Before Brian Baumgartner became widely recognized as Kevin Malone from "The Office," his aspirations were rooted in baseball. However, fate had other plans, leading him on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. This article delves into Baumgartner's life, exploring his early dreams, the injury that changed his path, his rise to fame on "The Office," and his surprising venture into the world of chili.
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Growing up, Baumgartner's primary ambition was to become a professional baseball player. He excelled in various sports, but baseball held a special place in his heart. Unfortunately, a birth defect in his leg threatened to derail his dreams. As Baumgartner explained on Nick Viall’s podcast, "The Viall Files," his bone was twisted in his leg from birth, causing his foot to be slightly rotated from his knee. While he could have lived with the condition, it would have hindered his ability to run fast, a necessity for a professional baseball player.
A Life-Altering Injury
During his teenage years, Baumgartner underwent surgery to correct the issue. However, the procedure took an unforeseen turn when something went wrong, leading to a severe complication. According to Baumgartner, the cast applied after the surgery became excessively hot at a pressure point, resulting in a burn that went through his Achilles tendon. This injury forced him to learn to walk again, requiring skin grafts and the use of a wheelchair and walker.
The health complication led Baumgartner to the realization that his dream of playing sports professionally may not be possible anymore.
Finding a New Path in Theatre
Faced with the prospect of a different future, Baumgartner sought new avenues to channel his energy and passion. "I was a very active kid," he said. "I was playing tennis, basketball, baseball and I needed to find something else. And that’s how I got into theatre… just trying to find something I could do." This decision forever altered his life, setting him on a course toward acting and ultimately leading him to "The Office."
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From "The Office" to Chili Fame
Baumgartner is best known for starring as Kevin Malone in the hit sitcom "The Office," which aired from 2005 until 2013. On the podcast, Baumgartner said he was initially drawn to the show after he saw the original U.K. version. "I called my agent and said this is the show, she said to me they are looking for unknown people but they are not looking for you unknown - like totally unknown," he told the outlet. "But my manager worked and worked and got me in a meeting with [casting director] Allison Jones.""The Office" was the most viewed show on Netflix in 2018, streamed for over 52 billion minutes, according to Nielsen. subscribers.
During his time on "The Office," Baumgartner's character, Kevin Malone, became synonymous with one particular food: chili. In a memorable scene, Kevin brings his famous chili to the office, only to spill it all over the floor. The scene became an instant classic, solidifying Kevin's love of chili in the minds of viewers.
The Chili Cookbook
In recent years, Baumgartner has embraced his character's culinary association, venturing into the world of chili himself. He is the author of the cookbook, Seriously Good Chili Cookbook 177 of the Best Recipes in the World which is available now!
Baumgartner discussed his approach to creating the cookbook, gathering fans of the show as well as chefs who have won awards for their creations and how he really examines the world of chili from including his own recipe, chili con carne, chili verde, white chicken chili, texas chili, other categories and of course Kevin's Famous Chili!
The cookbook features a wide array of chili recipes, from traditional to innovative, showcasing the versatility of this beloved dish.
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Other Ventures
Baumgartner has also ventured into the world of podcasting, hosting "The Office Deep Dive" and "Off the Beat." These podcasts allow him to explore the behind-the-scenes stories of "The Office" and delve into the lives and careers of other actors.
"Weight Loss" Episode in "The Office"
An exemplary episode of the show, "Weight Loss" is the first/second episode of the fifth season of The Office and 73rd/74th episode overall. It was written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, and was directed by Paul Feig. The Scranton branch participates in a weight loss competition to see which branch can lose the most cumulative weight, with a prize of three extra vacation days (which later changes to five due to every branch performing poorly) for every employee in the winning branch. Although the branch is enthusiastic at first, the competition begins to take a huge toll on many of the employees, particularly Kelly, who stops eating and tries various kinds of diets, ultimately collapsing after one of the weigh-ins and later consuming a “tape worm” supplied by Creed. Pam begins her three-month stay in New York to attend classes in graphic design at the Pratt Institute, leaving Jim to adjust to her being away. Pam is temporarily replaced by Ronni, an older woman, and she is quickly replaced by Ryan, who was recently fired by Dunder Mifflin for fraud. Ryan, who is shown to be planning to rise again in the company, tries to make up with several workers he had treated badly. Michael successfully continues his casual bonding with Holly, with Jim noting that his success is due to Holly being "kind of a major dork". However, when Holly notices Michael talking in his office with a pregnant Jan, she asks Oscar to set her up with his yoga instructor. Michael learns of this and gets frustrated with Jim because he did not ask Holly out months earlier, which he wanted to but Jim told him not to. At one point, Angela chastises Kevin for improperly accounting for sales numbers. Holly, who thinks Kevin is mentally challenged, yells at Angela for treating Kevin so rudely, but when she refers to him as "mentally challenged," Kevin awkwardly reveals that he is not. Due to the poor results of the Scranton branch weigh ins, Dwight “randomly selects” Kevin, Phyllis and Stanley to get liposuction surgery. An insulted Phyllis is later approached by Dwight, who attempts to apologize by recruiting her for a two-person sale. Hours later, a sweaty and infuriated Phyllis returns to the office and reveals that there was no sale, and that Dwight left her in a warehouse five miles away without her purse or phone. Due to Dwight's actions, the next weigh in is skipped. Holly tries to hold a meeting involving positive body images, but is sabotaged by Michael in his Michael Klump persona (achieved by wearing a plus-size outfit over one of his sumo suits from "Beach Games"). Michael argues that Michael Klump is a “celebration of fat people,” as opposed to Oscar and Kevin's opinions that it is his “making fun of fat people character.” Michael forces an inauthentic apology out of Dwight, then reminds his subordinates that the weight loss contest was not just about weight loss, but positive body image and healthy lifestyles as a whole. Phyllis takes over the Party Planning Committee after catching Angela cheating on Andy with Dwight. Andy has been making plans for his wedding with Angela, who irritatedly rejects all of his ideas. After Andy gives a heartfelt speech about not caring where they marry because he wants to be with her forever, Angela warms up to him a little. Jim, having an unsatisfactory summer due to not being able to see Pam, asks her on a last minute lunch date at an interstate rest stop in between Scranton and New York City. At the rest stop, in a pouring rain, Jim finally proposes to Pam, and she happily accepts. Holly buys Counting Crows tickets as a surprise for the yoga instructor, but he never calls. Michael denigrates the yoga instructor for not calling her back, much to her apparent pleasure. The Scranton branch loses the competition to the Utica branch, much to the disappointment of the employees. Stanley, however, is pleased with the fact that he personally lost seven pounds and decides to take an extra five days off anyway. Ryan takes a call from David Wallace, who becomes surprised and outraged that Ryan is working for the company again. Over the phone, Wallace proceeds to tear into Ryan with such invective that he begins to cry, as the rest of the office looks on in shock (not unlike their reaction to Dwight's bended-knee mea culpa in "The Coup").
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