A.V.Club.com:

It starts with the voice. If you want to appreciate the brilliance of Brian Baumgartner’s performance as the slow-witted Kevin on The Office, all you need to do is look up a YouTube clip of the actor being interviewed and marvel at the difference between the actor’s rich baritone and the character’s mushy lisp. Even on a show where self-awareness is scarce, Kevin stands out for his lack of guile. His uncomplicated sweetness provides a relief from the show’s intrigues, and his obliviousness allows some of its most outrageous asides. Although he rarely commands the spotlight, he’s the cast member most likely to knock a simple line out of the park, while remaining sublimely unaware he’s said anything funny at all. Baumgartner called up The A.V. Club during The Office’s holiday hiatus to talk about the voice, his character’s subtle evolution, and the sinking-ship feeling of the show’s early days.

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Tags: Brian Baumgartner, interview