Flash Back to the Making of the Pilot Episode of The Office

It's a brand new year, so what better time to look back to when The Office was a brand new show? Well, at least the American version was.

Michael Scott had much more hair gel in this behind-the-scenes look at the making of the pilot episode, and Steve Carell had very poignant things to say, like "I like the humor because it's funny. That's generally what I enjoy about humor. I like humor when it makes me laugh." He did have some interesting things to say about the pressure of following up Ricky Gervais, though, and the fear that audiences would hate him.

It is a bit surreal to see the cast introducing themselves and their characters as if we don't know them, because in 2004, we didn't.

The Office is now streaming on Peacock.

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Andy Hunsaker has a head full of sitcom gags and nerd-genre lore, and can be followed @AndyHunsaker if you're into that sort of thing.