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Steve Carell revealed that Paul Rudd advised him against auditioning for The Office while they were filming Anchorman. Ironically, Carell’s decision to ignore this advice led to his career-defining role as Michael Scott.
During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast to promote his HBO series “Rooster,” Carell shared the surprising story behind his iconic role. He recalled how Rudd pulled him aside during the Anchorman production and delivered a well-intentioned warning about NBC’s plans to adapt the British sitcom.
“Rudd pulled me aside and was like, ‘Don’t do it, man. Don’t audition,’” Carell told Poehler. “It was like, ‘There is no way.’”
The skepticism wasn’t limited to Rudd.
Poehler admitted she shared similar doubts at the time. “This is a terrible idea. No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais, no one can do that show,” she recalled thinking about the American adaptation of the beloved British series.
What’s particularly fascinating is how The Office overcame its disastrous initial reception. Carell revealed that the pilot episode received historically negative feedback from test audiences. “Our pilot was the lowest testing pilot in the history of NBC. People really hated it. They actively hated it,” he explained. “And I don’t quite know how it got legs after that.”
The American version of The Office – which adapted Ricky Gervais’s UK mockumentary about mundane workplace life – initially struggled to win over audiences. Yet it eventually evolved beyond its British counterpart, running for nine seasons and becoming one of the most streamed shows of the streaming era.
Carell and Rudd’s professional relationship extends beyond their time on Anchorman. The two actors later collaborated in the 2010 comedy “Dinner for Schmucks” and reunited for 2013’s “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” – though neither project matched the cultural impact of Carell’s stint at Dunder Mifflin.
