Martin Freeman Brings ‘The Hobbit’ To ‘The Office’ [Video]
Saturday Night Live viewers were treated to a double dose of Martin Freeman, as the actor brought two of his most well-known roles to life in one sketch. Freeman, who also hosted the long-running Saturday night variety show, acted out a sketch in which his alter ego from The Hobbit film series, Bilbo Baggins, was compelled to accept a job with the paper company in the place of his character, Tim Canterbury in the BBC’s The Office.
The brief mashup, starring Martin himself, addressed the issue of income in a hero’s life, with Martin Freeman speaking to the viewers in the typical documentary style of The Office’s general theme. Martin Freeman plays Tim, who later became Jim Halpert in the U.S. version of the show, on all three seasons of the British comedy. The skit was an opportunity for Freeman to display his talent as a versatile character actor for audiences that may not have been aware of his range, and judging by the positive reception, Martin has made a lasting impression.
Last night’s SNL episode proved to be memorable for Martin Freeman as well as for his fans, allowing the actor to explore the aftermath of Bilbo’s heroic deeds as only Martin Freeman himself can do. The humorous skit allowed Martin to postulate what a hero’s return home might truly entail.
“What have I been up to? I went on a quest to save Middle Earth, I became a bit of a hero,” Freeman tells viewers. “Did the noble thing and turned down loads of treasure so that brave hobbit Bilbo Baggins now works at a paper company.”
It seems Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins wasn’t the only refugee from Middle Earth employed by The Office. The lines separating the fantastical world of The Hobbit and the mundane bureaucracy were further blurred by the addition of Gandalf (played by Bobby Moynihan) as the obnoxious boss, trying to pass off inappropriate jokes to his staff of dwarves, elves, and orcs, reports CNN. Additionally, the elf, Tauriel, serving as the office’s receptionist and recipient of Bilbo Baggins’ affections, helped Freeman’s character taunt and ridicule his deskmate, Gollum, portrayed by Taram Killam.
Fans wondering more about what The Office worker Bilbo Baggins might be like were also given a further glimpse into his life when it was revealed that the well-known hobbit drove his own Jetta, according to the Boston Herald. The skit continues to evolve much like a short episode of The Office, with an emphasis on Martin Freeman’s character and a plethora of orc sex jokes, courtesy of Gandalf.
View the entire sketch here.
Additional roles that have brought Martin Freeman international attention are his roles on Sherlock and Fargo, in which Freeman plays Dr. Watson and Lester Nygaard, respectively. Freeman was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best actor in a miniseries for his role in Fargo. Currently, Martin Freeman is filming a drama, entitled The Eichman Show, which will be due out in 2015.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will arrive in theaters on December 17. Can’t wait for the release? Find out what early reviewers had to say about the final installation of the trilogy in this Inquisitr article.
