Craig Robinson reunites with ‘The Office’ costars to ‘quit’ comedy

Reports of Craig Robinson’s retirement from comedy have been greatly exaggerated.

Just as we suspected, Robinson’s announcement about stepping back from comedy to follow “something bigger” was all an elaborate prank in service of an ad campaign. But here’s another fun twist: Robinson has also reconnected with his comedy roots by reuniting with several of his The Office costars.

As part of his “Wake Up With CrAIg?” AT&T Business spot — a campaign to show how the company keeps small businesses connected — Robinson called upon former Scranton residents Ellie Kemper, Angela Kinsey, Creed Bratton and Oscar Nuñez. The spot sees Robinson pivot from comedy to small business ownership with a big idea: an AI alarm clock designed to spread good vibes for fellow entrepreneurs.

Robinson begins the video by getting the group together in a Dunder Mifflin-esque parking lot, then takes them inside a garage to show off his new invention.

“Meet CraigAI,” Robinson says, unveiling the clock. “Or as I like to call him, CrAIg.”

The awkward-to-pronounce name is followed by a pause, before Bratton asks, “Are we 100% on that name?”

“I think we should workshop it,” Kinsey suggests.

Meanwhile, Kemper is fully onboard: “I like it! Let’s stick with CrAIg.”

The actors then take turns trying to pronounce the clock’s name before Robinson shows off the clock’s features: a little version of him pops up and designs a wake-up song.

“Craig, how did you get in that little box?,” Bratton asks. “Is it magic?

Robinson then explains that the goal is to “help small business owners wake up.”

“With CraAIg,” Kemper nods, prompting everyone to once again attempt pronouncing the name.

“Don’t worry about saying it,” Robinson eventually tells them.

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Robinson turned heads last week with a series of cryptic Instagram posts, and an announcement that he was retiring from comedy.

“Just wanted you to hear it from me: I am quitting comedy,” Robinson said in an Instagram video. “But not for nothing. It’s been an amazing run. Y’all been amazing and wonderful, but I’m following something bigger. So, you know, thank you so much, I love you and stay tuned.”

He added in the caption that he was stepping away to “focus on my true calling” and teased, “Stay tuned. I’m working on something huge.”

Representatives for Robinson did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

However, Robinson’s retirement announcement continues to ring false, as the comedian is scheduled to appear at the Omaha Funny Bone club later this week, followed by a gig at the Los Angeles Comedy Store. He also has stand-up dates lined up in Orlando, Seattle, Nashville, Detroit and Toledo, along with several incoming projects such as, The Bad Guys 2.