The Office is without a doubt one of the most popular comedy series in the US. It was based off the British TV show of the same name. The show was shot in a mockumentary style, with no laugh track or studio audience. It follows the lives of office workers in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Even though it started out a little rocky, with a mostly unknown cast and relatively low ratings, the show took off and went on for nine seasons. As with any TV show, there are many things the fans may not know about it, so we’ve decided to gather some fun facts about the hit show.
Instant Chemistry
During the audition process, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer met for the first time and had pretty much immediate chemistry. While the producers held castings for different combinations of actors to see who clicked best, Jenna and Jim seemed like the best fit for the roles together. Once they got the parts, the first thing each one asked was whether the other got the part as well.
Instant Chemistry
Opening Footage
The footage of Scranton at the beginning of the show’s credits was actually shot by none other than John Krasinski.
Opening Footage
Phyllis
Originally, Phyllis Smith started out as a casting associate on the show. The producers ended up being so impressed with her that they created the role of Phyllis Vance especially for her on the show. Before that, she was a burlesque dancer and NFL cheerleader.
Phyllis
Wig
For half of season three, John Krasinski had to wear a wig due to the fact that he shaved his head for a role he was shooting at the time.
Wig
Try Not To Laugh
Each job comes with its own set of challenges. In the acting world, one of those challenges is to stay in character while filming, no matter the situation. However, there are numerous bloopers from just about every film or show ever made to prove that everyone is human. In this case, there are a few times where it can be seen when an actor or two was struggling to keep a straight face. One of those times is when Michael is dressed up as Santa and tells Kevin to sit on his lap. Mindy Kaling can be seen fighting a smile in the background.
Try Not To Laugh
Consolation
The casting directors of the show purposely looked for actors with improv experience when putting the show together. But the actors weren’t the only improv experts on set. During one episode where Jim is consoling Dwight, Jim just ups and leaves before Dwight reaches out for him before realizing he was gone. This moment was unscripted, as the director motioned to John Krasinski while filming.
Consolation
Arguments
Funny enough, John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson actually got into the habit of giving each other lines during Jim and Dwight’s arguments to use for the other’s character. So, essentially, their lines came from one another.
Arguments
Actors And Writers
The producers of the show found it important to hire actors who could also write well. Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, B.J. Novak and Michael Schur all wrote and produced for the show. Steve Carrell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, and Brian Baumgartner wrote some episodes.
Actors And Writers
High School Buddies
Turns out John Krasinski and B.J. Novak had already known each other even before they got cast on the show. They actually went to high school in Massachusetts together.
The Office
Best Friends
While they might not like each other very much on the show, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey became extremely close in real life. Jenna is even the godmother of Angela’s kid.
Best Friends
Jim Or Dwight?
At first, the producers of The Office wanted John Krasinski to play Dwight. John disagreed and only wanted to play Jim. As we can see in the show, John ended up being cast as Jim.
Jim Or Dwight
Surfing The Web
The computers on set were fully functional and were actually connected to the internet. Cast members who were in the background of a scene would surf the web all day, playing games or answering emails to pass the time.
Surfing The Web
Real Names
Weirdly enough, four of the main characters on the show are named as the actors who play them: Phyllis (Phyllis Smith), Angela (Angela Kinsey), Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton) and Oscar (Oscar Nunez).
The Office
Froggy 101
Staying true to the show’s apparent location, Froggy 101 is the #1 radio station at Scranton. References to this station are all over the show, Dwight has a bumper sticker on his filing cabinet, there’s one on the warehouse elevator, and so on.
Froggy 101
The Fish Mystery
In part of season five, Michael keeps a fishbowl on his desk. The weird thing is that in each episode, there is a different fish in the bowl.
The Fish Mystery
High Hopes
When the series was just beginning, Steve Carell went out to lunch with John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson. They predicted the show would last eight years. They were very close, as the show lasted nine years.
High Hopes
Retired #1
After the seventh season, Steve Carell left the show. Meanwhile, since the cast and crew still adored him, they “retired” his number on the actor’s call sheet. Steve was always number one so they haven’t used that number since.
Retired #1
The Big Lie
For months, Steve Carell had to lie about his appearance in the last episode of the show. Even the executives of NBC didn’t know. Even at table script readings, Creed was instructed to read Michael’s lines.
The Big Lie
That’s What She Said
Throughout the series “That’s what she said” is said no less than 58 times. Most of the time it’s said by Michael Scott.
That’s What She Said
Not Desasterous Enough
The writers of the show originally considered promoting Darrell to manager, but they went with Andy at the end. Darrell was too rational and smart, whereas Andy, like Michael, put people and relationships ahead of everything else. Also because the writers decided that Andy would cause the right amount of disasters.
Not Desasterous Enough
Shy Non-Actor
Paul Liberstein, who played Toby, was, in fact, a writer and director for the show. In fact, he was very shy and disliked being on screen. Because of this, he was given very few speaking lines.
Shy Non Actor
Beet Farmers
Do you know why Dwight became a beet farmer? The Office writer and producer, Greg Daniels’ grandparents were beet farmers in Poland, so this was a bit of a nod to him.
Beet Farmers
Steve’s Wife
Guess who plays Carol Stills in a few episodes? It is actually Steve Carell’s wife, Nancy.
Steves Wife
Another Cameo
After Pam gives birth, the lactation consultant who helps her out is played by none other than her Jenna’s real-life husband, Lee Kirk.
Another Cameo
Fishy Screensaver
In season six, Michael falls into a koi pond. Afterward, all the actors changed their on set computer screensavers to fish.
Fishy Screensaver
Wrong Name
In the fourth season, Jim signs Phyllis’ cast with the name John Krasinski by accident.
Wrong Name
Oh, Baby
Funny enough, the writers have already written Pam’s pregnancy into season eight when Jenna found out that she was pregnant.
Oh Baby
Keepsake
After the ending of the series, Jenna kept the engagement ring that Jim proposed to Pam with as a keepsake.
Keepsake
In Pink
Writers wanted a gay character for an episode, and they ended up going with Oscar since he wore a pink shirt to the table read.
In Pink
Steve Or Bob?
When Pam interviews for a new job, her potential new boss is played by Bob Odenkirk, who happened to have been considered for the role of Michael Scott at the beginning of the series.
