'The Office' Star Brian Baumgartner Recalls Cut Kevin Malone Joke

The actor was 'really mad' over the removal of what he considered an 'amazing' punchline.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:28pm

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Brian Baumgartner, who played Kevin Malone on 'The Office,' is revisiting a behind-the-scenes dispute from his nine-season run on the show. Baumgartner revealed he once pushed back against editors who cut what he considered to be an 'amazing' joke from a Season 5 episode featuring Melora Hardin's character Jan Levinson. Though he 'lost the argument' at the time, the joke has since been restored in streaming versions of the episode, which Baumgartner sees as 'vindication' for his stance.

Why it matters

Baumgartner's recollection sheds light on the collaborative creative process behind 'The Office' and how actors were often encouraged to contribute ideas, though not every suggestion made it to air. The dispute over the Kevin Malone joke also highlights how network concerns about potential storyline implications can sometimes lead to the removal of comedic moments that actors believe work on their own merits.

The details

In the Season 5 episode 'Baby Shower,' Kevin awkwardly questioned Jan about her sperm donor, delivering a punchline that implied he may have been involved. Baumgartner described the line as 'pound-for-pound an amazing joke,' but said it was ultimately removed in the editing process due to network concerns that the gag could confuse viewers or suggest a storyline involving Kevin. Baumgartner disagreed, arguing the joke worked on its own and didn't require narrative follow-through, calling the hesitation an example of 'overthinking.'

  • The disputed joke occurred in a Season 5 episode of 'The Office'.
  • The joke has since been restored in streaming versions of the episode.

The players

Brian Baumgartner

An actor who played the role of Kevin Malone on the NBC comedy series 'The Office' for nine seasons.

Melora Hardin

An actress who played the role of Jan Levinson, Michael Scott's ex-girlfriend, on 'The Office'.

Steve Carell

An actor who played the role of Michael Scott, the regional manager of the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, on 'The Office'.

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What they’re saying

“Pound-for-pound an amazing joke”

— Brian Baumgartner, Actor

“It's interesting, you can't watch that episode now and not see that moment happen. So it's a little bit of vindication for me.”

— Brian Baumgartner, Actor

The takeaway

This incident highlights the collaborative creative process behind 'The Office' and how actors were often encouraged to contribute ideas, though not every suggestion made it to air. It also shows how network concerns about potential storyline implications can sometimes lead to the removal of comedic moments that actors believe work on their own merits, even if the actor ultimately disagrees with the decision.