Secrets from the Set of The Office
At any point, you’re bound to hear a reference from “The Office”. Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, and Jim Halpert have all uttered a whole bunch of phrases that are now recited by fans all around the world. This mockumentary-style TV series is a classic and most people can say they’ve seen a few episodes, or at the very least have heard about the show. The show centers around a paper company’s office, where the employees’ interactions with one another are nothing short of comedic gold. If you enjoy watching this hilarious cast on the screen, you’ll probably be amused by what they did off-screen.
Here are some of the secrets that you might not have known about “The Office”.
Multi-talented Cast
Many actors come to work to perform their lines and go home, but this cast had some other duties to attend to. Many of the actors in the cast of “The Office” contributed in the writing room. While it may sound like hard work, it was probably a little easier for them to memorize lines that they wrote themselves.
It’s great to know that the characters we learned to love on screen are actually a lot more impressive in real life. We can appreciate the writers of this show more now that we know they acted in it as well. Their hard work and writing talent are the reason why so many of us connected with the show the way we did.
The Ultimate Prankster
If you’re a fan of the show you’re probably aware of Jim’s famous pranks, like when he put Dwight’s stapler in Jello. But we bet you never thought about the cost of these hi-jinks! Jim was so dedicated to playing jokes on Dwight that money wasn’t even an issue. He was willing to mess with him no matter the cost.
His relationship with Dwight would’ve been nothing without these pranks, so everything Jim did was well worth the extra cash. Plus they made us and everyone in the office laugh. When you’re working a corporate job you need a little something to shake up the monotony.
How Could You John!?
Krasinski could’ve potentially ruined the show for us! He thought that after years of marriage the relationship between Jim and Pam came to a standstill. He felt like breaking them up was the logical and “real-life” thing to do. Well, we sincerely disagree. The love story between them added a level of interest to the show.
It took them so long to finally get together, it would’ve been a shame to see them eventually crumble. It would just feel wrong. Maybe if they came back for more episodes they could play out that plotline. Enough time has passed now that people wouldn’t be as heartbroken.
A Background Star
Even though he wasn’t the center of attention in the show, we can’t imagine The Office without him. His subtle appearances contributed to the show’s complexity and weirdness. The best part about him was that you never knew who he really was. He kept his life pretty vague, and you weren’t sure if you could trust everything that came out of his mouth. If he was fired in season two, his presence would be missed.
Sometimes the smallest characters make the biggest impact. We’re glad the producers decided to keep him because his creepy demeanor was just what the show needed. There’s almost every personality type on this show, and Creed is one of them.
He Fooled Us All
We all know the makeup and hair teams on TV shows are like magicians. They spend hours perfecting the look of characters and their hard work pays off. Every character on The Office has a distinct look and we can identify their style instantly from the first episode. That means that we come to expect certain things from them. For instance, Jim’s hair.
If he were to randomly show up on an episode with a buzzcut, it would be entirely out of character. We’re glad the hair team on the show was able to make such an accurate wig, we had no idea he was even wearing one! They were lucky Jim’s hair was pretty simple to mimic.
“Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica”
Watching Jim act like Dwight in one episode was enough. If Krasinski played Dwight for the entire show we’re not sure his performance would’ve been as impactful. Dwight is just one of those characters whose looks perfectly match the type of person he is. Imagine John Krasinski being a beet farmer and parting his hair down the middle for nine seasons. It’d be the most awkward thing ever!
Once you get used to seeing something a certain way, it’s hard to see it differently. The casting directors were smart to take more auditions for Dwight because Rainn Wilson couldn’t have done a better job. Maybe this whole casting story was what inspired the famous imitation episode.
The Parks And Recreation Office
If you’ve seen both of these shows then you know that they’d have meshed perfectly. The two shows are very different yet the same in every way. The characters in both shows have mundane jobs that they desperately seek to make more entertaining. The main characters are all highly enthusiastic, energetic, and are always trying to boost morale.
Some of the actors from “The Office” even made their way to “Parks and Recreation”, like Rashida Jones. Knowing that these two shows may have crossed over makes us yearn for an episode where all the characters from both shows come together. Though it’d be confusing to explain why Karen Filippelli and Ann Perkins are identical.
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
When your job requires you to sit at a desk for most of the day, you’re bound to find creative ways to make your life more interesting. Most of the shots we see on The Office involve the characters supposedly working at their desks. It’d make sense that while they sat there they actually did something. Since the actors didn’t have any real work to do, they found fun ways to stay entertained.
It’s pretty impressive to be able to act while also having fun. Who said you can’t work and play at the same time? As long as their personal endeavors didn’t interfere with the show, no harm was done!
A Perfection Addition
Sprinkles was hardly a character, but she definitely made an impact. Angela’s character wouldn’t be the same if she wasn’t a crazy cat lady. Her tough exterior towards her co-workers contrasting with her love for her cat made her a lot more interesting. Not only was Sprinkles important, but she also took up a whole episode on the show!
Her untimely demise showed viewers that Angela was capable of human emotion. Her inability to stop crying over her cat made us love her even more. Without Sprinkles, she would’ve just been the sour blonde in the background of the show.
Finally, We Know What That Note Said!
Sometimes a TV show will end and leave you with lots of unanswered questions. One of the things that fans have been dying to know was what Jim wrote to Pam in his letter. He put the note into a teapot he got her for Christmas, and she read it without showing the camera what it said. Now we know Fischer’s reaction was genuine.
She read the letter on screen for the first time while filming the episode. We’re sure that’s why he decided to write something from the heart. The best way to convey real emotion on screen is to experience it.
Nope, That’s Not The Name
We’re very glad the producers had the common sense not to go with that name. The original U.K version of the show worked well, why change something good? We’re sure that people who enjoyed the American version of the show were fans of the original as well. Sharing a name with the original show definitely caught people’s attention.
“The American Workplace” would’ve been too literal and potentially could have caused problems. Outsiders would think that this is how offices look in America! They’d be sorely disappointed when they found out that wasn’t the case.
That’s True Love
Going to work with your spouse every day is a real commitment! Usually what makes a couple’s lives successful is their ability to take some time to themselves. This couple decided they love each other so much that they couldn’t stay away. Michael Scott’s relationship with his wife on the show wasn’t always romantic, though.
It’s one thing for two strange actors to act like a couple, but having to pretend your wife is a stranger is a whole other story! It just goes to show the level of professionalism that actors can achieve. They take their jobs seriously and it shows.
No Babies For Angela Martin
Unlike Jenna Fischer who was able to show her pregnancy on screen, Angela Martin had to hide hers. It wouldn’t have made sense to write in a pregnancy for her character at that point in the show. The camera crew used common tricks to hide her growing baby bump. Luckily the end of her pregnancy landed just between season four and five, so she was able to get the rest she needed before coming back.
Next time you watch season four, watch out for scenes with Angela, you’ll find her trying to conceal her baby bump. For instance, in the episode “The Dinner Party”, she’s purposely holding her purse over her stomach.
A Minor Character Slip Up
It’s hard to stay in character all the time. Krasinski probably didn’t mean to sign his own name on Meredith’s cast. He was just so used to signing his real name that his hands automatically wrote “John Krasinski”. Maybe he was a little off his game that day, but it’s easy to forget a tiny detail like that. Either way, the mistake was left in the episode.
Instead of re-shooting the scene, they went with the original footage and hoped no one would notice that the name on the cast wasn’t Jim Halpert. Besides, having little Easter eggs in episodes is always a fun way to test your audience!
Who Knew He Was A Videographer?
This whole story is just a huge coincidence. Apparently, once Krasinki found out he got the role of Jim, he drove around Scranton, Pennsylvania, and started filming random landmarks. He was so excited to take part in the show that he just wanted to familiarize himself with the area.
After showing the footage to the producer, Greg Daniels, he was offered $1,000 to use the video for the opening credits! We can imagine young Krasinki was very happy to have his work serve as the opening credits. Although, he unwillingly sold his work for way less than it’s worth today…but that’s just business!
Totally Worth It
The producers of the show were so invested in showcasing Jim and Pam’s relationship that they were willing to spend a little extra cash. The whole set for this scene had to be built specifically for the episode since the cast couldn’t fly to the intended location. We can all agree that this scene was one for the books.
We all used to wish someone would propose to us at a gas station somewhere between Pennsylvania and New York, right? We can imagine the production cost for a show like The Office wasn’t through the roof, so splurging on one episode couldn’t hurt. Especially if it was for one of the series’ most memorable moments.
We Need That Show
How did this not happen? Dwight would’ve been an excellent main character on his own show. After the popularity he received from The Office we’re sure fans would rush to watch anything he’s a part of. The storyline about Dwight’s family is so interesting it’s a shame that they didn’t develop it more. We’d have been sad to see Dwight leave the office, but it would feel right to see him in a show of his own.
He always strived for more, so this would’ve been the perfect way to make sure Dwight lived on past the show. Wilson was sorely disappointed to discover his dream of playing a beet farmer had been crushed to pieces.
Their Wish Was The Producers Command
They knew the show would be great even before it aired! Once you put something into the universe, you can’t take it back. Their sheer will and hard work were what made it happen. If it wasn’t for this specific cast in conjunction with the talented writers and producers, this show wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did. It’s also just one of those shows that can go on forever.
The amount of content you can come up with for an office setting is neverending. We’re sure it was hard for the producers to finally decide to call it quits after 9 seasons. There were probably plenty of ideas that never made it to screen, but we’re happy with what we got.
You Wouldn’t Have Guessed That Would You?
These polar opposite characters would be the last two people we’d think would be friends. In the show, they are so different that it makes it seem impossible for them to like each other. Maybe that’s what made their friendship in real life even better! Acting like they disliked each other only made them closer.
These two even have a podcast in real life called “Office Ladies” where they talk about the behind-the-scenes about the show! Just don’t expect them to act like their TV counterparts. It’s hard to disassociate a character from the person who plays them, but most actors are nothing like the persona that they play on screen.
Speak Creed! Speak!
Somehow the show found a way to make Creed a background character as well as a main character. True fans of the show know that Creed is one of those characters that make the show extra special. You don’t see him as often as Jim, Pam, Dwight, or Michael but when he’s on-screen, he’s great. If he had no lines, we wouldn’t even have the little information we know about him.
We would’ve had a hard time connecting with him if he never spoke. Giving Creed some lines ended up making him an intriguing character. We waited to discover more about him with every episode that aired.
What An Accommodating Set
It makes perfect sense that one of the more high-maintenance characters would pose a problem like this. His character somehow translates into the person we’d imagine Steve Carell to be. Obviously, he’s not the same person as he is on screen, but someone we wouldn’t be surprised if he was. That’s what makes him such a great actor!
We’re sure the set was happy to accommodate him, although 64º seems like a less comfortable temperature to act in. It must’ve been rough for the other actors to pretend they weren’t constantly freezing. They’re real troopers for getting through it!
An Impromptu Smooch
Sometimes when actors are in the moment, they do things that aren’t written in the script. In this case, Carell thought that kissing his co-worker would add to the scene. He was right. The scene was all about Michael Scott trying to bring awareness about the LGBTQ but in a totally backward way. The cherry on top of the scene was the smooch he gives his gay employee, Oscar.
Knowing it wasn’t scripted makes it even more genius. It was the perfect way to emphasize how ridiculous Michael was being. Everyone else’s reaction was perfect too. If they knew that kiss was coming it wouldn’t have been the same.
That Makes Total Sense
The best way to find inspiration is within yourself! Wilson stayed true to himself even through his portrayal of Dwight. We don’t think that any hair stylist could’ve come up with this specific hairstyle if they tried. The fact that he wore his hair like this in real life makes it clear he was meant for the role. Without the hair, Dwight just wouldn’t be himself.
His nerdy personality along with the glasses and brown suit all come together to make the character we know and love. We’re not sure anyone can sport his hairstyle without making people think of Dwight.
The More Mistakes The Better!
In a show like The Office, the more improv the better. Since it was meant to feel like a documentary, all of the ad-libs and mistakes the actors made were all welcome. Documentaries have fewer rules when it comes to filming. They’re meant to be organic and free-flowing. We’re sure there are plenty of episodes on the show that have mistakes that we don’t even know about.
The crew may have thought their mishap would be cut from the show, but that wasn’t the case. For example, when the actors are laughing in the background, the producers decided to keep it in for authenticity. Sounds like a pretty relaxed work environment!
From Off-Camera To On-Camera
Remember Dwight’s weird beet-farming cousin? Yeah, that’s Michael Schur, the show’s creator. You’d think a writer of a show would want to give themselves a more distinguished cameo, but not this one! Mose is one of the weirdest characters on TV. He doesn’t talk much but his actions speak volumes. Schur says he played Mose partly because he could naturally grow his beard long and it suited the character.
He also mentions that shooting scenes in the summer heat with boots, overalls and a long beard was brutal. He preferred to work on the show behind the scenes but he took one for the team to create a hilarious character.
The More “The Office” The Better
We wish television companies didn’t have limits on airtime. Episodes of The Office are typically 20 minutes long, but sometimes that just didn’t feel like enough time! Evidently, there was enough footage to make them much longer. We’d appreciate it if someone would leak that footage. Some of us have watched episodes of “The Office” several times and would like to see something new for a change.
Sometimes the bloopers and deleted scenes of shows are even better than what they air on TV. It’s a shame to let that footage fall through the cracks. The people want to see everything! Hopefully, we’ll get a special release with all the extra footage someday.
Casting Director Turned Actress
Phyllis was discovered as an actress by accident. We’re glad that someone saw something in her because she did a wonderful job in portraying Phyllis on the show. It’s crazy to think that the person hiring actors ended up being one of them herself! She was probably very flattered to be cast. Her role was pretty prominent in the show. She didn’t talk too much, but when she did shows us just how fiery she can be!
She looks like an innocent woman doing her job, but she proved to love gossip and stirring up drama. It’s always great when a character’s looks deceive you, and that’s exactly the case with Phyllis.
Practice Makes Perfect
You’d think that acting drunk is simple, but Jenna Fischer took it very seriously. In real life she wasn’t much of a drinker, so pretending she was drunk was quite the feat. One of the show’s writers, B.J Novak, also known as Ryan, took her out to practice drinking. Imagine going to a bar for work! Fischer probably didn’t want to see alcohol for a long time after filming this episode.
Her fellow co-stars were probably amused to see her in a different light. Their innocent coworker turned wild for the day! From the looks of it, working on the set of The Office sounds like a whole lot of fun.
The Real Dangers Of Acting
While shooting a beach scene, Wison managed to get sand in Leslie David Baker’s (Stanley) eye. If you’ve ever gotten sand in your eye you know it’s not very pleasant. The actor had to get his eye flushed and ended up having a scratch on his cornea. While this was an accident, it only seems fitting that Dwight would do something like this.
Baker’s eye ended up being fine and he was even able to return shooting the episode! If that doesn’t show dedication we don’t know what does. We’re sure he stayed as far away from Wilson for the rest of the day, just in case.
It Wasn’t Always Popular…
While today we can all agree “The Office” is an iconic show that many will remember forever, that wasn’t always the case. The beginning of this show was a slow one. Not many people were interested in watching when it first aired. Once the show was available to watch on iTunes, it started to gain some more traction. After seeing a growing audience, NBC decided to give it a chance.
Even after gaining some popularity, the show only became the sensation it is today after it finished airing. Many people only discovered it after it became available to stream online. In the age of binge-watching, we can understand why a show like this is beloved by so many.
A Milestone Smooch
Do you remember your first kiss? You were probably pretty nervous, anyone would be. Now imagine your first kiss being filmed for a hugely popular sitcom. That’s not exactly what John Krasinski went through, but we’re sure it was still a nerve-wracking experience. Kissing within the confines of your home is very different from smooching in front of a film crew.
There are rumors that Krasinski lied to Fischer about it being his first. That’s a fib many people have probably told before! We would’ve never guessed that Krasinski was inexperienced in this particular area. Maybe his amazing on-screen chemistry with Fischer made the moment easier to get through.
Keeping His Options Open
Not all television roles are created equal. Sometimes you end up cast as a small part on an up-and-coming series. You have no idea whether or not it’s going to flop. So as a precaution you decide not to quit your day job. It’s a pretty responsible decision to make. Luckily Oscar’s uncertainty didn’t last too long.
Imagine being served by the guy who would soon become a beloved character on a wildly popular TV series. Or being babysat by him! Nunez’s humble beginnings make him all the more relatable, and we couldn’t be happier for the success he found as a hugely memorable character on The Office.
High School Pals
Ever start a new job and find out one of your former classmates works there? The situation could go one of two ways. Either you become best buddies at the office, or you resent each other and develop a lowkey rivalry. We’re sure BJ Novak and John Krasinski were the former. After all, they played sports together!
Yep, these two were on the same little league team back in the day. We wonder if they were surprised to see each other on set. It must’ve been nice to start a new show with a familiar face. As his high school buddy, Kraskinski could probably slip ideas to Novak while he was in the writer’s room.
Keeping the Bosses Separate
Most people are familiar with the fact that The Office isn’t an original concept. It’s based on a British series of the same name. While the shows are similar they’re far from identical. For one, the original series only lasted two seasons! The Brits like their series short and sweet we suppose (Doctor Who is a clear exception).
You’d think the cast would want to research the source material beforehand, right? Well, there’s a downside to that you may not have thought about. These actors needed to create new personalities for existing characters, and watching the show might’ve hampered their efforts. In Carrell’s case, we think he did an outstanding job making Michael Scott totally different from David Brent.
He Didn’t Want the Spotlight
You probably already know that several actors on the show had a hand in the writers’ room. Some of them preferred to stay there rather than get back in front of the camera. Ever wonder why Toby has so few lines when he’s on-screen? It’s because Paul Liberstein wrote him that way. For his sake, he wanted to give his character as little screen time as possible!
It all makes sense when you consider Toby’s soft-spokenness and reluctance to confront others. It’s like Liberstein wrote his actual personality into the character! Other writers, like Mindy Kaling, might’ve written episodes to include more of this polarizing HR manager.
Maybe in an Alternate Timeline
Most television shows and movies have several famous contenders for the lead role. Sometimes these choices are beyond bizarre, but occasionally they’re right on the money. Unfortunately not everyone gets the part they hope to play. In The Office’s case, we’re glad Carrell secured the role of Michael Scott. But the guy who almost took his place could’ve been cool, too.
Not familiar with Bob Odenkirk’s performances in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul? Well, you’ve got some serious catching up to do. This guy is a hilarious actor, plus a talented writer and director. In an alternate universe, we’d love to see his portrayal of Michael Scott.
Having Your Spouse at Work
Those who pursue a career as an actor can expect to be put in some strange situations. Of course you can always turn a part down or discuss changes with the director, but typically you’re going to have to perform in some scenarios you didn’t picture yourself in. While talking to a lactation consultant isn’t anything unusual, it was probably nice for Fischer’s own husband to be there.
Apparently her husband Lee Kirk didn’t feel awkward at all. It’s almost like having your spouse visit you at work! Who doesn’t like a little surprise like that? Not only did he play this minor character, but he also directed one of the episodes in Season 9!
A Real Romance
You may already be familiar with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s friendship from their podcast Office Ladies, but they weren’t the only pair of besties on the show. BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling, both actors and writers on the series, were very close in real life. In fact, they occasionally got as close as their characters did on screen!
Much like Ryan and Kelly, Novak and Kaling had an on-and-off relationship. We wonder if that was reality imitating fiction, or if their real relationship inspired the events on the show. As far as we know they have yet to collaborate on a music video in real life (it probably wouldn’t live up to Male Primadonna anyway).
Same Names
Part of being an actor means taking on the identity of your character. You’re tasked with the responsibility of bringing them to life, and that involves getting acquainted with all the little details of their life. The first of those being their name. For many actors on The Office this wasn’t even an issue.
No need to get used to a new name when your character shares yours! Angela Kinsey speculates it was laziness on behalf of the writers. Besides, there was nothing wrong with the actors’ original names to begin with. It just makes the characters feel more real. Just remember, the actors and the characters may share the same name but they aren’t the same people!
Brightening the Vibe
Fans of The Office know that the show was nearly canceled after its first season. Bringing the series to iTunes helped quite a bit, but there were major changes made to keep it afloat. For one, they made Michael Scott a whole lot more likable. They also changed up his look. No more greased back hair and shirt buttoned to the top.
The entire show became more bubbly and optimistic, that change was literally reflected in the lighting of the set. Take a look back at season one, notice how much darker it is? Maybe they were trying to imitate the tone of the original series, but that just wasn’t working with American audiences.
He Can See the Future
Steve Carrell is an award-winning actor with many iconic roles. When you hear his name you might think of comedies like the 40-year-Old Virgin or Anchorman, or his more serious roles in movies like Little Miss Sunshine. but we’re willing to bet he’s best known for his role on The Office. And we’re not the only ones who think so.
Before the series aired, Carrell predicted this would be the role he’d be best known for. That’s some pretty good intuition he had! Not only was he able to anticipate the show would be a hit, but he knew his character would be a standout. Can we get him to predict our future, too?
Too Funny to Fire
One of the early plotlines of the show involves Jim moving to Dunder Mifflin’s branch in Stamford. This put any potential romance with Pam on hold and ignited a new relationship with Karen (played by the gorgeous and talented Rashida Jones). Once the branches merge a bit of a love triangle begins to form. The writers planned to boot the Stamford characters off the show after the merger, but one character was too good to get rid of.
Ed Helms was too funny to fire! His chemistry with the other characters kept Andy on The Office as a series regular. He even ends up taking over as branch manager later in the series. How’s that for a promotion?
Another Season 2 Upgrade
There were many changes made to the show after season 1. For starters, Michael Scott’s entire look was updated to make him appear more presentable. They also turned the lights up and gave the script a brighter touch. But one interesting detail might be hard to spot, even for eagle-eyed viewers. It’s one of those filming tricks that audiences don’t always catch.
Season 1 might’ve been filmed inside an actual office, but season 2 and onward took place on a specially built set. It was made to replicate the real office they had filmed in previously. The ceiling was most likely non-existent and filled with overhead lights!
A Bad Case of The Giggles
We all know The Office is a downright hilarious series. Its strong writing and comedic timing always have us in stitches. But we weren’t the only ones affected by the show’s brilliance. Two of the main cast members put a dent in the filming schedule, all because they couldn’t contain themselves. In all fairness, we understand why.
Dwight putting together the saddest birthday party ever, and vehemently defending it, is one of the show’s greatest moments. Dwight’s character comes out perfectly in this scene, it’s hard not to laugh. John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson both ended up shutting down production for the day. The segment left them with a bad case of the giggles.
A Little Easter Egg
There are several trinkets and decorative items on Michael Scott’s desk. The most noticeable would have to be his “World’s Best Boss” mug (though the jury’s still out on how accurate that statement is). One thing you might catch if you’re an avid rewatcher is his little Union Jack flag. You might be wondering what it’s doing in an American office.
It’s a reference that pays tribute to the original series, of course! The Office was originally a creation of English comedian Ricky Gervais and features a British cast. Gervais actually makes an appearance on the show at one point! But one consistent nod to his work is his country’s flag on the boss’s desk.
It Takes Two to Tango
One of the best aspects of the show is the back-and-forth arguing between Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute. This duo make the perfect comedic duo, with Dwight being overly literal and uptight and Jim being the ultimate antagonizer. Aside from their characters, there’s another element that made these two so great. The actors who played them actually gave each other tips.
While filming, Krasinski and Wilson would give suggestions as to how the other’s character should answer. it takes two to tango, and this pair wanted their dance to be as good as possible. Few scenes were as funny as the ones between these two, they made sure of it!
A Surprise Appearance
Steve Carrell leaving the show marked a major change for the series. Obviously, he was the face of The Office, and one of the most beloved characters among fans. It wasn’t going to be the same without him, and his send off was beyond emotional both on and off set. When the series was nearing its finale, it was unclear whether Carrell would rejoin the cast for one last episode.
to keep his appearance under wraps, he deliberately misled everyone by insisting he wasn’t going to be a part of the finale. He wasn’t even present during table readings! Needless to say, his arrival on set was a big surprise for everyone.
His Grandparents Must Be Proud
Aside from being a severely serious person and somewhat of a kiss-up, Dwight is also known for his abilities as a beet farmer. The unusual hobby seems to fit his personality, and there are a few episodes where we get a glimpse of his pride and joy (as well as his farming partner and family member, Mose). However, this side job wasn’t picked at random.
Producer Greg Daniels wanted to pay homage to his grandparents, who had been beet farmers in Poland. That’s definitely an interesting way to connect to your heritage. We wonder if Daniel is a fan of beets. Maybe he prefers to keep the family tradition exclusively on-screen.
Purely Coincidental
In season three we discover that Oscar Martinez is gay, though his outing wasn’t exactly sentimental. Predictably, Michael Scott has no idea how to deal with this news and ends up smooching him on the mouth (a moment Steve Carrell improvised). But was Oscar always meant to be a gay character? The answer is a little surprising.
The writers wanted one gay employee at Dunder Mifflin. Oscar Nunez just so happened to come to the table reading in a pink shirt, and as a result, the staff decided to make his character gay. Pretty interesting way of making that decision, wouldn’t you agree? How would this have gone down if a different actor decided to wear pink that day?
Supporting the Writers Guild
In 2007 the Writers Guild of America went on strike for about 3 months. As with most strikes, the major issue was lack of funding and unfair pay. They felt they were being under-compensated for their work, and that the studios took an unfair cut of the profit. This strike affected dozens of shows, and The Office was no exception.
Steve Carrell was a staunch supporter of the Writers Guild and absolutely refused to cross the picket line. He went so far as to call in sick, claiming to have outrageous and bizarre ailments. Production had to go on hold temporarily, but needless to say it was back up and running once the strike ended. Good on Carrell for supporting fellow industry workers!
Destined To Be Together
Some people are just meant to be together. We think fans of The Office will agree that Pam and Jim are the perfect pair, as are the actors behind the roles. Of course, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski weren’t eh only two to audition for the parts, but they were each other’s favorites before they were even cast!
Production auditioned several Jims and Pams, but the chemistry between Fischer and Krasinski was too obvious to pass up. When they reached out to the actors to tell them they landed the gig, they both asked if the other had got the part as well! Now that’s a match made in heaven if we’ve ever seen one.
Paying Homage To The City
Dunder Mifflin might be a fictional company, but the city it’s located in is totally real! Locals of Scranton, Pennsylvania might notice a few shout-outs to local brands hidden on the set of the series. These little Easter eggs are fun to spot, but also help keep the show grounded in reality. The presence of Crystal Club soda, manufactured in Scranton, is just one example.
Another detail to look out for is the Froggy 101 bumper stickers. This is a Scranton radio station, and its smiling frog mascot can be found in several different places. You’ll find it on Dwight’s filing cabinet and in the bar scene of Michael Scott’s movie, Threat Level Midnight.
The Ever-Changing Fish
Michael Scott’s desk is littered with all sorts of trinkets and keepsakes. Fans who’ve seen the series several times are able to find little details throughout the seasons. One international joke production played around with was the fish on Michael’s desk in season 5. If you pay attention, you’ll notice the fish changes every episode. The writers were obviously trying to imply Michael isn’t the best pet owner.
And there’s no need to fret over the well-being of these former desk fish. After the episode was wrapped, production would give them to whichever crew member wanted to bring home a new pet. Too bad Michael never held a funeral for one of his dearly departed fish friends!
A Clever Marketing Plan
Big businesses try all sorts of marketing campaigns to keep their brand in the spotlight. Paper is a pretty boring product, but it’s a lot easier to advertise when there’s a hit TV series beloved by people around the world. That’s exactly what Staples did when they launched a “What Would Dunder Mifflin do?” campaign, and it wasn’t just a box of Dunder Mifflin branded paper.
The set included Dunder Mifflin pens, sticky notes, cups, and more! Any fan of The Office would’ve been dying to get their hands on these. The marketing campaign was one of their more successful ones, which should come as no surprise!
Not Crazy Enough To Run The Office
Steve Carrell’s departure from the show was a tough pill for us to swallow. Nevertheless, production still planned on moving the show forward and needed to find a new character to take over as the boss. They were planning on promoting one of the current Dunder Mifflin staff members but couldn’t initially decide which. At first, they were going to go with Darryl Philbin, everyone’s favorite former warehouse worker.
Ultimately they decided Darryl was far too level-headed to match the absurdity of Michael Scott. Instead, they picked the clueless yet well-intentioned Andy Bernard. He did go to Cornell, after all. He was more than qualified for the job! Though many fans didn’t like the direction the job took the character.
A Weird Coincidence
When an actress is pregnant there are a few different options production can go for. They can write the character out for the season, which is pretty uncommon for a main member of the cast. They can hide her pregnancy, that’s the approach the writers went with for Angela Kinsey’s pregnancy. Or they can write her pregnancy into the script. None of these were exactly the case with Jenna Fischer.
In a strange twist of fate, Pam’s pregnancy was written into the script before Fischer even knew she was pregnant! Isn’t that a strange case of serendipity? Looks like Pam and Jenna are more similar than we thought.
The Office Was A Democracy
You only need to hear the first four notes to recognize the iconic theme tune that starts off every episode of The Office. But it wasn’t the only option on the table. Originally the show’s creator had four different versions of the opening music, he decided to make the decision the democratic way.
He presented each piece to the cast and they unanimously voted for the piece composed by Jay Ferguson. Knowing this makes the opening music feel all the more special. It’s not just a catchy tune, it’s something that resonated with every member of the cast before filming even began. We wonder if they feel the same way about it after all these years!
An Exciting Past
Phyllis might seem like your average older woman working an office job, but as the series goes on we learn more and more about this sales director. We eventually find out she’s more exciting than we thought, and the same goes for the actress portraying her! Phyllis Smith had a very exciting career as a burlesque dancer and NFL cheerleader before breaking into acting.
Just goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover! The actress confessed that she enjoyed her cheerleading years for more than just the love of the sport. She confessed she liked to watch the “cute guys across the field.” We need to grab a coffee and hear more from this woman!
Real-Life Inspiration
Diversity Day might be one of the most popular episodes of the series. This was many people’s introduction to the series, as it was the second episode to air. Written by B.J. Novack, this episode shows the workers of Dunder Mifflin going through some pretty bizarre and questionable diversity training. But did you know it was based on a real-life story?
During a brainstorming session, a writer’s assistant named Tom chimed in with his own story from a college class. Apparently, they had them put notecards on their foreheads and use stereotypes to guess them! Just goes to show that reality can be as strange as fiction.
Serious Method Acting
David Wallace is a pretty unforgettable character, starting out as the CFO and eventually rising to the ranks of CEO of Dunder Mifflin. One of our favorite things about The Office is how realistic all the characters are. They actually feel like people we’ve worked with before! But there was a real-life link between David Wallace and actor Andy Buckley.
Turns out Buckley was working in finance while portraying the character! Now that’s what we’d call serious method acting. He actually met the show’s casting director at the farmer’s market, after coming on the show he decided to keep his day job in case the part wasn’t big enough to pay the bills.
A Hidden Talent
Everyone has a secret skill they have tucked away for special occasions. In season 2 of the series we see Michael force his staff to join him at an ice skating rink. The bone-headed Regional Manager actually impresses with his skills on the ice! What did Steve Carrell have to do to train for this episode?
Turns out it was a talent the actor had all along. Carrell had been playing ice hockey throughout his youth, so he was no stranger when it came to skates. He got another opportunity to show off his talent in the episode Threat Level Midnight, an episode featuring a fake movie that takes place at an ice skating rink.
Other Possibilities for Jim and Pam
From the start of the series we were sure Jim and Pam were going to end up together. It’s what we wanted and expected, thankfully for the fans we saw their relationship blossom into something truly beautiful. But did you know their marriage wasn’t necessarily a sure thing? The writers were toying with other romantic possibilities for the characters.
One storyline involved Roy winning Pam back! Can you imagine the fan reaction to that? Another idea was that Jim and Pam would inevitably lead each other to find their actual soulmates. While this would’ve been interesting to see, we can’t help but feel relieved that it never made it on the show.
Foreshadowing in the Talking Heads
Who doesn’t like a little foreshadowing? It’s always fun to go back and see the little tidbits that hint at a character’s fate. You can see this in The Office during the talking heads, aka when the characters are being interviewed. Apparently, the backdrop for each Dunder Mifflin employee was intentionally selected by Randall Einhorn, the show’s cinematographer.
Jim’s backdrop is the only one with a window that has an outdoor view. As show-runner Greg Daniels put it, “Any character that had a future outside of Dunder Mifflin or held some sort of internal optimism would sit in front of a window leading out into the world.” Isn’t that cool?