Facts From a TV Junkie: 'The Office'

Hello all! Chances are if you're reading this it means you, much like myself, are addicted to TV. You just can't ever get enough of that small screen action! Well, I'm here to tell you that I feel your pain and would like to help you in your noble quest for TV knowledge, which is why I've taken it upon myself to create this fun, weekly feature. Every week, I will dig up new and interesting facts about a show and share them with you right here. So sit back, relax, and let the trivia madness commence!

This week, let’s delve into the lives of our favorite Dunder Mifflin workers from the always-hysterical show ‘The Office.’ When your cast is made up of the likes of Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling and Ed Helms, you know it’s going to pretty much be a comedy gold mine. And that’s exactly what this series was. But there may still be a few things that even the most dedicated fans have yet to uncover. Such as…

Did You Know:

1. The series was originally going to be called ‘The American Workplace.’

When NBC first decided to pick up the show, they wanted to find a way to help differentiate it from the original British version. Changing the name was an obvious way to go about it. However, the idea was later scrapped...probably because that back-up title was just plain awful. Good call, guys. Sometimes it's just a good idea to stick with what works.

2. Rainn Wilson originally auditioned for the role of Michael Scott before being cast as Dwight Schrute.

And while I'm sure Dwight would’ve loved to be the boss of that place, we all know there's absolutely no one who could’ve played that role better than Steve Carell, though many sought to try. Nick Offerman also auditioned for the part, as did Paul Giamatti, Martin Short, Bob Odenkirk and Hank Azaria.

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3. Seth Rogen auditioned for the role of Dwight Schrute.

This is yet another example of how differently this show could’ve panned out if the casting had gone another way. Sure, Rogen does have great comedic timing, but I honestly can't fathom anyone else playing Dwight other than Rainn Wilson. His performance was just too perfect. FACT.

4. Paul Lieberstein, who played Toby, was only meant to appear in one episode.

Surprisingly, Lieberstein had actually never even acted before and had no real interest in it due to his quiet and reserved nature. However, NBC President Kevin Reilly saw the episode he was in and liked him so much that he wanted to see more of the character. This led to Toby getting upped to a recurring cast member.

5. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) and B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard) actually went to high school together in real life.

Apparently it's a small world even in Hollywood circles. Both actors attended Newton South High School in Newton, Mass. and graduated with the class of 1997. If only we could get our hands on a copy of that yearbook.

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6. Four of the cast members were interns on 'Late Night with Conan O’Brien.'

In a way, I guess you could consider Conan to be their good luck charm. Angela Kinsey interned for the show in 1993, Mindy Kaling arrived in the winter of 1999, John Krasinski showed up in the summer of 2000, and Ellie Kemper came in five years later in the spring of 2005.

7. Adam Scott auditioned for the role of Jim Halpert.

Don’t get me wrong — I love Adam Scott as much as the next girl, but John Krasinski was born to play this character. It’s as simple as that. Plus, it allowed Scott the freedom to take on the role of Ben Wyatt on ‘Parks and Recreation.’ So really, it’s a win-win for everyone.

I hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Facts From a TV Junkie. Check back next week for another fix!

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