Paul Rudd didn’t believe he should take on a role in “The Office,” a show led by Steve Carell.
Carell portrayed Michael Scott for seven seasons. This detail emerged during a recent episode of the Good Hang podcast featuring Amy Poehler. Rudd, now 56, advised Carell against pursuing the role, suggesting it wasn’t a good idea.
Carell, who is 63, recalled Rudd saying, “Stop it, dude. No way that can happen.”
In response, host Amy Poehler added, “Exactly. Everyone was like, ‘Don’t touch this.’”
Rudd hasn’t yet commented on this discussion.
As Carell conversed with Poehler about his memorable character, he admitted to watching just “one minute” of the British version of The Office before auditioning.
Carell remembered Rudd’s astonishment, saying, “That can’t be true.”
He clarified that once he saw Ricky Gervais’ portrayal, he thought he’d watch it a couple more times before auditioning, indicating just how brilliant he found it.
Carell mentioned “The Office” originally had the least-tested pilot on NBC, which wasn’t very well received initially.
Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I got my legs after that.” He humorously noted he was part of the show from 2005 to 2011, calling it a “public service” in a time when audiences leaned on comedy for comfort.
He felt that Poehler’s “Parks and Recreation” serves a similar purpose for fans.
After Carell’s departure, cast members like John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson carried the series for another two seasons.
Carell discussed how he and producer Greg Daniels envisioned the final scene, wanting it to convey personal growth for Michael Scott.
He thought it was intriguing to make the last day feel like a continuation rather than an ending for the character.
Carell humorously expressed that while everyone expected a celebratory send-off for Scott, he wanted to leave quietly, on his own terms.
In 2018, Carell stated a comeback for the series would be something like “impossible” and “unacceptable” to the public.
He explained to Esquire that some aspects of the show might not resonate in today’s context, noting the importance of sensitivity, particularly concerning certain character traits that might not translate well.
