The Office Casting Director Reveals THESE A-List Actors Were NBC’s Original Picks For Michael Scott

As a seasoned lifestyle expert with a rich background in the world of entertainment, I can confidently say that the casting process for iconic sitcoms like The Office is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Having witnessed the behind-the-scenes action on shows ranging from The Good Place to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, I’ve learned that the road to success is often paved with unexpected twists and turns.


NBC tried multiple times to recruit big-name stars like Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman for the role of Michael Scott in “The Office.” Allison Jones, the casting director, shared insights about the initial casting choices for the popular sitcom during her interview on the “Office Ladies” podcast, which is hosted by actors Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.

It was disclosed that it wasn’t just any actor whom NBC intended to select for the role of Michael Scott; they were considering well-known performers like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti. However, given their preference for dramatic roles over TV comedies, she found it improbable that either of them would accept such an offer.

She recalled clearly the initial encounter with the network when [creator Greg Daniels] presented a lineup of potential actors, and they suggested, “How about Philip Seymour Hoffman?” followed by, “Or perhaps Paul Giamatti, or someone similar.

During conversations about the initial stages of the movie’s production, Jones pointed out that it was typical for networks like NBC to favor comedians as their leading stars, particularly for sitcoms, over actors. Coincidentally, Steve Carell, who would later play Michael, was committed to a show called Come to Papa at that time, which unfortunately prevented him from accepting the role in The Office.

Jones mentioned that Nancy Perkins, being the head of casting at NBC Universal, had always recognized Steve as an excellent candidate for the role of Scott.

As they waited for Carell’s character to be finalized, Jones and her team were also conducting auditions for other notable actors for the role. Patton Oswalt or Bob Odenkirk played the part quite distinctly from how it was originally conceived. Fortunately, Come to Papa was unexpectedly terminated after four episodes, enabling Carell to join The Office and assume the lead role in that series instead.

Regarding the couch, Jones, who’s worked on shows like The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Barbie, Bridesmaids, and numerous other successful productions, reminisced, “That couch saw some famous faces. I can still picture it was a tiny, run-down piece of furniture.

It was additionally noted that Steve Carell’s character wasn’t the only contested role in The Office; on the contrary, Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, Kristen Schaal, and Zach Woods also tried out for different parts. Initially, Kinsey auditioned for Pam’s role but ended up playing Angela instead.

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2024-11-07 11:41