Stephen Socks

I vividly remember this test.

I didn't do a lot of tests like this, so it really stands out.

I think we were all excited to see this cold open come to be because it read so funny in the script, but I think we have to remember the pressure that you have trying to make something like this a reality.

You know, the whole idea probably seemed kind of easy on paper, but it was really up to the set designer, Michael Gallenberg, and his team to make it a reality.

Like I said, I would do tests, but they were mainly hair and makeup tests or, you know, a lot of camera tests, but I don't remember one quite like this.

So I walk into the bullpen and there's a lot of people there.

Greg Daniels was there, the director, Paul Feig, Randy Cordray, our first assistant director, Kelly Cantlie, of course, Michael Gallenberg, and then Phil Shea and the prop department as well.

And what I saw was just like what you see in the episode.

It just looked like a desk wrapped in wrapping paper.

But as soon as I walked in, it was made clear to me that I should not touch the desk, like don't really go near the desk until

we're going to do the test.

I mean, specific instructions.

And it was told to everybody that to just keep clear of the desk, don't touch this thing.

It was their like their only prototype.

And so I kind of imagined underneath the wrapping paper, like it was some kind of house of cards or something just ready to fall.

So I didn't even want to like breathe on it because I just was thinking in my mind, what if I knock this thing over in front of everybody before we even do the test?

I mean, that would be like a total nightmare.

But then they were ready to do it.

And props department gave me the briefcase, which had something inside of it, you know, to give it some weight.

And so they said go.