WARNING: SPOILERS from Suits LA episode 3.As the original Suits TV show is its inclusion of real-life figures and celebrities, with the West Coast-centric spinoff taking place in the City of Angels, a primary location for many actors today. In Suits LA episode 3, one of the popular stars from The Office, another NBC legacy series, becomes one of the driving plot points, but with a twist.
While the world fell in love with Kevin Malone, Suits LA's fictional version of Brian Baumgartner seeks the help of Erica Rollins in expanding his career and be known as more than the comedic fan-favorite on The Office. ing ScreenRant for an exclusive interview, Baumgartner opened up about the process of getting invited to the Suits spinoff and pouncing on the chance to portray an iteration of himself.
Baumgartner spoke about working with Suits LA's leading lady, Lex Scott Davis, and sharing the screen with Patton Oswalt. While Suits LA episode 3 may have focused on the fictionalized version of Baumgartner wanting to move away from The Office, the real-life actor also elaborated on whether or not Kevin could return for the spinoff series that is currently in development.
Brian Baumgartner Reveals How Suits LA Approached To Appear As Himself
"I Feel Like We Collaborated Very, Very Well"
ScreenRant: I always love when an actor gets to appear as themselves in a show like this. What is that process like? Do you get to be involved with the writing at all, like, 'This is what I think this version of Brian would look like in the Suits universe'?
Brian Baumgartner: That's a really good question. Andy, I think that in this, whether it's because I was playing a character that has the same name as me or if it's just that they're fantastic collaborators. I suspect it's both. We had multiple conversations before we started shooting about what their idea was for this character in their show that, played by me, and finding the line between me and what they wanted to accomplish.
I feel like we collaborated very, very well, and so much so that by the time I showed up and where the script was in its final version...I'm always going to play a little bit, and was given the ability to play a little in improv, but really it was in a place I was totally comfortable with. It felt much more, I feel, much more invested in both them and the show, because of the experience, very different than a another show where I just show up as a guest star. So they were really willing to work with me and help find the line of reality between me and the character that they were looking for.
Were you already a fan of the Suits franchise before coming into the show? Did they come to you, or were you like, 'Hey, I am a fan of what you guys do, I would love to be part of this!'
Brian Baumgartner: It did not happen that way, for sure. I was obviously very familiar with Suits in the NBC family for a long time when, when I was permanently in the NBC family. So I was very well aware of the success that they found in streaming through Netflix, a very similar journey to what happened with The Office. I did not know about the new show, but was approached about coming in pretty early, when they had gotten picked up past the pilot.
Obviously, I am watching very closely now. I have gone back and watched a bunch of the original Suits series, but I thinka lot of people are referring to this as a remake, it's the same words that they use for The Office too, [or] spin-off, but I think it's within the same family, it's within the same genre. It's using the same language, but it's really an extension of the series, as opposed to a specific spin-off.
Working With Lex Scott Davis In Suits LA Episode 3 Was A Delight
"She Was Really Able To Play And Improvise With Me"
I spoke with Lex Scott Davis a few weeks ago, who is amazing as Erica. You guys had such a great dynamic on screen, but she was talking about how this is her big breakout gig. How was it working with someone who is starting out?
Brian Baumgartner: I had a great time with her, truly, she was really able to play and improvise with me. We didn't do a ton, because I felt like the script was in such a good place, but we definitely did some, and she was open. Not just improving in of the words, but changing the feeling and dynamic of the scene. We did takes that sort of leaned more heavily into comedy, and also some that leaned more heavily into drama or anger. It'll be interesting to me.
I've seen very little. I've seen one of the scenes so far to see what direction Aaron [Korsh] and the editors decided to take it. Because I felt like there were a number of possibilities based on that. I know that I'm not supposed to be her client, but hopefully, if Brian Baumgartner needs some more legal work, he gets to work with her again.
Brian Baumgartner May Not Be Done With Suits LA
"Once You're A Client At The Law Firm, You Tend To Show Back Up"
Do you see a chance of us getting an update on what this Brian is up to?
Brian Baumgartner: Well, look, it would be a lot of fun. I do think that they've left it open and based on the original series, once you're a client at the law firm, you tend to show back up again. I do think there's an intention and something interesting to be resolved, or at least to find out how [or] what happens to Brian after this episode ends. I don't know, we'll see, but I certainly would jump at the opportunity, because they are a fantastic group of people, a great crew. And again, they didn't need to collaborate with me or ask my advice about things, but they were very, very open, and I really enjoyed the experience.
Brian Baumgartner & Patton Oswalt Make A Dynamic Duo In Suits LA Episode 3
"I'm A Big Fan Of His"
Was this the first time you had worked with Patton Oswalt, and how was it working with him in this type of context?
Brian Baumgartner: It's the first time I've worked with Patton. Basically, I think, if we were playing like the Degrees of Kevin Bacon, we would say that we'd work together. I did a number of episodes on The Goldbergs, which, of course, he was omnipresent in as the voice. But I never met him, we had met in the past, but very briefly over the years. To be able to spend so much time with him [on Suits LA,] I'm a big fan of his, and I felt like we worked really well too. It was very fast and easy too, I will tell you. It was sort of one of those glorious situations where we got in the room together and things just worked. They just clicked and you got to give credit to Aaron and the producers there at Suits, they saw it before we got there, but itwas a lot of fun.
A Potential Return For The Office Spinoff Series Isn't Off The Table
"I Hope Kevin's Still Working At The Bar Right Around The Corner"
On the subject of The Office in this episode of Suits LA, we know that world is getting ready to expand. What are the chances that *this* Brian would want to go revisit Kevin again?
Brian Baumgartner: [Laughs] Uh, That's interesting...I don't know what the rules are there in the new show, or where Greg [Daniels] sees Kevin. I hope Kevin's still working at the bar right around the corner from Dunder Mifflin. I hope he's still there, so I don't know about a trip to the Midwest, or who knows maybe those guys need to write a story about the people in Scranton and come in. I have no idea, but look, I'm really excited, as I'm sure everyone is, to see what they've come up with. Michael Koman and, of course, Greg Daniels, [are] geniuses, so I'm sure that it's going to be a lot of fun for people.
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Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while we slowly unravel the events that years ago led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.
Check out our other Suits LA interviews:
Suits LA airs Sundays at 9/8c on NBC.
Source: ScreenRant Plus
Suits LA follows Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor who now represents influential clients in Los Angeles. As his law firm faces a critical juncture, Ted must navigate the challenges of a role he once disdained, balancing moral dilemmas with the demands of high-stakes legal battles.
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