If you have that one insufferable friend who keeps begging you to watch The Office and insists it really picks up in the second season, believe them because they’re absolutely correct! While the show is based on a British version, it quickly carved out its own unique identity and became even more beloved than the original.
And a big part of that success can be attributed to Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott. Initially, the first season received mixed reviews, but it was Michael’s quirky and often cringe-worthy antics that really brought the series to life.
Why UK Humor Didn’t Click with US Audiences for The Office
Cut from the same cloth, the UK and US versions of The Office ended up being two very different shows! While the first season of the US version tried to capture the magic of the UK original, it didn’t quite resonate with American audiences.
The first season can essentially be seen as a trial run, with only six episodes produced to gauge whether a U.S. adaptation could succeed, and by most measures, all reports indicated it fell short.
In a conversation with the Dinner’s on Me podcast, Paul Feig, said,
It’s British humor. British humor is very different. The Brits love tearing down a boor. So, they love when the lead character is an unlikable character because they love poking holes in those guys, seeing those characters have a downfall, American audiences don’t like that. They go, like, ‘This my this is my hero? Because I don’t like this person,’ and it drives them crazy, and so they’ll tune it out.
In hindsight, Season 1 seems a bit roughly made in many aspects, and it’s really in Season 2 that the series begins to find its rhythm. A major reason for this transformation is Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, who initially mirrored Ricky Gervais’s David Brent. While the UK audience loves a good, problematic character, American viewers tend to connect more with someone who has a good heart.
In Season 1, Michael was largely unlikable, leaving little for fans to root for, aside from Jim and Pam’s budding romance, resulting in declining ratings. The overall tone felt bleak, and for the show to thrive, it needed to carve out its own identity!
The show gradually transformed Michael Scott into a good employee, justifying his role as the manager of the paper company. At the end of the day, he was a loyal friend and a well-meaning goofball who simply wanted to be liked by everyone.
The Moment Steve Carell Saved The Office and Made It Iconic!
The moment everything changed for the series came in Season 2, particularly in episode 3, titled Office Olympics. This episode showcased what Steve Carell was truly capable of and helped viewers understand Michael Scott as a character. Up until then, he had been quite unlikable, while his hairline did improve, his overall image certainly did not.
However, it wasn’t until the very last shot of that third episode that fans began to warm up to him. After a rough day and a 30-year mortgage plan at the age of 40, Michael returned to the office and wearing the gold yogurt lid medal around his neck, while the National Anthem played in the background with some handmade doves fluttering (more like hanging on a thread) behind them, made him emotional, and suddenly, the unlikable jerk transformed into a likable one.
That’s when The Office truly found its heartbeat! Speaking about the moment, Feig, the person who directed this episode, stated (on the Dinner’s on Me podcast),
It was the scene we were shooting when everybody was supposed to be working, and they’re screwing off doing this thing, And in order to not get in trouble with Michael, they’re gonna give him a gold medal. We’re shooting it, and Steve gets emotional — Steve as the character — because he’s had this terrible day. And so, he starts, like, kinda crying. Like, a tear goes down his eye. And we’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ And I’m going, like, ‘Oh, do that again.’
I think that was this moment of, like, ‘That’s him. He’s got a humanity about him.’ And everybody figured out, no, he not an a—hole. He’s a misguided idiot who is an a—hole because he’s trying to be funny. So, you go, like, ‘Okay, he means well.’ And once the audience goes, like, ‘He means well,’ then you’re, like, ‘We’ll follow him.’ And the whole show turned around and obviously became the giant hit that it is
Moreover, there were other factors at play as well. Alongside the shift in tone, more people tuned in to check out The Office thanks to the success of The 40-Year-Old Virgin. As this comedy became a hit, The Office gradually gained traction and ultimately became a beloved comfort watch for millions!
The Office is streaming on Peacock.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
