"I'm not superstitious. I'm a little stitious." Oh, Michael Scott. Steve Carell walked onto the set of The Office and changed our lives. The most awkward, petty, but ultimately kind-hearted guy flew the flag for every office boss across the globe, and he did a pretty good job.
TV shows seem to wind up in two piles. #1 Trending shows that will be totally "meh" in five years. #2 Absolute legends. Friends, How I Met Your Mother and Parks and Recreation will forever be favourites. When a bunch of writers decided to swipe the British version of The Office for a US sitcom, nobody was sure how it would end up.
The Office first aired in 2005. John Krasinski (a.k.a. "Big Tuna") still had floppy hair, Pam was still engaged to that absolute monster of a fiancé and we had yet to see Michael Scott in his open-top car quoting Britney Spears (while Lady Gaga was playing).
Much like Jennifer Aniston became synonymous with Rachel Green, Steve Carell basically became Michael Scott. While Steve is also known for being a Daily Show correspondent and starring in movies like The 40 Year-Old Virgin, it's his role as Michael Scott that we remember him best for.
Calling all fans of The Office. Here are 20 Steve Carell facts that even the biggest Office fan might not know.
20 He Worked As A Mailman
Major Hollywood stars with regular beginnings are something we've seen before. Nicki Minaj worked at Red Lobster. Eva Longoria spent five years at Wendy's. Gal Gadot worked at Burger King. Steve Carell was a mailman.
Steve used his own car to deliver mail, "and months later, [he] found mail under the seat of [his] car."
Steve was working from the small town of Littleton, Massachusetts. Since the Post Office didn't provide vehicles, he used his own. It was the hardest job he's ever had, he revealed.
19 Steve Almost Lost "The Office" To Bob Odenkirk
Hollywood casting has thrown us a lot of "almosts." Ellen DeGeneres was considered for Phoebe in Friends. Rumer Willis nearly wound up with Blake Lively's Gossip Girl role. As Mental Floss reports, the role of Steve Carell nearly went to another actor (and he's a big deal).
Bob Odenkirk is the "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" actor who was actually cast to play Michael Scott. Ironically, Bob winds up on The Office in later seasons – if you're a fan, you may have spotted him.
Other actors considered for the role included Billions' Paul Giamatti (although he declined). Hank Azaria was another consideration.
18 "Almost Impossible" To Work With Will Ferrell Because He Was So Funny
If you want an idea of how side-achingly funny it is to be on the set of The Office, just go to YouTube and watch the outtakes. The show saw a lot of major faces guest star– Amy Adams, Idris Elba and Kathy Bates all had their moment.
When Steve said that Will Ferrell was "almost impossible" to work with because he's so funny, Steve was actually referring to them co-starring in Anchorman 2, Female First reports.
Either way, we'll assume that the #FallingOffMyChair happened on the set of The Office, too.
17 He Thinks The Office "Wouldn't Fly" Today
In 2018, Esquire interviewed Steve Carell on his thoughts about The Office airing today. "There's been a resurgence in interest in the show, and talk about bringing it back," Steve said. However, he added:
"A lot of what is depicted on the show is completely wrong-minded. That's the point, you know? But I just don't know how that would fly now. There's a very high awareness of offensive things today – which is good, for sure."
To be fair, the show's storylines and controversial subject matters would probably launch a thousand hashtag movements on social media. Michael Scott was lovable, but he didn't exactly hold back with the #TouchySubjects.
16 He Owns A General Store With A Famous Candy Counter
Here's something most Steve Carell fans don't know. The guy owns a general store in the state of Massachusetts. Yup, one of those old-fashioned mom and pop places with jars of candy.
Marshfield Hills General Store is the side-kick gig that this A-Lister has going. Speaking on The Ellen Show, Steve said that people can buy penny candy, muffins, coffee and "little items" there, as Boston reports.
The place is really cute. It's also really cute to see a high-budget TV and movie star owning a local store.
15 Epic Jokes About His Sense Of Style
While Michael out-did Dwight in the style department of The Office, his bland wardrobe of dark suits and ties didn't give us much #GuyStyle. Steve himself is surprisingly stylish, and it's his silver-haired fox look that draws comments.
"I am so sick of people just looking at me for my physical attributes. It's just genetic. There's nothing I can do,"
Steve jokingly said at the Despicable Me 3 premiere, ET Online reports. The media outlet even added a fan tweet: "Honestly take your Goslings and your Zayn Maliks and give me 2017 Steve Carell."
14 Nailed The Audition Because He "Didn't Care Anymore"
Before you read that as: "I give up on my life, everything is meaningless, I just don't care," remember that this is Steve Carell. Ambition and drive aren't things this actor gives up on. Speaking to The Guardian about his wife and kids, Steve said:
"I'll never forget the first audition before my daughter was born. I nailed it because I didn't care anymore." He added:
"The world was so much bigger than me, or any of my concerns and so much richer, too. Having children is by far the most important and best thing that we ever did."
Whether he was caring or not, we are so glad he landed the part.
13 That Movie With The Rock You Totally Forgot About
Something about spotting famous faces where you'd least expect them always comes with a #Jolt. Like watching The Avengers and remembering that Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Natalie Portman all starred in the same scene of The Other Boleyn Girl.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson definitely looks young here – probably because you're looking at a movie from 2008. Get Smart saw these two co-star alongside Anne Hathaway.
Steve went on to gain international fame in Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty, The 40 Year-Old Virgin and 2018's Beautiful Boy.
12 He's Been Married To His Wife Since 1995
With an average shelf life of about a year, Hollywood marriages tend to make more headlines for ending than lasting. Steve Carell has been married to his producer wife, Nancy, since 1995. With over 23 years together and two kids, these two are #RockSolid.
"I was immediately attracted to my wife," Steve told The Guardian in 2013. "She's beautiful, intelligent, and really funny. She kind of checked all the boxes in my head, but I thought she hated me because she was very quiet about me."
Together, Steve and his wife have a daughter named Elisabeth and a son named John.
11 And She Was On The Show
Nancy Carell appeared on The Office. She had the recurring role of Carol Stills, Michael's realtor. She first appeared in season two (remember how they flirted and kind of dated?)
Now's the time when you remember who else was on the show – Conan O'Brian, Jim Carrey, Amy Adams, and Dakota Johnson!
Steve met his wife in a cute way, too. He took Nancy's improv class in Chicago, and Nancy happened to work at a bar across the street, as Country Living reports. Steve told Ellen that he'd drop by just to get to know her better.
10 Steve's Departure Upset The Cast So Much, They Changed Rituals In His Honour
Michael Scott's departure from The Office left a gaping hole. Sitcoms tend to keep their cast– would Friends have been the same if Chandler had just left? Steve left the show to focus on his movie career, Mental Floss reports.
"Steve was No.1 on the call sheet because he was the lead of the show. And when he left, we retired his number. No-one, ever since he left, was allowed to be No. 1,"
Jenna Fischer told TV Guide. Well, he was the world's "best boss," as per his mug. Steve Carell did return for the show's finale.
9 He's Been Nominated As "America's Funniest Man"
The competition to be the funniest guy in America is stiff. If you just narrow it down to TV, you've got everyone from Matthew Perry in Friends to Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory as candidates. Well, in our books, anyway.
Steve was nominated for the title of "America's Funniest Man" by Life magazine, as Empire reports, although it's his awards and accolades in the TV and movie world that really show his talent.
The Office earned Steve a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, while movie roles have seen him earn Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, as IMDb reports.
8 Movie Producers Were Concerned He Came Off As Creepy
While Michael Scott was lovable, you can kind of see the #Creepy, right? And there it is. The mark of a good actor. That point where you just can't tell them apart. While Steve did go on to star in The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Universal Studio's producers had their concerns, though. "There is a fine line," Los Angeles Times quotes producer, Mary Parent.
"Men and women alike could look at him and if he's too much of a sad sack, they will think: Dude, get a life."
Mental Floss reports that producers over at Universal Studios had concerns that Carell might "come off as a serial killer." Okay, that's a bit much.
7 Advice From A #RealGoodGuy
In 2012, Steve Carell was chosen to offer Princeton students some advice– thank goodness it wasn't Cornell, that's Andy's area, right? Speaking to graduates, Steve showed his good (and funny) side:
"When out to eat, tip on the entire check. Do not subtract the tax first." Steve's advice also includes remembering that "regime" and "regimen" aren't the same word.
Inside joke (ish), but Michael Scott's biggest gag was his total inability to get the simplest of phrases correct. "Don't truffle with me" when he was mad. "Call me ASAP as soon as possible" when he was doing what Michael does best–using phrases he didn't understand.
6 "If You Don't Know A Michael Scott, You Are Michael Scott"
It's the best #FeelGoodFactor ever. When the guy behind the character is just as funny, you want to hear everything he has to say. Steve Carell joined the cast back in 2009 for a joint interview with The Paley Center for Media.
"I think he's a man who clearly lacks self-awareness. And I've always thought that if he even caught a glimpse of who he really is, his head would explode,"
Steve said about Michael Scott. That was before he delivered the best line ever. "If you don't know a Michael Scott, you are Michael Scott." #MicDrop
5 Diva Isn't His Style, Takes A Back Seat With Other A-Listers
Steve Carell is just one of those A-Listers without the ego. Sure, Robert Downey Jr. has charm. But he knows it. Ditto, Leonardo DiCaprio. Carell isn't a face you see dining at Nobu with the Kardashians or, like Leo, getting pasta at hotspot restaurant, Carbone.
Steve might have been with Channing Tatum, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart and Hilary Swank here, but he didn't seem to making a big deal out of it.
When Steve gives interviews, he talks about his wife, his kids and that adorable Massachusetts store he owns.
4 Network Executives Weren't Told He'd Appear In The Show's Finale
Rocking up for The Office's final episode was the best surprise ever– for us and for Dwight.
Turns out, the showrunners didn't tell the network executives that Steve Carell was even going to appear in the finale. The Office creator, Greg Daniels, told Entertainment Weekly:
"We shot Steve stuff and we kept it out the dailies and didn't tell them about it.
At the table reading, we gave the Steve Carell lines to Creed." Sneaky.
3 His Salary Was $297,000 Per Episode On The Office
In the real world? We'd give our left arm for $279,000 a year, let alone per episode. Then again, when you look at sitcom earnings overall, that figure isn't even that high. The Big Bang Theory and Friends cast both earned $1 million per episode, while Charlie Sheen once earned a record $1.25 million for Two and a Half Men, as People reports.
By season three, Steve's salary was $175,000, Medium reports. The figure rose, but the ego stayed down. Medium also reports that Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski started out on just $20,000 per episode.
2 He Thinks Michael "Just Doesn't Understand The World"
To be fair, Michael Scott doesn't understand most words, let alone the world. Steve Carell knows the character inside out though, and he shared his thoughts with the Paley Center for Media.
"He can pretty much get away with saying anything. Michael just doesn't understand the world."
Steve went on to say that Michael Scott just "doesn't have a frame of reference" when making his multiple (and often offensive) blunders. "He's not capable of understanding," Steve added. If you want an idea of Michael's total inability to understand the world, just tune into...any episode, ever?
1 Sorry Guys, No Reboot
We can't help it. We want more. We want Jim and Pam, Dwight and Alice doing their antics, and the whole cast back on our screens. Will the show ever return?
"Because The Office is on Netflix and replaying, a lot more people have seen it recently,” Carell told Esquire. "But apart from the fact that I just don’t think [a reboot's] a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted 10 years ago. The climate’s different.”
Leave A Comment