Warning: SPOILERS for the Fits LA episode “He Knew” are forward!
One of many fundamental methods Fits LA distinguishes itself from its predecessor, location apart, is by following attorneys who characterize highly effective shoppers within the leisure business. So naturally this gives numerous alternatives for actors to seem as themselves on the NBC collection that will also be streamed with a Peacock subscription. The late John Amos made his remaining onscreen look within the Fits LA pilot, and tonight’s episode noticed The Workplace’s Brian Baumgartner and The Goldbergs’ Patton Oswalt paired collectively. Each actors shared with CinemaBlend what it was wish to “tear it up” with one another, making for an expertise that was the exact opposite of what their fictional selves skilled.
I had the pleasure of talking with Baumgartner and Oswalt individually forward of “Hew Knew” airing on the 2025 TV schedule. The 2 have been launched to one another within the Fits LA world because of Lex Scott Davis’ Erica Rollins, however in actual life, they’d already crossed paths on a number of events. As Baumgartner, who performed Kevin Malone on The Workplace (the most effective sitcoms of all time) informed me:
We had met, however peripherally, we had actually not spent 12 hours consecutively collectively, or no matter it was, that day. I’ve at all times been a giant fan of his. What’s humorous is I informed him, we have been simply speaking… it was like 3 weeks earlier than, there is a humorist who’s a pal of mine who was down right here the place I dwell, and Patton was headlining it. That is earlier than any of this got here up. I used to be like seconds away, one thing occurred on the final minute from going to the present, which might have then simply added an entire different layer. I am a giant fan of his. I believe he is nice. We had a good time working collectively. You discuss simply the backwards and forwards that we have been in a position to have that occurred very, in a short time. He is one of many good ones, for certain.
This assembly in Fits LA got here on account of Brian Baumgartner eager to “kill” Kevin Malone, by which he meant he needed to go away his comedic performing behind and attempt to grow to be an Oscar-winning dramatic actor. Baumgartner requested that Erica organize for him to satisfy Tom Hanks to he may decide the Forrest Gump actor’s mind, however there was no manner that was going to occur for a mess of causes. So as a substitute, Alice Lee’s Leah Energy organized for Patton Oswalt to cease by as a substitute, as he’s a comedic actor who has expertise within the dramatic realm.
Sadly, the dialog Baumgartner and Oswalt devolved as soon as the latter informed the previous he didn’t have what it took to carry house an Academy Award. A number of brutal jabs later (Oswalt mentioned that Toby was funnier than Kevin on The Workplace, Baumgartner mocked Oswalt for voicing Remy in Ratatouille), and Baumgartner left angrily, upset at Erica for not delivering on what he requested for. However, like the actual life Workplace alum informed me, he had nothing however a blast working with The King of Queens actor, who echoed that very same sentiment to me in a while. As Oswalt put it:
He was as enjoyable as you suppose he can be. I used to be completely delighted. It was actually enjoyable to tear it up in a scene with him and play these amplified mutated variations of ourselves. I’m talking for myself, however I believe we each had a blast.
The excellent news is that we don’t have to fret about Brian Baumgartner and Patton Oswalt changing into mortal enemies within the Fits LA world. It turned out that Erica Rollins requested Oswalt previous to the assembly to intentionally rile Baumgartner as much as take a look at his willpower to win an Oscar, as she knew what it was wish to be underestimated. With the Kevin Malone actor nonetheless unwilling to again down from this purpose, Erica was happy her plan labored and threw her assist behind Baumgartner. Nevertheless, Baumgartner requested that she nonetheless be able to e-book comedic roles in case the dramatic appearing doesn’t work out.
Fits LA airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on NBC. Subsequent week’s episode, “Batman Returns,” will see Fits’ Gabriel Macht returning as Harvey Specter for the primary of three episodes he has lined up, and it was additionally introduced a number of days in the past that Rick Hoffman will reprise Louis Litt later this season. In the meantime, I’ll be over right here rooting for you, Fictional Brian, and hopefully you and Fictional Patton can have a much less heated dialog the subsequent time you run into one another.