John Krasinski - Pt. 1

finishing touches on his film A Quiet Place Too. He was doing final edits, he was getting for the premiere, working very hard, and then about a week later, boom, global pandemic. That's right, so that premiere did not happen. I had to return the tucks I had rented um. The release date obviously was postponed, like very postponed. But I am excited to announce that A Quiet Place Too is now finally coming out. I cannot wait. I love

the first one. If you haven't seen it, go check that one out because this this movie is going to be great. Anyway, I'm so glad I got to talk to John before we got stuck on opposite coast because seeing him in person, well, there's an energy. It's palpable. I'm not going to call it sexual energy. I'm just gonna say it's palpable. You you can decide what kind it is. John is a great storyteller. He's so funny, and he remember vers all kinds of things that that

I do not remember from the show bus. It's it's just great to see my friend. So please enjoy the one and only j K. Bubble and Squeak. I love it. Bubble and Squeak on Bubble and Squeaker cookie every month, left over from the night before. Hey, body's just never let it end. Thanks for choosing to kill floor to record. It's like, hey, what do you mean? It's the scariest dart. I actually agree. I got out and 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 hat? 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 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 beard 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 you want don't do that, so she liked it. Hello, Um, I can't do you know? I love No, I like it. No, I'm saying I

love it here here in 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 m's. Yeah, well that's Monte Carlo and Monica. I think it's kind of the same thing. Are still 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 got 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, and that's a nod in the back. Alison Jones. Did you get Phillis? Yep? And I got them together as a 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, right, 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 in. 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 Dwighte. 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 Arrested 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 on 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 doucer. 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 uproarious 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 Gregg 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 jets, 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 and um, 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, all 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 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 that 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. I didn't 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 just 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. Like I had auditioned with Rain, I also kind of knew Rain was going to get it, only because he was so I've told this story. He knows this story is like we were doing an improv about a bunch of things, and they did one where I had to go to the bathroom and I asked

him to watch my phone. And by that time I was feeling great and Rain was so good and so funny, and then in this particular improv he was so infuriating. I remember leaving the scene being like he might get it because I'm actually so annoyed being in this room with him as John Krasinski rather than Jim Albert. He was so good. I remember I was like, hey, can you watch my phones? And he did this thing where

he pretended that like security doors were coming down. He was like bird and I was like, dude, can you just watch my phone? He was like like all the like weird shutting, like eighties wipes, shutting doors. It was. It was so incredible and by the end I think I broken laughed because he was so infuriating that I just had to laugh. He was so good at what

he was doing. He was making me physically angry. Well, it's funny that you mentioned that, because we you know, he and I really were the two that came from like theater theater, like Shakespeare and check off and and throw that in myth. But I'm saying he and I in terms of character construction, the physicality was a conscious decision. It's just it's just so highbrow theater garbage. Yeah, but that's what we're doing. What did you also learn fencing at school? Come on, no, I was I wasn't saying

at all, and it was very odd. But no, I'm not saying that, although I will tell you this. Phillis was cast and we started filming episodes and she was like, I don't know what I'm doing. I can't keep up. And she went and bought books on improv and went home at night and read them on. These stories are amazing and adorable. I mean some of some of my favorite moments on the show, or Phillis and stuff. She

is so funny. God, the relationship with her and Steve was because didn't we say that they like they went to school high school together, they knew each other. I love that, And he would reference how much older she was. It's such a good bit. By the way, Jenna tells the same story about asking about you. Yeah, she was cast because that contractually made her, which is so which is so crazy? Um so, I mean, here's the thing you're like, the you're like the hunky like. This is

a great segment. No, I'm not transitioning. I've given up on it. You used the word hunky to start a thought. Hunky. I don't know what the right word is. But part of what we're looking at in the show was like the TV Lance Gape at the time was way prettier than we were. You look at friends Will and Grace and there was a transition with Alison Jones uh and freaks and geeks and and wanting to cast people who

were more real. Were you aware of that at the time or did you realize that we were doing something. I don't think I would have been cast if it

wasn't for that. Well, I mean, I think again, I saw the English show and I was like I could feel the vibe of what they were going for, and I knew shooting wise, I immediately felt even from the lighting of that probably the test they were just using those weird, you know, office lights, which I thought was so cool, like everything just looked kind of a bummer in a good way. Because that makes sense. No, it

does make sense. So you get cast in the show, You're living in New York, you went to Scranton and shot. What was your decision behind at just pure nerd them, just super nerdy. So excited to have this part. And Greg contacted me to say congrats you of the part. And I was so excited. I was twenty three, and I was just you know, I think at that time in my life my only experiences with was in college just sort of like let life happen. Who knows, right, And so I was like so excitable, like a puppy.

And I said to Greg, I was like, I'm gonna go to Scranton and I'm gonna do research. And he was like, oh cool, Yeah, there's actually a paper company there that does like cards and stuff. I gotta see that footage because I think they have it. But I went and I was so excited. I went with my friend Kevin Connors and we drove to Scranton and out of his Jeeps sunroof, I had a tiny little camera and that shot of the Scranton sign is us driving

at full speed limit. So I just sort of like popped out of the sun roof and was like, oh wait, wait, wait, and he didn't really know, so I was like filming it as we drove by. Then I went around this paper company all day and interviewed the boss, but the boss found out that it was based on the English one, and then realized that the boss is the boob, and I was like, I don't want this to ever air, and don't make me look bad, and it was not great. And then I came back just thinking that I had

immersed myself in this thing and really done some research. Man, and then Greg goes, can I have that footage? And I said sure, and then he said I might use it for the opening of the show and I went what And he was like, so I have to buy it from you. Can I buy your footage? And I was like, I don't know, like you can just have

it again super young. I was like, no, no, you could just have it, and so I think he he was like, no, we gotta buy it, and I think he bought it for I think like a thousand dollars. Are you so you just did a buyout? Straight buyout? Straight buyout? Yeah? Again, it was like a decisions so dumb soul that was would have been the greatest investment in my life. No, truly, I know that is insane. You know about the sign, right, has anyone ever told you this? The sign that you got out of the

sun roof and filmed. You know, it's not on the highway anymore. It's in the mall because too many people were stopping along the highway to take pictures by it. It is now that sign is now not on the highway to Grant because it was a safety because safety issue. How Greg talked about he felt like his job for the pilot. For him, it was about creating the world as opposed to the writing of the words. So so many things that happened in terms of remember Kappas and

our thirty minutes of busy work. Oh my god, Yeah, I remember that. I totally like, you know, it was like an acting exercise. I made fun of you practing pool, but really it's it's true. I remember that being like so nerdy, and then by the end of it you were kind of into it. You were kind of dialed in, like ming in the papers and and he talked about wanting to do that because he wanted the space to feel lived in and we had been there for a

long time. Wo I thought he was just trying to get us out of our heads to not think about lines thirty minutes of busy work. That's right, He's he's the most amazing energy. But you know, don't you feel like nobody else could have directed that pilot? Yes? Is that what you were getting at I stopped your flow? No, I just think you know, that was one element the lighting that you talked about. Um, the set design was amazing set design. They talked to me also about that

the architecture of the space was important. That you knew where Jim and Dwight's clump was relative to Michael, relative to accounting and Pam and all of that stuff. That It's totally true. It works. It was like some of the story, I mean so much of the stories being told in the camera, Like when the camera whips to a geographic region, you already know who you're going to. Like you, we always knew where you were. Always everybody we're checking out fantasy football. You had such a great

little like secret hole back there. Yeah, I know, never bothered, never paid attention to do you know? Gregre on the show during this he finally said something to me that no one ever said to me before. When a great scene was written that didn't really have an end, I would like, um, like a wide receiver to a quarterback. I would give Matt Selling a little nod, right, so you guys would do your thing. Matt soon would whip

over to me if I had an idea. Greg told me that when they were having trouble ending a scene, Greg would say, what was Brian doing? Where is the where is the thing? Yeah I was. I'm pretty proud of that one. Well he's sound conceited, but yeah, no, you should be. I mean, I am no, but I am. What Let's think back what you just said. When a scene was going great, I'd give Matt a nod and say I'll make it better. You also said like a receiver to a quarterback. Yeah, like a lot of people

tuned out on that one. M And if they didn't tune out on the acting school, and I wasn't properly trained, and you know that. You think they're long gone by now. Oh yeah, most of them left on the acting thing. That's why I'm feeling free right now. Yeah, but it's funny. Yeah you said the other thing I remember. I remember when they told me that Randall and Matt came from Survivor,

and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. And then on an episode two, I remember saying to Matt, like, just let me know where you want to be, and he was like, no, no no, no, don't, that's my job. Don't tell me where you're going to be. It will

make it feel more alive. And if we hadn't had them, the guys from Survivor whose job it was to find behavior that was happening because it wasn't technically scripted, I think that might be a weird secret element that people don't realize, Like people don't realize that like Randal and Matt would dive across the table knowing full well that not only was an injury imminent, but that the take would only be point two seconds because the camera would

kind of catch someone and then smashed to the ground, But that moment would feel so much more alive. And I remember Randall would sometimes say like, no, I will not reposition myself for a better shot, because then it will show that we were aware of what you guys were doing and we can't. And I was like, wow, that is so high level. That is that was next level stuff. Their their adage was everything that makes it

harder makes it better. Wow, that's cool. Yeah, did you have a conscious to sit or did you have a conversation with Greg about Jim's relationship to the camera. Yes, I remember talking to Greg about it, and I kind of remember a version of like Mike Sure talking about it a lot, because I remember Mike loved those looks early on. How awesome is that? By the way, I

don't think that's ever happened. Like every take seven writers would blow out of that door that we never you know, because that was the writer's room that would never say what it is, and they would blow out and be like, all right, that was amazing, and then cut that part because what you said was way funnier and like we always did the script many times, but then they started tweaking the script as we went. It was so alive. I felt like I almost felt like you were doing

live theater anyway. But I remember Mike coming in that amazing laugh several times when I looked to camera and he was like, that was so great. And then I think it started to become let's not over use it, but it's a it's a really important story point. And I think what I remember Greg and I talking about is how I was the window to the audience. I was the character who right when you were thinking this was all ridiculous, I would turn to you and go,

you're right, this is ridiculous. Or I would load it by saying like, wait till you see what's about to happen. And it's that was really interesting to me. I thought that was so fascinating and smart, and I didn't think of it. See, I'm not conceded. I will say other people had good ideas, not just a humble brag. No, it's not no, not like when we were winning the game, I said, put me in coach god, um, 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 are 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, um, 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 and Gold 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 total, 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 somewhere. 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 brilliantly 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 diner 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 in on a Wednesday morning and the same diner, same people, We're now looking up and being 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 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 Cub 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. It 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 we Can 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 SNL, 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. It was like six episode, four episodes, 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, the risk taking that was happening from day one, because imagine the conversations that were going on at the network, which again I know the network totally was hands off, because at the end of the day, I think they were sort of like, we put the screws to you, it succeeded even despite us, and then now let's just leave you alone and make your magic. Which I remember that story. Did Greg tell you that. I think it was around sexual or whatever

was the big hit. I know I remember as sexual happrassment, but maybe it was something else. One of our table reads, there were like six people from the network and they're always used to be one and after that table read, he was like nope, and he supposedly said to them, do not come back or I quit, Like, now that we have proven ourselves, you don't get to change the formula.

That to me, especially now that I've had more experience in this business, I think it is not only rare, it's damn near impossible to have a leader like that. And again he comes across as the nicest guy ever. But to have someone who's willing to stake their career on big swings like that, and then you realize, yeah, that was going on since day one. They were taking risks from day one. Yes, Lee Eisenberg told me that UM dinner party. He said, it came back really well.

The writers had come up with this great idea. He and Jeane had written this episode and it came back and the network called network executive and we didn't know who it was. Um, great scrapt so funny, really really funny. It's really dark and Greg was like, yep, I mean it's it's really dark. Greg was like, h yeah, it is, yeah, but I mean it's like it's real dark. Greg's like, m guys, anything else, Like nope, okay, thanks for calling

hung out amazing and that's like some Jedi minds. Yeah, and Lee was like again from Greg, just the most baller like but that's what I mean. It's like I've now like directed movies, and even in my directing movies, I find myself totally going with that of like, yeah, you know what, maybe I'll try that, or like he just sat on the wall and was like, you will

not pass it. Was amazing. But that's what I mean is like that, it's it's incredible that that's who we had on the wall, because even a impressive showrunner would have come back and be like, dos in, guys, we gotta shoot one other version where it's not as dark, and he was like, no, yeah, um, your relationship with Rain,

Jim and Dwight. 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 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 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 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 RT 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 barrow 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 knew 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 laughs. 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 the part of my favorite moment of shooting ever. People always asked me, what's the hard us 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 anytime they went to me for a button and Steve was doing improv, I was not there physically not. I remember Matt soone 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 sets diving the 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 went 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 but I always say it people was and it was right in my ear. It was right in my ear. And 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 remember when he started banging and said out the glass, Oh, that whole improv And I remember,

God bless Steve. He used to get so frustrated. So I'm not really but like I know, I was a pain in the aster room because I would laugh so hard and some of if 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 see my kids. I'd like to get out of here. Yeah. Um, 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 or 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 the set design. Like I said, like, I look back on the Office and realized, like you said, that that geography thing really blew my mind because it feels like that that that set design was so purposeful anyway, that kind of thing. I don't know if that answered anything, No, I think so 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 in 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 do you your character doesn't know he's funny. We get too, 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 want to mess this up. I want to make sure I'm really funny in this

scene for you. And he was like, no, 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, WHOA, 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. All right, guys, we're gonna take a break right there. I'm gonna save the rest of John's interview for a very special occasion down the line,

because John is a very special boy. Thank you j K for joining me. I have to admit you are my number one, top, absolute favorite pain in the ass in the world. Um, so congratulations on that. To all of you listeners, thank you for joining me. We will be back next time for another hilarious guest. So have a fantastic week, everybody. The office. Deep Dive is hosted and executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, alongside our executive producer,

Lang Lee. Our senior producer is Tessa Kramer, our associate producer is Emily Carr, and our assistant editor is Diego Tapia. 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 Olandski.