The US version of The Office initially attempted to replicate the dark humor of the British miniseries but was met with poor reception. The character of Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, was particularly unlikable and unbelievable as a boss. To save the show, the producers made significant changes to Michael's character, including:
1. Changing his appearance to make him more relatable and less cartoonish.
2. Introducing more optimistic endings to episodes to provide a sense of redemption for Michael.
3. Making Michael a more competent boss by showing him successfully completing tasks and making decisions.
4. Introducing relationships, such as with Jan and later Holly, to humanize Michael and make him more likable.
These changes, particularly the introduction of Holly, helped to develop Michael's character and make him more relatable and likable. The show's writers also implemented the "10% rule," where the characters were 10% nicer to Michael, which helped to shift the audience's perception of him.
The video concludes that the changes made to Michael's character were crucial to the show's success and that being unique and true to oneself is often more important than trying to fit into a mold.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The US version of The Office was developed by Greg Daniels as an extension of the 12-episode British miniseries starring Ricky Gervais as David Brent.
2. The first season of the US Office's six-episode run attempted to recreate the edge and angle of the British miniseries.
3. The show was almost immediately canceled.
4. Paul Feig said it was a miracle the show wasn't removed from air, and that the support of NBC exec Kevin Reilly is the only thing that saved it.
5. Michael Scott in season one was a static character who evolved very slowly.
6. The show's producers made changes to Michael Scott's character to ensure the show's survival.
7. The changes included making Michael look more presentable, better dressed, and less offensive in appearance.
8. The show's writers introduced more optimistic endings to the episodes from season two onwards.
9. Michael Scott was not a competent boss in the first season, which made it hard for audiences to believe in his ability to run the office.
10. The show's writers made Michael a more competent boss from season two onwards.
11. The show's cast was instructed to be 10% nicer to Michael after season one.
12. The introduction of Holly Flax in season four sparked the most character growth in Michael.
13. The original 12-episode run of the UK Office is often compared to the Steve Carell version of The Office.
14. The two versions of The Office are very different in their portrayal of what it means to be the world's best boss.