Mindy Kaling is trying to keep the Christmas magic alive for her kids, even if one of them might be getting a little suspicious about BJ Novak’s annual merry-go-round.
While promoting the third season of her show Sexual life of female students on Good morning America On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Kaling reflected on how her longtime friend is also an ex Office The costar “dresses up as Santa” every year for his three children: daughter Katherine “Kit” Swati, who turns 7 this month, son Spencer Avu, 4, and daughter Anna, 9 months.
“We created this whole thing where we do hot chocolate in the house, ring the doorbell, and he’s dressed as Santa,” Kaling, 45, said of Novak, 45. “And he’s like, ‘Oh, the sleigh broke down. I have to go in and rest while we refuel!’ ”
“Then the kids meet Santa and he asks them if they’ve been good or bad,” she continued. “Then he goes and they’re so excited. But for the 7-year-old, it’s going to be interesting this year because I feel like she might not buy it. We’re not sure about the 4-year-old.”
“They know him very well in particular. He’s a good actor too, but…” Kaling added.
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BJ Novak as Santa Claus, with daughter Mindy Kaling Kit.
ABC
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And “so far”, The Mindy Project The alum said she and Novak “worked it out” for the siblings — but now, “This is going to be a year where we hope the oldest is relaxed for the younger two.”
Of Novak’s technique, Kaling said, “He wears a pillow under his suit and [says] ‘Ho, ho, ho, hello children.’ It’s a very funny character.”
According to the actress, Novak “takes a lot of inspiration from Michael Scott in a Santa suit,” referring to their hit series Office. “We always seemed to be dressing Steve Carrell in this outfit — which was so funny to us writers that we did it multiple times afterward,” Kaling recalled.
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Mindy Kaling on Good morning America December 4, 2024.
ABC
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Kalinga’s tradition of Novak playing Santa for her kids dates back to 2020, when she was unable to take Kit and Spencer to see Santa at their local outdoor mall during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The I never did The co-creator then said that she and Novak planned for him to “fall asleep on the sofa” with a bag of toys as if he “needs to rest”.
“It’s so complicated why Santa was there, why he’s napping,” Kaling continued. “But we’re going to do it. We’re wondering, ‘Will she know it is.’ [B.J.] on some level?’ We don’t know.”
“Just so you know, we’re Hindu and BJ is Jewish, so this is really… like cultural appropriation on our part,” she joked.
Good morning America airs weekdays (beginning at 7 a.m. ET) on ABC.
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Source: HIS Education