‘The Office’: This 1 Character Was Never Supposed To Be Part of the Show
It’s hard to imagine any of The Office characters not being a part of the company’s awkward and hilarious work environment. The show, which ran from 2006 to 2013, followed the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and its employees as they navigated life in a Scranton, Pennsylvania, office. Surprisingly, though, one character was never supposed to be written into the show.
There is a lot we don’t know about this early 2000s comedy
When The Office first premiered, it instantly became a hit. So many could relate to the mundane day-to-day tasks that occurred in an office environment, but Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) as the boss spiced up the Dunder Mifflin floor. Throughout the show, the cast revealed interesting facts about the show that fans might not have known while watching the seasons.
It turns out Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) wore a wig throughout season 3 because a separate role he was filming required him to shave his head. Plus, according to Elite Daily, certain scenes were improvised, such as when Michael and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) kissed during the episode “Gay Witch Hunt.”
Phyllis Vance was never meant to be a character
Each character played a pivotal role on The Office, and now that we know and love all of them, it would be impossible to imagine this office environment without anyone. But Phyllis Vance was never supposed to be a character. She was played by Phyllis Smith who, in real life, was never looking to be a part of the show.
Screenrant reported that Smith was actually working behind the scenes of the show as a casting director when producers got the idea to have her become a part of the show. She consented, and though her character was often made fun of by coworkers, it was all in good fun.
Smith is far different in real life from the Phyllis we know and love
On the show, Phyllis became the butt of many jokes. But in real life, Smith’s past was far more vibrant than the past of the woman she played. Smith was actually nothing like her character, having been a NFL cheerleader for the St. Louis Cardinals. After her stint as a cheerleader, she continued her dancing career by becoming a burlesque dancer. She often wore feathers, though a knee injury eventually led her to change careers.
The cast still remains close today
Although The Office ended seven years ago, the cast has still remained close. They’ve had several reunions since the show’s closing, and Jenna Fischer (Pam Beasley) once revealed that they have a group message where they occasionally reminisce about the show.
There have been rumors of a reunion, though it seems unlikely that one will ever happen. Michael Scott seemed to confirm back in 2018 that a reunion just wasn’t in the cards. “I just can’t see it being the same thing,” he said, according to Looper, suggesting that the audience would be let down. But, with everyone still in quarantine, anything is possible.
