Actually, I had a similar experience. It was not such a CULTI show. But being a guest star is a very difficult thing. It doesn't matter who you are. It's tough. It's tough.

It's just because you, like you just said, it doesn't matter who you are, because in that moment, you're the guests, and so it's like their home. And so I think it's ner wrecking to start any new job, but when it's already in motion and you're the You're the thing

that's being added, it's totally nerve wracking. And especially I don't know what your arc what like they for the office was written as a four episode arc, so I felt like, Okay, this is finite amount of time, and you want to do an excellent job, but you also want to be deferential to the people who have already you know, the regular cast, like the family that's already there, right, So that's what I was going to ask you. So when you showed up, it was originally just for four episodes.

That was That was what your understanding was. That was my understanding. Pam was going to work at the Michael Scott Paper Company and they needed a temporary receptionist in the meantime, and then Pam ended up getting promoted to salesperson. And that's why my character state which I couldn't believe that that had happened, but yes, that's how I have always perceived it. I think that's what happened. And when did you get an idea that you might be around

a little bit longer? I truly think because it was how man Brian. I was worried this would happened. I was like, I don't know if it happens to you. I'm like alarmed by my memory sometimes because it can be so fuzzy okay, few, it's bad and like, right now, I can't remember if those four episodes were the last four episodes of that season or if there were a few more. Maybe they added it, right, it was definitely

the end. I didn't find out until that season had wrapped that they were going to keep my character on, So I don't think I got any angling that it might be longer than four episodes. I think it was just like, Okay, just do this for a month and then get out without messing anything up. Well, I want to share with you something that Claire Scanlon actually told me. What Claire said was that a lot of people would come in and it was basically a four to six

episode audition. And she remembers watching you in one of your early episodes and you had some scenes with Steve, and she remembers in the editing bay watching that and saying to herself, Oh, she's going to be around for a while. Oh, you're gonna make ry that is That's the sweetest compliment. That's the biggest compliment, because there's no higher praise and something like that, because I so admire the work that you guys do and how you put up the show so anyway, that's very kind of you

to share with me. But of course you the actor never feel sure of anything because he's like, this could all go away tomorrow. What do you think that Aaron,

the character of Aaron brought to the office. Well, I feel you know, I felt like my own difficulty was playing Aaron would just be that some of the things she said, we're so cartoony and so uh, sort of cartoony, I think is the word, because I don't want to say she was flaky or did s or anything like that, because I do think she was smart, but she said a lot of things that a more grounded person wouldn't say.

At the same time, you know, she had these very serious arc with Michael and these series arts with Andy, and you know, there was some real depth to this character, and so I felt like what she brought to the office was certainly some levity. She was such such an odd bird, but that she also, um, I hope she brought some sweetness and I think she wanted to be very good at her job, and she was very earnest

about it. But I also think that unintentionally he was sort of funny, not not knowing that she was being funny because you know, not totally grounded, right. I think Paul fig directed one of your first episodes and he talks about directing a talking head that you were giving and he was taken with you and your energy and the character and how different it was from everybody else

on the show. It's a bunch of disgruntled, put upon office workers that are you know, I have to deal with this crazy boss that makes them crazy, and all they want to do is punch in and punch, shout and go home. And why would anyone want to work in a paper company? Whereas Aaron's energy was very positive and she just loved being there. Yes, that I feel, and you hit it on the head, you know. Family maybe a little bit over it, Oscar maybe over it,

but Aaron lived for it. She loved being there. Like you can imagine her getting ready for work in the morning. She wanted to excel at her jobs. She wanted to do a very good job, you know, I believe, within like thirty seconds in the audience, meeting this new character, she agrees to go by her middle name, like yeah, yeah, I'll go by Aaron, Like she just wanted to be there, right. It occurs to me, however, that Aaron agrees to change her name on the first day and you agreed to

change your hair color on the first day. Right, this is where I get worried, because you're right, and I worried some of the things Aaron would say. I'm like, the writer is making fun of me. Ellie here, I might say something that, um do you could not be more And I'm sure when people meet you they assume, oh, he's going to be like Kevin, when you are the polar opposite of Kevin, like the polar opposite. Well, I feel like I'm a little similar. Well, you're infectious energy,

oh good, wow, and positivity. Positivity. I hope that I share Aaron's positivity. But yeah, how what do you think? I feel like there's some characters in casts who do sort of overlap a bit. I mean, I know this is that you were asking the questions, but I feel like you overlap with Kevin. Not at all. I hope the least. I think the least. I hope, I hope the least. Is there anything I don't think there's anything anyway.

I well, I enjoy sports. There's something there's yes, And I might be a little childlike at times, well who is So? You had a number of relationships throughout the show. I mean probably in some ways your your central relationship you brought up is was your relationship with Michael. It's almost a father daughter thing going on in a way, as like a mentor someone you look up to. You're probably the only character that looks up to Michael Scott.

Like she never felt like beaten down by him or rolled her eyes at him, you know what I mean, Oh my gosh. No, on the contrary, she she adored him like he was I think an inspire ration to her and just like he was just the tops I think to Aaron, because I remember when Aaron meets Holly, She's just like so it's almost like she's territorial. She's like, this is the lady who's stealing Michael's heart. She she's just so skeptical of this woman because she feels like

no one is good enough for Michael Scott. Which is really funny, and it definitely felt like a father daughter relationship. I thought it was very tender and very sweet and very well written that I think the way they the writer's crafted that whole relationship was it was really sweet. Why do you think they bonded a little. To use your word, I think they are both a little childlike. I mean, you're word about something else entirely was just a word. I just heard that. I said, you didn't

describe it as child like. What you just said that word, and now I love it. I think that they both are a little childlike. I think that they're they're both odd. And I think that um, Aaron didn't have and she never ever had a stable frontal figure in her life, and certainly not a strong male figure in her life. And I think that she found that in Michael. I mean, just by definition he was her boss. I think there was this thing of like admiring him and looking up

to him. But that also when she got to know him a little, I think that she I think he was kind to her. I don't think he I don't want to say mistreated, but I think he was like fair and respectful to her, and so I think she just sort of clung to that. And like I said, I mean, well, although my favorite episode for Aaron is Secretary's Day and when she when Aaron is like even weirding out Michael, she like out weird Michael Scott they're having lunch together and Michael just can't take it anymore

because she's so strange. That's when I felt like, oh wow, well so yeah, so even he seems much more grounded in this in this world than she is. That was one of the best days of my life that I

just remember. We we sat that restaurant scene on a Friday, and I was like, I couldn't believe how lucky it was to be able to be in a scene speakerl like that that it was just MINDI wrote it, and I believe Steve directed that episode, and it was just like the real because like, who on the planet is like, there's no one really, So yeah, again, you started from day one, So I don't know if you ever had

that feeling of like did it all wait? Well, I will do my separate interview with you where I asked the question. But I'm so curious to know how it felt to you guys, because I had such a different experience, obviously because I came into it midway and it was like my whole time there felt like I felt a

little bit giddy. I don't know if if you had that you were there from the beginning, Well, if you listen to this podcast, then you will get the full detailed answer, but the short The short answer would be nobody was famous before it started, and nobody, no, nobody knew enough but immediately his ability to improv in the moment on topic is I don't know, I think he's maybe the best person on the planet at that Oh

I do too. And to be honest with you, Brian, sometimes when like the director would say, okay, now you know, like fun run whatever, I was like, guys, I would think to myself, I'd be like, let's just let Steve have a fun run because he's um. Do you think that you sorry? Do you think that Aaron and Andy were a good match? I never thought so. Is that terrible to say? I don't know. I felt like and

he was a bit too childish. I don't think he was ready to um take care of Aaron the way she needed to be and I and I think Aaron was ready to take care of him. But I felt like it was uneven in that respect. So yeah, I I I love Ed. I love that we got to be in so many scenes together, but that actual it never felt quite fair to me that relationship. I feel like it was uneven well, and then she chose to Gabe. Was he a better match? Who should Aaron be with?

I don't know. I don't know. I don't think that was a better match. And I adore Zach, but I do not. I mean, that was a very strange mass. And then I also felt like with Jake Lacey, I didn't feel that was quite right either. I don't know. It seems like she I don't know who Aaron should be with, but someone like odd but also able to take Again. When I say take care of her, I don't mean she needs to be taken care of, but I mean how a couple takes care of each other.

So I don't know. I didn't feel like she ever quite got her right match in that show. Do you know that I pitched Kevin and Aaron getting together, Ah, Bryan, I think that would be a pretty reasonable relationship. I went up to the writer's room and I said, if Kevin could mature just a little, there was something about their energy that I thought was right. It's almost like the static being and the hummingbird that goes around, but somehow still their energy is matched in a weird way

that actually makes perfect sense to me. I love that pitch. I'm sorry I wasn't there for it. I should have should have called you Anne. What you know what I had in that writer? Um, I don't think I ever went to the writer's room. What did you have? Any favorite moments? Some of the favorite things when Aaron really like you know, like lived out how crazy she was. I loved those moments. I loved Cafe Disco. I loved that episode. I loved Dancing with Mindy and it was

just like a weird episode that was so funny. I loved that episode. And um, oh my gosh, I loved the bus episode directed by Brian Cranston. Brian, you remember we all almost died. Yes, we almost were given carbon monoxide poisoning, to name one of many ways we almost died. I at the time, I don't think I was enjoying it, And now in retrospect, I'm like, that was fun. Um. Oh, Brian, you'll remember I went my pants on that bus during

the Shibuya roll call. Um. It was like, I don't know what you guys were doing, but I got a case of the giggles and I went my pants and I was like, how long can I had this wish? I just fessed up right away. And I did fess up right away, and all the ladies were like, oh, you need know the skirt, Like nobody was face and literally all the guys because I had said it sort of loudly because there was no word of the guys didn't understand it. But the women, the ladies had my back. Um,

how do you feel like things changed with Steve leaving? Oh? My gosh, O wait, sorry, a baby is crying. It's the monitor. I'm going to turn down the blast I promised someone is watching the baby. Isn't it scary how you can just turn down the monitor and then it's like the baby isn't crying anymore that my husband's lasting, I swear. Okay, Um, it's embarrassing how upset I was about Steve leaving. And I feel like there was one moment when my grain was like, why are you sackcause

because I was like, I think how long? I guess he was on for two seasons while I was there, and then there were two seasons were there two seasons after he left? Yeah, So it's not like I shared nearly the amount of time that you guys did with him, but I felt so it felt like a very bitter sweet time. I don't know, how did you feel, Oh, I was incredibly difficult. I'm glad you say what do you think? What do you think the greater loss was. It's not a trick question, Okay, Steve or Michael Ryant.

That's a very good question. Oh well, of course I have to say Steve because he was such a leader, and he was such a quiet leader, and he was the backbone of the whole show, and so you know, he was just like hard working, never complained, kind, quiet, did his job, generous, selfless. I feel like he's the supreme example of how a person should behave and so it was of course an enormous loss when he left. I mean, everybody carried on, okay, it's not like everybody

went crazy. But who was it? I feel like, um, it was Kelly Cantley, one of our assistant directors for those of you just joining us at the end, and she said something like I think it was her who said that he kept everyone in like he was the head duck and he kept all the little duck laings in line. And it's true, like when he was gone, I feel like, okay, well Dad's not here, and maybe you know, people wouldn't come to set right on time

or whatever, like a little very tiny transgressions. But yeah, I felt like that was a real that was an energy that was really you know lost. But yes, as an office, I feel like Michael was when he was a backbone of that workplace as well. So of course the whole D'Angelo vickers, I mean that was brilliant. That eased the transition. I thought with Will Ferrell, oh my gosh, right, yeah,

that was great. Well, and there were, you know, in the end, a lot of big guest stars that came onto our little show that we weren't supposed to have known people right like Cathy Bays, James Spader. That was more than a guest star, I guess. Yeah. How do you think that their energy changed things? That's a good question. I mean I feel like they, you know, they're all such excellent actors that it I mean this in a in a complimentary way, that they blended into the um

energy of the office. But on a personal level, I felt like, oh, I can't believe these giants are in this room with us, because it is such a drab of everyday office and then you have these I feel like it's always steel surreal because you have these huge people coming in, but they're not in the world of the office, right, that's interesting. I I loved Robert California.

I thought that he I thought he was such strange, but I thought that his addition to the office was actually great and that he was never going to be a replacement for Michael Scott, but that it was just a different energy altogether, and I thought it suited the office. I mean dunder Milin like pretty well, where it was just I mean, he was strange, Brian that character. Yes, yes, do you remember Pool Party? That's the episode that I referenced being when people are like what was your least

favorite or what was the hardest episode? I always a pool party, and it was remember the pool being particularly like a great temperature, and I feel like it was it felt like many days in that pool, right, many days, many many days. Yeah. Yeah, I don't I always I don't have I don't have like traumatic memories of that, but I just remember that I was like, this is It's just always an episode that I remember, I guess

because it was it distribushed itself by being in a pool. Also, I feel like the week before is when we got the heads up like, oh yeah, you guys are going to be in a pool for the next week at the table where they were like, oh yeah, do we not mention you You're gonna be in the pool for a week? Swim right right. So the finale of the shop, we come back for Dwight and Angela's wedding, and there's also a Q and A that we do. Yes, there's a Q and A the cast of the documentaries, you know,

answering questions from the documentary that aired. I know personally that's when aaron parents who are in the audience, asking questions and what a like beautiful, beautiful end I thought for Aaron anyway, like a beautiful end to her arc. Aaron never really had a permanent family, like growing up, she was in foster homes. And I just loved that the writers arranged that for Aaron at the end, to meet her birth parents. That was so And of course

you couldn't have gotten too better. It was Ed Begley Jr. And Joan Cusack, who you're like, by the way, do you know I still have Joan not to creep you out or Joan qu sack out? But I still have her card again. She gave me her card again. I said something like either complimented her card again or I said it smelled so good or something. This is on the last day, so you're gonna have it. She took his off and she gave it to me. Well, but

did she give it to you too? Used for a minute, or was she like, no, you take this, She said you can have it. You know, maybe she literally just meant you can borrow it, and I never gave it back. All right, well, yeah, it's very possible I misinterpreted that. That would seem about right. Oh my gosh. By the way, do you remember that was during the finale obviously, remember we had to work like two saturdays in a row, and we were like, oh my gosh, I can't believe it.

That was the only I think Saturday I ever worked on that show. No, I think I enjoyed just every minute of it. I don't know what you're talking about. I will share this with you. We don't have this on tape anywhere, but I will share this with you. We were very very well behaved cast. Some would say churchly, but you know, there were a few of us that were maybe visited Kevin's bar that he had in the finale that maybe had a little bit to my just to drink on set. There you go and well committed

to tape. Okay we haven't recorded, but it took until the finale to do that, right, Yes, exactly, a very well behaved guest until Kevin's Bar. Yeah, exactly. Did you go to the Rat Party in Scranton? Yes, First of all, the Rat party that night, Like I remember, we wrapped on a Saturday, and I believe I met you and Angela. I just remember that we drove to the Rat party together and then yeah, that was so much fun that night. I just remember the l A Marathon was the next

day and I was like, how is anyone running? Because we were absolute but um, the Scranton Rap Party was one of the best weekends of my life. That was phenomenal. And do you remember how Christina was, Brian, It was like, there's not a cloud in the sky. The baseball game, Brian, did we throw Wait? What happened? Why were we at the somebody who threw out a pitch? Somebody did? No, we were just doing a Q and A in the baseball stadium because they needed the biggest venue that they

could fine, Oh my gosh. And then we went to was at the backyard fence backyard Adale House. Oh and then we just like we're behind the bar. That was unbelievable was that the most special weekend ever was the best and the people who lived there are so welcoming and warm and kind. That was really an amazing event. Have you been? Oh wait, you told me where you were on your way there when we couldn't meet up

in New York. I just went yes. I went back to the to the ballpark, I went back to the Backyardale House to revisit some sites and to talk to some of the folks there, I mean, and really talking to them about how crazy it is that The Office was big when it was on, and it seemingly has only grown in popularity since two thousand seventeen. It has over a hundred fifty three billion minutes watched streaming. Oh my god, it with a B. I mean that I again as a fan, because I have this perspective. It

makes perfect sense to me. It's a comforting show. It's a healing show. It's not cynical. It's like a really kind show. And and I think when you're watching it, you feel like you know these people intimately and like and what I love is kids who were too young when it was first on and watch it now. I mean,

these kids are in middle school, they're high school. They don't know what an office workplace is, but they know what school is and they know and I think that's how they relate to it, is that it's it's any it's any situation where you're with the same people day and day out, and everyone has these very distinct personalities and it's an infinitely relatable show. But so I understand why people watch it so much because I did too.

And it's like, I think, with Netflix, no one could have ever predicted how many people would view this show, don't you feel I feel so lucky that we got to be well again as a newcomer. I feel so lucky that I got to have any parts in it. But it's really cool, Like how how how people are still watching it? Yeah? It is. If it weren't for The Office, where do you think you would be? Now?

Oh my gosh, Actually I take that back because on the same day that I auditioned for the Office, I also auditioned for a show called Cophouse and cop House was a pilot written by the brilliant Adam Resnick, who I adore. I don't think that the show was ordered to series, but I think I would have been in a pilot called cop House, and from there, I don't know what I would have done. That's very interesting. You

were almost on cop House. I was almost the star of cop House, so I would have done that and the oh, I don't know what. Yeah, I don't know what. That's a great question. I hope I would have found work somewhere else, but nowhere would have been, of course, of course as special as the office. Ellie. It's so great to hear your voice. I'm only sorry that I'm not seeing you in person and probably won't until two two when there's a vaccine, but it is so thank

you for talking to me. It is so wonderful. I, like I said, I've been looking forward to this, just like selfishly as it picked me up separately. We need like a two hour long just personal catch up. I know I would love that, and I will tell you that. At some point, I think Rain posted a text exchange between you and him on the internet and I saw it and I was like Oh my god, why aren't Ellian I texting like that? Because it just really made me smile. I don't know why we're not texting like that.

And also Rain Will said, I was like, he didn't not tell me he was going to post that to his millions of followers, like luckily everything was fine, but yeah he wasn't. Again, just tell me the joke because it will make me laugh. What was you can't remember it either? Everything about what it was. It was about money, hute, We'll have to look it up something totally. I feel like it was bordering on inappropriate and then it was

actually fine. Rain is so weird, like when he says he's I feel like he and Dwight are weird in such specific ways and wildly different ways. But they're both very weird people. But except Rain is actually like extremely kind. Well I guess White was kind, but um, it is the funniest thing he no text out of the blue, the most insane thing, and it makes me so happy that I know him. But anyway, yes, he posted that exchange.

We need to start texting not a regular occurrence with Rain, and what it happens is like, but don't you feel that we with so many people from the office where like you don't hear from them for a while, and then you do and it's like no time is past. I totally I totally feel that way. All right, Ellie, I will talk to you soon. Thank you so much, Thank you, Brian. This is what a bright spot in this otherwise bleak time. So I'm so good to hear

your voice. Once everything is calmed down, we're having the biggest, like celebratory dinner out in a restaurant. It might be five years from now, but we're doing it. Sounds perfect, okay, alright, alright, by bye. Oh there you have her, Ellie kemper, Ellie, we are on. We are so on for that dinner. I just hope it's not five years. Please let's not have it be five years. Thank you Ellie for your wit, for your insight. I always have the most fun talking to you and to my dear listeners. I had so

much fun bringing you this interview. So please come back next week and join Ellie and I for that dinner. We'd be happy to have you. Um. But in the meantime, before the dinner happens, like subscribe review us on whatever platform you see fit it helps us so much, so, thank you in advance and have an excellent week the Office. Deep Dive is hosted and executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, alongside our executive producer Langley. Our senior producer is Tessa Kramer.

Our producers are Emily Carr and Diego Tapia. Our social media producer is Liz Hayes, and our intern is Hannah Harris. My main man in the booth is Alec Moore. Our theme song Bubble and Squeak, performed by my great friend Creed Bratton, and the episode was mixed by seth Olandsky h