Spanning nine seasons and fascinating the hearts of viewers international, The Office has withstood the take a look at of time. Despite the display being off the air for a few years, it has maintained its loyal fan base and is extensively regarded as to be certainly one of the most rewatchable presentations on television. But, there were several circumstances by which The Office can have been an excessively different series.
It’s undeniable that Steve Carell used to be the best choice to play Michael Scott, along with his over-the-top portrayal of the cringe-inducing branch supervisor. Somehow though, Carell wasn’t the producers’ immediate pick to play the lovely boss. The portions of a number of characters were additionally very just about crammed by different actors who had auditioned.
11 Bob Odenkirk
More than 35 actors auditioned for the a part of Michael Scott, together with Bob Odenkirk (referred to now for his Emmy-nominated role in Better Call Saul). Odenkirk and Carell were the top alternatives, and due to Carell’s filming agenda for every other display, it looked like the section would move to Odenkirk — until Carell’s show was once canceled, and the rest is historical past. Bob Odenkirk gave us a glimpse of his model of Michael Scott with his cameo in season nine.
10 Erica Vittina Phillips

Many will keep in mind Erica Vittina Phillips as the liquor retailer cashier in the movie Superbad, or Jill in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. But she was once additionally nearly forged as Pam, in step with Greg Daniels (recognized for adapting The Office from its unique UK model). Daniels said, “I had a model in thoughts by which Pam used to be African American and so was once [her boyfriend] Roy. It would had been Craig Robinson as Roy and Erica Vittina Phillips as Pam.”
9 Adam Scott
Adam Scott went head-to-head with John Krasinski for the position of Jim Halpert. Krasinski, who used to be to begin with intended to audition for the part of Dwight prior to asking for to be put up for the function of Jim, was once a success. If Krasinski hadn’t gotten the position, most likely Adam Scott would’ve performed the cute prankster — but it surely used to be for the very best, as Scott soon landed the part of Ben Wyatt on another NBC mockumentary, Parks and Recreation.
8 Philip Seymour Hoffman

Before his tragic passing in 2014, Philip Seymour Hoffman was a mythical actor with a ton of classics beneath his belt. Known for his distinct portrayals of offbeat characters, it’s no surprise he was once regarded as for the position of Michael Scott. In fact, he was once considered one of two characters who was once offered the function sooner than somebody else, however Hoffman in the long run declined, and he would cross on to win an Oscar for Best Actor the following yr.
7 Seth Rogen
Rainn Wilson nabbed the function of Dwight Schrute after a long audition process (where he to start with learn for the part of Michael Scott). However, Seth Rogen was almost on The Office as the dorky beet farmer/paper salesman. Rogen had seen some success on the display Freaks and Geeks, while Wilson was once much less known at the time. A couple of years after the failed audition, Seth Rogen would hit his stride in the film Knocked Up.
6 Paul Giamatti

The 2nd actor to be outright introduced the function of Michael Scott was once Paul Giamatti. Fresh from his film Sideways, Giamatti used to be presented the lead function but decidedly passed on the opportunity. Similarly to Philip Seymour Hoffman, both actors were focusing on their film careers at the time, that may be why they handed on the role. In hindsight, the success of the cast and the display most likely has Giamatti regretting his choice.
5 Eric Stonestreet
It could be laborious to image Kevin Malone, the simple-minded teddy endure of The Office, as someone but Brian Baumgartner. So, it makes you marvel how well this character would’ve been played if Eric Stonestreet have been successful in his audition for the part. All issues aside, Stonestreet found success on Modern Family just a few years later as Cameron Tucker, the cute spouse of Mitch, and most likely has never seemed back.
4 Kathryn Hahn
Kathryn Hahn has been curious about countless titles, like We’re the Millers, WandaVision, and Bad Moms. But again in 2003 when The Office was maintaining auditions, she had hoped to land the position of Pamela Beasley. Although Jenna Fischer was once the better option, Hahn will have to’ve stood out as a result of she later played the intense character, Jennifer Barkley, in Parks and Rec. Unsurprisingly, there was once numerous crossover in the casting process between the two NBC mockumentaries.
3 John Cho

Another contender for the function of Jim Halpert used to be John Cho, right off the back of his movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Many actors were up for this section (even Jim Parsons auditioned sooner than he landed The Big Bang Theory), but the chemistry between John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson used to be plain. Cho would in the end land a habitual role in television, and he became a household title with the assist of Harold & Kumar.
2 Nick Offerman
Another Parks and Rec alum that was once came upon through his The Office audition used to be Nick Offerman. Now recognized for his iconic portrayal of Ron Swanson, Offerman originally auditioned for the a part of Michael Scott. He stuck the eye of co-creator Mike Schur, who would name Offerman a couple of years later about working on Parks and Rec. With his giant mustache and deadpan supply, it will be laborious to believe him rather than Steve Carell.
1 Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler played the lead on Parks and Rec, completely embodying the sunny demeanor of her persona Leslie Knope. So the proven fact that she used to be nearly forged as the cold, intimidating Jan Levinson may be surprising. Poehler had labored with NBC on Saturday Night Live for a few years sooner than being thought to be for the position, but Melora Hardin was once most popular in the end, resulting in one among fan’s most favorite episodes of the show.
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