The Failure and Success of The Office (US) And What I (We) Can Learn From It
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Let’s face it: The Office (US) should have failed. And, at first, it did.
The pilot was a near-carbon copy of the UK version, minus the charm, grit, and general British bleakness. It was nearly cancelled — twice. Critics weren’t kind. And yet… it became one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 21st century.
In this episode, I dig into how The Office (US) went from awkward misfire to cultural touchstone — thanks to a few rewrites, a breakout film (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), and an iTunes deal that somehow saved the whole thing. Because sometimes, success isn’t about getting it right the first time — it’s about staying in the game long enough to find your rhythm.
📎 Lessons for writers, fans, and anyone who’s ever had a wobbly start and wondered if it was all a huge mistake.
Press play. It might just remind you that a rocky beginning isn’t the end — it’s just a cold open.
📝 Blog and audio available, because no one should have to choose between reading and listening when they could do both awkwardly at once.
This is the audio version of my blog Write to Comedy.
Visit the website: https://jacquiejsarah.com/write-to-comedy
8 episodes