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Announcements Mar 26, 2026 at 1:21 AM

Steve Carell Says Paul Rudd Warned Him ‘Don’t Audition’ for ‘The Office’ and ‘Our Pilot Was the Lowest-Testing Pilot in the History of NBC’

Posted by LollipopChainsawZz


https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/steve-carell-paul-rudd-the-office-audition-1236698890/
Steve Carell Says Paul Rudd Warned Him ‘Don’t Audition’ for ‘The Office’ and ‘Our Pilot Was the Lowest-Testing Pilot in the History of NBC’
Variety
Steve Carell Says Paul Rudd Warned Him ‘Don’t Audition’ for ‘The Office’ and ‘Our Pilot Was the Lowest-Testing Pilot in the History of NBC’
Steve Carell was warned by many comedy friends not to audition for Michael Scott in 'The Office' because the U.K. version was so beloved.

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clc1997 Mar 26, 2026 +564
Then he showed him what real cinema looks like and played a clip of Mac and Me.
564
BARTELS- Mar 26, 2026 +82
“Show me N*** Tayne.”
82
DankStew Mar 26, 2026 +36
Now Tayne I can get into
36
CrownedCarlton Mar 26, 2026 +25
Can I get a hat wobble?
25
chemoboy Mar 26, 2026 +3
You hardly ever get to see Jawas in the n***.
3
MBBIBM Mar 26, 2026 +91
Lower than My Mother the Car? That’s impressive!
91
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +18
There's no universe where this tested lower than *The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer*.
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zephyrtr Mar 26, 2026 +6
Lower than Daddy's Boy?
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vanillabear26 Mar 26, 2026 +3
TIL that was a real pilot and not that one episode of AD
3
Erocdotusa Mar 26, 2026 +53
Couldn't imagine anyone else playing the role!
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smoothshifter Mar 26, 2026 +31
Yeah definitely the best! But after watching Bob Odenkirk in that one episode, I could see him pulling it off.
31
penguins_are_mean Mar 26, 2026 +16
He owns every kind of classic car.
16
A12086256 Mar 26, 2026 +12
Triples is best
12
veryverythrowaway Mar 26, 2026 +8
She’s beautiful, but she’s dying. Tell the kid.
8
bozo-dub Mar 26, 2026 +2
My friend doesn’t live in a hotel
2
WaywardWes Mar 26, 2026 +2
Yeah he plays shmucky so well in Better Call Saul.
2
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +37
Paul Giamatti I could see as more as a spiritual companion to the David Brent type. Not so much what it morphed into. I think Alan Tudyk would've been amazing but I'm more than a little biased for him.
37
CheckYourHead35783 Mar 26, 2026 +16
That's not really fair. Alan Tudyk is amazing in everything.
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KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +13
For real, dude's got range. He steals the show as the psychotic heavy in his brief *Justified* appearance.
13
NecessaryEnough5202 Mar 26, 2026 +7
i love the diner scene more than i can express
7
BatFromSpace Mar 26, 2026 +7
I haven't seen *Justified*, but he's incredible as Alpha in *Dollhouse*, where he's also quite psychotic (in a very Alan Tudyk way)
7
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +4
One of the best reveals in TV history IMO. *Dollhouse* is ridiculously underappreciated.
4
rasputin1 Mar 26, 2026 +11
I mean there was a whole other version of the show with a different actor playing that role 
11
SmallLetter Mar 26, 2026 +12
David Brent is not Michael Scott tho
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Kobe7477 Mar 26, 2026 +4
Bob Odenkirk
4
OhYeah-SlimJim Mar 26, 2026 +27
Did Paul Rudd declare it?
27
THE-ONE-DONGLER Mar 26, 2026 +267
First season of office was a little trash. They had to find their way a bit.
267
accushot865 Mar 26, 2026 +187
They tried to redo the British version of the office, making Carell a copy of Gervais’ character. *The 40 Year Old Virgin* happened after season 1, and they changed Micheal’s character to be a lovable goofball to mirror Carell’s movie character.
187
ImmortalMoron3 Mar 26, 2026 +58
They only copied the British version for the pilot, the rest of the season was fine. Like the very next episode was Diversity Day which a lot of people still bring up as one of the show's best episodes. I really love the health insurance one as well which was the third episode.
58
Draw-Two-Cards Mar 26, 2026 +42
The basketball one is also season one. I am pretty sure the whole conversation about The Office season one is like half bots and half people just parroting the same conversation they read 15 years ago on Reddit which is essentially a bot too. The show only had 6 episodes and most of them were hits.
42
Khiva Mar 26, 2026 +6
I think the bad ones just stick out a lot more so in people's memories the good ones get folded into future seasons.
6
CrispyHoneyBeef Mar 26, 2026 +4
There are no bad ones. Season 1 was solid. The only “bad” episode is the first one, and it’s only bad because it’s almost a shot for shot remake of the original and just didn’t work as well. Episode 2 onward were all great.
4
cire1184 Mar 26, 2026 +3
Season 1 was also only 6 episodes. So it passed quickly. But yeah of the six 3 are solid and 2 are bangers.
3
DeadWishUpon Mar 26, 2026 +6
Yeah, I don't get the season one's hare. I enjoyed it very much.
6
stopslappingmybaby Mar 26, 2026 +2
Each version of the office worldwide must follow the British version very closely. Since it is so bad, I wonder why?
2
cire1184 Mar 26, 2026 +2
Well it's cause you gotta try the googi googi.
2
nemoy2 Mar 26, 2026 +68
Nah dude, when it only has 6 episodes, every episode matters for the season rating, and you can’t tell me the basketball episode, the racial awareness one, and the health care one weren’t bangers.
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Inevitable-Blue2111 Mar 26, 2026 +9
100% agree. I watched season 2 because of season 1.
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RadkoGouda Mar 26, 2026 +2
Yeah I dont get why people act like season one is terrible. Its still better than 95% of comedies. Its just a more crude version but some of the episodes are phenomenal like basketball and racial awareness.
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cire1184 Mar 26, 2026 +4
I feel like people think some episodes from season 2 are in season 1 not knowing season 1 only had 6 episodes because they binged the whole show on streaming. There are a few duds in season 2 because of the longer season. They jammed so many bits into season 1 because it only had 5 real episodes.
4
HarriettDubman Mar 26, 2026 +96
I think episode 1 was a little trash, but by episode 2, they had found their footing.
96
Naive_Trip9351 Mar 26, 2026 +99
Episode 1 was the essentially the same script as the original BBC pilot. I remember watching it when it first aired and thinking “why? What’s the point? I’ll just watch the original.”
99
explicittv Mar 26, 2026 +2
For some reason that was they style at the time. That 70s Show UK had the same script as the US pilot and sucked. The inbetweeners US had the same script as the UK version and sucked. Doctor Who TV movie on fox was original but still sucked because I don't think the US and UK realize they can be be quality in their own ways and not have to pander to each other.
2
clycoman Mar 26, 2026 +9
My favorite bit from the first few episodes is when they reveal Dwight dyed his hair blonde to spy on the other branch. Clip: https://youtu.be/3qdCOD72hyo?si=QM8dK0JPmjZEK9ah
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TheSecondEikonOfFire Mar 26, 2026 +63
I disagree. Season 1 gets better, but season 1 is still… awkward. In my opinion it’s not until season 2 that they really find their groove
63
Starbucks__Lovers Mar 26, 2026 +34
It was when they decided to make Michael a competent salesman who Peter principled his way up but is a genuinely nice guy
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SmallLetter Mar 26, 2026 +17
I mean. Is capable of niceness? Sure. But genuinely nice? Maybe in tv world when you can ignore all of the horrible things done and said.
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GamingTatertot Mar 26, 2026 +14
Nice is probably the wrong word but I do think Michael is more often than not pretty well-intentioned. It’s clear that a majority of his antics are to help the office keep morale up, whether it works or not. Obviously he’s not a saint and does a lot of stupid shit worthy of being made fun of plenty (like hitting Meredith with his car) but he does seem to genuinely want the best for everyone even if he shows it in the weirdest of ways
14
DeandreDeangelo Mar 26, 2026 +1
British office worked because in the UK it’s assumed bosses are there because they’re born into the right class and are incompetent assholes. In the US that didn’t fly, and the show only took off once Michael became a likeable great salesman but incompetent boss.
1
cire1184 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Season 1 is only 6 episodes you might be thinking season 2 which do had some awkward bits rolled into season 1.
1
THE-ONE-DONGLER Mar 26, 2026 -22
Okay
-22
Pingu_penis Mar 26, 2026 +11
That's kinda Mike Schur's style. He makes great shows, but it usually takes him a while to figure it out.
11
GThunderhead Mar 26, 2026 +32
The Good Place is the exception. Season 1 may take a few episodes to really get going, but it's arguably the best season overall.
32
tophmcmasterson Mar 26, 2026 +21
That show is kind of a miracle. Like a comedy show basically dealing with philosophy and ethics that manages to be funny while also having one of the most moving finales of maybe any show ever. Arguably the greatest twist in any sitcom as well.
21
VvvlvvV Mar 26, 2026 +5
It helped me realize my horrible digestion issues were anxiety the whole time. Thanks, Chidi! I'm too much like him to be comfortable.
5
DelightMine Mar 26, 2026 +2
Also explaining philosophy in an approachable way that actually means something to people, rather than as simple abstract thinking (personally I love the abstract thinking but I also love that they were able to make specific—if silly—examples to help more people get into it)
2
ValeoAnt Mar 26, 2026 +3
Nah thats pretty much every ensemble comedy ever
3
f_ranz1224 Mar 26, 2026 +4
this is my unpopular opinion but i thought it was good. same with always sunny season 1. both create that pained, hurts to watch awkwardness. they later do a more routine sitcom style which while still good, loses that cringe effect
4
_fortressofsolitude Mar 26, 2026 +2
Season one is genuinely amazing. Diversity day is a top five and health care is at least a top ten.
2
PhenomsServant Mar 26, 2026 +2
That’s how it usually is with sitcoms. It’s not until season 2 or 3 that a series really hits it’s stride. 
2
redsoxfan2434 Mar 26, 2026 +3
Which is also why people think sitcoms all suck now. The networks want immediate hits for audiences that want instant gratification, so far more sitcoms get canceled before they can establish themselves
3
jokeswagon Mar 26, 2026 +1
It tries to be the OG office while it grew into itself. Yea it’s a little raw, but I still love it. It’s interesting that many of the characters were re-tuned after s1. Kevin especially.
1
rwags2024 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Why does everyone say this? It was peak awkward humour. Seasons 8/9 are more than a little trash
1
ReflexImprov Mar 26, 2026 +8
I want the job where I get paid to listen to Amy Poehler's podcast and write down exactly what I hear as an article.
8
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +6
Steve almost got the supporting part of the neurotic doormat of a best friend Tommy on *Titus*. I feel like he would have knocked that out of the park. I'm sure he was crushed at the time but obviously things worked out pretty well for him.
6
kickinwood Mar 26, 2026 +3
COP. ROCK.
3
PatrioticHotDog Mar 26, 2026 +2
Serious question: Was The Office UK huge among American Gen Xers/early millennials through BBC America and DVDs, or is this just a Hollywood thing?  I ask as a big UK Office fan who's watched the entire run multiple times in the States. I'm a late millennial and it's rather rare for me to encounter another American my age who has watched it, even among comedy fans. I was too young though so perhaps it was college dorm viewing for a different generation.
2
Illustrious_Map_3247 Mar 26, 2026 +3
I’m a midwestern old millennial and my friends and I watched it in college.
3
endoftheworldvibe Mar 26, 2026 +2
Elderly millennial.  I liked British shows and believe I downloaded it from somewhere.  Canadian though. 
2
veryverythrowaway Mar 26, 2026 +1
I lived in a house I shared with several roommates around 2002, and they had BBC America on cable. I had read about The Office, so when I was flipping channels late at night and saw it on, I lingered. Got hooked immediately. It soon became a touchpoint for making new friends. Within a few years, it became a bragging right to say you owned it on DVD. I actually ignored the American version for the first few seasons.
1
PetrRabbit Mar 26, 2026 +3
Steve Carell said that Rudd told him not audition for The Office. Additionaly, Steve Carell said that "Our pilot was the lowest-testing pilot." This title reads like "Carell says that Rudd told him not to audition for The Office, and Rudd also told him that 'Our pilot was the lowest testing in history.'"
3
mrbones247 Mar 26, 2026 +1
I’d be like ok Paul Rudd sorry your pilot didn’t do well.
1
ggallardo02 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Most of the actors did not believe the reboot was gonna work. At least that's what I remember from Jenna and Angela's podcast.
1
Historical_Course587 Mar 26, 2026 +1
In their defense, The Office didn't have great success on broadcast. It was getting beat out by Two and a Half Men and King of Queens, and even on NBC Scrubs had peaked as a much higher ratings machine. Friends and Frasier both ended IIRC in 2004, which was the last of NBC's big shows before broadcast ratings just never came back. NBC was thinking of killing comedy production, but then their slate of late-2000s shows went to the original iteration of Netflix and they all became culturally iconic. But back in 2004/2005, an NBC sitcom was where your career went to die.
1
1731799517 Mar 26, 2026 +1
I mean, Scrubs and Two and a Half Men were BIG, iirc.
1
joseph4th Mar 26, 2026 +1
I remember there being sooo much hate for the American version of The Office when it first started to air.
1
punarob Mar 26, 2026 -12
A great launch to his long career of playing Steve Carell!
-12
IntoTheMusic Mar 26, 2026 +55
You should really watch Foxcatcher (2014) and The Patient (2022). Those alone show his talent.
55
Vio_ Mar 26, 2026 +29
Or Little Miss Sunshine.
29
the_tanooki Mar 26, 2026 +17
[*Seeking a friend for the end of the world* was fantastic too!](https://youtu.be/-fiM_GYXDxs?si=8zMGgGt0odXR_xZL)
17
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +4
It's no *Leaving Las Vegas* but that's a single watch movie for me. They do a little too good of a job capturing what that would feel like.
4
RickThiCisbih Mar 26, 2026 +17
Even his role in The Big Short was excellent.
17
Jidarious Mar 26, 2026 +3
One of the best movies this century.
3
Catsfosho Mar 26, 2026 +2
Do people actually enjoy The Patient? I thought it was incredibly boring. A cool premise but I found it painful to finish
2
somecasper Mar 26, 2026 +1
The ending suddenly turned slapstick. Such a strange show.
1
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +1
I thought it was pretty disappointing. It was fairly repetitive & it required far too much suspension of disbelief. I can't fault his performance though.
1
towa1 Mar 26, 2026 +1
The patient ended too soon!
1
NYLotteGiants Mar 26, 2026 -10
And boy are they alone
-10
TennSeven Mar 26, 2026 +9
He played a very different character in "The Way Way Back" and many other movies.
9
KneeHighMischief Mar 26, 2026 +3
>He played a very different character in "The Way Way Back" He was absolutely detestable in that movie. Really captured a very specific type of abusive parent.
3
JoggingGod Mar 26, 2026 +1
The initial version of the office is so much different than what it became. I'm not surprised.
1
[deleted] Mar 26, 2026
[deleted]
0
schmearcampain Mar 26, 2026 +4
Hmmm. I’d say Friends is a better match. Part of the Office’s appeal was that you could kind of envision yourself as someone in that show, or relate to people on it as you’d be in a similar occupational situation. I don’t think anybody felt that they were in a Seinfeld situation. They were clearly older and just too weird for most Gen X’ers. Friends was more relatable. It was like the TV show version of the movie Singles.
4
thirtyseven1337 Mar 26, 2026
“Oh, and Steve?” Paul added, “Don’t date Nancy.”
0
MidwestTroy92 Mar 26, 2026
Wild to think about. The whole shop quotes that show at each other, can't imagine if it just never got picked up
0
MidwestTroy92 Mar 26, 2026
Wild to think about. The whole shop quotes that show at each other, can't imagine if it just never got picked up
0
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