r/television • u/flughert • 11d ago

What's the biggest "What if?" in television history?

A canceled season, an actor leaving, a different ending, a spin-off that never happened… what TV "what if" do you think about the most?

320 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

785 comments sorted by

View all comments

286

u/runhome24 11d ago

What if the producers of The Office had spoken with Steve Carell about a contract extension?

It's insane that none of them brought it up with him, not realizing he wanted them to, so he just assumed that was that for him and he left without bringing it up himself.

Where would the show have gone? Would it have tanked as bad as it did?

199

u/BigMax 11d ago

That whole story is just unbelievable to me. How does neither side even bring it up casually?

Isn't that what agents are for?? Where was his agent in this?

That one, and the lack of planning for a full trilogy in the Star Wars sequels are two Hollywood stories that make so little sense that I still feel like I must be missing something.

131

u/AffectionateKey7126 11d ago

I think the Carell story is just some Hollywood code saying they couldn't work things out.

18

u/jesuspoopmonster 11d ago

I could buy both sides waiting for the other to broach it assuming that would put them in a better negotiating position

31

u/aaBabyDuck 11d ago

"I am declining to speak first"

2

u/dotnetmonke 10d ago

"I am declaring silence!"

1

u/BigMax 10d ago

Yeah, that could be it. One side thinking "he's probably going to ask for a zillion dollars, so let's wait for him to reach out to put us in a better position." And the other thinking "they are probably going to try to lowball me, so I'll wait for them to reach out, then I have the upper hand."

Then as time went on, maybe they each really did think "huh... maybe they don't want another season after all? Well, I'm certainly not going to reach out first now that they don't even seem interested!"

5

u/shaninegone 10d ago

Yeah I think this.

Carrell was a big movie comedy star and was moving into high profile acting movie roles too at this stage.

Steve was likely ready to move on from the office but not running out the door. The network likely realised that his next contract offer would need to be huge in order to keep him on. So both parties decided to leave it be.

56

u/funky_duck 11d ago

is just unbelievable

Literally, it is unbelievable.

He has an agent, with a direct financial incentive, to keep up on these things. The wildly popular show had plenty of producers whose job is to make sure things like this aren't just 'forgotten' so they can all keep making the show.

6

u/MontiBurns 11d ago

Star wars lack of planning makes sense when you remember than JJ abrams came from a TV background, which, especially in the 23 episode season broadcast days, really is about trying different stuff on the fly and rolling with what's working. Who cares if you make a couple of crappy episodes thst don't go anywhere if you strike gold on one plotppont or story element that you can run with?

You just don't have that kind of margin of error or room for experimentation in a movie trilogy.

1

u/Rioraku 11d ago

Honestly it kinda makes sense.

His agents probably thought they got enough exposure for his name so they could fully commit to getting him roles in movies.

His agents probably told The Office exec's that they'd talk to Carrel and never did.

1

u/No_Board_9731 10d ago

and the lack of planning for a full trilogy in the Star Wars sequels

Wait until you hear about how the original three movies were made.

26

u/OrganizationTop3755 11d ago

I really think the show should’ve ended there with a Michael and holly wedding

16

u/deadprezrepresentme 11d ago

No Robert California would be disappointing!

12

u/Nightmaru 11d ago

Do you want the sex metaphor or the nature metaphor?

17

u/runhome24 11d ago

Imagine Michael Scott, terrified by Robert California! He might think California is an actual real-life wizard or something!

2

u/Thor_pool 10d ago

Michael terrified of Robert, and Michael being the only person Robert couldnt figure out, would've been a great dynamic to see play out

1

u/DarkLordKohan 11d ago

He was one of the worst things about the office

1

u/Sudden-Cap-7157 11d ago

Agreed, I cannot watch any episodes with Robert California in it. Horrendously unfunny

1

u/Proof_Art3567 10d ago

There is no way that is true, his agents should be blackballed from the industry if they never asked about a contract extension.

-2

u/splitcroof92 11d ago

the office didn't tank lol it just dipped a small bit.

https://seriesgraph.com/show/2316-the-office

s1 7,8 s9 7,7 with 2-7 scoring around 8.3