Helms was performing stand-up comedy in New York City when he was approached by a casting business with whom he had previously worked. He wowed the casting staff and was cast in the show.
From April 2002 to mid-2006, he provided “field reports” and hosted a variety of segments including “Digital Watch,” “Ad Nauseam,” and “Mark Your Calendar.” He also contributed significantly to the “This Week in God” section.
According to TV Guide, two of his notable parts, “Battle of the Bulge” and “Mass. Hysteria,” in which he explored contentious themes, became recognized as his signature segments.
Helms also narrated the “Prescott Group” educational films on The Colbert Report’s sister show. Helms was added to the cast of NBC’s mockumentary-style sitcom The Office in July 2006. He played Andy Bernard, a Cornell graduate with an interest in cappella music, and his recurrent part became a series regular beginning with the third season.
Paul Lieberstein, a writer and actor on the show, noticed Helms’ resemblance to the character he played. On December 5, 2006, Helms returned to The Daily Show, jokingly referencing his stint on The Office by revealing that he had been working “undercover at a paper company in Scranton,” the setting of The Office.
Did Ed Helms leave The Office?
Why did Ed leave The Office? In Helms’ case, the explanation was actually fairly straightforward: his schedule required him to be somewhere else, specifically on the set of The Hangover Part III (via MentalFloss). Considering that he has played Dr.