22 Surprising Facts You Never Knew About The Office
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareAngela Kinsey was a phone operator for 1-800-Dentist when she auditioned for the show.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareThe temperature on set had to be kept at a cold 64 degrees Fahrenheit. This was because, according to Rainn Wilson who played Dwight, Steve Carell had active sweat glands that could ruin a shot.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJim and Pam's first kiss was John Krasinski's first on-screen kiss.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareSteve Carell called in sick during the writers' strike with a case of "enlarged balls." Without him on set, production was put immediately on hold.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
SharePhyllis Smith was a NFL cheerleader and a burlesque dancer. "It was just the perfect job for me at the time," she told Yahoo of working with the St. Louis Cardinal cheerleaders. "I really enjoyed it because I loved football, so I was able to watch the game, dance, and be there and look at the cute guys across the field. So it was the triple threat there." She then transitioned into burlesque, though "there was no stripping. We had strategically placed feathers and G-strings with feathers covering our rumps."
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareThe computers in the office actually had Internet. They did this for every computer on set so that there was a sense of realism while filming.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJim and Pam's proposal scene was the most expensive shot on the show. It was a $250,000 shot. The team built a replica rest stop in the back of an empty parking lot behind a Best Buy.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareRainn Wilson auditioned for the role of Michael Scott.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJohn Krasinski wore a wig in season three. It turns out Krasinski was shooting the movie "Leatherheads" at the same time, and he had to shave his head in order to play a 1920s football player
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
Share"The Dinner Party" is the only script that was never rewritten. "Most scripts get rewritten, and I think this was the only one ever done that didn't," co-writer Gene Stupnitsky told the Rolling Stone. "The only thing that was changed was that in our first draft Jan hits the neighbor's dog and kills it on purpose."
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareMelora Hardin was the inspiration for Jan's boob job. "I turned to [executive producer Greg Daniels] and said, 'It's funny, I'm looking around at the females in our cast, and I'm thinking nobody in our cast has a boob job.' Now, I'm not sure that I'm totally right about that, by the way, but that's what I thought. His wheels just started turning in that moment," Hardin told Rolling Stone. "It was just so funny to see. That was when he thought, 'Ding-ding-ding-ding! Jan's getting a boob job!'"
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJohn Krasinski shot some of the footage for the opening credits.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareMindy Kaling used to make up lies about their co-workers to mess with B.J. Novak. One time, according to New York Daily News, she even convinced him that showrunner Greg Daniels used to date one of the show's actresses, making Novak afraid to give criticisms during edits.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareSeth Rogen auditioned for the role of Dwight. seth rogen the office
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareAdam Scott auditioned for the role of Jim.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareSteve Carell improvised the kiss between Michael and Oscar. In "Gay Witch Hunt," Michael kisses Oscar as a show of support for his homosexuality. But as Nunez reached out for a hug, Carell blindsided him with a kiss— making Nunez's uncomfortable reaction — and the shock of the rest of the cast totally real.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJohn Krasinski almost sabotaged his own audition. A man in the waiting room asked him if he was nervous, and Krasinski boldly responded: "I love the British show so much and Americans have a tendency to just really screw these opportunities up. I don't know how I'll live with myself if they ruin it for me." Unfortunately for him, he was running his mouth to the executive producer.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
SharePhyllis Smith was an assistant casting director for "The Office," but the producers were drawn to her. Her line readings were so strong opposite actors she was auditioning that the producers asked her to act instead. Thus, sales rep Phyllis Lapin-Vance was born.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareMichael's girlfriend Carol was played by Carell's real-life wife. Nancy Carell, who is an actress in her own right, was cast as Carol, Michael's realtor girlfriend. It's even better rewatching their scenes together (especially in "Casino Night") knowing this bit of information.
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareJenna Fischer kept Pam's engagement ring. "While true that I kept the engagement ring Jim gave to Pam, it was a silver prop ring, not worth $5,000," she explained on Twitter, "and I do not wear it in real life."
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareDwight's cousin Mose is played by writer Michael Schur. "Playing Mose Schrute was a waking nightmare," Schur told Entertainment Weekly of the silent but bizarre character. "My boss, Greg Daniels, forced me to do it as a way to cause me pain. And it was terrible. The first time I did it, I had to grow a real neckbeard. Every time after that, he ‘let' me use a fake beard, which is maybe worse because those beards are terrible."
22 Things You Didn’t Know About The Office
ShareAnd, finally, everyone choked up singing "Seasons of Love" in honor of Michael. "It was so emotional!" Paul Feig said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, who directed the finale. "I was prepping [for the next episode] and my assistant said, 'You should come down here.' The first time they started singing that song, everyone choked up in real life. It really started to land for people that the end is coming."
TV Show Conspiracy Theories That May Be True…
Toby Flenderson IS the Scranton Strangler
ShareThroughout The Office, Toby becomes obsessed with the Scranton Strangler, a character that’s mentioned early in the show’s seasons, but becomes mentioned more and more with Toby’s character. Toby’s fascination with the serial killer increased when he was picked to be a juror on the Strangler’s murder trial. The Scranton Strangler was revealed to be a character named George Howard Skub, and Toby and fellow jurors were responsible for sending Skub to death row. During season nine, Toby feels guilt as he admits he may have sentenced the wrong man to die. He even visits Skub in prison, whom Toby mentions “gets so angry with him being there he ends up strangling him.” The theory believes Toby has nothing to lose, his marriage has ended, his workplace hates him, he even failed at starting a new life in Costa Rica. Not to mention, Toby is very well invested in creating murder mystery novels and podcasts. When visiting Skub in prison, perhaps Toby strangled Skub, as Skub was so angered by Toby’s presence, knowing Toby framed him in court.
Breaking Bad Triggered The Zombie Apocalypse in The Walking Dead
ShareThe crystal meth may just be responsible for the zombies in TWD. The meth created by Walter White becomes evidently popular across all of the country, and eventually the world. Some think that users who die from the meth, only rise up again in zombie form. There are many references between shows. In season one, Glenn of The Walking Dead drives a red Dodge Challenger, which is very similar to Walter White’s car. And when Walter goes to return his Dodge on Breaking Bad, the dealership’s manager is named Glenn. In season two of TWD, Daryl Dixon tries to bring down a colleague’s fever, so he looks for something in his brother’s stash of drugs. Pictured clearly at the bottom of the bag is crystal meth, the same of that in Breaking Bad. Even more suspicious, Daryl’s brother used to be a drug dealer before the zombie apocalypse and described his supplier to be “a janky little white guy” who threatened him with a gun saying “I’m gonna kill you, bitch!” which directly reflects Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.
The Flintstones Live In A Post-Apocalyptic World
ShareEver think if the Jetsons and the Flintsones exist concurrently? This theory says so. The Flintstones’ civilization was “bombed back to the Stone Age” during a nuclear war and its inhabitants were forced to start over. That is why The Flintstones use materials and animals to mimic very modern technology, like record players, garbage disposals and cars. Why would cavemen from the prehistoric past need garbage disposals and record players, if not to replicate a society that once was. The Jetsons, for their part, live in Orbit City, built above the clouds. Many people believe The Flintstones is happening down on Earth, while The Jetsons live above the clouds. The only thing dividing them is income. After all, both shows were made during a time when Americans feared constantly of a nuclear attack by Communist Russia, at the height of the Cold War.
The Fresh Prince Is In Heaven
ShareSome people believe the Fresh Prince to be dead the whole duration of the show. This theory comes from the sitcom’s opening theme song, which states that Will was just hanging out chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool, if you will—when some guys who were "up to no good" came along. As the song goes, he got into one little fight and his mom got scared, then told him he'd have to move in with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air. But what if Will never made it to Bel-Air, and instead, died in the fight? These fans believe it was God who drove the “rare” cab to take Will to the Banks’ mansion—in this case, Heaven—which he refers to as his "kingdom."
Count von Count Feeds On Kids of Sesame Street
ShareNow what’s more outrageous than many other conspiracy theories is this one here. The Count is eating children. To this theory, it explains why kids are constantly replaced on Sesame Street after visiting The Count. Thus, the adults are even in on the scheme too, as they all lure kids to Count’s lair mentioning they’ll learn math when really, he’s a bloodsucking vampire feeding on the kids.
Bayside High is Zack Morris’ Dream World
ShareBefore Saved By The Bell became the early 90’s staple, it was an 80’s Disney Channel teen sitcom called Good Morning Miss Bliss. After 14 episodes, Good Morning Miss Bliss was re-invented for NBC, where Saved By The Bell began living. Some of the characters, including Zack, Screech, Lisa, and Mr. Belding stayed on while others were recasted. With the change of scenery, Bayside High School became Zack’s fantasy world where he would escape to. On Good Morning Miss Bliss, Zack Morris was a dweeb and was picked on. But at Bayside, Zack became the cool kid, although the characters were mainly the same. Not to mention, the theme song fits this theory perfectly. The lyrics describe his humdrum life (“By the time I grab my books/And I give myself a look/I'm at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by”), suggesting he'll be okay once he’s saved by the bell—or when he enters his fantasy world.
Gilligan’s Island is Hell
ShareSome believe the setting of Gilligan’s Island is actually Hell. The sinful inhabitants all perished in the crash of S.S. Minnow. According to this theory each character represents one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The millionaire Mr. Howell represents Greed, while his workaverse wife represents Sloth. Sexy movie star Ginger stands in for Lust, while innocent farm girl Mary Anne envies Ginger’s beauty and lifestyle. The smart professor is prideful because he can’t admit that he is unable to fix the ship or get them off the island. Skipper, symbolizes two deadly sins; Gluttony and wrath, because he’s always taking something out on poor Gilligan. And lastly, Gilligan is Satan. He’s constantly screwing up the rescue and best part of all, he always wears red.
