'Office Romance' reminded Tony Hale of Vogue temp job
by Fred Topel · UPILOS ANGELES, June 4 (UPI) -- Tony Hale recalled his office temp jobs while discussing the new comedy Office Romance, premiering Friday on Netflix. Hale plays HR representative George in the Jennifer Lopez/Brett Goldstein comedy.
In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Hale, 55, said he worked as a temp before he was acting full time. Living in New York prior to 2003's Arrested Development, Hale said he often got sent to Vogue when their receptionists or secretaries were out sick.
"I barely had a nice set of khakis," Hale said. "I would just sit there surrounded by tremendous fashion. Everybody was like, 'Which one of these is not like the other? This guy.'"
Hale said he used the opportunity to make long-distance phone calls to friends back in Tallahassee, Fla., and family in Georgia.
"Back then, you had to pay money to make long-distance phone calls, so I would just make long-distance phone calls all day long," Hale said. "So Vogue paid for my long-distance phone calls. Thank you, Vogue."
His character George has bigger problems than long-distance phone calls, as his CEO Jacqueline Cruz (Lopez) begins dating company attorney Daniel Blanchflower (Goldstein).
He first encounters Blanchflower when he uses the C-word in a meeting. Hale said Goldstein improvised more ways to say it in the scene, and Hale reacted accordingly.
"I heard that word a lot," Hale said. "A lot."
Hale said his comic reactions to Goldstein came naturally. He drew on the more anxious self he remembered being prior to therapy.
"My nonverbal is a little too loud," Hale said. "It's a lot of bug eyes."
George does scenes with the rest of the cast during the end credits as every character confesses an HR violation to him. Hale felt honored to be featured in the credits.
"I always love a post-credits scene," he said. "I think that it's something to look forward to, either bloopers or something."
Later this month, Hale returns as the voice of Forky in Toy Story 5. While Forky was a personally crafted toy from a plastic fork in Toy Story 4, the whole gang of toys is confronted with a tablet in the new film.
Hale has not seen the entire movie yet, but he is excited to see how Pixar addresses children embracing technology.
"I feel like a message of the movie is going to be technology's great, it's amazing but nothing will replace true connection," Hale said. "True Connection is what it's about. Technology is great but it can't replace that."
On August 14, Hale has a role in the comedy The Wrong Girls. This summer he is filming the new movie from writer/director Nancy Meyers.
Still, Hale said he is most often recognized for Arrested Development or Veep. Because there were so many episodes and they ran so many years ago, Hale enjoys reminiscing.
"I also like when people come up, especially from Arrested, where they'll throw out storylines and be like, 'Oh, remember this? Remember this?'" Hale said. "I just have no recollection. So it's so nice to hear stuff and be like, 'Oh my gosh, that's hilarious and I totally forgot about it.'"
Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein attend 'Office Romance' premiere
Cast members Jennifer Lopez (L) and Brett Goldstein attend the premiere of "Office Romance" at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on May 26, 2026. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo