Phyllis Smith shares backstory of Phyllis and Bob Vance’s romance; reveals how they met

On the Sept. 3 episode of the Office Ladies podcast, actress Phyllis Smith discussed her The Office character Phyllis Lapin and the character’s relationship with Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration, played by Robert Ray Shafer.When a fan asked how she thought Phyllis and Bob first met, Smith explained that she created her own version of the story. “In my own mind, I always thought it would be humorous if I helped Bob change the tire on his car,” she said. “Here is this really capable, strapping, strong man, and he needed help getting his flat tire changed in the parking lot at Dunder Mifflin. So I always thought it would be funny. In my own mind, I helped Bob change the flat tire on his car.

”Smith also shared how she pictured their engagement. “As far as our romance, I always imagine that when Bob asked me to marry him, he rented out the booze cruise just for us,” she said, referencing the season 2 episode “Booze Cruise.” She continued, “No one else was on it. He took me on the booze cruise, and it was just Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration and myself, and it was very romantic and really lovely.”According to Smith, Shafer also had his own backstory for the couple.

“I believe I read somewhere that he thought of Phyllis as the girl that he cared so much for in high school,” she said. “Evidently, there was someone in his life that he really cared for, and he treated me as if I was that person that he cared so much for in high school.” She also noted that Shafer’s real parents were named Phyllis and Bob.In the series, Phyllis reveals in the season 2 episode “Christmas Party” that she and Bob are dating. In the season 3 premiere, “Gay Witch Hunt,” she announces they are engaged. Later in the same season, they marry in the episode “Phyllis’ Wedding.”