Mindy Kaling Talked About Why She And B.J. Novak Won’t Ever Date Each Other Again

Many The Office diehards have fantasized about Kelly and Ryan’s running away together in the series finale leaking over into real life. But even though “RYAN started the FIYAH!” in her pants on and off for a bit over the years, Mindy Kaling recently appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and explained why she and her former The Office co-star, B.J. Novak, are never getting back together.

According to People, Mindy sat down with Drew on Tuesday, and they began by bonding over the fact that they both have long-suffering dusty, cobwebbed downstairs parts. Drew eventually segued into asking Mindy why she and B.J. don’t shack up since they’re such close, longtime friends and collaborators–and because she thinks B.J. is a hunk.

“I was on a date once and B.J. Novak sat down,” Barrymore began. “And I remember thinking, ‘Oh I wish I was on a date with him. He’s so attractive. Why is he not with Mindy Kaling? I wanna be with Mindy Kaling. Why are they not together?'”

The Mindy Project alum said in response, “Wait, wait. Your first reaction was, ‘Wow he’s so attractive?’ He’s gonna be so excited about that.”

Barrymore then said she’s dreamed about Kaling and Novak, both 43, being “the ultimate couple,” saying, “You seem like best friends and you’re just both so wonderful.”

And Mindy explained why she’ll be keeping B.J. in the friendzone before pivoting to another topic rather quickly.

“He is a wonderful friend and he is the godparent of both my kids [Katherine, 4, and Spencer, 2] and he loves children and they’re so attached to him,” she said. “He’s really part of our family, but we’ve known each other for a long, long time and I think anyone who’s been friends with someone for 18, 19 years and at one point dated and now doesn’t, they maybe understand this. You have exes that you wouldn’t necessarily marry now.”

From there, Kaling shared what she considered to be “green flags” when dating someone. “I think asking about your ambitions is good … if men wanna know what you want to do,” she said.

Here’s Drew (who looks like she borrowed her dad’s work clothes to run for mayor) and Mindy’s chat. Mindy shooting down ever revisiting a romantic relationship with B.J. starts at the 1:40 mark:

Maybe time’s also a factor in their reluctance to be in a relationship–Mindy has a Scooby-Doo Velma spinoff and Legally Blonde 3 stuff to work on, and B.J.(‘s face) has been traveling the world to appear on electric razor boxes. And a notoriously private Mindy has produced two secret babies (rumors even float around that B.J. might’ve fathered them), so even if she and B.J. ever did decide to get back together, she won’t be singing “whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better. We belong, we belong, we belong together, Ryan” from the rooftops. She’ll just keep us (and an eager, thirsty Drew Barrymore) guessing.

Pic: Vince Flores/startraksphoto.com