pilot episode season american comedy television series office episode overall episode premiered united_states nbc march episode adapted original script episode british version written episode directed episode documentary crew arrives scranton pennsylvania offices dunder mifflin observe employees learn modern management manager michael_scott steve_carell tries paint happy picture face potential corporate office gets new employee ryan_howard temporary worker jim_halpert john_krasinski antagonist dwight_schrute rainn_wilson pilot debuted office midseason replacement season episode primarily adapted episode british series partially scripted attempt new episode ratings success receiving nielsen ratings people aged garnering million viewers overall episode received mixed reviews critics criticizing complete copy original plot introduced michael_scott steve_carell regional manager paper production company currently threat facing news delivered vice president northeast sales employees barely tolerate antics introduced workers office dwight_schrute rainn_wilson socially awkward salesman time volunteer sheriff deputy jim_halpert john_krasinski salesman enjoys playing dwight pam jenna_fischer jim obvious crush ryan_howard temporary worker production episode debuted series midseason replacement season pilot direct adaptation episode british version daniels decided route completely starting scratch risky thing adaptation episode primarily adapted episode british series partially scripted attempt jokes dwight jim transferred original series slightly changed later scene jim tapes desk originally filmed parallel scene british version cardboard boxes restrict view canterbury table reading pilot episode office held february pilot filmed months prior beginning filming second episode season diversity day office laugh tracks pilot wanting absurd humor fully come casting nbc programmer originally suggested producer role michael_scott actor declined reported interested january variety reported steve_carell popular comedy central program daily talks play role time committed nbc mid season replacement comedy come series quickly canceled leaving fully committed office later stated seen half original pilot episode british series auditioned continue watching fear start copying rainn_wilson cast power hungry dwight_schrute watched episode series auditioned wilson originally auditioned michael performance described terrible casting directors liked audition dwight hired role john_krasinski jenna_fischer virtual cast respective roles jim pam central love interests attended school friend recalled accidentally insulting waiting audition series telling hope developers don screw daniels introduced told fischer prepared audition looking boring possible creating original pam interview npr fischer recalled stages audition process pam jim producers different potential gauge chemistry fischer finished scene told favorite pam favorite jim actors originally filmed extras episode later supporting cast members later episodes women wearing blue room staff meeting scene actual worked production staff reception ratings pilot premiered nbc march episode received nielsen ratings people aged meaning percent year olds viewed episode episode garnered million viewers overall pilot ranked number key demographic network competitors addition episode ranked watched evening million views second watched episode series fifth season episode stress relief attracted million viewers reviews pilot received mixed reviews premiere sources deemed failed american british reviewer form said maybe office dies quick death nbc network decide trying comedies isn great idea new_york_daily_news said daring funny adding nbc version little left muddy water los_angeles_times complained steve_carell portrays scott appeared movie legend ron cartoon said lost translation sadness characters club gave episode felt lackluster copy original noted fatal flaw episode licensing agreement signed merchant involves dropping pilot left right episode comparison original british version adams complimented character pam noting embodiment certain grounded look tone early episodes sold subsequent seasons dropped obvious concessions workplace documentary perceived episode failure outlets praised new coming slowly boston_globe said funny relation past failed shows adapted british shows stated despite american remake nbc makes pretty good effort version office original american sensibility
Pilot (The Office)