The Office stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey candidly explain why Steve Carell originally didn’t want to cameo as Michael Scott in the series finale. Based on the British sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the American Office premiered in 2005, chronicling the daily lives of Dunder Mifflin employees under the chaotic leadership of Carell’s regional manager. After bidding farewell to the hit show in season 7, Michael makes a surprise appearance during The Office‘s series finale in 2013, which features Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela’s (Kinsey) wedding.
During a recent episode of their Office Ladies podcast (via CinemaBlend), Fischer and Kinsey do a deep dive into The Office‘s series finale, revealing that Carell was initially hesitant about returning as Michael. As Fischer, who played receptionist Pam Beesly, explains, Carell honorably didn’t want to distract from what was going to serve as a farewell to other cast members after Michael got his own goodbye in season 7. Check out Fischer’s explanation below:
“Well, it was [series creator Greg Daniels] idea to have Steve come back. He had wanted that for a very long time, and he asked him pretty early in season 9. But Steve was reluctant. He felt like Michael’s story had really ended. He didn’t want to open it back up again, and he especially did not wanna come back after two years and have this finale episode be about him.
Steve really felt like, ‘My character had his ending. This is everybody else’s ending.’ And he didn’t wanna overshadow that. But then Greg had the idea of the final episode being Dwight and Angela’s wedding, and Steve agreed Michael would be there.”
Kinsey then chimes in, affirming that she believes it was right for Michael to attend the wedding of his two beloved former employees:
I believe that. I believe Michael would wanna be there for Dwight and Angela.
What Carell’s Return Meant For The Office’s Series Finale
The NBC Sitcom Went Downhill After Carell’s Departure
Though The Office got off to a soft start, it eventually became a major success, both critically and in terms of viewership. Carell’s bumbling regional manager himself was a major reason for the show’s success and the source of many of the biggest laughs. As seen in the chart below, the show’s quality took a noticeable dip after Carell’s departure in season 7. Season 8 is widely considered the show’s lowest point, though season 9 was an improvement.
|
The Office Seasons Rotten Tomatoes Scores |
|
|---|---|
|
1 |
71% |
|
2 |
100% |
|
3 |
100% |
|
4 |
83% |
|
5 |
100% |
|
6 |
73% |
|
7 |
83% |
|
8 |
44% |
|
9 |
77% |
Carell’s cameo was generally very well-received at the time, and it was helped by the fact that it was a genuine surprise. There had been hopes that Michael would return in some capacity, but nothing official, and Carell’s name was even left out of the credits at the beginning of the episode. Carell’s final appearance in The Office was ultimately short and sweet, and he got to repeat his iconic “That’s what she said,” joke while also providing a heartfelt update on his family life with Holly (Amy Ryan).
Our Take On Carell’s Cameo In The Office’s Final Episode
Michael’s Return Was A Highlight After Two Disappointing Seasons
There’s an argument to be made that The Office should have ended with season 7. Michael’s departure was a major blow to the show, but the premise itself was also running out of steam, and characters like Dwight, Andy (Ed Helms), Erin (Ellie Kemper), and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner), among others, started to feel like caricatures rather than real, eccentric people. Jim’s (John Krasinski) pranks became more outlandish, and that character, in general, became more unlikable.
Related
Why The Office’s Worst-Rated Episode Is Season 8’s “Get The Girl”
Even The Office has a subpar episode. Season 8’s “Get The Girl” doesn’t quite hold up to the standards of one of the greatest shows in TV history.
The Office season 9 was an improvement over season 8, but it still fell far short of the show’s heyday. Still, the finale was ultimately a strong final note for the sitcom, and Carrell’s cameo was arguably handled perfectly. He’s a highlight, but ultimately not a distraction. Though the latter seasons of The Office leave much to be desired, Michael’s brief return certainly doesn’t.
Source: Office Ladies (via CinemaBlend)
The Office is the U.S. remake of the British comedy mockumentary series of the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a Dunder Mifflin Paper Company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, led by their unconventional and clueless boss, Michael Scott. The series covers nine years of footage as they find themselves recorded through their work days and off times.
- Cast
- Mindy Kaling , Jenna Fischer , Kate Flannery , Ed Helms , Craig Robinson , Paul Lieberstein , Ellie Kemper , B.J. Novak , Angela Kinsey , Oscar Nunez , Rainn Wilson , Brian Baumgartner , Phyllis Smith , Leslie David Baker , Creed Bratton , Steve Carell , John Krasinski
- Release Date
- March 24, 2005
- Seasons
- 9
- Franchise(s)
- The Office
- Directors
- Greg Daniels , Paul Lieberstein , Paul Feig , Randall Einhorn , Ken Kwapis
- Showrunner
- Greg Daniels