John Krasinski & Craig Robinson Birthday Special

to school? And she said some school and I went, I did not go to that school and she went, yes you did, and like I was like okay, and then I left and I could see that either someone else, someone else has been like you don't know that person. You just thought that it was at the Airport bookshop. And then through the window you saw them being like silence, being like, oh god, it was great. Oh. I'm John

Krasinski and I played Jim Helpert on The Office. Hi, I'm Craig Robinson and I played Darryl on The Office. Hi everyb and welcome back to Off the Beat, a very special episode of Off the Beat. I am your host, Brian baum Gartner. Now this is a pretty special week. Right, It's October, We're we're nearing all hollows eve, if you will. But also this week, many many many moons ago, two

of my absolute favorite people on the planet. We're born John Krasinski, who you know Jim Halpert from the Office, and Craig Robinson, who played everybody's favorite warehouse foreman Darryl Philban. This year, well, I I have decided to put myself in charge of the party planning committee. That's right, somebody had to pick up the mantle. And I thought that a great way to celebrate my friends would be to go into the archives and revisit some of my conversations

with them. So that's why I'm gonna do. And you listeners, you're in for a treat because these guys and our conversations, they were pretty they were pretty great. First, we're gonna go to John. Now you may not know this, but John and I we don't live so close together anymore. So I traveled all the way across the country to New York City to meet him and to have this conversation. And I have to say, from the moment that I

saw him, it was like zero time had passed. Now these days, we've been in touch quite a lot because, as you know we're in football season and the office Fantasy Football league is it. It's eighteenth year. We're in full swing, almost halfway through the season. I need to update you. J K and I are tied. We're both three and three. I have a few more points. I'm in fourth, He's in fifth. It's a race to the playoffs.

But worth noting Rain dead last twelfth place, and I always need to bring up Rain's position, especially when he is failing this year very very hard. Happy birthday, John, I hope you all enjoy this best of off the beat here. He is my pal, John Krasinski. Bubble and Squeak. I love it. Bubble and squeak on Bubble and Squeaker cookie every month, left over from the night before. He body just never Thanks for choosing to kill floor to record this. Hey, what do you mean the little scariest darst?

I actually agree. I got out and looked I right and was like, where I think I'm in the wrong spot? Oh, what's up are you doing? Dude? What's your hats? Um? How are you? By the way, just so you know this is not Rebecca. I just want to teach you about things when you were like found a place in Tribeca. I didn't say that. I said this is this is horrible. We're recording this on the Statland. It's literally horrible to get here. I ended up getting out of my car

and walked because I'm still taking you in. I'm just drinking you in. You have not changed. It's really frustrating what everyone says that I really feel like I have. No, you haven't. I certainly am. You have a lot. I'm elderly. Why would you say that I feel elderly? Else I can't even say elderly. What's with the intense beer though? Um? It started with laziness and then turned into winter, so

it's just insulation. Really, gotta be honest. My wife I was gonna shave it, and she went, don't do that, so she liked it. Hello, Um, I can't you know I love No, I like it. No, I'm saying I love it here here in New York just too cold. We've moved on from the beard. Okay, well you talked about winter. I thought that was a seamless transition. Get ready for a lot of those I love it here. You should move here. It's really cold and it's literally the opposite of what you want. There's not a lot

of golf. You've really done the post office thing, right, I'll tell you that. What do you mean, just you know, show ends. You just become this like golfing extraordinaire. Like people don't know that I was over in Monte Carlo, Monica, Monica, Monica, one of those ms. Yeah, that's Carlo and Monico. I think it's kind of the same thing. I'm not clear of. All I know is that I heard that you were there. I texted you and you said, I'm going, oh my god, this is great. I'm about to golf on a cliff

overlooking like nice or something. It was like cool, man, sorry about your life. Um, look at that you had notes? Is so official? No, no, I mean this is let's get back to it. You've now gotten everybody almost other than Steve basically, Uh yeah, Mike, sure, I'm gonna start making this noise. I'm sure I'm gonna get that note pretty soon. Yep, that's a nod in the back. Alison Jones. Did you get Phillis? Yep? And I got them together as Ah, that's awesome. Alison knew Phillis did not. Man, Yeah,

they were like mystics. They knew what was happening before we did. In the casting process. They knew they were cooking something. But you started in New York, I did, Yeah, yeah, so you just it was like what an open call or you got called into I got, wow, the elderly thing's taken it. I got I had just gotten a manager. I had gone out to l A to shoot this pilot and then they immediately didn't pick it up. And before I left l A, my manager said you should

meet this person, Alison Jones. So I went by and met her and wanted her to adopt me. And then she said, you should pay attention to this thing coming out soon and it's called The Office and you should you should come in for it. And I said, oh, that's really nice. So I got back to New York and about three weeks later my manager called and said, they want you to come in for the show called The Office. And I was like, Alison Jones pro and they said they want you to come in for the

role of Dwight. And at that point I had seen and fallen in love with the British show. I was down at Virgin Records. Remember that I was down at Virgin Records and Union Square buying the like black DVD case with this special edition and just binge watching that thing. And that's what made me so nervous, so that I actually said, I don't know where I got I was still waiting tables, and I don't know where I got the confidence to go, yeah, no, I don't want to

go in for Dwight. Let me know when they're doing the Tim character. And they basically said like, how dare you? Who are you? And my manager did say he was like wow, that didn't go great. They were very upset, and then, very luckily for me, like four three four weeks later, they still hadn't found a gym, and then they were like, now you can come in for Jim and I was like okay, and then I went in trying to remember I guess I did one just with

the casting people. It was totally terrified, because not only was I excited about the prospect of getting the part, but I was also very nervous, Oh my god, I don't want to be on one of those shows that because I was such a TV nerd, and I remember like Arrest of Development was coming out around then and that was really good and smart, and I was like, oh no, we're going to take a really good, smart

show and kill it. And while I was waiting in the waiting room, six gyms that looked identical to me had gone in and done their audition and left, and we're like high fiving each other, and I was the last one, and right at that exact moment, they were like, we're gonna take a lunch break for an hour, and I was like, oh, maybe see one more and we get one more in and I sat there very nervous,

and everybody left. It was at thirty rock, and then they came back with sandwiches and salads and someone sat down across from me with a salad and said, you know you're nervous, and I said, no, you know, you either get these things or you don't. But I'm terrified for the person creating a show, because I mean, I I just feel like Americans have such a track record of taking brilliant shows and ruining them. And he goes, I'll try not to. My name is Greg Daniels. I'm

the executive ucer. And then I called my manager and said, I'm going to leave now. There's no way I can go into this room. And he was like you have to, you have to go in, and you know, blah blah blah. And I went in and I remember opening the door to a rorious laughter, and it was not laughter with me,

it was definitely laughter at me. And Greg was running the room and very sweetly but just like this is the guy who ruined his own life, and everybody was like laughing, and it, weirdly was this bizarre blessing because because they were already laughing, I felt like I was already in my audition when I walked in, So I just kept going and read some lines and they laughed. And then later I remember Greg saying, I'll never forget that.

You told me that it really helped your audition because you were really honest, and I remember I, that's the vibe that I want on this show, someone who will be honest and make sure that we're all doing good work. And I was like totally. So now I go into every audition for anything just being like, so this movie sucks all right, hasn't worked since. But but the weirdest thing was I came and I didn't know this that there's a dynamic between New York actors and l A actors.

Did you know this, it's like sharks and sets, Like the New York actors go first because they flew in for it. And I remember Jim Gaffigan was on my plane auditioning for Steve's part, and we were all in this room doing auditions, and I remember I got really nervous because we had been auditioning for like two hours, and then they like slowly were letting New York people go. And then I watched all the l A people come in and was just completely judging myself on them. Man,

I'm having like a an acid flashback. But two people walked in that really blew my brain out. One was bj Novak, who I hadn't seen really since high school. We went to high school together, right, so you knew him, and he walked in. He walked Yeah. I mean, imagine like somebody from your high school walking into a bizarre scenario. Already you're in some weird bizarro world auditioning to be doing something pretend for the rest of your life, and

then that person walks in. It was an acid trip and I was like hey, And then I got more nervous because he acted and directed and everything in high school, like he was already in and I was barely an actor. I mean I wasn't an actor. I was a waiter. And I was like, what part are you going out for? And he was like, Oh, we're going I'm doing this part called Ryan It's like and I was like, oh,

you're not going for gym? Then I might say, other shot at this, and then I was like cool man, that's awesome, and was super like giving myself a fist pump. And then I know it sounds like a like a fairy tale, but it's true. I remember Jenni Fisher walking in and as soon as she crossed the threshold on the door, I was like, well, that's it, Like that

is exactly who should play Pam. And then what happened was I watched her go in with all the other gyms and I was like, oh no, because like I saw that they were just lining up the gyms with her, and I was like, see, she's it's the tipping point. She's it. And I remember saying to myself alone in a corner, Uh, if I don't go in with her, I know I don't have it. I know I don't have it. And I never went in with her. And then four hours after they had like go of all

the New York guys. I was sitting there and stood up and walked on set while they were in the middle of someone's audition, and I was like, I'm so sorry. I'm gonna leave now. I think you forgot to let me go home. And from behind a door like a fake wall, they were like all right, and then like Greg came out and they're like, just give us thirty more minutes, and I was like, and I was so insecure,

and then I turned around. I waited another fifteen twenty minutes, and they were like one more, just come on in. And I walked in and I saw that it was Jenna, and I was like, oh my god, if I'm auditioning with her, I'm back. You have a shot. And we did a scene together that was awesome, and I remember having so much fun with it. I think it was at the copier. I think I think it was one at the desk and one at the copier, and we

just had to improv about stuff. And then we were walking out and I turned to her and I was like, just so you know you're gonna get the part. I know you're gonna get the part, and she was like, oh my god, I said the same thing about you. As soon as I saw you. I was like, that's Jim and it was really weird and I was like all right, And again I don't know why this happened, but when I got the part, which was amazing, I legit jumped on a couch did and think that that

was real? And the only question I asked my manager at the time was did Jennificer get it? It was like I didn't even get fully happy until I knew that she was doing the part because I was like, if she's the part, then again, it's just that one more step where like this might be good. It's so interesting because that a four hour story and that was really good. But what it um, it's interesting. I had never heard this before. Greg said she was she was

it from the beginning. Yeah, it's weird, right like and look is just so perfect for it. But then also like I don't know, man, they were selling in her delivery how like I don't know what the word is, like demure or something. And she was so good. I remember being so nervous when I was auditioning with her because I was like, she was so subdued and under where I was like, oh my god, I'm I'm like,

she's doing like physical comedy bits compared to you. So I just went super submerged and was like by the end just being like like barely talking. So so does she help you? Oh? For sure? Because again I knew that my chance, my only chance, was with her, And as soon as I started acting with her, I was like, dude, this is the one. Don't blow this. So talk a little bit about you're a fan of the British show. We start work on a ratings are not good, but

are you feeling good about what we were doing? Oh my god, yeah, I think you know, shooting the pilot, we were all a little nervous, right, I think so we all felt like, oh my god, we're gonna be judged on the actual British script. At least that's what I felt. But I was just so happy to be there.

I knew the group was working really well. I knew the show like our like you said, the world was really good, the vibe was really good, all the actors were incredible, and I gotta be honest, it was probably one of the reasons why I was able to keep a level head because I didn't care if the show did well or not, because I asked, what's his name? Oh my god, um, the executive that came every Friday, and that like, super handsome dude. I'm gonna remember his name.

He was so nice. No, no, no, he's super handsome as well. No, Jeff Engl, I gotta I gotta take a nap after pulling that. Jeff was the nicest guy. But don't you remember he would come down super nice, dressed well, handsome ass guy and I'd be like, what's up, Jap And he's like, oh, great, I love this episode. This will be the last one. And I was like oh, and he's like, yeah, it's just not getting the ratings and the and the network doesn't get it. I love it,

but this is gonna be the last one. He said that every week of the first season, those first six are six totalt just every week, and so on the like fifth week, I said to him, can you make me a DVD so I can give it to my mom so she at least knows that what I was doing out here was real and that I wasn't like living under a bridge I'm And he said, yes, I still have that DVD that he wrote hand wrote on it the Office episodes one through six, So that's kind

of all I cared about, was like, I definitely want to show my friends because this will be one of those things that's brilliant but canceled. And I want to show my mom and I want her to know that I'm okay. But I'll tell you I do know when it changed for me was I used to go to this same dinner every morning with my buddy Danny, and on a Wednesday, because we used to air on Tuesdays. I think that at that time, I walked it on

a Wednesday morning and the same diner, same people. We're now looking up and be like, that's that's to do from that show and it was sexual Harassment had aired the night before. I at least that was my moment that I've really knew something had changed, like people were watching and it started. It was weird because I was really happy about it, obviously, but I was also a little freaked out because that's sort of like secret club

that we had was no longer secret. Obviously, it was great that the secret cove was not secret, but it was like a big transition for me. I remember that it took me a while too that people knew who I was was very weird. I also remember this moment I was walking here in New York and I was walking through and this guy put his hand up real fast in my face and I thought I was getting assaulted. And he was like, you're on my iPod, dude, And I was like, what is an iPod? What are you

showing me? And there was my dumb face on his whatever was like an inch by an inch or two video iPod, big dial, big dial. That was trippy for me. Interesting. And then the third and final thing was when we got parodied on SNL. Remember Fred Armison did a weekend update piece. He was pretending to be Steve Jobs or was he talking about Steve Jobs. I think he was pretending to be Steve Jobs. And he kept saying iPod and he was going iPod the office at Apple, the office, iPod,

iPod the office. And I remember that laughing really hard because I loved everything Fred did, but I was also like, whoa if we're being parodied on S and L, this is big, I think for me. The first Christmas episode that we did, that's kind of when the video iPod came out, there was a deal with Apple as you as you reference that we were going to be on there, and that's when we were in. Our second season was like six episodes, four episodessodes one more zero confidence. And

then I remember Greg saying it all, you know. I think a lot of people get to say, you know, we owe it all to our fans, but I think we might be the only show who actually owes it all to our fans. Because Greg told me that when people started paying for shows that they could watch for free on their TV, then they had to pick up the show. And I remember being like what that was

just so mind blowing to me. Yeah. One of the things that we've been talking about are like comedy duos, right, And we talked about the ensemble, and it is like the greater ensemble, but also like the pairings, like the accountants Michael and Dwight, Dwight and Jim, you know, and and how all of those things the smaller groups work together. That's when I think the show became stratospheric, is when you guys started having real storylines, you know what I mean.

Like I remember when like Creed had a big storyline for the first time, and I was like, this is it, man, This is like painting pictures with the four primary colors or using everything you have in the palette, and how much more beautiful. I remember feeling that the show is like genuinely lifting off because like everyone, you know, all those bullpen scenes got so much funnier when everybody was involved, like Diversity Day, Diversity that which was the second episode,

but it's crazy. That's when I knew that we were doing something different than the British. I might have even said it's a rain or Jenna. I was like, whoa. Like the fact that we're being this sort of on the edge and it's so funny and making such a great social commentary using Steve as the the sort of boob character. It was so next level like that. That's when I realized, like, oh, if I wasn't on this show,

I would be obsessed with this show. I remember when Larry Wilmore said my name is Mr Brown, he goes, I'm not calling you that. I lost my mind. That joke was so good. That was b J wrote that right, yea, so good. But you um the Gem and Dwight stuff and specifically what everybody talks about are the pranks and the two of you guys working together. Why do you think you two worked so well together. I don't know either the characters or the you know, the actors, you

and Rain well. I mean, I think obviously there's some version of the old adage of polar opposites are always great. You know. Whatever happens when you put two polar opposite characters together is sort of magical because it's the odd couple, you know what I mean. And I think that the beauty of our show that I really remember being so special is when pretty early on, they would allow Rain's character to have heart and he felt bad for him at times, and then he totally not make you feel

bad for him because he'd be doing crazy stuff. But I remember that that really helped me with the pranks because it wasn't just being mean to him because pranks are easy, you know what I mean. I think pranks are kind of the easiest form of jokes. I don't mean on our show, I'm saying, like doing a prank to someone because it's fishing a barrel kind of you know.

But I think that what the writers did so well was make those pranks kind of loving and like brotherly, Like there was a brother aspect to it that I think made them so great because I wasn't being mean. I was doing something that I he kind of got to kick out of two. I don't know that that's my theory on it, but I think that he was everything I didn't want to be, or so I thought.

We were in the scenes together coming from two totally different places, and that's what was so cool, like the weird explosive thing, and it was one of those things where you know, I think that when you put yourself as an audience member and you're like, I think this is funny. I knew this is what I would want to see, is me trying to tell him something and him being annoying. Or the best is when we teamed up, when we did when we did stuff together and we

were a team, that was great. That stuff was amazing, like those those talking heads where we do together. Don't think I was professional once in those because when I sat in a chair next to him, that weird energy radiated off of him and I just started laughing. I'm a crier laugher, and I had like that high pitched girl laughter. That's what made rain so good. Is he

he was able to remember. We always used to laugh because he had this look on his face that he'd give to me that would make me break every time. And by the way, it's like his face didn't even move, but like some energy came out and I would laugh every time. He would do this like really funny, kind of like dumb face at me, and I would laugh every time, and it's funny. It's almost like he, of all people, made the lines feel like improv. Him and Steve I think made the lines feel the most like

they were improving. You know, you're a part of my favorite moment of shooting ever. People always asked me, what's the hardest you ever laughed on set? Without a doubt, it's when you sat on his lap. When you sat on his lap and his improv with you. I think you can see it on the out takes, right. Oh yeah,

it's the funniest. And by the way, to your point again, you're right they always went to you for a button because any time they went to me for a button and Steve was doing improv, I was not there physically not. I remember Matt Soon going just just let me know,

are you gonna be there? And I was like no, because I would laugh so hard that I had to walk off set into the diving they office and I was just the most unprofessional and they would you were doing such good work, and he said something about like attaching balloons to you or something, and they whipped to me and I was like, dude, don't do it. I'm only going to fail you. And that was one of the only times that I just literally gave up on doing my job. And then he pretended that his legs

were asleep. Yeah, but his voice changed when you sat on his lap. Well, that's that's the thing that I always that I always say to people was and it was right in my ear. It was right in my ear. And he I would go, kill what would you like a little and it was like this inhalation of air. Jeez, I didn't know you were going to ask me that. And he goes, well, thank quicker like that. And remember when he started banging his head on the glass. Oh,

that whole improv And I remember, God bless Steve. He used to get so frustrated, not really, but like I know, I was a pain in the aster room because I would laughed so hard, and some of them He'd be doing the most genius stuff and I'd be in a two shot with him ruining the take and he was like, come on, man, maybe don't laugh on this one. So nice about it. But also it was like I'd like

to go home. And yeah, The Office was constructed in the opposite way than most comedies, or certainly television comedies, where typically the leads are the young lovers and then you've got a crazy uncle or the crazy boss that that is back in the corner. No, um, this show was the reverse, which which is which? Which was putting and specifically the moments and examining like why Jim and Pam, like why that relationship became so important to people and

so charged? Was people weren't watching a half hour of it. They were just stealing a moment from the corner, which makes you like I want to lean forward. And the other thing was there's an idea that when you generalize, it becomes more universal, right, like this is generally who this guy is from this midwestern town. But the amount of specificity and reality both in those moments between Jim

and Dwight and Jim and Pam. The opposite is true that the more specific you get that the characters become infinitely more real and therefore universal and relatable. To me, that idea is is interesting. No, I think it's I think it's really true, and I think that's sort of the magic trick of the show is. And I don't I don't know the specifics of why it's so huge now.

I mean, it's mind blowing to me. A four year old came up to me at the airport and was like, it's my favorite show and I was like, do you get any of it? And they're like, yeah, like it totally universal, like you said. But I also think that the stakes were set up so wonderfully because that's real life, right. I think when you're in love with someone, especially someone at work, you very much look forward to those interactions

at work. But that means that when you go home, in your home life with your friends or whatever else you're doing, you will not see that person. So you are sort of, I don't know, tantalized by the idea that like, when I get that moment, I'll savor it. And I think that's real life, and that's what we did in the show. I particularly, I'm thinking right now about the relationship with Roy you know what I mean. It's like it's like lighting a fuse that might blow

six weeks from now, but it was a very specific fuse. Right, So the first time you saw me and David together, people were like, oh, okay, so you just told me that this is a potentially explosive thing, and then we didn't go into it. You'd reference him a couple of times,

and it was very specific references. And she said that he brought me to the game and left me at the arena, like things like that, where you're just slowly leading the breadcrumbs back to the trigger, and then by the time he comes in and pushes me, you're so invested in that. Not in a television way. I think in like a like these people are my friends, oh right, my friend, as much as I love them together, is trying to go after a girl who's taken. That's real

life steaks rather than TV steaks. And I think that's what made it like the first time that we accidentally kissed at Dundees and like that's real life, whereas a regular television show would have a big, huge kiss scene like they finally got together, and it was I remember reading that script and being like man, that is so smart that have the audience be like did they just kiss and it's and not give them what they thought they want. It was so because that's how I felt.

I felt like, oh my god, I thought we were gonna do some huge kissing and instead she just did it at Dundeees and you're like, oh my god. And of course I would have stewed on that for months and been like, was that that count? Was she just drunk? Rather than if it was a big kiss scene where I took her out back and like, you know, made some huge overture, you'd be like, oh good, I'm being entertained by this moment. But I don't feel anything. I'm

not connected. I don't know if any of that made sense. No, that's so smart. I think I um. I think people see themselves in the show, and it's a combination I would imagine of every character. You know. I don't think you look at one character and you go like, oh, I'm Michael. I hope you're not Michael. But it's more like, oh, man, I have a co worker that loves cats, and I have a coworker that drives me insane. I don't know.

Maybe that's it, and certainly people have bosses that are crazy, right, Yeah, it's what you were talking about, I think is so true. I had a conversation with Greg where traditional sitcoms there's a rhythm, there's a rhythm to the joke, it's it's it's totally on the beat. And I think that in the relationship between Jim and Pam, everything happened off of the beat, not at the time you expected, right from way early, like right like in terms of like the progression.

But then also what Greg talked about a little bit was once it got to a certain point that he was like, well, we need to get them together, Like I'm not going to create artificial impediments that make everybody go like come on, because I think he had brought this audience in to a very seemingly realistic relationship. So if you started doing weird things that felt fake, then people wouldn't relate to it anymore. I'm saying, like, I

love I can admit on this podcast. I was never like a casting No, I wasn't really great with dating, and I feel and I think that's what's so great about the show is how do you go about that? Like, how do you start a relationship with someone who's already with someone. It's a great place to start and then

just you know, slowly, you know. I remember also how bold it was that when you thought you would do something, you know, like proposed to her, he would write an entire episode where you're like, oh man, and at the end, this is gonna be the proposal because again in TV, you know that, like the big scenes are coming, and he wouldn't do it. And then when I did propose, I love that talking head where I was like, I've

been planning on this forever, like I love that, you know. Um. I've said to people that nothing shut down production like an important gem and pan moment, like when there were moments between the two down. No, I mean like shut it down right right, like like like you're blushing right now. But it's I mean like Casino Night and not and not just one, two different moments in Casino Night, because the relationship was so important to the two of you

and getting it right totally. I remember those two moments very well. I remember the parking lot. Yeah, it's funny now that you say that, Yeah, which must have been frustrating for you. Oh you'd be like, oh please, just get me out of here before they filmed this, or it's going to be seven hours. Yeah, well we were in there that seven hours. But again I had never experienced anything else, so that was weird for me. Was I remember like there was an energy around those moments.

I remember. I remember so many different things, but I remember that parking lot scene. I remember not knowing where Matt was and Ken wouldn't tell me and he was like, don't worry about it, just do the scene or whatever, you know, and I thought that was cool. And then certainly I remember the like the big moment, the big kiss that was shut down, like that was nobody was on set, nobody was around the craft service table. But

I didn't know that was happening. So I walked on, you know, ready to joke with folks, and they were like not wanting to make eye contact with me, and I was like, what happened? I feel like I said something to you, like I was going on. I know. I kind of remember that too, And then it made me more nervous because then they were like, all right, now, maybe you should go out the door and whenever you're

ready come in, And I was like, what's happening? There is no I'm gonna call action and they're like, no, man, well do you remember that night. I remember that night. I remember because you were so frustrated you were still there. No, I just I remember it being so big. I think the thing that I am most proud of artistically he is not blowing your top in that moment in the shot in the show was every single shot where the camera was positioned. Just the discussion about are the cameras

in the room? Are the characters aware the cameras in the room? How does that change behavior based on the fact that the cameras are in the room or if they think that they're alone. And I think that at that moment, specifically at the end of Casino Night, you see the slats in the blinds and them shooting and catching you guys, that there are such an intimacy. You know.

It's like Randall and Matt were to my favorite people on Earth and I couldn't see them, and like, I don't even think I got to see the set before I went up, you know what I mean. Like it was also weird, and I'm sure for a better actor you'd think like, oh, that's what you need, right, And so I was like, I am a terrible actor because I don't know. I'm nervous, and maybe that was the intention,

but I was like, I don't even know. Remember, Randall wasn't anywhere, and usually I was like what are we doing? Like what? Which? What? What? How? Where do you want me to be whenever? And it was really weird. I was so freaked out. And I remember I was on set for a while before Jenna got onto because Jenna was taking her moment, which is fine, but again I was so not knowing of that world that I didn't know that I could take thirty minutes in my trailer

to prepare. Mentally, I was like, mentally, what's happened? And then I got so much more scared, and I was like, you know, then you start to think like, oh god, I didn't do my homework and she's doing your homework. Right. Were you on board with the trajectory of Jim and Pam's relationship, like just in terms of the timing, did you have concerns about it happening to soon? No, it sounds like a hallmark version of Greg, But I truly and Greg I trusted. I could tell that he had

a beat on it. He was always so nice to involve Jenna, and I remember that he would tell you kind of when things were going to happen, and he would remind you in scenes, you know, don't worry. This isn't the moment that's going to lead to this, that'll

happened later, like he he had it all tracked out. Also, we were what in season five or six by the time that I was in that motel with that other girl and stuff like that, And that's the only time I remember putting whatever, put my foot down, not really, but I remember I got that was the only time I was very much against because he was saying, you're going to actually make out with her in this scene. And that was the episode I directed. Yes, that's right,

but the bed bugs and I don't remember. It may have been an earlier version about you guys making out, but I remember that was the only time we had like a it was like a bad, negative moment. But I remember being in a room and it was like I remember finding myself kind of saying things that I never thought i'd say before, like I'm not going to shoot it. Remember Paul Lieberstein was in the room. He was like, no, you you will do it in an aggressive way. But it was like he saw the benefit

of doing it. And I remember saying to Greg, there's a threshold with which you can push our audience. They are so dedicated, We have shown such great respect to them. There's a level of messing with them that you've done, like in a great way. I mean like you've messed with them by the whole kiss happening too early. And I think there's a moment where if you push them too far, they'll never come back. And I think that if you show Jim to be cheating, they'll never come back. Yeah,

And I what did you think? That's right? You directed what what was your feeling? Well, my recollection, well, it was never that you were going to make out, but it was about there was what was the line? How far can we go? I was supposed to kiss her in that bathroom. I remember that's what they were pitching, and I was like, I don't know that that's going

to go well for us. Yeah, but even just you being in a room with her, you know, how would you behave even if you didn't think the cameras were there, Because the cameras were shooting from outside and they weren't in the room except when Dwight came in. Um. Anyway, the whole point is the passion for which you fought, and Jenna fought and Greg like that everybody was collaboratively. That it wasn't a negative fight. It was a big

conversation because again it was so important to everybody. Yeah, but also I had trusted Greg up to that point, and it was really hard for me to say, I think we're actually making the wrong decision. Right. Um, you obviously wildly successful when people approach you. Now, what percentage of it is about the office? Oh? Large majority. Again, I think it's the difference between fans who feel like they're a part of something and fans who have watched something.

I think there's very few things that I watched when I was a kid that I felt so connected to. It was more like, oh, I like the movie ET, But there were very few things that I felt like, if I ever saw that person, we shared a life moment together. Had I ever met Chris Farley, I would have said that because I watched Tommy Boy so many times that he didn't know he was my best friend, but he was my best friend. So I think that thing is like I shared so much in my life

with that show. That's why I think that people, you know, people have seen other things, which is great. Certainly recently, like I think quiet place in Jack Ryan people are coming up a lot more. But I I think our fans see me and instead of going up to an actor to get a picture or something, they're actually seeing a friend of theirs. Is my point, My long meandering point is no one looks at Jack Ryan. And I was like, oh my god, my buddy, Jack Ryant, Oh

my god, you're an actor. I didn't realize they do think that with Jim and I've had My favorite experiences with fans is when they think we've gone to school together or something. That's my favorite. Like I I had one where a woman said we know each other and I said Doe, and she goes, we went to school together and I was like, I don't. I don't think we did, and she went, yes we did. And it was like that thing of like why am I being awkward about it? And where did you go to school?

And she said some school and I went, I did not go to that school and she went, yes you did, and like I was like okay, and then I left and I could see that either else someone else has been like, you don't know that person. You just thought that it was at the airport bookshop and then through the window you saw them being like silence, being like, oh no, God, it was great. But I think that that's such a credit to the show that you don't

just like the show, you actually think you know those people. Um, what are you most thankful for? Oh? My god, everything? I mean, are you asking me as a person? Well, I mean, without sounding hyperball, it's it is my everything. I mean, that show changed my entire life. Was twenty three when it started, so I hadn't even really formed

an identity of who I was. And so that show, not only from a rear perspective, where I've had more opportunity than I ever would have dreamt of having for one day, I have for an entire lifetime, is all due to that show. I never would be doing any other thing that you've seen me do, writing, directing, acting, and something else if it wasn't for that show. But as a person, I think it sort of gave me this very quintessential building block that I got to stand

on to build the rest of my life. Yeah, you're you're about to say, that's all crack of ship? What what? What? What would you say? I think it's very similar. I think I was processing what you were saying that because of the people who were working on it, not just the actors, but the writers who are like all showrunners now from the early season, you know, extremely successful, fun

good shows. It's but also our crew. Like you said, like you know again in a very probably lame, cliche hallmark way, like I don't know that as a person I would be able to have the luxury forget you know, success or finance or anything. It's the luxury of being who I wanted to be. I didn't know who I

wanted to be. And because of such a warm environment where if everyone had a color, people were splashing their experience and their colors all over me, I got exposed to everything I wanted to be and then got to choose to move forward with my life in a way that I not only didn't know existed, but that I could sustain. Like that you could, you could do fantastic fun stuff every day for ten years of your life. And genuinely, I've been asked, I'm sure you get asked

all the time, what year. Were you guys all over it? Like when were you guys like we're over it? And I genuinely am trying not to look back with revisionist history. I don't remember one moment where I was like, such a job, Yeah, writing, acting, directing. Is there one you prefer? That's a good question. I don't know. I think yeah. I think acting was always I think because it was

the first, there's something I really love about it. I think that there's elements to acting being more fun because you don't have the weight of responsibility of any kind like turning into script. You have the responsibility. I hope this doesn't suck, and directing you of all the responsibilities, which can be terrifying. But by the way, you don't want to suck being an actor either. But I don't know.

I guess that it's once you've gone to you know, the whole behind the camera idea and you see how the sausage is made, you realize how I think writing and directing made me a better actor, and vice versa.

You know everybody. I remember always getting awards, people would always be like in thanks to the crew and whatever, and we had the greatest crew of all time and I think that that taught me to look back on all the things I loved movies and television, whatever, and realized that for every moment you remember watching and loving, there were three to six people who made that moment exactly happen at that exact time, and it was magic, from props to camera to set design anyway, that kind

of thing. I don't know if that answered anything. No. I think so like people always ask how did I get into directing or writing, and it's like, because I went to the best film school ever, which was the Office, and you learn what's good. I think my taste level became solidified on that show, like I see what's possible

now and everything I do. Um. I've said this before that I never would have directed and rewritten A Quiet Place if it wasn't for Greg, because I remember him saying to me one day, don't look at this as a comedy. Just be in the moment, right you You your character doesn't know he's funny. We get to we get to decide, right, So we're not making a comedy. We're just telling the best story we can. And if you end up laughing, great, If you cry at a moment with Pam great, but just tell the best story.

So when I got offered Quiet Place, I was like, I don't know anything about horror. And I remember actually sitting down before I wrote the script and said, I'm not going to make a horror movie. I'm not gonna make a genre movie. I'm gonna tell the best story

I can about this family. And if you end up getting scared at moments, that is on you, because it's only my job is only to tell you the most concise and strong story I can, and then every emotional thing that you feel is coming from you and how you're experiencing it. And I remember I never would have had the guts to do that, because I would have said the same thing I said to Greg that day,

which is like, I don't to mess this up. I want to make sure I'm really funny in this scene for you, and he was like, no, no, I don't want you to be funny. I want you to tell the best story and let other people decide whether the scene is funny. And I was like, mind blowing stuff. That is very, very smart. But The Quiet Place isn't a comedy. No, you should see it before we do an interview shoot. Thanks Bud, You're welcome. Is it over? Yeah? I mean, do you have anything else you want to say?

I mean we feel like we covered a lot of topics, We covered a lot of ground. I don't know what I said. Um, John, I love you so much and I appreciate you coming and talking to me. This is great. But also it's just so good to see you. It's so good to see you. I feel like I just went to a therapy session. You did, you did great. Which you don't cut yourself out of this, you you, You'll get my bill. Um. We still have headphones on, which allows me to do this. I don't want to

slip round. I don't want your slippery. I don't want your slipping around in my brain or ear. Um are we done? Can I please get out of here? All right? Ali? Guys, dude, thank you, welcome, thank you, Welcome back everybody. I hope you enjoyed that. But now it's time to celebrate the real birthday boy, Mr Craig Robinson. That's right today, October Craig entered this world. Well not today, but some years ago,

fifty years ago. In fact, Craig was born. Craig and I we've been friends for over seventeen years now, and we've had, we've had, we've had some pretty good times. You know, you have never truly lived until you have spent a very late night listening to Craig Robinson play any song you could possibly name on his keyboard. That's right, any song you can name, Craig can play. And if he doesn't know the song, this is not a joke.

You just hum a little bit of the song for him and he starts playing it and it's usually better than the original. He is absolute fact. He is a musical genius. Okay, I've done enough talking especially nicely about Craig. The time has come here. He is my friend and yours, Mr Craig Robinson. So what's up? How you doing so? I mean, I'm good. It's been so long since I saw you? How long? I mean a couple of years. It's been a few what's new in your life? I mean,

I'm doing this right now. I'm on the road a lot you Oh yeah, yeah, is this thing on? Yeah, it's probably on. We start already. We'll not really tell the truth, man, I mean, it's it's recording. But I'm just interested in saying what's up? Okay? Um, check check, check check. Are you checking your sound? Yeah? Are you a sound expert? Well, you're a musician, so yeah. I mean I don't know if it's going loud or so there.

Did I ever tell you the story? This is before I think we had done the pilot only and I hadn't been in l a very long. I ever tell you going the mbar story for real? I went to the m Bar and they used to do like an open mic night, and somebody was like, oh, go to the m Bar. I think I knew somebody who was like a server there, and I remember it was David Cross was there, and Sarah Silverman some other people and you you were so far and away the funniest thing

that night. Well you had a guy with Yeah, I think me and Jerry did. Yeah. Yeah. How many shows you do a year? I mean how many cities? Oh shows, shows are like, you know, five sometimes seven a weekend, So I probably do thirty plus weeks. Are you jesus if I'm not filming myself. So you're the hardest working man in show business, not by um. You incorporate music a lot into your stand up. Do you think that Darryl being a musician on the show. Did that come

from you? Do you think the writers wrote that? Yeah? They they We were like a towel being rung up. They got whatever whatever they knew we could do, they got it out of us, right, absolutely. Yeah, you started pretty early. I mean I remember that Christmas episode. You and I think we were DJA in the corner and then gradually you start. Yeah, we had like what do you call those little balls that with the lights and uh disc disco ball? Obviously, I mean for people who

don't know, music comes very easy to you. Yes, I have seen people hum you tunes and you start playing well trained here is it trained or is it natural? I mean both. You have to sit down and like there's time I was sitting, like play a song in this breakdown note for no each chord we want to play again. We want to play again until I get and go through the whole song. And it Once you do that, you know sometimes you start you know, see patterns and you know, see what's going on in the song.

So that's how you learned. Do you read music? Yeah, but how you do not like I can hear me. It takes me a while to read some music, but I can hear pretty good. You hear better than anyone I've ever seen. Okay, no, I'm just saying I'm trying. I don't know, but you trained yourself to do that. I think people think about it as being sort of a natural gift, but no, it's definitely a gift. But it's it's you know, it's a gift. You have to

work for it. It's like you gotta know you had the talent to do it and then just developed that, right. I remember later on they kept pairing me with you and Ed Helms in musical situations. Z Kevin and the Zitz. It was Kevin and the Zitz, and I remember we would you know, we never had time to read the episodes before we did them, and we would read the episodes and they would be like song, song, song, and

I don't know if you knew this. I would go to them and I would be like, okay, when is rehearsals? When is rehearsal? And then I would come to you and I'd be like all right, you guys, can we And you'd be like yeah, yeah, no, we're good, We're good, and Ed be the same way, like as like, no, that's fine, No, I got it. And I was like no, no, no, guys, I don't have it. I don't know what the hell

I'm doing. Um there's a quote that has been attributed to you which that you basically started doing music because it's there were so many funny people in Chicago that you wanted to do something that was different in a way. Is that true? Not exactly? Okay, Um, I just you know, it's my thing. And I had the song that I

did in college that transferred over to the stage. I would like play, you know, piano, the same singing to a girl on the phone, you know, singing a nice and like talking to her, singing to a little bit. You know, it's romantic, and I hit up with it. Can I had some booty right, and then I was like, okay, him, listen to see if she's laughing, and watched, so she's laughing. Okay, we're good. But so then I did that like, I don't know, some open mic kind of thing. But it

wasn't the open mic. It was like, you know, actors in the room on a Friday night, like you know, and then you just did what you do. So then once you started doing comedy, I went up and did this show and uh, it didn't go too well. I was just think, all heckless heaven. It's in Chicago, and you get eight minutes to perform the first three minutes, nobody gets to mess with you. From the third minute on if people wanted to hecker you. There are three

people in the audience who have rubber chickens. If you've got all three rubber chickens, you had to get off stage. And then uh, three people have score cards. So I got two rubber chickens the first night and before I get to there like I'm not getting a third chicken. It's good night. Then the next week I came back with my keyboard. That was all she wrote. You did the song that ends with your buddy getting the phone. Um,

somebody's sucking my lady. Somebody's sucking my lady. Yeah, somebody's Yeah, that's that's what you saw. That's what I saw at m bar. That's what got me. They got me in front of Apple Town to get me in front of Greg Daniels. Yeah. When I did my audition for the Office, Great Games, was like, doesn't get any funny into that. I was like, okay, now audition, like oh, what like

seems like a big voted confidence. Right, I'm thinking like, oh, man, now wait because they had seen it, they all you at a club, well and not at the club, but you know, like you gotta see this guy or you know, you know right right right right? Um. I feel like Darryl, you know, even from the beginning, had kind of a gem thing with the camera, like it felt like you were on the same page, Like you would do the looks to the camera like did you just see that idiot.

I don't get a lot of camera looks untill later, but people do say, yeah, see me as a voice of reason in all the insanity. Yeah, Ben Silverman says that you're the smartest person who worked at Dunner Mifflin. Well, no, not you, but Darryl right right, right right. I can see that. Yeah, Daryl was just trying to you know, be honest, make an honest buck, and I couldn't believe a lot of things that was going around him. And you know, he knew he had to keep the piece

and knew he had to uh keep his job. Yeah, so I don't I don't think he ever thought I'm smart than these cats. He just you know, just like would you belat these cats? You know, but it felt like, you know, they showed a lot that the warehouse maybe was run more efficiently than the regular office. Like you were you were good. Yeah. Um. Darryl's relationship with Michael in the show, it was a very like he kept coming to you for advice, particularly on black culture. It

was a very very funny dynamic. What was your experience working with Steve? He's the greatest. The way he could turn it comedy button off and on like a falsett. It was just genius to me. Whenever I had seen with him moment and I was like titilation was holy know, very exciting. And I learned from him, stole from him all of that. Yeah, it's funny that you said. You said that because I thought you were going to say

something else, which I think is also true. Is part of his genius is how he turns so quick even within a scene, you know what I mean, Like he is he is fighting down one path and something may happen and he just turns it like that and he's like, you know, ultimate scene partner two. He listens and reacts two, you know what's going on. Like we had a scene I didn't even really notice until it aired, it was

a negotiation. It might be my favorite episode just because the work I did with Steve and being able to play with him like that. It was the scene where he's like, I'm not going to speak first, decline to speak first. So we did a couple of takes and it was fine. Uh, and then he did his next take and he's making these faces and if you look closely, you can see Meet started to crack a smile on that. But it was just like, without even speaking, he could,

you know, pull us out of you. The laughter is like, oh, he's about to get me. But also in that episode when I was saying, uh, where he listens and you know, like the perfect improvisation partner, you're listening and take it to the next level. So we're talking about, you know, getting raged from Jane. I said, make it happen, Captain, he said, I will, Sergeant. My god, amazing. H Have you ever seen Greg going to his own like what? So we were doing this show, that's what in the

office was ms Robinson Robinson. Yeah, So we had the pitch, like the big pitch was like later on the the day and uh, and cast Key was there. Tracy shout out Tracy and she had to move. She was like, great, we gotta go. And Greg went into this feverish, fierce like you saw his brain work and he started writing and banging in and it was it was like watching Michaelangelo paint or something. It was it was like, Oh, this is happening right now in front of me, dude,

is incredible. Salute Greg Daniels. Yeah. When when he was doing it, going into his writing mode and cast Key was trying to sell Greg we go, he almost like you know, like he was typing. It was. It was it was amazing brow. He was just he like he had an idea, he had I swear it was like watching Harry Potter or something. It was. It was magic. It was like a world wind around him. And he almost barked at her, which she trying to get it

to go. Yeah. See the smartest comedy person you know. Yes, I'm to say absolutely, I do love working with Greg. I mean, he couldn't be a nicer guy, you know, and then smartest dude in every room. Yeah, what are you what are you most thankful for? For the office? Um? You know, when you meet people, it's it's this uh genuine like like it feels like you you have friends everywhere, and that's, uh, that's a big part of my life because you know, these friends come out, they support my

shows and what have you. And it's a lot of like the deeper goals. You know, people had these stories of you know, my mother had cancer and you know, we watched The Office and you know, we got through this, and it'll be these incredible, heart wrenching stories about our family. We don't talk, but we bond over the Office, you know, thank you. Asking me, he was like, why why the hell is the show still relevant? And I think that's that's a big part of it. People really connect through

the show with family members or whoever. Right, why do you think it resonates? I mean, here was my impression anyway that people are like, oh the Office, Yeah, people can relate because sixty million people work in offices around the country. So of course, now like it's young people

who are really into it. Soldiers for sure, man, um, yeah, and the young people like starting it and people are like, yeah, I'm on my nice nice time around watching it or we watched it you know three times a four times. You know, it's a phenomenon. I don't know how to put my finger on it. I think that awkwardness. You know, it's got everything that humor, awkward, it's got heart. You fell in love with people, you know, it's a beautiful. So yeah, alright, guys, do we need anything else from

Mr Robinson here? No predictors? Good, thanks buddy, You're welcome, sir, dude. It's been so crazy. I've seen everyone, John, John, I Rain. I'm sure this is the most born interview. I'm suck at these things. That's good, John Craig. I have to leave you with these four parting words. It is your birthday, so powerful, I know, but in all serious this happy birthday, guys. I am so glad that our paths crossed all those many years ago. And to all of you out there listening,

thank you so much for joining me. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. I promise you it will be magical. That was a hint. We'll see you next week. Off the Beat is hosted an executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, alongside our executive producer Langley, our producers Our Diego Tapia, Liz Hayes, Hannah Harris, and Emily Carr. Our talent producer is Ryan Papa Zachary and our intern is Sammy Katz. Our theme song Bubble and Squeak, performed by my great friend Greed Bratton,