The Officestars John Krasinski and Brian Baumgartner had a go-to video game on set, and it’s weirdly perfect - not only for the characters they played, but also for a little on-set distraction. Krasinski (who plays Jim) and Baumgartner (Kevin) are both integral members ofThe Office’s original cast; they have been around since season one, and, as some of the series' most memorable personalities, played a big role in establishing the series' dynamic.
But while Jim and Kevin aren’t really on-screen friends, as it turns out, Krasinski and Baumgartner had at least one thing in common.They shared a love of a popular video game franchise, and would often engage in a few rounds between takes throughout a years-long obsession.
John Krasinski & Brian Baumgartner Played Xbox On The Set Of The Office
“Every Day At Lunch”
According to a 2024 interview with Brian Baumgartner on theLightweightspodcast,he and John Krasinski had an enduring obsession withMadden NFLfor several yearswhile working together onThe Office. Baumgartner said:
“For a few years, every day at lunch, we playedMadden Football… in his trailer. He had the setup. He had a better sofa. We played Xbox in his trailer.”
As for who was better, Baumgartner claims, “It was pretty split.” He sayshe and Krasinski had better records with particular teams, probably representing the lineups that best suited their unique playstyles. To keep things interesting later in theirMaddenobsession, Krasinski started the trend of wildly spinning the thumbstick to select a team at random. However, Baumgartner would occasionally object to the imbalanced matchups this would create. “Just like 12-year-olds…if he got Buffalo and I got Carolina, I’d be like, no, we’re not doing that.”
Madden Is A Great Choice For A TV Set
Perfect For Jim & Kevin
It’s a little funny to imagine Jim and Kevin playingMaddentogether between sales calls, but honestly, it makes perfect sense. The two characters rarely interact on-screen, but when they do bond, it’s often over sports. In particular,the “Office Olympics” episode, where Kevin teaches Jim the paper football game he dubs Hate Ball, comes to mind.
And besides,Maddenis the perfect game to play on a TV set. Shooting a TV show means a lot of downtime, and video games are the perfect way to keep busy during breaks. But at the same time, things move fast; you don’t want to get embroiled in something like a huge RPG, where you might lose hours of progress if you’re suddenly called to set.
Madden’s multiple game modesmake iteasy to pick up and play. You can finish a whole game handily during your lunch break with plenty of time to spare. But you can also pass the time during longer breaks withdeep dives into Franchise mode.
Plus, one of the wonderful things aboutMaddenis that it’s a wonderful way to bond with friends, family, or coworkers. Nothing brings two people closer than a little low-stakes competition, especially when you maintain a years-long rivalry with the same person. Brian Baumgartner and Jim Krasinski’s dailyMaddensessions must have been a bright spot inThe Office’s behind-the-scenes history - if nothing else, at least it makes for a good story.
