TRANSCRIPT
Office Ladies | Episode 293 - An Interview with Calvin Tenner (Glenn from the Warehouse)
Jenna [00:00:04] I'm Jenna Fischer,
Angela [00:00:05] and I'm Angela Kinsey.
Jenna [00:00:06] We were on "The Office" together,
Angela [00:00:08] and we're best friends.
Jenna [00:00:09] And now we're doing the ultimate Office lover's podcast, just for you.
Angela [00:00:13] Each week we will dive deeper into the world of The Office with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes details, and lots of BFF stories.
Jenna [00:00:21] We're the Office Ladies 6.0.
audio cue [00:00:00] [musical sting]
Jenna [00:00:00] Hello!
Angela [00:00:01] Hi!
Jenna [00:00:02] How you doin'?
Angela [00:00:02] I'm doing pretty good.
Jenna [00:00:04] I was doing pretty and then I just got a text and now I'm in grumps.
Angela [00:00:09] Oh.
Jenna [00:00:10] Can I tell you what it is?
Angela [00:00:11] Yeah.
Jenna [00:00:11] Because this is actually an opportunity for me to set something straight.
Angela [00:00:15] Okay.
Jenna [00:00:16] Am I coming in hot?
Angela [00:00:17] You're coming in a little spicy.
Jenna [00:00:19] [laughing] Yeah.
Angela [00:00:19] What you got?
Jenna [00:00:21] Alright. Right before we got on mic, I'm checking my phone and my mom has sent me this text. She sent me the screenshot where she's like, "Facts About Famous Actresses."
Angela [00:00:31] Oh no. Don't send me that.
Jenna [00:00:32] I know. She's like, Jenna, "I found this online. Is this true?" Here's the fact about me: "Jenna Fischer still owns the engagement ring her co-star John Krasinski gave her on The Office and she has even been seen wearing it off screen." Everyone, settle down. Not true. I do have Pam's rings, which were (by the way) given to Pam from Jim. Right?
Angela [00:00:59] Yeah.
Jenna [00:01:02] I also have Pam's purse, I have Pam's sweater, I have Pam's watch.
Angela [00:01:04] Who gave those items to you? The props department.
Jenna [00:01:09] Phil Shea.
Angela [00:01:09] Phil Shea, who also gave me my cat earrings that Angela Martin wore.
Jenna [00:01:15] Phil Shea put together a wonderful package when the show ended of all of these items. I remember, he gave John the satchel that Jim always carried.
Angela [00:01:27] The cross body bag.
Jenna [00:01:28] The cross-body bag. So he collected little items for us.
Angela [00:01:32] He gave me Dwight and Angela's wedding program.
Jenna [00:01:36] Yes. You have the ring that Dwight gives Angela.
Angela [00:01:39] Right.
Jenna [00:01:40] Yes, so yes, I have this ring. I have it along with many other items that I have.
Angela [00:01:46] But there's nothing attached to it, other than memorabilia from a show you were on that you loved.
Jenna [00:01:51] Correct. And you know what ring I wear? My actual wedding ring from my actual husband of 16 years, who I love with all my heart. [sighs] Sometimes it's just so hard, lady.
Angela [00:02:07] Internet's a wackadoodle place.
Jenna [00:02:09] It is.
Angela [00:02:09] I've told you my crazy story.
Jenna [00:02:12] Oh my gosh, this is a crazy story!
Angela [00:02:15] This story is so crazy. Sam, you don't know this story, but it's bonkers.
Jenna [00:02:19] This is nuts.
Angela [00:02:19] You gotta hear this. I told Jenna this the other day. Okay, so you guys know, I did a charity tennis match with Steve Carell, his wife, Nancy, and Rainn Wilson, and it was all to go towards supporting Rainn's amazing charity, Lide Haiti. After the tennis match, there was a little meet and greet. This man was there and he had sort of an assistant person with him. He was lovely, by the way. But you could tell he was very excited that he had found different little pieces of trivia about us online.
Jenna [00:02:50] Again, it's the trivia.
Angela [00:02:51] It's the trivia, which is probably just an AI bot that gets half the information, right and then the rest is wrong. I forget the information that he knew about Steve. It was something like, oh, maybe his parents... How they matter or something. I can't remember. Steve was like, "Oh, yeah, that's correct." Because probably he talked about it in an interview somewhere. He turns to me and he goes, "Angela, your family collects body parts?"
Sam [00:03:19] [laughing]
Angela [00:03:19] Exactly! So I start laughing like that. I said, "What?" I thought it was a joke. I thought I was getting punked somehow. I was like, "What?!" And then Steve, literally, was taking a sip of water and almost spit it all over me, he started laughing so hard. We looked at each other and I was, like, "What are you talking about?" He turns to his assistant and she goes, "The foot?" He goes, "There was a foot that you guys had? Like, you had a foot." My gosh, I said, "You guys, you know how at Halloween you can go into Spencer's gifts in the mall?"
Sam [00:03:56] Yeah, get a foot that hangs out of the trunk.
Angela [00:03:57] Get a foot that hangs out of the trunk, ha ha ha. My mom got one of those and instead of hanging it out of the trunk of the car, she put it by the bathroom door (by our back door), as a prank. We all were like "[screaming]", and it was a story I told where they were like, "Who's the prankster in your family?" I'm like, "My mom is kind of a prankster." I told this one story. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, are there people somewhere in the world that think I have a foot in a jar? That we collect this crap?" But now all I can think about is, "Oh my god, now I've told the story here, AI is going to take this." This is going to go into a transcript. The story is out there in the second way.
Jenna [00:04:36] I know, but I'm hoping, I want to set the record straight. AI, if you're listening, will you please stop telling this story about me? Because I've read this multiple times over the years, ever since I was on a talk show and I gave a list of things that I kept from the show, and this was one of the things in the list. Somehow the telephone game has turned this into something else.
Angela [00:04:59] Here's the thing I'm going to say, if you're going to have an AI bot get something horribly wrong, maybe the jewelry tidbit is better than the collects body parts. Can we just say that?
Jenna [00:05:10] It does make me feel a little better.
Angela [00:05:13] I haven't told my mom the story, you guys, but I feel like I need to. Because I feel like there's going to be someone at church that comes up to her and is like, "Birdie, what's up with you and this foot?"
Sam [00:05:21] "What's with the feet?"
Jenna [00:05:24] Well, Angela, I do appreciate you telling that story, because I had the grumps and now I'm laughing. So thank you.
Angela [00:05:30] You're welcome.
Jenna [00:05:31] And I'm actually really excited about our episode today. I'm happy to be here. We get to talk with Calvin Tenner, who played Glenn in The Warehouse.
Angela [00:05:40] You guys, he is just an absolute joyful person and I really can't wait for you all to get to know him better.
Jenna [00:05:48] I've been reunited with him now over the last few years, working on the AT&T commercial campaign. So I'm just excited I get to see him again today, because he just is wonderful.
Angela [00:05:58] Same, Jenna and I were really fortunate. We got to hang out and spend a lot of time with him over the past couple of years between fan conventions and AT&T, and you're gonna see why we love him. You just wait.
Jenna [00:06:08] But let's start with our fan chit chat question of the week. This is coming from Emily A. in Tucson, Arizona.
Emily A. [00:06:16] Hi Angela and Jenna, this is Emily. I live in Tucson, Arizona, and I really enjoy your podcast. Thank you so much for all that you do. My Friday chit chat question is, I'm taking a poll on the use of a top sheet on the bed. All of my children, even though I raised them using a top sheet, would just kick them to the end of the bed. Even though I, very crankily, explained that the comforter and bedspread did not get washed that frequently. So it seems a younger generation thing, that there's no top sheet. And I just wondered if you guys use a top sheet, if you have your kids use a top sheet and just what is the deal with not using a top sheet? Thank you and I look forward to your opinion on the matter.
Jenna [00:07:18] Emily, everything about that message is wonderful.
Angela [00:07:22] The journey I went on, listening to that message. I have so many strong feelings about it that I didn't even realize I knew I had.
Jenna [00:07:30] Well, you know, she also wrote us a letter that went with this audio clip, and I'd like you to know if she seems weary at all about this top sheet issue, she's talking about her kids. She raised 10. 10 kids.
Sam [00:07:42] Wow.
Angela [00:07:44] Ten.
Jenna [00:07:44] So this is 10 beds of top sheets not being used.
Angela [00:07:47] Yeah.
Jenna [00:07:48] Okay. Just wanna give it some perspective. Well, what are your thoughts, lady? How do you feel about a top sheet? Again, it's something that I didn't know I had an opinion on, but I actually do.
Angela [00:07:58] I have a very strong opinion on it. I'm all for a top sheet.
Jenna [00:08:01] Same.
Angela [00:08:01] I love a top sheet. Here's the thing: I grew up with the top sheet, and then of course on Isabel's bed, I had one. Pull back the blanket in her top sheet crawl in, tuck her in, you bedtime story. Then when Josh and I got married and we blended our families and the boys shared a room and they had bunk beds, I would make their bed. I would put a top sheet on, under the comforter.
Jenna [00:08:29] Sure.
Angela [00:08:29] And then I would go in to say goodnight to them and they would either be lying on top of the top sheet and have not have pulled it back, or the next morning, I would find the top sheet completely rolled in a ball at the foot of the bed.
Jenna [00:08:44] Just like Emily is saying.
Angela [00:08:45] Just like Emily was saying. This cycle went over and over, and I would be like, "Guys, the top sheet." And they'd be like, "I don't really need it. I don't really want it." This was like a battle. Josh was like, "Let it go. Let this one go." And so now I do have a top sheet on their beds. I still put it on. Sometimes they're under it, sometimes they're on top of it, sometimes it's at the foot of the bed. I've let it go but I still put it on the bed
Jenna [00:09:12] I feel strongly about a top sheet for all the reasons Emily is saying, which is that I don't wash the comforter cover. But I'll wash the sheet. That's what the top sheet is for. That's the purpose of it.
Angela [00:09:25] Exactly. The comforter cover takes a lot more time to wash, to dry, so you do that every once in a while, but the sheets you wash more regularly.
Jenna [00:09:35] Well, I think she's onto something, because I do think this is a trend where the younger generation is abandoning the top sheet.
Angela [00:09:41] Because it's too much work.
Jenna [00:09:43] Well I don't even know, but I ordered -
Sam [00:09:44] I think it might be a classic case of top sheets? In this economy? Like, this strikes me as one of those-
Jenna [00:09:49] But they come together!
Sam [00:09:50] But this strikes as one of those articles where it's like, "Are millennials ruining the diamond business?" And you're like, "Who's buying diamonds?"
Angela [00:09:56] No! I disagree!
Sam [00:09:57] Who out there has top sheet money in this economy?
Angela [00:09:59] Hold up.
Jenna [00:10:00] [laughing] Top sheet money. They come together in a sheet set. You can buy them separately, I guess, but they come in a bundle. Except, and this is my point, because I think maybe people are wanting to drop the top sheet, is that I bought a new comforter and sheets for my daughter's bed. When they arrived, there was no top sheet. It was just a fitted sheet and then this cover that I put on her comforter. I was grumpy about it because now I have to wash it all the time, and then I have wrestle her duvet back into this top sheet/comforter cover.
Angela [00:10:38] You know what's happened?
Jenna [00:10:39] What?
Angela [00:10:40] The comforter cover people have come for the top sheet.
Jenna [00:10:43] Oh my God.
Angela [00:10:44] That's it. That's what's happening.
Jenna [00:10:46] You're right.
Angela [00:10:46] We just cracked a case. Mom Detectives, high five!
Jenna [00:10:49] Yes. Alright. Emily, that got us going.
Angela [00:10:53] Sam, I'm sorry, top sheet or no for you?
Sam [00:10:55] No.
Jenna [00:10:56] No top sheet?"
Sam [00:10:58] I can't afford a top sheet, I'm not-
Angela [00:10:59] You can't afford a top sheet?!
Sam [00:11:01] I don't have a fainting couch in my living room.
Angela [00:11:04] Oh my gosh, this is ridiculous. You go to Target and you get a fitted sheet, a top sheet and two pillowcases in a bundle.
Jenna [00:11:12] Well, listen, we're not gonna provide you with a top sheet today, but speaking of bedding, we've got a little something for you because your birthday was last week. Which although, as y'all are listening to this, last month.
Angela [00:11:26] We celebrated off mic because we weren't recording that day.
Jenna [00:11:30] But we have a late-breaking gift that has come in.
Sam [00:11:32] Oh, great.
Jenna [00:11:33] We're ready for you to have it.
Angela [00:11:35] You might remember, when you opened your gifts from us...
Sam [00:11:35] Oh my god, I do remember. I know what this is.
Angela [00:11:39] Now I wish we would have bought him a dang top sheet to go with it though. Alright, here, I'm gonna go grab it.
Jenna [00:11:43] If only we knew!
Angela [00:11:44] Come on in here, Sam.
Sam [00:11:49] I love the bag.
Angela [00:11:51] Will you describe it?
Sam [00:11:53] It's a "Star Wars" bag, specifically the original series Star Wars. [crinkling of tissue paper] Oh my god, this is huge!
Angela [00:12:08] Alright, just describe it. You have to describe it!
Sam [00:12:12] It is an entire me-sized blanket of my dog, Ramen. Oh, I love it.
Angela [00:12:18] It's a 50 by 60 blanket of your dog's face.
Sam [00:12:21] That's huge! This is bigger than you are.
Angela [00:12:22] It is.
Sam [00:12:24] Thank you so much.
Jenna [00:12:26] We kind of thought, like, "What does Sam love more than anything? It's Ramen."
Sam [00:12:31] Yeah, and naps with ramen.
Jenna [00:12:33] And now you can snuggle Ramen, in Ramen.
Sam [00:12:38] Yeah, thank you.
Jenna [00:12:39] Alright, well listen happy birthday Sam. We are gonna take a break and when we come back, we are gonna chat with Calvin Tenner.
Angela [00:12:48] Who played Glenn from the Warehouse.
audio cue [00:12:48] [musical sting]
Jenna [00:12:54] Hello.
Angela [00:12:55] Hi, everybody. We have someone pretty special in the studio with us today. It is Calvin Tenner. Woo-hoo!
Calvin [00:13:02] Hey, everyone.
Jenna [00:13:02] Welcome to Office Ladies.
Calvin [00:13:05] It's nice to be here. Thank you ladies for having me.
Angela [00:13:08] You guys might know him as Glenn, but we love him as Calvin.
Calvin [00:13:12] And I also had two other name tags on the show, which was Calvin and Lester.
Angela [00:13:16] That's right. That's a little Office trivia. I feel like they played this trivia game at bars and stuff and that's a good one. Yeah.
Jenna [00:13:23] Yeah, so who did you start as? Lester and then Calvin and then Glenn? Or were you Glenn and then Calvin at one point again?
Calvin [00:13:29] No, it was Lester first. Then Calvin, then Glenn which was crazy. I was like, "Another name tag?"
Angela [00:13:38] "No one's keeping track!" Well, I did see in the episode, "The Cover-Up," that Daryl calls you Glenn.
Calvin [00:13:45] Correct.
Angela [00:13:45] So your name is officially said, in the series, as Glenn.
Calvin [00:13:49] Correct.
Jenna [00:13:50] Well, we always like to start by asking people the same question, which is, "How did you get your job on The Office?" And I read a tidbit that said it might have had something to do with the fact that you were certified to use a forklift in real life.
Calvin [00:14:06] Correct.
Jenna [00:14:06] OK, tell us this story.
Angela [00:14:08] Yeah.
Calvin [00:14:09] So I was pretty much a background actor on The Office, as you know. But how I got there was because I had a certification to drive a forklift and stuff like that. So my background, I was the supervisor at a corrugation plant in San Jose, California. One morning I told my boss, "I'm putting in my two weeks notice." And that kind of ended right there that day because he was kind of mad at me, he said, "You can leave now.". And I was like, "Okay."
Jenna [00:14:39] Now, had you gotten the background job in The Office when you gave the two weeks notice?
Calvin [00:14:43] No. I was still in the Bay Area at this time.
Jenna [00:14:45] Okay, and then what made you want to get into putting yourself out there for acting at all?
Calvin [00:14:51] So after I moved to LA, I was in 24 hour fitness. A guy told me, he was like, "You should be on TV."
Angela [00:15:00] You were just working out?
Calvin [00:15:01] Yeah, just working out and the guy approached me and said, "You should be on TV." I was like, "Okay, so how do you do that?" So I just did some research and that's how I became on the show.
Angela [00:15:14] This is like an old Hollywood lore story where Greta Garbo is like somewhere and they're like, "You should be in the movies!"
Calvin [00:15:20] Yeah, I call it the right place at the right time.
Jenna [00:15:23] What was The Office your first job, then, in the entertainment industry?
Calvin [00:15:28] The Office was actually my third.
Angela [00:15:31] What was your first job?
Calvin [00:15:33] I was doing other background stuff, so it was my first official booking.
Angela [00:15:42] The Office?
Calvin [00:15:43] Yeah, it was The Office.
Angela [00:15:44] Wow.
Calvin [00:15:45] Yes. That's what I said, "Wow."
Jenna [00:15:48] I mean, had you seen the show before?
Calvin [00:15:50] Never seen the show.
Angela [00:15:52] So, will you share with us what was your first day like on set? What episode was it? Will you paint us a picture?
Calvin [00:15:58] I'm going to take you guys way back.
Angela [00:16:00] OK.
Calvin [00:16:00] Alright, so I remember back then (this is back in 2008) me and my wife were planning to get married. We got married in Florida. So we had booked our tickets. So I was called to work on an episode and I told them, I said, "Well, I'll leave to go to Florida tonight because I'm getting married. But you know what, I'm gonna postpone that and just come shoot the episode."
Angela [00:16:29] You postponed your wedding to come shoot the episode?
Calvin [00:16:31] Yes. So I postponed it and I went and shot the episode and (I was still background at this time on the show) once we shot, I caught a red-eye to Florida. The day we got married was 8/8/08 at 8:08.
Angela [00:16:51] Aww.
Calvin [00:16:52] So the next day I get a call from Rainn Wilson and he said "We put together a little care package for you, for your wedding" and I was very ecstatic. I was like, "Are you kidding me?!" I want to say they sent me, like, three grand.
Jenna [00:17:13] What?
Calvin [00:17:13] Exactly.
Angela [00:17:14] You know what? I actually am now remembering. Here's the thing, this is very early on. I remember Rainn was like, "Hey you guys, one of the warehouse workers is getting married" and now that you're saying this I remember. Everyone chipped in, cast and crew. Yes. Correct.
Calvin [00:17:34] Correct. Cast and crew.
Jenna [00:17:36] Well, I remember we used to do that sometimes.
Angela [00:17:38] We did. Actually, we did it quite often for different occasions in people's lives. Graduations, baby showers, things like that. We would all chip in as cast and crew. Oh, my gosh. And Rainn... I never knew how that got to you.
Calvin [00:17:52] Yes, Rainn sent that to me and I was in tears in Florida on the beach, because I didn't know that everyone cared like that. You know?
Angela [00:18:03] Yeah.
Calvin [00:18:04] So, we got married when me and my wife came back. I remember we went up to The Office, went up to the set, and you guys were at lunchtime. That's when I introduced my wife to everyone. I brought a chocolate basket with the chocolate fruit and I introduced to my wife. Then we thanked you guys for that gift. She was so embarrassed because I had her standing next to me, and I had to introduce her as my wife
Angela [00:18:29] Aww
Calvin [00:18:29] It was so fun, it was amazing. At that point in time, some of the writers didn't get a chance to add to it.
Jenna [00:18:40] They hadn't. Yeah.
Calvin [00:18:42] Yeah. So I get a call, maybe a week later, and they wrote me in an episode. So I was like, "Wait a minute. Is this the Hollywood dream about to come true?" And that's what happened.
Angela [00:18:56] This is something really special about The Office. I feel like it is a really special, you know, Jen and I talk about it for years now on this podcast that it was a really special group of people.
Jenna [00:19:07] When you became a part of The Office family, you were part of The Office family.
Calvin [00:19:11] Correct.
Jenna [00:19:11] We wanted to celebrate your accomplishments, we wanted to be with you if you were in hard times. Because there are people, cast and crew, who went through hard times, and we rallied around them as well; financially, emotionally. It was just a special place to work.
Calvin [00:19:27] Yes, it was amazing.
Jenna [00:19:29] Positive.
Calvin [00:19:30] Yes, everyone is so amazing on that show.
Jenna [00:19:34] Well, when you first got your job and you're like, "Okay, I'm gonna be a background player on this show." First of all, did you know that would recur? Did they say you might be back?
Calvin [00:19:44] No.
Jenna [00:19:44] Okay, so you're, like, "This is a one-off," then now you are getting a gift for your wedding and you are a part of it and they're writing you in more episodes.
Calvin [00:19:52] Exactly, they could keep asking you to come back. So I was like, "Okay," and in my head, as long as I keep doing great work, they'll ask me to come back. So that's what kept happening. They asked me to come back, then they asked me come back again. I didn't know that it was gonna be a reoccurring part. I just thought it was like a one and done. You know? Until my agent called me, "Hey, they want you to comeback." "Hey, they wanted you to comeback again."
Angela [00:20:21] Well, in the warehouse, you're heavily featured. I was kind of going through your IMDb list of episodes, there's 16.
Calvin [00:20:30] Yes.
Angela [00:20:31] So then I just started poking around, and there were moments that I had forgotten about. I have to ask you about one. So obviously, you have some great scenes between Glenn and Daryl. But I want to ask about "Fun Run Part 2." Michael crosses the finish line finally and he pukes and you're the person standing right next to him. I know that's this gag that Steve Carell had to do, you know, to make that all happen but you're the closest person to him and I have to know what that was like. Do you have like a vivid memory of times when you were on set that you're like, "I will never forget that?"
Calvin [00:21:10] Yes, the fun run was a great episode. Just to be out there on the streets, just running, "Cut!" And then you go around the corner, run again, "Cut." Meet up at the park, "Cut," but that was my first time just watching someone puke on camera, constantly. So I thought that was pretty funny.
Angela [00:21:30] And you didn't break, you didn't laugh. Did you ever break in a scene?
Calvin [00:21:35] Did I ever? You know what? At that point in time, I was like, "I want to keep coming back," so no.
Jenna [00:21:41] Right, right. "I'm not gonna be the one," yeah.
Jenna [00:21:43] I have to ask, so you had never seen the show and now you're on the show. What was your first impression of this crazy show that you were now on? Did anyone explain, like, this is a documentary?
Calvin [00:21:56] No, no, I had to start watching it for myself. I don't know if you ladies knew it, but I always stood on set and watched you all do your thing. So it was like acting class for me; just to watch you all go off of each other. You guys were able to add certain things into it, too. It was just so crazy to me because I thought you had to be on script. But some of it was off script as well. So I was like, "Oh, this is interesting. Hey, I wanna do this."
Angela [00:22:29] So when we were in the warehouse, you were just taking your mental notes.
Calvin [00:22:32] Yeah, it was just spinning, spinning and spinning. My head was just spinnin' and I was like, "Oh my God."
Jenna [00:22:39] So what happens when they're like, "Okay, we're gonna give you lines" because you started off background.
Calvin [00:22:45] Correct, correct.
Jenna [00:22:46] So do you remember when they were like, "We have some words for you."
Calvin [00:22:51] I remember.
Jenna [00:22:52] Because Creed started off as background.
Angela [00:22:54] Exactly.
Jenna [00:22:55] And then all of a sudden they're like,
Angela [00:22:57] He had this huge scene.
Jenna [00:22:58] "Here's a scene." And he was like, "Oh, okay, I'm speaking now."
Calvin [00:23:02] And that's what I heard. And I was like, "Oh, great for Creed." I remember the episode. It's when Michael Scott comes down, this is when he was talking about having a baby. Craig was on the couch and I was sitting on a bench. He said something to Craig and I forgot the words that I said. When I seen that episode on TV, I was, like, "Yeah, we gotta work on some things." Because at that point in time, I was still in the ah moment. You could see it on my face, you can see that excitement on my face where it shouldn't have been. So I had to work on some things. But after seeing that, I was like, "Okay, alright."
Angela [00:23:51] Well, you had a great scene in the St. Patrick's Day episode. So you go up, you're in Daryl's office, right? Because now, basically, he has this pitch to Joe Bennett about how to make the whole process of delivering paper better and more expedited. So she's like, "Fine, you know what? You need to be up here in the main office. Take Jim's office." Then there's this great scene where you and the other warehouse guys, you're gonna go up to Daryl's new office and you're like, "We're gonna bust you out of here." And then you kind of give them shade. You're like, "Dude, did you tuck your shirt in?" You have some real laugh moments in that scene.
Calvin [00:24:32] Yeah, I always have fun working with Craig. We kind of developed a great friendship on that show. I mean, I have friends in L.A., but I didn't really have a friend like that in L .A. You know, we hung out outside the show.
Angela [00:24:43] And you still hang out together and work together. Can you share a little bit about that with everyone?
Calvin [00:24:48] Yeah, so after The Office, Craig was (I want to say he was) about to shoot Mr. Robinson and they didn't get a stunt guy for him. I didn't have anything going on. I approached the stunt coordinator and I told him, I said, "Hey, if you don't have Craig's stunt double yet, I'll grow my hair out, grow my beard out. We're good to go." He was like, "Come see me in two months." When I came and seen him, he was, like, "Oh, okay, you fit it, let's go." So, and then I started taking stunt classes and stuff like that, but me and him been rocking ever since.
Jenna [00:25:25] Yeah, you double for him a lot. We did that commercial for AT&T where you doubled for him. You're covered in all the pillows and you have to bust through a door.
Calvin [00:25:38] That was fun.
Angela [00:25:38] And then we did a whole second round of "Wake up with Craig" and you were on set every day. You worked all day. We were with you all day long.
Calvin [00:25:46] Correct. I did the driving scene on that one too as well.
Angela [00:25:50] Yeah. So there's a scene where we all pull up to the new office and you drive in, as Craig.
Calvin [00:25:57] They were like, "Yeah, just drive this Mustang like 40 miles an hour down this alley."
Angela [00:26:02] And then make a hard right into the parking spot.
Calvin [00:26:04] Yeah.
Angela [00:26:06] Like, "Whee!" and you did it. And by the way, we're standing there, like what, two feet from the car? I'm like, "Calvin, you got this?" You're like, "Yeah, I got it."
Calvin [00:26:15] Great moments, great moments.
Angela [00:26:18] Well, there's this scene between Glenn and Daryl, and also Hide, and it's from "Free Family Portrait."
Jenna [00:26:25] Oh my god, it's so funny. It's so good.
Angela [00:26:27] I thought I could see you about to break. Now I know you didn't, but there was a little twinkle in your eye. Once you know you, you can see it. Wait, can we hear it?
Jenna [00:26:37] Yes, I have the audio.
Angela [00:26:38] Oh good, let's listen to it.
clip from The Office - Craig [00:26:41] Let me get this straight. You lost all of it. All your winnings, $150,000.
clip from The Office - warehouse worker [00:26:51] But to investment.
clip from The Office - Craig [00:26:52] You mean to tell me no one wanted an energy drink for Asian homosexuals?
clip from The Office - Glenn [00:26:56] They did not.
clip from The Office - Craig [00:26:57] And you got half a million of these? Well, I gotta try it.
clip from The Office - Glenn [00:27:05] I wouldn't.
clip from The Office - Craig [00:27:06] Come on. What flavor is that?
clip from The Office - warehouse worker [00:27:14] Coconut penis.
clip from The Office - Craig [00:27:16] Coconut is pretty subtle.
Angela [00:27:20] Your timing is so good. "They did not." And then also when he's like, "The coconut is pretty subtle." That's so funny. But that's such a great storyline, that the whole warehouse wins the lottery and then quits. You guys really like come up and dance around and be like, "F you, everyone."
Jenna [00:27:43] I have a question for you. When you guys quit, were you worried? Were you like, "No, what is this story line, exactly? What is this story line?"
Calvin [00:27:49] Exactly. I was like, "We win a lotto and what happens after that?" I was just like, "Oh my God, it's just the end of us?" And me and Hide were talking. I was like, "Hey man, we might not come back." So after we won the lottery, we left. I was watching episodes of The Office, like, "Are they gonna write us back, man? What's gonna happen?" So the last episode, my agent calls me and said, "Hey, they're bringing you back." I was like, "Oh my goodness." So the last episode of season eight, they brought us back and that's where that scene came from.
Angela [00:28:27] That scene is so great. I want you to know, I went down the rabbit hole looking for bloopers. I was positive that there was a blooper from that scene. I actually really want to reach out to Dave Rogers and be like, "I know you guys look like you're about to lose it." But if I find that blooper, I'm gonna send it to you.
Calvin [00:28:43] Yeah, Hide is so funny. We're still friends to this day as well. So yeah, Hide is a good friend of mine.
Angela [00:28:49] I had such a fun time hanging out with you guys at The Office fan conventions, and just catching up and Hide's the sweetest.
Jenna [00:28:58] He is. I have a question sort of in that vein. How has being on The Office changed your life? Because you're going to these fan conventions now. You must get recognized.
Calvin [00:29:07] Correct, funny story. Before I cut my hair and all that stuff, I got recognized a lot. But now my twin brother gets recognized as me on The Office because he still looks like that. So it's amazing. When he's out and about and he calls me up or he'll text me first. "Can I FaceTime you? Someone wants to say hi. They thought I was you. So I want to introduce them to the real you."
Jenna [00:29:34] But he was also on an episode.
Calvin [00:29:37] Yes, "The Matrix."
Angela [00:29:38] So Jim is pranking Dwight so that Dwight thinks he's in the Matrix. So the glitch in the matrix, where you see the carbon footprint of yourself and you know there's a glitch, like how the cat crosses the road twice. It's you and your twin, are the glitch and the matrix. That's amazing.
Jenna [00:29:56] Well, so when people run into him and ask him if he's on The Office, he's like, "Technically, yes, but I think the person you wanna talk to is my brother."
Calvin [00:30:03] Correct. It's funny. To me it's funny and so great at the same time.
Angela [00:30:08] Yeah!
Calvin [00:30:09] The Office is one of those shows that most people wish they were a part of. I mean, I didn't know what I was getting into. I'm pretty sure you ladies didn't either.
Angela [00:30:17] Oh, no way. Yeah.
Calvin [00:30:19] This thing is like, it's still out there just making new fans.
Jenna [00:30:23] Mm-hmm.
Calvin [00:30:24] You know, it's pretty wild, right?
Angela [00:30:26] Yeah, and the people that love it know it so well. They will know that your character had three names. They know all those details, you know?
Calvin [00:30:35] Correct, I mean there was a woman at the convention and she has the holy grail tattooed on her calf.
Angela [00:30:42] That is crazy, that you dip your doughnut into?
Calvin [00:30:46] Correct.
Angela [00:30:47] Oh my God.
Jenna [00:30:48] Wow.
Calvin [00:30:49] She was like, "I wanna show you something." So she has Michael Scott tattooed on her arm, or something like that. She had everyone tattooed on her body and I was like "Oh my God," so the fans are amazing.
Angela [00:31:02] They are, they're a wonderful community. I'm so thankful for them. I am so curious. We ask anyone that we've had on here that's been on The Office, if they had a favorite scene, or episode, or just what is your fan moment from being on The Office? The episode you love?
Calvin [00:31:21] Oh man, there's so many.
Angela [00:31:23] I know, it's hard right? We get asked this question all the time.
Calvin [00:31:26] You know what? I love all your episodes with Rainn, the interaction between you guys. It's so comical. Your love story with Jim. It's like, couldn't get any better than that, you know? Like I said, I was just a person in the backfield watching you guys work. So, every part of that show I loved, you know? There's not just one episode that I loved. I loved it all. I'm like, "Let's go back and do it again." Not to shoot what we already shot, let's go back and do it again. You know what I mean?
Angela [00:31:59] It would be really cool, we've talked about that. If we could go back to one episode or one moment and do it again. I feel like we always say, just one big ensemble scene where we're all together. I was watching "Weight Loss," where we were all in the warehouse and we're standing on that thing. Andy sort of like spits, thinks he's going to lose weight by spitting, and you give him such a terrifying, like, scary look. We were all in this little room, or we'd be in a conference room scene. Those kind of moments, where we were all together, were really special moments.
Calvin [00:32:39] Yes, it was all special, yes.
Jenna [00:32:41] Well, before we let you go, is there anything about your time on The Office that you haven't shared with us? Any behind-the-scenes stories or memories?
Calvin [00:32:49] We spent so much time on that show. I think every moment that I spent on the show was a great memory for me. There's not one that stood out because I was just so excited to get there. Whenever I was working, just to see you all and be a part of it. So, yeah, just being there. Every time I had a chance to be there was a good memory. It was great people, great food.
Angela [00:33:20] Always great food.
Calvin [00:33:21] And great comedy.
Jenna [00:33:22] But also how crazy is it, that this thing that we did so long ago is still being watched? It's still beloved and it's endured and you're part of that, of this wonderful thing.
Calvin [00:33:39] I tell some of my family members, I'm like, "It's the gift that keeps giving."
Angela [00:33:45] Mhm.
Calvin [00:33:45] Because it's not going anywhere. It's right there in front of your face. If you turn on the TV, it's right here. You don't really have to search that hard for it, just go through the channels, The Office.
Angela [00:33:58] Oh my gosh, have you been on a plane and watched someone watch The Office?
Calvin [00:34:02] I have. A part of me would want to say, "Hey, I was in that."
Jenna [00:34:10] They'd probably love it.
Calvin [00:34:12] I have yet to see someone watch an episode I was on, but I've seen people watch it, so that's amazing.
Jenna [00:34:20] And what does your family think? Are you the first actor in the family, the first person to work in the entertainment industry?
Calvin [00:34:27] Yes.
Jenna [00:34:27] So what is that like for them?
Calvin [00:34:28] My mom thinks it's hilarious. She's like, "So what are you working on now? What are you doing today?" She knows I'm always on set doing something because (I'm pretty sure you already know) my wife owns "House of Talent," a commercial casting company. TV and film, stuff like that. So and we're always on-set. It's amazing.
Angela [00:34:56] You know, I have to say something. All those years we were working together and we'd be on the set and sometimes there'd be really long shoot days, especially for some reason when we were in the warehouse, in particular. I feel like there were really big plot lines or big stories over there.
Jenna [00:35:10] Well, it was very cavernous. And so they would spend more time figuring out where to put the cameras, sometimes, because it was a very big space. So we did a lot of coverage down there.
Angela [00:35:24] And my memory of you on those long days is just looking over at you and you would always have the biggest smile on your face, like, zero complaints, so happy to be here.
Calvin [00:35:36] Whenever you feel welcome, you're happy. So you guys welcomed me into a family. I was like, "Oh man, okay, alright." So that's all I can do, is smile and be happy and appreciate it, you know? So I appreciate my time on that show and everything I've done after that. So I appreciated all of it because every day is a great day. There's no bad days, at least in my book.
Angela [00:36:02] Oh my gosh, Calvin, we need more of you in this world, I'm telling you right now.
Jenna [00:36:08] Oh well, thank you for coming in today!
Calvin [00:36:11] [laughing] Such a great show.
Angela [00:36:11] Come on, you just absolute ray of sunshine of a human. Thanks so much for being here.
Calvin [00:36:17] Thank you ladies for having me. It's been a pleasure. We're still friends.
Jenna [00:36:22] It's crazy.
Angela [00:36:23] It's crazy.
Calvin [00:36:24] It's crazy.
Angela [00:36:26] Thank you so much, stay in touch. We love ya'.
Jenna [00:36:29] Love you.
Calvin [00:36:29] Love you both.
audio cue [00:36:30] [musical sting]
Angela [00:36:33] Well, how delightful was that?
Jenna [00:36:35] I love him.
Angela [00:36:36] I know. He's just good people.
Jenna [00:36:38] It's like seeing your cousin. You're like, "Oh my God, how are you?"
Angela [00:36:41] It really is true. It's that Office family is forever. Every time any of us see each other, it's just a joyous occasion.
Jenna [00:36:50] Alright, well should we get to a little Around the Town, lady?
Angela [00:36:54] Let's do it. Our first Around the Town is from Alexandra L. in Coralville, Iowa. Alexandra said, "Every May, the town holds a city-wide garage sale weekend, followed by a swap weekend where everyone can bring their unwanted stuff to the city hall parking lot and take whatever they want for free. Items not claimed are donated to a nonprofit. After that comes Mayor's Cleanup Week where everyone puts the remaining unwanted items on the curb for trash pickup. People all over town then drive around and pick out treasures before the trash pickup happens. It's amazing what you can find in good shape. We always enjoy searching for treasures three weeks in a row. We've ended up with a play set, kiddie pool, cat tree, patio set, tons of kids' clothes, and so much else from these events. I've never lived anywhere so dedicated to reusing unwanted items." How fantastic is that?!
Jenna [00:37:48] The whole town is spring cleaning at the same time.
Angela [00:37:51] I love it.
Jenna [00:37:53] It's so smart.
Angela [00:37:54] It's so smart. I love a garage sale. I love everything about this. Then the swap and then the things for free. Come on. I got very worked up about that one, sorry. I was very excited.
Jenna [00:38:04] It's very cool. Alright, mine is from Margaret C. in Massillon, Ohio, who said, "Our thriving "city of champions" of 32,000 Massilonians is celebrating its 200th birthday this year. Massillon's history includes providing a safe haven of the Underground Railroad, being a historic shipping town on the Ohio and Erie Canal, and (later) a hub for steel and heavy industry. Some of our town's many noted citizens include silent film stars Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Browns and Bengals coach Paul Brown, and actors David Canary, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Matt Lanter, and singer Jeff Timmons. Our Massillon Tigers high school football team also has an elite history with 25 state championships. We are really so proud of our Northeast Ohio City and invite everyone to celebrate at our many patriotic events this year."
Angela [00:39:06] Massillon, Ohio is crushing it.
Jenna [00:39:07] Happy birthday!
Angela [00:39:08] Happy birthday. 25 state wins, wha?
Jenna [00:39:12] Well done.
Angela [00:39:12] Our next one is from Sam C. in Gainesville, Florida. Sam says, "At age 21, I just released my first album. I make music under the name Sam Cone. So to celebrate, I threw a cone-themed listening party. My friends and I snacked on Pop Cone, Cone-oli, Ice Cream Cones, Chips Cone Queso. And Bugles," (oh, because Bugles are in the shape of a cone, lady,) "while we listened to the album titled 'Whist Away,' drinks included vodka cone berries and pina cone latas. We had a blast."
Jenna [00:39:48] Aw, Sam, congratulations! At 21?
Angela [00:39:51] 21, Sam Cohn, way to go.
Jenna [00:39:54] A whole album, wow. I don't know what I was doing at 21, but I hadn't just finished a whole album, I'll tell you that.
Angela [00:40:00] I know where I was when I turned 21.
Jenna [00:40:03] Had you finished something like an album?
Angela [00:40:04] I was writing a term paper at my desk and I didn't go out and celebrate but I did go to the gas station. My dad had given me a gas card, just for gas, but I would buy groceries on it. I went in proudly and I bought myself a Coronita, which is a mini bottle of beer.
Jenna [00:40:26] To celebrate your 21st birthday, because you were in the middle of a term paper?
Angela [00:40:29] Yes, but it wasn't an album, Sam Cohn. It was just a term paper. Well, let's move on to our Office question of the week.
Jenna [00:40:38] Yeah, this one is coming from Ella M. in Louisiana who says, "Hi Office ladies, do you have a favorite show with a similar vibe as The Office? What other shows should Office fans watch?" Well, my family just did a rewatch of "Modern Family," which has that same sort of cutting away to talking heads and to interview segments. I think the comedy is really good. I would recommend that. But you know what they don't do, like we do? Break the fourth wall. So there's none of that looking to camera. It's not documentary style, but it's sort of documentary style? But I think that's pretty close.
Angela [00:41:18] I mean, this is a great question. I really liked it. So I was thinking, my family and I are watching right now. It's the first time for the kids seeing it, but we're watching "Arrested Development."
Jenna [00:41:30] Oh, yeah.
Angela [00:41:31] Yeah, and it's got that very single camera. You kind of feel like you're getting a peep inside some family's life. It's very quirky, it's very funny. I was always a fan of "Reno 911."
Jenna [00:41:45] Oh, that's a great answer. Because that is very much in the same style. And I think if I were thinking of new shows, like, shows today, I would say "Jury Duty," written by Lee and Jean.
Angela [00:41:57] For sure.
Jenna [00:41:58] So good. I would say "St. Dennis Medical" and "Animal Control."
Angela [00:42:03] And also, the show "Superstore," created by Justin Spitzer.
Jenna [00:42:07] Oh, yes.
Angela [00:42:09] Has that similar vibe.
Jenna [00:42:10] It does, it's a good comedy. For me, this idea of a fake documentary TV show goes back to "The Larry Sanders Show."
Angela [00:42:19] I loved that show.
Jenna [00:42:20] So good. And if you haven't seen it, it's just fantastic. It's behind the scenes of a late night talk show. In fact, the DP that shot The Office pilot shot The Larry Sanders show. He was just with us for that one episode, the pilot. Peter Smokler is his name. But you're going to see that same kind of style. But again, they don't break the fourth wall and they don't do talking heads.
Angela [00:42:45] Mm-hmm.
Jenna [00:42:46] It's more like "caught on the fly documentary" sort of thing.
Angela [00:42:50] You know what I was thinking about, as far as breaking the fourth wall in a really, really cool, inventive way? "Fleabag."
Jenna [00:42:57] Oh, yes.
Angela [00:42:59] Because the scene plays out and then she'll look straight to camera and have this aside. Not to a documentary crew. It's her inner thoughts to herself.
Jenna [00:43:07] And then if I could give a shameless plug.
Angela [00:43:09] Oh yeah, do it.
Jenna [00:43:11] I have become a recurring character on "The Chit Show," which is a group of groundlings folks. It's a digital series and it so fun and funny and it is in an office.
Angela [00:43:24] Mm-hmm.
Jenna [00:43:24] And there's all the camera whips, and there is breaking the fourth wall. It's really taking me back. I love this group of people and it's just been my absolute pleasure. I was so honored that they asked me. I was flattered that they ask me. So I play Bitsy, who is the auditor from corporate who's come down. So every once in a while I show up and I'm real tough.
Angela [00:43:51] No one's happy to see an auditor.
Jenna [00:43:52] No, no, and Bitsy's really grouchy because she has a rash that goes from her knee to her neck.
Angela [00:43:57] I love the name Bitsy, by the way.
Jenna [00:43:59] I know she's having to deal with this rash all the time and it just puts her in a sour mood a lot.
Angela [00:44:06] Go check that out. It's really fun to see Jenna in this role.
Jenna [00:44:10] And Angela, you've got a plug before we go.
Angela [00:44:12] Oh my gosh, I don't know, it's not so much a plug, it's just like, hey, if you guys are in Raleigh, North Carolina, July 25th through the 26th, Rainn Wilson and I are gonna be there at GalaxyCon. I love meeting Office fans, I love chatting with people, so come say hi.
Jenna [00:44:29] Well, there you have it, folks. I think this was a fun episode. We set the record straight on some things. We got to talk to Calvin. We learned about this incredible - I kind of want to go, next May, to Iowa.
Angela [00:44:42] I know.
Jenna [00:44:43] I mean, I'd like to see that.
Angela [00:44:46] Lady, you know I want a road trip with you.
Jenna [00:44:48] I know, it's true.
Angela [00:44:48] And a road trip to a garage sale with my best friend?
Jenna [00:44:51] I know.
Angela [00:44:51] Get out. I'm in.
Jenna [00:44:53] Alright, everybody, have a great week. We'll see you next week.
Angela [00:44:56] See you then!
Jenna [00:00:17] Thank you for listening to Office Ladies.
Angela [00:00:19] Office Ladies is a presentation of Audacy and is produced by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.
Jenna [00:00:24] Our senior producer is Matt Beagle. Our audio engineer is Sam Kieffer, and our associate producer is Aynsley Bubbico.
Angela [00:00:32] Audacy's executive producer is Leah Reis-Dennis.
Jenna [00:00:35] Office Ladies was mixed and mastered by Bill Schultz.
Angela [00:00:37] Our theme song is "Rubber Tree" by Creed Bratton.