Michael Scott from The Office stands among the pantheon of legendary sitcom characters, alongside Rachel and Ross (Friends), George Costanza (Seinfeld), Al Bundy (Married with Children), and Ron Swanson (Parks & Rec). But he wasn’t always the World’s Best Boss, as director Paul Feig revealed that early ratings for the show suggested a seething hatred for the character from audiences. That is until Steve Carell flipped the entire dynamic with a single, inspired acting choice.
Appearing on the Dinner’s On Me podcast, Paul Feig recalled working on the earlier seasons of The Office and the mixed audience reaction to Michael Scott’s early persona. “So Steve was this huge star all of a sudden, and they had this huge star in the show that they thought wasn’t working, and it wasn’t working in the ratings,” he began. Feig directed several episodes of the adored sitcom, including a pivotal moment which saved Michael Scott as a character and, potentially, the entire show.
In Season 2, Episode 3, titled “Office Olympics,” Michael Scott receives a tinfoil gold medal for closing a deal on his over-priced condo. The entire office gathers round to give Scott a genuine round of applause. During Season One, Michael Scott came across as mean, obnoxious, and incredibly problematic, and fans didn’t find the character as funny as NBC had hoped. That was until Steve Carell elevated the scene in “Office Olympics,” adding layers and depth to the character. Feig explained:
“In order to not get in trouble with Michael, they’re going to give him a gold medal. But we’re shooting it and Steve gets emotional. Steve as the character, ’cause he’s had this terrible day.
And so he starts kind of crying, like a tear goes down his eye,
and we’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ And I’m going like, ‘Oh, do that again. Do that again. This is great. And I think that was this moment of like, that’s him.”
How the Tear Saved Michael Scott’s Character
It’s apparent from the very first episode that Michael Scott reeks of desperation to fit in and find acceptance. He is constantly making off-handed jokes, questionable remarks, and mean jabs in an attempt to illicit any kind of laugh from his apathetic employees at Dunder Mifflin. In Season One, his irritability was at an all-time high, and the character came across like a cringy substitute teacher (“Hey my fellow youths, I don’t go by Mr. Scott, just call me Michael!”).
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“This is a proper HR nightmare.”
The seemingly inconspicuous moment in Season 2, Episode 3 marked a massive change for Michael Scott, and completely altered how audiences perceived him. Paul Feig explained, “He’s got a humanity about him and everybody figured out, ‘No, he’s not an a**hole. He’s a misguided idiot who is an a**hole because he’s trying to be funny.'” From that moment onwards, The Office shifted its approach towards Michael as a character, making sure to counterbalance all of his annoying antics with moments of heart, to keep him in the audiences favor.
- Release Date
- March 24, 2005
- Cast
- Steve Carell , Jenna Fischer , John Krasinski , Ellie Kemper , Rainn Wilson , Angela Kinsey , Melora Hardin , Rashida Jones , Mindy Kaling , Creed Bratton , B.J. Novak , Ed Helms , Brian Baumgartner
- Seasons
- 9
- Developer
- Greg Daniels