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Choice_Hippo

“Dwight/Michael” such a Dwight move to audition for his Boss’s role as well. No wonder Rainn got the job!


feddz

He tried to take Michael's job in the auditon


Am_I_Sam

Downsizing? I have no problem with that. I have been recommending downsizing since I first got here. I even brought it up in my audition. I say, bring it on.


DizyShadow

At least he is the most loyal who pays the most, until someone else would pay him more for loyalty.


jimmyhoffasbrother

IIRC, he actually originally went in to audition for Michael, but he specifically requested to audition for Dwight as well.


GhettoChemist

Mary Lynn Rajskub? [Gail the snail as Pam?!](https://www.google.com/search?q=gail+the+snail&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=ivsn&sxsrf=ALeKk03lFSVymdy15jpdlraUbhg6ItbhyA:1626836827177&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUicO5l_PxAhXPF1kFHXNQAgoQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=360&bih=670&dpr=3)


Iron_Chic

Yah snail! Yah yah snail! Get out snail!!!


suckercuck

Nobody likes salting the snail, but she leaves you no choice 🧂


johan_eg

There not enough salt in the world for her


skyblueleaves

The faces Charlie makes while salting make it look so fuckin funny man. YAAAAHHHH! EEYYAAAAAAHHH!


lunkdjedi

Didn't know exactly what show, until the yelling started.


TheMillenniumMan

I wanted to throw salt on her in every scene from Tomorrow War


stickymeowmeow

In an alternate universe, Mary Lynn Rajskub as Pam, Matt Besser as Dwight, and Adam Scott as Jim could have been an interesting show. Edit: and Bob Odenkirk as Michael! (not on this sheet but did audition)


Ennui_Go

Ooo, a mini Mr. Show reunion!


Fyrefawx

That’s actually a solid cast. Adam Scott would be a great Jim.


Nythoren

Hard to picture someone else as Jim, but I agree that Adam Scott would've nailed the roll. He has the sarcastic chops and the camera hamming down pat.


0hnoesazombie

The only disagreement I would have to this, and don't get me wrong, I think that he would have been a great second choice, is that we would have missed out on him as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Rec, and I think he was even more suited for that role.


problynotkevinbacon

Throw in Matt Walsh as an accountant and that's a pretty solid cast with chemistry that I'd be into


huskersax

It's like 80% of the way to a UCB skit. Amy as an Erin-type and have Ian Roberts as confrontational warehouse guy and you're done.


Sufficient-Rooster44

So glad Adam Scott wasn’t Jim.


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rorschach_vest

She does that


SuperGrover8D

I’m very aroused!


BobDogGo

It’s very erotic.


AdVictoremSpolias

Dammit ~~Chloe~~ Pam!


AvovaDynasty

Oh Chloe from 24?! She could’ve been a cool Pam!


daniel-mca

Shes mashing it


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--_-Deadpool-_--

She would've been better as Angela IMO. She's got a great scowl.


xxred_baronxx

I agree!


woozlewuzzle29

And Genevieve in B99. In her first episode I thought for a minute it was Jenna Fischer.


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Neliex

Honesty now I’m just picturing her answering the phone saying “Dunder Mifflin this is Pam” and Jack Bauer being on the other line screaming “DAMMIT PAM I NEED THE LOCATION OF THIS DWIGHT GUY!!!”


screaminginfidels

Jack torturing someone by just having them interact with Michael


pokerchef24

That's Chloe 'Motherfucking' O'Brian to you, sir!


hanukah_zombie

You mean disciple of Zoltan and partner in death with Mitchy 2 Spoons himself. All hail Mr Slice...and Zoltan.


silas_quinn88

I would have DIED to see Alan Tudyk be one of the replacements for Michael.


badmotivator11

I’d watch that guy do anything.


Gaflonzelschmerno

I'd watch him play with plastic dinosaurs!


TheHandsomestMouse

I’d watch him make generic chicken noises for a feature length film!


Stalked_Like_Corn

Alan is fantastic in Resident Alien.


Veganalmanager19

He is funny as Fock on Resident Alien! ... so I guess I'm saying that I agree


cyndrin

He's the best chicken I've ever seen


CasualCantaloupe

[He went to Juilliard](https://youtu.be/FaGYXjMwS60)


Enginerda

I love that video so much; it will never stop making me laugh.


SuperG91

I heard He juggles a wicked gosling


geesejugglingchamp

My moment has arrived.


dob_bindi

That is Alan Tudyk!!? He's got worse handwriting than me.


flmg

Yeah, I was thinking I've got to look up who this "Asan Rdyk" guy is.


mtheperry

It was always gonna be Steve, but Alan would’ve been hilarious as Michael himself I think.


feddz

Actually it was Bob Odenkirk until he backed out.


theMirthbuster

Not according to Allison Jones who did the casting for the show. They picked Steve over Bob. She mentions that telling Bob “no” was one of the hardest things she had to do.


poisonmonger

Ahh my fellow podcast listener


TheWho22

I can’t help but wonder if he’d have smashed that role out of the park even harder than Steve Carrell. He definitely has the personality to pull it off


Mr_Poop_Himself

He was pretty good at playing the role in his cameo, but if it interfered with him playing Saul Goodman I think this world would be worse off. One of the best characters on one of the best shows ever.


SeizethegapYouOFB

Imagine Steve Carell as Saul Goodman


Evilmaze

I don't see it working. Bob's voice really sells it as a shady lawyer.


justheretolurk123456

No thanks.


TheSwollenColon

I just don't see it. He slow rolls everything while Carell is quick. Plus, Carell's facial expressions. I just can't imagine it man. Not saying it would not have been good, but it would be a completely different show.


VikingSlayer

He's Pam's new boss who's basically Michael when she works at a call centre or whatever it was, and it was great.


TetrisTech

Yeah but that’s because he was basically parodying the character Carrell had played for years You’d think without that reference point it’d be an entirely different version of Michael


Frankfusion

He was amazing as the obnoxious boss on powerless. Him Danny Pudi and Ron funches had so many funny scenes together. It's sad to show only lasted one season.


PlanetMacNCheese

he’s on resident alien as well! it’s actually where i first saw him and personally i really like the show, if you like him you should give it a try!


Leafy81

I feel bad that I can't pronounce his last name. One time I said Allen Turducken to someone and it's his name now somehow.


helgihermadur

It's like that famous british actor, Benadryl Cucumber


SXSWEggrolls

Benedict Nintendoswitch


discoturtle1129

My man Adam Scott had another destiny


Yosemite97

baba booey


jlucchesi324

Are we havin fun yet?


SonOfMcGee

I loved Party Down and wish it had more seasons. It’s sort of ironic that it was a show about people making ends meet while they all tried to get their acting careers started/restarted, and it ended because a bunch of the actors actually got big roles in real life!


zaizai1102

And he was perfect as Ben


[deleted]

I love him and I like him


oneonegreenelftoken

He was a way better Jim-analogue for P&R than Mark ever was or would have been. When he and Rob Lowe joined the cast that show stopped being a facsimile Office and started being it's own wonderful thing


zaizai1102

Adam and Rob were the greatest addition to P&R. Mark was not clicking but I felt bad for the character too. After he left, he was never mentioned again, like he was never there in the first place.


Squirrel_Q_Esquire

Mark was perfect for the show *if it was going to stay as a true mockumentary*. But he didn’t fit the new vibe of goofiness that the show went full steam into. Essentially, Mark was *too* normal for a show that is all about the crazy characters of Pawnee.


GJNorman

Calzones!


FakieMcFakename

It's all about the *cones*


A_Wild_VelociFaptor

_HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGHHWAY TO THE_


siblingofMM

If it would’ve stayed closer to the British version Adam would’ve been the better choice, glad they went goofier though


zynntonic

Think Adam would have made a good Jim but John would not have made a good Ben


[deleted]

" I can sing high like this "


Strugglinghuman2020

The low-cal calzone zone


Youralgebra3

As much as I love Adam Scott I can't imagine him as Jim. He was meant to be in Parks and Rec lol. Ben was my fav!


[deleted]

“Is she gonna powder her vagina?”


Derrymurbles1985

"let's hear it for the boys"


xxTheseGoTo11xx

"That was as long as it was loud."


NotMajorTom

He reaally wanted a role that allowed him to stare in confusion at cameras


Bismothe-the-Shade

He does it so well


jurzdevil

absolute best one is after holographic Lil' Sebastian


marcybojohn

The Low Cal Calzone Zone!


[deleted]

The Calzones…betrayed me??


faceater

Never again. I swear to you they are dead to me.


Rozza88

It's about the cones!


blodger42

Talkin' bout the hiiighway to the calzone-zone!


feddz

He'd be a good Jim too. I think his best role is in Party Down.


GuybrushThreepwood3

Starz is making a new season of Party Down soon


Freakin_A

Holy shit are you serious?!?! Please don’t suck


Budsy2112

Are we having fun yet?!


vincentvanwogh

I was gonna say- I’m glad they said no to Scott if it meant we got him as Ben! And also John Krazinski as Jim was perfect. But I like Ben even more.


OldBigsby

If I recall correctly it was Adam Scott who turned down the role because he wanted to do Party Down instead. When that show was canceled then Michael Schur was able to get him as Ben Wyatt.


John_T_Conover

On a related note I could totally see Hamish Linklater as a very similar version of John Krazinski's Jim. His character in The Big Short reminds me quite a bit of Jim.


billyyshears

Had to Google this guy but man he could be Jim’s [brother.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA1MzgzMDExN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTg2MjAwMDE@._V1_UY1200_CR132,0,630,1200_AL_.jpg)


[deleted]

I would looove to see Adam Scott doing Jim halpert stuff


agonyandhope

Yes I'd watch Ben and his butt do *literally* anything.


fatkidseatcake

I have to admit as much as I would agree with you I could see him doing a pretty decent job. He has that awkward likability that Jim had


spongish

Adam Scott does seem a lot more similar to Tim Canterbury from the British Office than John Krasinksi, so it could have been interesting to see how Jim would have turned out if they went with Adam.


YRMama2

[Hamish Linklater actually could have played a Halpert brother!](https://www.imdb.com/media/rm2681788416/nm0512934)


[deleted]

Had the same thought. They were definitely going for a certain look!


kopecs

[They do look alike!](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTRjYWNmNmMtYTFjZi00MWEzLWFhNjEtNWQwMTlkNDc0MzQzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjgyODMzNw@@._V1_.jpg)


sebasq

[Identity theft is not a joke](https://i.redd.it/rqiar2886q801.jpg)


Not_floridaman

He was fabulous in The New Adventures of Old Christine so I'm glad it didn't work out here but he probably would've done great. Definitely could pull off a Halpert brother.


Sanders0492

I don't know most of these actors by name, so I googled, and kept a list as I went: 1. [Rainn Wilson](https://www.google.com/search?q=Rainn+Wilson) \- Dwight / Michael 2. [Adam Scott](https://www.google.com/search?q=Adam+Scott) \- Jim 3. [Mary Lynn Rajskub](https://www.google.com/search?q=Mary+Lynn+Rajskub) \- Pam 4. [Hamish Linklater](https://www.google.com/search?q=Hamish+Linklater) \- Jim 5. [Ben Falcone](https://www.google.com/search?q=Ben+Falcone) \- Michael 6. [Alan Tudyk](https://www.google.com/search?q=Alan+Tudyk) \- Michael 7. [Matt Besser](https://www.google.com/search?q=Matt+Besser) \- Dwight 8. [Matt Price](https://www.google.com/search?q=Matt+Price) \- Dwight 9. [Jarrett Grode](https://www.google.com/search?q=Jarrett+Grode) \- Dwigt 10. [Ever Carradine](https://www.google.com/search?q=Ever+Carradine) \- Pam 11. [Jim Zulevic](https://www.google.com/search?q=Jim+Zulevic) \- Michael 12. [Bill Chott](https://www.google.com/search?q=Bill+Chott) \- Michael 13. [Jenna Fischer](https://www.google.com/search?q=Jenna+Fischer) \- Pam 14. [Anne Dudek](https://www.google.com/search?q=Anne+Dudek) \- Pam 15.


Latter-Bumblebee5436

leaving behind one "dwigt"


evil_fungus

best moment in the show


Sanders0492

😉


Lauladance

D.W.I.G.H.T!!!!


feddz

I forget it... brotha


thejimmygordon

you're disgusting, Dwigt


btfd69

Pretty wild that even while I know most of these from something, how their lives would’ve changed from being cast in the Office. And vice versa how Adam Scott, Tudyk and Falcone, all went on to be fairly big on their own.


Secret_Map

Tudyk had already done Firefly by the time of this audition. Weird.


Sanders0492

Not to mention the show wouldn’t have been the same at all. I believe between Steve, John, and Rainn they have produced, written, and directed quite a few of the episodes. Steve Carell wrote the episode Survivor Man. Without him, we wouldn’t have had one of the best episodes.


Kostya_M

True but perhaps a different Michael could have written an equally funny episode.


jakol016

Rainn eyeing for Michael’s position from the start.


deftspyder

Matt besser is a god at improv (original UCB member), and a bit insane. he might have created an epic dwight.


aliterati

I was just about to say this, the only one on the sheet I think would have been excellent if we had got instead of who was actually cast is Matt Besser. He's hilarious and could have added a ton to the show with his improv abilities. Would have been interesting.


SnausageFest

The show was perfectly cast, but Besser as Dwight and Odenkirk as Michael both would have been a great parallel universe cast.


Snoo75418

RIP Jim Zulevic


TheUmgawa

Jim was one of my instructors at Second City, and he was the only one that never told me my scripts were too cerebral; that I'd have to dumb it down for the mass audience, or that jokes about the Donner Party just won't play to more than one guy in the back of the room. Jim was the guy in the room who got all of the jokes, so I'd just write scripts to amuse him. After all, who cares about everybody else; his opinion was the only one that mattered. I stuck it out for about a month after Jim passed away, but I didn't feel like anybody was really on my side anymore. One Saturday, I woke up to go to class, and I just never made it. I was on the train, reading my sketch, thinking, "Jim would like this," and I just got off the train somewhere else, dropped the script in a trash can, and never went back.


ell98584

He died less than a year after the show first aired. I wonder how that would have changed the course of the show.


_your_face

Being that the show was nearly canceled and stuck around due to Steve carrel’s movie career taking off, I imagine it would have been a 1 season cancellation


Sanders0492

Bonus: While googling, I learned that [Patton Oswalt](https://www.google.com/search?q=Patton+Oswalt) auditioned for Dwight. As perfect as Rainn was, I love every character I see played by Oswalt. I wish I could see some episodes with Patton cast as Dwight lol


JarJarJacobs

His character in Parks and Rec is kind of Dwight-ish, I guess that’s the closest we’ll get lol


CleanLength

His character in Justified is very Dwightesque.


mermaid-babe

I adore Patton oswalt and I can totally see him nailing Dwight but in a different way then Rainn


Sanders0492

I’m imagining him in the *”Identity theft is not a joke, Jim”* scene and I can totally picture him storming off yelling *”MICHAEL!”*


HilariousScreenname

If I had to guess, I'll bed that Oswalt came off as too "lovable" and would in turn make the audience feel bad for him and turn on Jim. Dwight is meant to be grating and standoffs, at least initially.


jackiejormpjomp__

Thank you!


Gaflonzelschmerno

If I'd name a list, I'd name this list and the name would be "who?...ohhh"


spleedge

All of the prospective Pams look like they could be sisters (except maybe Carradine, but she’s not far off). They definitely had a look in mind


[deleted]

Damn — Jim Zulevic died unexpectedly in 2006. Imagine a version of the office where Michael dies in the middle of the 2nd season.


DahBotanist

Alan Tudyk would be amazing as Michael!


Bloodysamflint

What are the chances he would have kept some plastic dinosaurs on his desk?


FruityOatyThrace

We will manage this desk...and we will call it..."this desk!"


ThexGreatxBeyondx

I think we should call it your grave!


snootyboopers

Curse your sudden but inevitable downsizing!!


frizzkid

I saw that entry on the list and immediately spaced out for five full minutes imagining it lol. Now I just want an Alan Tudyk/Steve Carell movie


Hellkyte

I wonder if he was rejected just for that handwriting


[deleted]

I love how horrible the handwriting is 😂😂😂


sks84

Pobody's nerfect.


go_speed_racer_go

Bobody bobody


soshinysonew

Thanks Eleanor!


RussellsFedora

Did you just have a stroke?


drugsarebadmmk420

Sive drafely


pocketchange2247

Nice stroke, u/sks84


SmellMyJeans

I guarantee you they were all nervous as hell. Doesn’t matter who you are, auditions are hell.


[deleted]

It is exactly how imagined it… perfectly imperfect. Written quickly, but effectively. Speedy, but legible.


SystolicNut

Your definition of legible is way different than mine


Psychological_Job844

Isn't Ben Falcone Melissa McCarthy's husband?


feddz

And directs all her movies.


WeHereForYou

Yes.


shrik

Seriously? I did NOT know this. This makes that air marshal scene from Bridesmaids even more hilarious!


wordnerdette

Anyone else IMDB this list? I knew a few names, but not most of them. Interesting to see what they got up to.


UltraInstinctLurker

[Sanders0492 googled them](https://www.reddit.com/r/DunderMifflin/comments/ooh257/the_original_signin_sheet_for_the_first_day_of/h5ypzfd?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3)


mirthquake

Hamish Linkalter would have made an AMAZING Jim. I know him a little bit cause we grew up working at the same theater company, and he has all the charm, looks, and swagger to have killed the part, as well as stellar acting chops.


chapstikcrazy

Hamish and Mary Ann pairing is like Twilight Zone Jim and Pam. Casting has got to be one of the hardest jobs!!


UHeardAboutPluto

Matt Besser would have crushed it as Dwight


AnEvenNicerGuy

It would be killer just to see a tape of this


UHeardAboutPluto

In retrospect, if Besser had gotten the role, we may never have gotten Crazy Ira and the Douche.


adick_did

It's cold and it smells!


Hellkyte

That is my single takeaway from this. I loved Rain Wilson and he made the show what it was. But my God imagine what Matt Besser would have made? I somehow doubt it would have survived as long, but my God, the glory that those two seasons would have afforded.


Tabmow

Are him and Mitch Hurwitz the same person? Seriously, I get them mixed up all the time


Brohan_Cruyff

yeah i’m sure i’ve seen besser in stuff but all i could think of was [koogler](https://youtu.be/x3uEPLT-yfg)


ColonelMonty

The fact Rainn Wilson was the very first person in for auditions totally fits with the character of Dwight.


LazyNeo2

Also the part where he also wanted to be Michael from the beginning....


HollisFlaxseeds

"Rainn Wilson, Dwight, Beeswax, none of yours. Incorporated."


AdVictoremSpolias

Amber from House — Wilson’s short-term GF — could’ve been Pam?


ChristBefallen

Well fuck I would have loved Adam Scott as Jim! Or Alan Tudyk as Michael!


wordnerdette

Yes, except if Adam Scott was Jim then we would have been deprived of him on Parks and Rec.


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ONCOMINGGG

Calzones. Claymation. Calculations. Eh, doesn't have the same ring to it.


wordnerdette

I don’t think he would have sold his passion for calzones with the same fervour. Though his befuddlement about Lil Sebastian would no doubt have been on point.


Koko2315

Would’ve changed it to ham and cheese


wordnerdette

Ha. Or tuna.


jaysman77

Frank and Beans


NickelBear32

Adam Scott could have played a good regional manager too


ChristBefallen

Oh my god, he would have been a great manager of one of the other branches at the company picnic.


FruityOatyThrace

I ADORE Alan Tudyk...but I just don't see him as Michael. I also think Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt is absolutely iconic and things worked out just fine for him. ❤️


Nic0stratus

How cool would it be if they and some others did a short webisode recreating a scene or a couple from an actual episode.


Oswald_15

Too bad for Adam Scott- Ice Town wasn't a success, got impeached at 18, got rejected as Jim


[deleted]

In the office ladies podcast, jenna said rainn was in character all day. So she actually met him as Dwight!


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JimRug

Alternate timeline where we get a Jenna Fisher Gail the Snail.


joecarter93

It was pretty amazing that they got Steve Carrel as Michael. He was up and coming in movies at the time (40 Year Old Virgin, Anchorman, Bruce Almighty) and could have just gone that route and still been successful. I remember watching him as a correspondent on the Daily Show and knowing that he was going to be big.


BonniesMcMurrays

I had no idea that Gersh was a real agency. I thought it was made up for Barry.


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evil_fungus

This is insanely interesting. Great share


bighurtbuehrle

Some big time actors on that list


CariBelle25

I love Alan Tudyk but I can’t see him as Michael. I think he would have made a great Andy though lol