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Spanning nine seasons and 201 episodes, The Office is stuffed with hysterical moments that have kept fans laughing for years. However, one of the most memorable moments of the famous sitcom comes in the Season 3 premiere episode entitled “Gay Witch Hunt.” This episode features the iconic Michael and Oscar kiss. But how did this hilarious moment even come into existence?

The Office cast posing while filming the Niagara wedding episodes
Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson, Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin, Ellie Kemper as Kelly Erin Hannon, Creed Bratton as Creed, Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin, Bobby Ray Shafer as Bob Vance, Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, John Krasinski as Jim Halpert, Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor, B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone, Ed Helms as Andy Bernard, Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez | Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

As fans of The Office know Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, is not known for his tact. Michael is constantly putting his foot in his mouth by making racist, sexist, and generally insensitive remarks. However, Michael, truly believes that he is a compassionate and tolerant person. Thus when he learns that Oscar Martinez, one of his employees, is gay, he goes out of his way to “prove” that he is not homophobic.

Steve Carell improvised the Michael and Oscar kiss in ‘The Office’

Of course, Michael’s method of proving his tolerance is positively disastrous. He calls a meeting in the conference room and kisses Oscar on the mouth in front of the entire office. Fans of The Office will note the astonished faces of the cast while this is occurring and that sheer disbelief is likely completley genuine because the infamous Michael and Oscar kiss was actually 100% improvised by Carell.

Back in 2012, Oscar Nunez (who played Oscar Martinez on The Office) gave an interview with IGN and explained that he was in sheer disbelief when Carell went in for the kiss. He also shared that he was hoping that the footage was usable because his fellow castmates had a penchant for laughing.

Oscar Nunez reflects on the infamous scene in ‘Gay Witch Hunt’

“I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe he did it,'” Nunez revealed when asked what went through his mind when filming the infamous Office scene. “And then I was thinking, right after that, ‘Of course he did it!’ And then I was thinking ‘I hope no one laughs. I hope we can use this. I hope no one laughs out loud.’ Because I know there’s a bunch of gigglers out there, and I thought, ‘I hope it’s not a ruined take that we can’t use.’ But thankfully the cameras were on us, so it worked out OK.”

The Office cast may have managed to keep it together for the Michael and Oscar kiss, but the moment was exceptionally funny for them. In fact, Mindy Kaling revealed that the moment was actually funnier for the cast to film than it was for fans to witness on screen. According to the writer, there was one other moment where what the cast experienced was funnier than what viewers watched.

Mindy Kaling recalls another moment where ‘The Office’ cast lost it

Fans may recall an episode of The Office from Season 6 called “Secretary’s Day.” After Erin learned that Andy was previously engaged to Angela, she pummels him in the face with the cake. According to Kaling, the moment was hilarious for the cast.

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“The cake that Ellie [Kemper] threw was the densest cake I’ve ever seen. It was like a brick,” Kaling shared in an interview with Office Tally. “The first time she threw it at Ed [Helms], it made the loudest “twack” sound. It clearly hurt like hell. Ed was a good sport. It was so damn funny in the scene.”

The cast was driven to hysterics while filming ‘Secretary’s Day’

Continuing on, Kaling shared that this moment was just as funny for The Office cast as Michael and Oscar’s kiss. “There are a few instances where what airs can never be as actually funny as what we are experiencing the room while it happens,” Kaling added. “This is one. The other is probably when Michael kissed Oscar in Gay Witch Hunt.” We imagine seeing your fellow castmate whacked in the face with cake is a pretty funny visual. We’re sure the actors had an outstanding time filming that scene.

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