This Last-Minute Addition To The Office Cast Was The Best Decision Ever

Summary:

• The Office was one of the most popular sitcoms, running on NBC from 2005 to 2013.
• The show production was unique in the casting, hiring the writers to act out some of the characters.
• The character of Phyllis Lapin was created after a casting assistant Phyllis Smith, who portrayed her.

There is no other show like The Office, and anyone who has seen it at least once knows that for sure. Since its release in 2005, many have tried to replicate its success by adding documentary elements or breaking the fourth wall, but nothing has worked quite as well.

While the success is partly due to the genre and the unique style of storytelling, the characters deserve as much credit for the show's success as anything else.

They are written to be human, and that makes them very relatable. You may not find an archetype of a character that fits your own personality in any of them, but you are sure to find them all around you. In the shops, on the streets, among your family and friends, and of course in the office.

It may be hard to imagine the show being any different than it is now, but there have been some last-minute changes and additions. These were decisions made on the fly, and they definitely paid off in the long run. One such decision was to add Phyllis Smith to the cast as Phyllis Lapin.

Phyllis Wasn’t Supposed To Be On The Office

The character of Phyllis was not carried over from the original British series, nor was she originally written into the script of the U.S. series. In fact, Phyllis Smith was on the opposite side of the cast, working as a casting assistant for the show with no aspirations of appearing in front of the camera.

Things changed when director Ken Kwapis overheard her reading some lines from the script. He found Phyllis' speech, personality, and acting interesting and created a character for her, using her as a prototype. Soft-spoken and sweet, Phyllis Smith has become a part of The Office universe.

Phyllis Smith wasn't the only one of the crew to make her way onto the screen, but she was the only one whose job, as ironic as it is, was to cast other actors.

Although her character was controversial among fans, as some really enjoyed the heartfelt moments, and others found her totally annoying, it's very hard to imagine the show without her now. Besides, who else could you thank for so many absolutely charming clichés for a rainy day?

If you are feeling nostalgic and want to spend a night rewatching your favorite episodes of The Office, you can stream the show on Peacock TV.

Source: NBC