Brian Baumgartner Attributes the Success of ‘The Office’ to its Christmas Episode

According to Brian Baumgartner, the success of “The Office” might just be its own Christmas miracle.

The actor, widely recognized for portraying Kevin Malone, reunited with former cast members Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey in a special holiday bonus episode of their “Office Ladies” podcast. Together, they looked back on the festive episodes of the beloved sitcom and reminisced about the impact they had.

Baumgartner, who was a part of the popular NBC series from 2005 to 2013, shared how his recollections of the show’s holiday episodes are interconnected with events occurring “outside” the make-believe world of “The Office.”

Reflecting on the first Christmas episode of “The Office,” the actor expressed his belief that it was a crucial moment that propelled the show into mainstream success and etched its place in the annals of television history.

“It’s about what was happening outside. And as I’m sure you guys have or will talk about, like, that very first Christmas episode,” he told Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. “It didn’t launch the show. It wasn’t the first episode of the show. But that episode really launched the success of the show.”

“That episode became our largest audience since the premiere,” he added of the season 2 episode, “Christmas Party.” “And from there, you know, then Steve [Carell] wins the Golden Globe, like, three or four weeks later, everything starts happening.”

“We turned a corner,” Kinsey, who played Angela, chimed in. “You know, at that point, we didn’t even have a full order for the season. And they started — after that, it became clear we were gonna be around for a while.”

Fischer, who played Pam, remembered the holiday episodes as some of the most “joyous” to make. “We really would be in these, like, group party situations for most of the episode.”

“I’m sure we were very hard to wrangle,” she added. “We were probably, like, trying to make a TV show with a room full of 6-year-olds or something, doing all our bits.”

The first Christmas episode of “The Office,” titled “Christmas Party,” aired on December 6, 2005, during the show’s second season. Widely regarded as a fan favorite, it is credited with helping solidify the series’ popularity.

The episode follows Michael Scott (Steve Carell) as he throws an office Christmas party that quickly goes off the rails. Initially, the team is set to exchange thoughtful gifts through a Secret Santa game, but Michael turns it into a chaotic Yankee Swap (White Elephant) exchange.

This creates tension as some employees had put significant effort into their gifts, like Jim (John Krasinski), who gives Pam (Jenna Fischer) a teapot filled with mementos referencing their inside jokes. Others, like Michael, ignored the $20 gift limit, with Michael gifting a $400 iPod to showcase his generosity and seek approval from the team.

The episode highlights the quirky dynamics of the office, from Angela’s strict control over the Christmas tree to Kevin’s excitement over a footbath gift. As the party progresses, Michael tries to salvage the mood by buying liquor for the team, leading to hilariously awkward moments.

The episode strikes a balance between humor and heart, further developing Jim and Pam’s budding romance while showcasing Michael’s desperate need for validation. It became a cultural touchstone and remains a holiday classic.

“Christmas Party” also marked a turning point for the series, demonstrating how “The Office” could turn relatable workplace scenarios into comedic gold. It earned the show its first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series and played a significant role in building momentum during its second season, helping “The Office” transition into a mainstream hit.

The trio reminisced about a chaotic moment from the 2009 episode “Secret Santa,” where Carell’s Michael Scott, dressed as Santa, had Kevin (played by Baumgartner) sit on his lap. Fischer shared that the cast couldn’t make it through the scene without breaking into laughter.

“If you watch that episode, people are breaking in the background,” Fischer said. “We never, ever got a take where people held it together the whole time long enough to actually put the show together. I think they just gave up. They were like, ‘Forget it. This is what it is.’”