Initially, when The Office first aired on March 24, 2005, not even the creators believed it would survive past its initial season. Now, as the series marks twenty years since its premiere, the writers are reminiscing about the times they thought the show might get cancelled.
During its debut, the American adaptation of the well-known British sitcom attracted a decent 11.2 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Despite this initial success, the show faced a challenging struggle to remain on air.
Initially, the mockumentary series was designed by Greg Daniels, modeled on the style of Ricky Gervais’ and Stephen Merchant’s original BBC show. NBC initially ordered only five additional episodes after the pilot – a small number, indicative of the network’s cautious approach.
After initially airing on Thursday, the show faced challenges in picking up momentum when it was rescheduled to a tricky time slot on Tuesday, causing concern among the writing team about potential cancellation. Daniels recalled the nerve-wracking anticipation for renewal news, with executives providing frequent updates minute by minute.
According to Daniels, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the success of the show came with significant compromises like lower budgets and fewer bonuses. He admitted that despite our belief in delivering an exceptional show, the figures didn’t add up so well.
He mentioned that during the upcoming season, he was frequently receiving updates regarding our potential renewal – it seemed unlikely at first, but then there was a possibility. If we reduced the budget and forfeited all bonuses and profits from the show, we might be renewed.
Against all expectations, NBC decided to renew The Office for another season, which turned out to be a highly beneficial decision. The series went on to run for nine seasons, becoming a significant part of NBC’s prime-time lineup during the 2000s and early 2010s.
Initially a risky venture with minimal funding, The Office’s translation eventually became a cultural sensation that narrowly survived its first year. Among the cast are Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak, and others. You can stream it on Netflix now.
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2025-03-25 00:07