Steve Carell’s bittersweet cameo OfficeThe 2013 finale almost didn’t happen, as the actor “reluctantly” reappeared as Dunder Mifflin branch manager Michael Scott.
Carell played Scott for seven seasons before leaving the series in 2011, during the seventh season. But the actor reprized his role in the series finale of season 9 in May 2013, where he appeared as the best man at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin.
In the episode of October 30 Office ladies podcast, Carell’s co-stars Jenna Fischer — who played Pam Beesly on the show — and Angela Kinsey — who played Martin — recounted how the actor’s appearance in the finale came about.
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“Well, it was [series creator Greg Daniels] the idea of Steve coming back. He wanted it for a really long time and asked him pretty early in season nine,” Fischer, 50, explained on the podcast.
Fischer continued, “But Steve was hesitant. He felt that Michael’s story was really over. He didn’t want to reopen it, and he especially didn’t want to come back after two years and have this last episode be about him.”
“Steve really felt like, ‘My character had his end.’ This is the end of everyone else, and he didn’t want to overshadow that.”
“Well, he’s very kind that way,” Kinsey, 53, quipped about Carell.
Daniels who eventually figured out a way to realistically include Michael Scott in the final episode — and got Carell to agree to be a part of it.
“Greg had the idea for the last episode to be Dwight and Angela’s wedding, and Steve agreed to have Michael there,” Fischer said.
Added Kinsey, “I believe it. I believe Michael would want to be with Dwight and Angela.”
“It was a creative reason that supported history, you know,” agreed Fischer.
Carell delivered his character’s famous line after surprising Dwight and taking over as best man from Jim Halpert (John Krasinski). Dwight told Michael, “I can’t believe you came,” to which Michael emotionally replied, “That’s what she said.”
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Steve Carell and John Krasinski in an episode of ‘The Office’ from 2005.
Ron Tom/NBC/Courtesy of Everett
Carell’s appearance in the final episode came as a surprise to viewers at home, as his name was not included in the show’s exit credits.
In the podcast, Fischer noted that keeping Carell’s appearance in the finale a secret was “really epic to pull off,” and many cast members (including Kinsey) were kept in the dark.
“It was really hard not to tell you … and you didn’t find out until he showed up on set that day,” said Fischer Kinsey, who added that she remembers the “exact moment” when she realized Carell was there.
“The stationed PA turned to me and said, ‘Steve’s here.’ … I said, ‘What?’ And I opened the door, and there he was — sitting in his hair and makeup,” Kinsey said.
According to Fischer, Daniels didn’t even tell NBC — the network where the show aired — that Carell would be in the episode.
“They read the scene at our table … but it was a placeholder,” Fischer said, adding that Carell signed a secret contract that was kept under lock and key until the day he showed up on set.
A clip of the final episode — sans Carell — was also filmed to give the directors additional blur. Executives ended up not seeing the actual final episode of the series until the day before it aired to the public.
“He was afraid that if NBC turned over any footage of Steve Carell on the show before it aired, it would do promos and spoil the surprise,” Fischer said of why Daniels kept such a secret.
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Angela Kinsey (left), Jenna Fischer in ‘The Office’ in 2005.
Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank
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Krasinski previously spoke to PEOPLE about hiding Carell’s last hurray in an earlier interview.
“It was so exciting. We were all just lying,” the actor told PEOPLE. “I lied to Letterman! I have to apologize to him for that at some point. It was just one of those things that we all pledged and had to protect. Look what happened — it was the best. ‘That’s what said’ [throwback] was a perfect use of Steve.”
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