The Workplace spinoff The Paper made its premiere on Peacock earlier this month, however one actor has revealed that there was nearly a special Workplace spinoff years in the past starring a beloved TV character. Beloved mockumentary TV present The Workplace first premiered on March 24, 2005, on NBC and lasted 9 seasons earlier than the sequence got here to an in depth in 2013.
The Workplace, which was based mostly on a British present of the identical title, stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, and lots of extra. Wilson portrayed fan-favorite character Dwight Schrute, a daft and generally sinister worker at Dunder Mifflin. For his function, Wilson was nominated for an Emmy thrice.
Whereas a visitor on the podcast The Final Snort, Wilson revealed {that a} spinoff of The Workplace starring Dwight titled The Farm was as soon as in improvement at NBC, however the community in the end turned the sequence down. Wilson revealed that NBC by no means thought The Workplace was something particular, and did not notice its potential till it began making them cash. Take a look at Wilson’s feedback beneath:
They had been simply not in any respect in Workplace spinoffs on the time. And had they taken The Farm, they’d in all probability have one other billion {dollars} within the financial institution. Nobody talks about that.
Even now, all of the those who have seen The Workplace 20 instances, they will watch The Farm a minimum of a few times, for those who’ve acquired 100 episodes. Would it not have been nearly as good as The Workplace? No. No approach. Not even shut. Would it not have been good? Would it not have been strong? Would it not have been a superb, strong comedy? Yeah, it might’ve, and we might’ve carried out some actually cool stuff. And I believe they actually missed out.
The historical past of The Workplace on NBC — they by no means actually acquired the present. Truthfully, it was like 5 years after the present was over, when abruptly it began being watched — the minutes within the billions on Netflix — that NBC was like, “Oh, wait a minute. This is kind of a cash cow. This is actually a really good show and it’s got some legs.”
What This Would Have Meant For The Workplace
Dwight and Michael taking a look at a pc in The Workplace
As The Workplace goes on, Dwight begins to run many companies, together with a bed-and-breakfast. The Farm would have adopted Dwight, inheriting a beet farm from his late aunt. Having Dwight proudly owning a enterprise and operating amok was an concept many viewers members might doubtless get behind with time, however NBC was not when the pilot got here round.
The Paper premiered on September 4, 2025, and has already been renewed for a second season.
In the course of the check screening of the unmade present’s backdoor pilot, viewers members weren’t impressed, inflicting NBC to not transfer ahead with the present. The sequence would have been a mockumentary and would have captured the model of The Workplace. This could have doubtless helped fill the outlet followers felt after The Workplace ended, which is what the spinoff The Paper is in the end doing now.
Our Take On NBC Not Choosing Up The Farm
Dwight (Rainn Wilson) wearing a high hat in The Workplace Backyard Celebration.
Dwight is arguably the funniest character in The Workplace. He could be endearing, however oftentimes terrifying as properly, creating a particularly dynamic and endlessly watchable character. A present all about him would in all probability be very unhinged, but relentlessly entertaining, as a result of Dwight is so unpredictable.
Followers of The Workplace sadly didn’t get to see a full Dwight present, which in all probability would have been highly regarded and made the community a ton of cash. It additionally would have probably catapulted Wilson’s profession even additional and perhaps would have earned him extra award nominations, probably even a win. Nonetheless, a minimum of followers get The Paper, which can also be a hilarious present.
The Workplace
8/10
Launch Date
2005 – 2013-00-00
Showrunner
Greg Daniels
