Landing the role of Michael Scott became a defining moment in Steve Carell‘s career, but it almost didn’t happen. Before auditioning for “The Office,” he received unexpected advice from fellow actor and friend, Paul Rudd, who thought it was a bad idea. It offers a glimpse at how different things might have been had Carell heeded his advice and missed out on the now-iconic role.
Paul Rudd Had Doubts About The Series
Carell was a guest on the podcast “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” where he talked about one of his most iconic roles: Michael Scott. At the time of the auditions, Carell was shooting the movie “Anchorman” with Rudd, when the latter advised him against trying out for the role.
“Rudd pulled me aside and was like, ‘Don’t do it, man. Don’t audition.’ It was like, ‘There is no way’.” Carell said, adding that Rudd basically urged him to steer clear of the project.
“The Office” is the American remake of the British sitcom created by comedian Ricky Gervais, who also starred as David Brent, the UK counterpart to Michael Scott. From the beginning, many thought creating an American version of the show was a bad idea, especially since Gervais had done an excellent job portraying the brash and cringey manager. Anyone stepping into that role would face comparisons.
Poehler said she agreed with Rudd’s thinking at that time, saying, “No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais, no one can do that show.”
Steve Carell Did Not Watch The UK Version
Despite Rudd’s advice, Carell pushed forward with the audition. However, he purposefully didn’t watch Gervais show. “I watched a minute of one and he was so good and so specific and so funny,” Carell said. He didn’t continue watching, fearing that he would try to audition with Gervais’ acting in mind.
Instead, he wanted to create a different character rather than imitate what Gervais had done with Brent. Scott, though as cringe-worthy as Brent, was more childish and goofy.
According to casting director Allison Jones, they initially had Paul Giamatti or Philip Seymour Hoffman in mind to play Scott, but they didn’t think they would agree to do a comedy show. Other actors who auditioned for the role include Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, and Rainn Wilson, who was eventually cast as Dwight Schrute. The role ultimately went to Carell, who Jones said was always a top choice.
The Pilot Tested Poorly
Carell told Poehloer that the pilot did poorly, saying, “Our pilot was the lowest testing pilot in the history of NBC. People really hated it. They actively hated it. And I don’t quite know how it got legs after that,” he revealed. “The Office” first aired in March 2005, with the first season consisting of six episodes. The reviews were mostly poor to mediocre, with many critics comparing it to the British version.
In an interview with Vox, “The Office” writer Michael Schur said that after they shot the final episode of season 1, everyone thought the show was going to be cancelled. NBC executive Kevin Reilly fought for the show, and they were given a second season.
Steve Carell’s Popularity Helped ‘The Office’
As Schur noted, Carell’s popularity after the first season aired boosted “The Office.” At that time, the actor starred in “40-Year-Old Virgin” before the premiere of season 2. “They partially gave us the second season because they had Steve under contract. So. Network executive sticks his neck out. The guy who’s the main character becomes a movie star,” Schur explained.
Furthermore, Greg Daniels, who developed the show, made some changes in regard to Scott’s character. Instead of following the British version, they wrote new material that resonated more with the American audience.
With the changes made, “The Office” found its footing, and the second season became a massive success.
Steve Carell Left ‘The Office’ Before It Concluded
Carell left “The Office” after season 7, and at the time of his departure, the explanation was that he wanted to spend more time with family. A decade later, however, it was revealed that the actor didn’t want to leave, but NBC hadn’t approached him about renewing his contract, as reported by Parade.
Carell said that shooting his final scenes for the show was “emotional torture,” but it allowed him to have a proper farewell to his show and castmates. However, he returned for a brief moment in one of the series’ final episodes.
“The Office” concluded in 2013 after nine seasons, and it remains one of the top sitcoms of all time. In 2025, the show’s spin-off series, “The Paper,” premiered on Peacock, and it has been renewed for a second season.