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Welcome to Dunder Mifflin, where a paper-selling workplace turns into a comedy goldmine. Led by Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, The Office is a must-watch for anyone who loves themselves a good, feel-good sitcom. Between the hilarious conference room meetings and bizarre office parties, you will find stories of love, friendship, and finding joy in the ordinary. However, there are some out-of-pocket moments in the show that might make you question if the sitcom could’ve been canceled in today’s time.
(2005-13) | Credits: NBCThe Office is a comedy with zero chill. The writers were not shy about pushing boundaries and the show is filled with moments that make you laugh and then nervously glance around to see if anyone else finds it okay to laugh, too. From the tone-deaf Diversity Day to Michael saying, “Oscar, you’re gay” as a roast, some scenes might just be a tad bit questionable. In fact, there was a scene that didn’t make it to the show, and boy, are we glad.
The Office scene that could’ve gotten Steve Carell in trouble
Steve Carell and Leslie David Baker as Michael Scott and Stanley Hudson in The Office | Credits: NBCMichael Scott was a masterclass in how to be inappropriate but we love him for it! Steve Carell’s character was the life of The Office, there is no denying that. However, he sure does things do tend to go out of hand a bit when he’s on screen.
In a deleted scene from the show, Michael enters the conference room where his employees are waiting to see what stunt their boss pulls off next. He then singles out Darryl, Stanley, and Kelly, owing to their skin color, not realizing that the woman was not even Black.
But don’t get him wrong, there was no malice in his heart. Michael simply congratulates them on Barack Obama’s inauguration as the then-US President. In his words,
As leader of this office, I would like to personally congratulate Darryl, Stanley, and maybe Kelly, on the inauguration of our next President, Mr. Barack Obama and for everything that that means, that racism is officially dead.
Ah, classic Michael. Watch the scene below:
On one hand, some people believe that the scene wouldn’t have gotten The Office canceled. However, on the other hand, people seem convinced that this would not have ended well for the show or Carell. A user commented, “This would cancel the whole network today.”
Do you think the jokes Michael made would have gotten The Office banned today or is that an overreaction?
Steve Carell thinks The Office wouldn’t have been possible today
A still from The Office | Credits: NBCIt is a given fact that times have changed since The Office premiered its series finale. Things that were considered humor back then might not fare well in today’s day and age and that’s exactly why Carell doesn’t think that the show could be made in the present.
In an interview with Esquire, the comedic genius rightly stated that “the climate’s different” right now. He admits that the entire idea of Michael Scott was that he was, well, inappropriate at times.
He stated,
I mean, the whole idea of that character, Michael Scott, so much of it was predicated on inappropriate behavior. I mean, he’s certainly not a model boss. A lot of what is depicted on that show is completely wrong-minded. That’s the point, you know?
He then added that as far as he knows, The Office wouldn’t fly now if people took a character like Michael literally, which some probably will.
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. But at the same time, when you take a character like that too literally, it doesn’t really work.
He also stated that rebooting the show isn’t “a good idea.” Well, that’s just a punch to the gut for the fans hoping for a revival! But hey, at least we have 9 seasons to binge-watch over and over again, right?
The Office is available to watch on Peacock Premium.
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