18 Behind-The-Scenes Moments From 'The Office' That Not Many Fans Are Aware Of
It might have been off the air for five years this month, but for fans of The Office, it's the show that keeps on giving. Totally binge-worthy, regularly watched and re-watched on Netflix, The Office is a source of inside jokes, quotable moments, and hilarious storylines. Even once Steve Carell, the star of the show, left after seven seasons, the series managed to keep things going for two more! And, with talks of reviving the project - something every cast member, except Carell, seems to be on board for - we think it'll challenge even the most diehard of Office fans to learn any of these 18 behind-the-scenes secrets from the set!
While some facts might be well known to Office buffs, others will definitely have you wondering how you never knew that in the first place! Getting to know the quirky cast of characters that made The Office the gem that it also meant learning a bit about their on-set antics, their relationships with one another, and how the show could have had a very different vibe if the actors we love weren't cast in their respective roles. For example, can you imagine if Seth Rogen was playing Dwight? Yeah, neither can we, but it could've happened! Challenge yourself - and the biggest Office trivia fanatics around you - to see if you knew all 18 of these secrets. We bet at least a couple will surprise you!
18 The On-Set Computers Really Worked
Working on the set of a TV show can be a fun time, but when that set looks as drab as a real-life office, things probably get a little tedious! As told in star Rainn Wilson's memoir, The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy, for the six-episode run of the first season of The Office, cast members were told to bring in paperwork to fill in their time when they were only shown in the background of shots without any lines, which is both useful and mind-numbingly dull. Can you imagine going to work only to have to do busywork for eight hours at a time?
Fortunately, once the show was picked up for a second season, there was enough money to install real, working computers on the set.
Since characters like Meredith Palmer or Kevin Malone could go for multiple episodes without having a single line, working computers with real Internet allowed them to catch up on the news, play chess and solitaire, and even send each other covert messages! Considering that most of us spend much of our time - working or otherwise - playing around on our phones or computers, this isn't much different from regular life!
17 John Krasinski Almost Lost Out On The Role
Jim Halpert may be dorky and adorable, but the guy who played him didn't endear himself to the show's producers quite as easily.
John Krasinski was first asked to read for the role of Dwight Schrute, something that seems unfathomable today, despite his memorable “identity theft” of Dwight's image and mannerisms in a classic Jim prank. Krasinski wasn't too keen on the idea and instead insisted he read for Jim, something they eventually allowed when no other actor was considered right for the role - although they admitted later that the then-unknown actor was “lucky to be coming in” since he'd “done nothing”!
When Krasinski finally got his chance to read for the part he wanted to play, he made a big faux pas in the world of show business. While waiting his turn to be called in to audition, he began chatting with the man beside him, and expressed his hesitation over joining the show, explaining that he loved the original British version and didn't want to see it messed up. Unfortunately for Krasinski, the guy he was talking to was the show's creator, Greg Daniels! In his humiliation, the actor confessed that he actually threw up in his mouth over his gaffe!
16 'Parks & Recreation' Actors Were Almost Cast
After nine seasons, it seems impossible that any other actor could play the roles of the characters we grew to know and love on The Office, but it could have been a very different show if some other casting choices had followed through. Strangely enough, a lot of the actors that read for parts on The Office ended up getting cast in NBC's other workplace comedy, Parks & Recreation, which was first conceived as a spinoff!
First up, Adam Scott, who played Ben Wyatt on Parks & Recreation auditioned for the role of Jim Halpert, which, as we know, went to John Krasinski.
Then, in an extra-weird turn of events, Amy Poehler was actually cast as Michael Scott's crazy girlfriend and boss Jan Levinson! Considering that Scott and Poehler ended up not only starring in Parks & Recreation together but playing a couple as well makes us think that things worked out for the better in the end.
A couple other WTF almost-castings include Seth Rogen as Dwight, Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family fame as Kevin Malone, and Better Call Saul's Bob Odenkirk as Michael Scott! (They did have Odenkirk back for one episode in the later seasons, however, playing a bizarre version of Michael Scott!)
15 iTunes Actually Saved The Show
When The Office was first conceived and put on the air, the creators and cast members believed that it would resonate the strongest with blue-collar workers, who could see themselves in the boring, mundane job the characters were doing, and relate to the quirky cast and their daily interactions.
When the first six episodes aired, ratings were mediocre, and NBC announced that they would only bring the show back for another season if the budget was cut.
It wasn't looking good for the remake that had been levied a great deal of criticism already for poaching a British gem, but then iTunes happened.
The very first week that the episodes were available for purchase on iTunes, the show occupied four of the top five spots! Instead of the blue-collar, office-working audience they had expected, The Office was trending among the young, college-educated, and affluent. And that kept NBC interested. John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert, stated, “A lot of shows say they owe it all to their fans, but we legitimately owe it to our fans who went out of their way to purchase the show when they could watch it for free.”
14 Jenna Fischer Kept Pam's Wedding Ring
As seems to be the custom for a lot of actors of crew members when they finish a project that was near and dear to them, they take something to remind them of that time. Considering the fact that playing Pam Beesly will arguably be Jenna Fischer's most memorable role, of course, she had to keep a little something for herself. In this case, it was the engagement ring given to her by her on-screen husband.
While Fischer is married in real life, that doesn't stop her from still wearing the prop engagement ring from time to time in TV interviews and, according to Huffington Post, refuses to take it off! In another article, the Huffington Post tried to break down what on-screen Pam's ring might have cost her salesman husband if he went by the three-months' salary rule (as opposed to Michael Scott's three-years' salary). Deducing that Jim likely made about $70k a year, he could have purchased Pam's ring for about $17,500, which isn't chump change to a couple from suburban Pennsylvania! (Or most of us, for that matter!) Considering it was just a prop, though, we're going to go ahead and assume that the bit of sparkle cost a whole lot less.
13 Dunder Mifflin Paper Is An Actual Product, And You Can Buy It Right Now
The Office was a show that fashioned itself as a pseudo-documentary, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Making that area even greyer, did you know that you can actually purchase Dunder Mifflin products?
In 2011, the company Quill.com, which is owned by Staples - one of Dunder Mifflin's competitors and, ironically, Dwight Schrute's brief place of work - announced that they would start selling Dunder Mifflin paper! What likely began as a bit of fun ended up turning into one of Quill.com's most successful brands, generating millions of dollars in annual revenue!
Beginning with copy paper, the company branched out into selling Dunder Mifflin Sharpie-like markers, Dunder Mifflin sticky notes, and Dunder Mifflin notepads!
The leveraging of a popular fake brand into a real marketable product is something that is known as “reverse product placement”, and can be seen elsewhere like in Willy Wonka chocolate bars and the Bubba Gump Shrimp chain of restaurants.
Unfortunately, according to Quill.com's website, Dunder Mifflin paper and paper products are no longer available for purchase, with a note reading, “You favorite Scranton-based paper has left on permanent vacation.”, so if you were looking to stock up on Michael Scott's preferred supplies, you are unfortunately out of luck!
12 Dunder Mifflin Is A Member Of The Scranton Chamber Of Commerce
Further to that whole idea about blurring fiction and reality, it seems that Scranton, Pennsylvania was extremely thankful to The Office for bringing attention to their little town - their tourism industry and the economy has been booming since the show premiered!
As a little thank-you to the creators of the show for bringing them publicity, the Scranton Chamber of Commerce inducted Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as a real-life member! Not only did the show get tons of fans and tourists to Scranton to check out the building where the first season was actually filmed (it was later transferred to a studio in Los Angeles), but it's also proven to be a boon to other businesses in the town, like the famous Poor Richard's Pub! The popular after-hours hangout for the characters, the pub has also gotten its fair share of tourism and outside interest - and has us wondering if they should add an Office--themed trivia night to their weekly entertainment roster. According to list25.com, the fictitious paper company is actually the most profitable business in the entire city - despite the fact that you can't actually buy anything from it!
11 Creed Bratton Was Actually A 1960s Rocker
As arguably the most enigmatic and eccentric characters on the show - which is saying something! - Creed Bratton the actor is almost as mysterious as Creed Bratton the character!
Not only do the two share the same name, but, in one episode in which Creed talks about transferring his debt to someone else, he gives the name “William Charles Schneider” - which is Bratton's actual birth name in real life.While the character was originally meant to be an extra, as time wore on and the producers discovered how odd the actor could be, they simply gave him more lines until we have a strange character that graces our screens today!
The peculiar Creed Bratton also had a memorable scene singing a song called “Spinnin' and Reelin'” during the episode “A Benihana Christmas”. If it sounded like he knew what he was doing, it's because, 40 years prior, Bratton was actually in the music biz! As the lead guitarist for the band The Grass Roots for a few years until he was asked to leave the band in 1969, Bratton saw quite a bit of success and continued with his music. “Spinnin' and Reelin'” was from his 2001 album!
10 John Krasinski Filmed The Opening Credits
The iconic opening credits, set to bouncy, cheerful music takes us through Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, giving us snapshots of the welcome sign, the clocktower, and more. It fits perfectly in setting the stage for something that could be mild and suburban, but is actually completely hilarious!
We know that John Krasinski was already desperate to play the role of Jim Halpert and that enthusiasm was clear because he was actually the guy behind the camera filming the opening credits.
Aside from the video images that take place in the office itself, everything outdoors was filmed by Krasinski just a few days after he was cast as Jim. As part of his research, Krasinski went on a road trip with a few friends to interview employees at actual paper companies and build up a bit of a background for his character.
While we wouldn't call his filming for the opening credits directing, per se, perhaps those moments of being behind the camera gave him a little taste of what it's like to sit in the director's chair. Krasinski ended up directing three episodes of The Office and, more recently, had a smash hit with the film A Quiet Place!
9 The Pilot Was Essentially The Same As The British Version
When The Office was first announced, a lot of people were up in arms over the remaking of a beloved British comedy into an American version. As we've already mentioned, even star John Krasinski was hesitant about the show, since he was such a fan of the British hit! The pilot episode wasn't going out of its way to soothe the fears of critics, either, since it was almost identical to the British pilot episode!
Since NBC had bought the show as an adaption, remaking the pilot was deemed a necessity.
A pilot episode is what is first shown to a network in order to see if more want to be ordered (which can account for changes in sets, characters, and even names) and the creators behind the US Office decided that starting something entirely from scratch was very risky. According to creator Greg Daniels, the first episode should be a write-off from the series, with the second-ever episode, “Diversity Day” standing in as the premier.
While The Office certainly started out as a remake, it undoubtedly came into its own, with its own cast of distinct and diverse characters, and, we think, stands on its own!
8 Rashida Jones Thought She'd Be Fired Her First Day
Before she was Amy Poehler's BFF on Parks & Recreation, another link between the two shows - Rashida Jones - thought that she was going to get the boot on her very first day!
While the show is known for some pretty hilarious examples of improvisation, much of the series was kept to a pretty tight script. (Creator Greg Daniels made sure his actors had a background in improv in order to “seem more natural.”) That being said, when star Steve Carell would get going, it could be impossible to keep the laughter in, as Jones knew all too well!
On her first day as Karen Filippelli, Jones was filming a conference room scene and informed the Hollywood Reporter that
“Steve Carell was being so thoroughly and relentlessly funny that I couldn't stop laughing. He did something different, weird, and incredible with every take. I seriously thought I was going to be excused"
As the third wheel in the endgame that was Pam and Jim, Jones's role as Karen may have been her big break, but gave her loads of anxiety and insomnia prior to the release of the episodes, because she feared people would egg her house!
7 Jan's Enhancement Was Melora Hardin's Idea
There were a lot of great relationships on The Office, but one that wasn't so awesome: Michael and Jan. As his boss, Jan belittled Michael and had him running hot and cold. As his girlfriend, she made him sleep on a banquette at the end of their bed, have multiple vasectomies (and reversals), and brought his diary in as proof of the timeline of their relationship.
Oh, and she also had cosmetic enhancements as a manipulative tool to keep him firmly under her control! Jan was basically the worst, but she was also kind of the best since she was played with such energy and deliciousness by actress Melora Hardin. In fact, the procedure that Jan had to bump up her bust size to lure Michael back to her was the actress's idea!
According to a Rolling Stone interview, Hardin happened to notice that none of the women cast on the show had had such a procedure and mentioned as much to creator Greg Daniels. Like a light bulb switching on in both their heads, they realized that one woman would have such a procedure - Jan! Hardin said that she thought the idea was hilarious and that it was “obviously the beginning of [Jan] losing her [mind].
6 Mindy Kaling Made Up Lies To Mess With B.J. Novak
If you're a die-hard fan of The Office, you likely already know that costars Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak actually had an on-off relationship during filming. As writers, directors, and actors, they two obviously have plenty in common, and it seems that this instability as a couple helped propel some of the relationships between their respective characters, Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard. Fortunately for them, they don't have nearly as much drama between them as their on-screen alter egos and are actually the best of friends!
However, that doesn't mean that they didn't indulge in a little good-natured teasing, particularly where Kaling was concerned.
In an interview with The Guardian, Novak declared that Kaling would regularly lie to him to mess with him.
One, in particular, was Kaling informing Novak that Greg Daniels used to date one of the actresses who appeared on the show, thus making it impossible for Novak to give any constructive criticism for fear of offending Daniels! They must have worked this little error into the show because, in one episode, Karen Filippelli informs Jim Halpert that almost everyone they're with at a fancy dinner party are her ex-lovers - until she reveals that she, too, was pulling his leg all along!
5 Two Spin-Offs Were Planned And Three More Were Pitched
Often, when a show is successful, writers and producers will try to see if there's potential for a spinoff to be equally successful. They'll usually choose one episode to focus on a specific character whom they'd wish to use as the spinoff's star. In the case of The Office, there were two leading men who were in talks to be spun off: Dwight Schrute and Andy Bernard.
Dwight's spinoff is probably the more familiar one of the two. Tentatively titled The Farm, it would have followed Dwight's antics on his beet farm with his cousin Mose. The idea was pitched in 2012 but was eventually scrapped the following year. According to Rainn Wilson, it came down to bad timing, telling TV Guide, “It doesn't fit in with the current administration at NBC. I don't think they cared for it very much.”
Andy's spinoff was the second to get a bit more traction, which would have followed his family and featured Catherine Tate (who went on to play Nellie Bertram) as Andy's mother. Additional spinoffs were proposed, including one that focused on Darryl, one revolving around Jim and Pam, and one about another Dunder Mifflin branch, but none of them got quite as far as The Farm or Andy's spinoff!
4 Jim Wore A Wig In Season 3
Jim got a lot of flack for his floppy hairdo in the early seasons of The Office, especially from his frenemy Dwight. It was a little juvenile with its shaggy layers and absence of a good comb, but, as the character evolved and became more mature, ambitious, and motivated, his hair followed suit, getting sleek and styled as the seasons wore on.
But season three was something else!
In season three, we see that Jim has moved to the Stamford branch, and, if you look really closely, you might notice that his hair appears just a bit askew.
That's because it's not his real hair! During season three, John Krasinski was simultaneously shooting the film Leatherheads, which required him to shave his head for the role. So, upon returning for the second half of the season, the producers gave him a wig to continue his trademark floppy Jim 'do! Considering that the show was already quite successful at this point, the wig is definitely a good one, but maybe if you zoom in and pay attention, you might be able to see where Jim Halpert ends and the wig begins!
3 Oscar Wasn't Meant To Be Gay
The character of Oscar Martinez had an entire episode devoted to his coming out, which Michael accidentally-on-purpose reveals to the entire office. As the show progresses, we see Oscar in relationships with a couple different guys, and, as he becomes comfortable in his orientation, he even gets a little bit more flamboyant. Actor Oscar Nunez plays the character amazingly, without veering into a stereotypical territory, which is why it was such a surprise to learn that his character was actually never supposed to be gay in the first place!
It all came down to wardrobe who, one day, decided to put the actor in a pink shirt. As the writers began to think about which character they wanted to come out for the episode “Gay Witch Hunt”, they saw Nunez, they saw the pink shirt, and decided it would be Oscar who was gay from then on! Another fun fact about the episode: When Michael goes in to hug Oscar to prove that he's comfortable with his orientation, actor Steve Carell improvised the kiss between the two actors! You can even see the other cast members struggling to contain their laughter when the camera cuts back to them!
2 Jim And Pam Were Meant To Be An Interracial Couple
It seems impossible now to imagine Jim and Pam as played by anyone other than John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer, since the two have such incredible chemistry together but, once upon a time, the couple that would be Jim and Pam looked very different.
Creator Greg Daniels initially wanted to “Americanize” the couple that drew inspiration from the British version's will-they-or-won't-they duo, and saw an African-American couple in their places.
In fact, Craig Robinson, who went on to play Darryl, was considered for the role of Jim, while Darryl's ex-wife, played by Erica Vittina Phillips, would have been cast as Pam.
Luckily for all the diehard fans of Krasinski and Fischer, the latter nailed her audition and secured her spot as Pam Beesly. Once Krasinski read with her, their natural chemistry was off the charts and made casting the two of them as the workplace flirtation-turned-marriage a no-brainer. In fact, the two were already looking out for one another: after one was cast, they both asked if the other would be starring opposite them! While we love Robinson, he's perfect for Darryl, and no one else could have played the Beesly-Halpert team.
1 The Proposal Gas Station Was A Replica
When Jim first tried to propose to Pam, it was set to be a big spectacle. There would be fireworks, it was Toby's last day, and he would do it at the office, since so many of their most important memories happened there. Alas, it wasn't to be, since Andy stole his moment and took it as a chance to propose to Angela. So, instead of his big, grand, romantic, and very public gesture, Jim did something a little different. On the spur of the moment, he drives halfway to meet Pam, who is taking a graphic design course in New York, and they plan to stop at a gas station, where he pops the question.
According to the Washington Post, the writers had a clear vision for how this proposal would play out, wanting to shoot it at an actual rest stop on the Merritt Parkway.
Unfortunately, for this one silent shot, it would have cost them $100,000, so they scrapped it.
Instead, they built a replica of that exact rest stop, complete with the fake rain they needed - and it ended up costing them $250,000! Creator Greg Daniels described the scene as “the most expensive and elaborate shot we've ever done, but it's also sort of the highlight of five years of storytelling.”
References: collider.com, buzzfeed.com, elitedaily.com, mentalfloss.com, thoughtcatalog.com, huffingtonpost.ca, list25.com, scribol.com, nytimes.com, business.time.com, huffingtonpost.com, en.wikipedia.org, blogspot.ca, imdb.com, imdb.com, hollywoodreporter.com, nydailynews.com, splitsider.com, washingtonpost.com