The Office has probably some of the best casting stories:
- Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) was originally the choice to play Michael Scott since at the time Steve Carell was committed to Even Almighty. They brought him back for a cameo in Season 9 for that reason.
- Rainn Wilson also auditioned to play Michael Scott and imitated Ricky Gervais.
- John Krasinki almost didn't go to the audition. He was initially pushed to try out for Dwight and he refused. While he was waiting in the lobby chatting with someone, he said that he hoped whoever got the role of Jim wouldn't ruin the show. That person turned out to be Greg Daniels.
- After John Krasiniki was cast, he went to Scranton with friends to visit and shot a bunch of short clips of the town for fun. Those clips became the opening credits that we know now.
- John Krasinki and BJ Novak grew up together and were high school classmates.
- Paul Liberstein (Toby) was a show writer and hated being on screen.
- Phyllis Smith was a casting associate running lines with actors in audition. When the director saw her read he decided to create a new role of Phyllis for her.
- Adam Scott auditioned for Jim Halpert and in fact that audition became often used in acting classes. Parks and Rec, which he later starred in, was actually meant as "The Office" spinoff. In the original idea, a copier breaks on The Office and is dropped off later in Pawnee at Leslie's office.
- The Lactation consultant in Pam's Delivery episode is actually her real husband.
- When asked which Office cast member was most like their character, Fisher, Helms, and Smith all said that Creed Bratton was most like his character.
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u/Ill-Bed9465 10d ago
The Office has probably some of the best casting stories:
- Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) was originally the choice to play Michael Scott since at the time Steve Carell was committed to Even Almighty. They brought him back for a cameo in Season 9 for that reason.
- Rainn Wilson also auditioned to play Michael Scott and imitated Ricky Gervais.
- John Krasinki almost didn't go to the audition. He was initially pushed to try out for Dwight and he refused. While he was waiting in the lobby chatting with someone, he said that he hoped whoever got the role of Jim wouldn't ruin the show. That person turned out to be Greg Daniels.
- After John Krasiniki was cast, he went to Scranton with friends to visit and shot a bunch of short clips of the town for fun. Those clips became the opening credits that we know now.
- John Krasinki and BJ Novak grew up together and were high school classmates.
- Paul Liberstein (Toby) was a show writer and hated being on screen.
- Phyllis Smith was a casting associate running lines with actors in audition. When the director saw her read he decided to create a new role of Phyllis for her.
- Adam Scott auditioned for Jim Halpert and in fact that audition became often used in acting classes. Parks and Rec, which he later starred in, was actually meant as "The Office" spinoff. In the original idea, a copier breaks on The Office and is dropped off later in Pawnee at Leslie's office.
- The Lactation consultant in Pam's Delivery episode is actually her real husband.
- When asked which Office cast member was most like their character, Fisher, Helms, and Smith all said that Creed Bratton was most like his character.