While the US version of The Office is practically adapted from the UK version starring Ricky Gervais, the two titular characters, Michael Scott and David Brent, couldn’t be more different. And it was all part of Steve Carell’s plan, as the actor refused to binge-watch The Office UK before stepping into Michael Scott’s squeaky shoes.
Unlike the British version that gave us Ricky Gervais as the awkward and arrogant David Brent, Carell took a different route. Steve Carell made Michael Scott not just clueless, but oddly lovable—a boss you’d roll your eyes at but secretly miss when he’s gone. And it was all possible because Carell intentionally avoided watching Gervais and instead took his advice.
Steve Carell refused to watch The Office UK before his Michael Scott auditions
Steve Carell is no Toby Flenderson—he doesn’t follow the rules just because they exist. Which is why, when it came to his audition for The Office US, Carell made a bold move by not watching the UK version starring Ricky Gervais. While most actors might’ve done a deep dive, studied, and even copied that awkward boss energy, Carell only watched for five minutes.
Yep, according to his interview with The Talks, Steve Carell just watched five minutes of The Office UK, just to get an understanding of the setting and the characters. Because the actor knew if he continued watching the show, he might end up imitating Ricky Gervais’ flawless depiction of a cheesy boss—and honestly, no one needs two David Brents.
You know, before I auditioned for The Office, I watched about five minutes of the British version just to get a sense of tone but when I saw what Ricky was doing and how specific and great his character was…
People love him, people think he’s hilarious. I knew that if I watched any more I would just be prone to doing an impersonation, I would just try to steal more and I thought that wouldn’t serve me in an audition.
Steve Carell understood that The Office US had to hit differently. The American audience needed a boss who wasn’t just annoying and cringeworthy—but someone who had a big heart under all that awkwardness and World’s Best Boss mug energy. So, he went in blind and brought his own flair.
The result? Michael Scott became a man who once grilled his foot on a George Foreman but still made us cry when he left Scranton. What’s wild is that Steve Carell’s decision to skip a full UK binge saved his own show. And eventually, Michael Scott became one of the most iconic sitcom characters ever.
Ricky Gervais offered a hint of advice to Steve Carell for The Office US
After Steve Carell landed the role defeating Seth Rogen and Bob Odenkirk (who were also auditioning for Michael Scott), Ricky Gervais didn’t just wish him luck. That’s when the real crucial piece of advice came in. And after Carell previously skipped to follow Gervais, this time, he didn’t overlook the actor’s advice.
Turns out, according to Jenna Fischer aka Pam Beesly, on her Office Ladies podcast, the actress revealed how one piece of advice that Steve Carell received from Ricky Gervais became the emotional backbone of Dunder Mifflin. As per Fischer, Gervais told Carell that Michael Scott couldn’t just be a walking disaster; he had to have some skills.
He said, ‘In England, you can be really, really bad at your job for a long time, and you never get fired. In America, that’s gonna frustrate people. So my one piece of advice is that Michael can be a buffoon, he can be silly, he can be irritating, but you should show glimpses of him actually being a good salesperson.’
That tip changed the game. The writers and Steve Carell leaned into Michael’s goofiness but sprinkled in moments where he actually killed it at sales. So that’s how he always managed to win people over with charm, even if his PowerPoint presentations were borderline tragic. That became the secret sauce, and that made all the difference.
By showing Michael as more than a punchline, the show earned our love. He might’ve embarrassed his employees, hosted chaotic Dundie Awards, or yelled “I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!” in the most clueless way possible—but deep down, he was also the guy who fought for his people, loved his job, and sold paper like a boss.
The Office is currently streaming in the US on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
