AceShowbiz - The beloved NBC comedy series "The Office" might have been remarkably different if the original casting choices had panned out. Casting director Allison Jones provides a behind-the-scenes look at the casting process that led to one of the most iconic TV shows of all time.

Allison Jones, the casting director for "The Office", revealed some intriguing details about the casting journey during a recent episode of the "Office Ladies" podcast, hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. Jones shared that NBC initially aimed for big-name actors to play Michael Scott. "I remember vividly the first meeting we had with the network when [creator Greg Daniels] had a list of names, and they were like, 'Let's try Philip Seymour Hoffman,' and then, 'Let's go for Paul Giamatti or whatever,' " Jones said.

Back then, television, particularly comedy, was viewed differently. Jones recalled being "so jaded" that she didn't believe these actors would be interested. "Nobody did TV. Comedy was the bottom of the barrel," she reflected. However, Daniels was committed to maintaining the authentic feel of the original British series by casting people who felt like real office workers.

Steve Carell, who eventually played the bumbling but lovable Michael Scott, was initially committed to another show, "Tom Papa's Come to Papa". According to Jones, "Nancy Perkins, who was the head of casting at NBC Universal, always knew Steve would be a top choice for this." This commitment prompted them to audition many actors, including Patton Oswalt and Bob Odenkirk, who were different versions of Michael Scott that could have worked. Fortunately, when "Come to Papa" was canceled after four episodes, Carell was free to join "The Office".

Michael Scott was not the only role with intense competition. Angela Kinsey originally auditioned for Pam, while Kathryn Hahn was also in the waiting room that day. Kinsey eventually read for Angela, a role she nearly lost due to her connection to Warren Lieberstein, whose sister was married to Greg Daniels. Jones assured her, "You did not get it because you were related to Greg. You got it because you were really good."

Jones' casting expertise extends beyond "The Office", with her work spanning numerous acclaimed shows like "Freaks and Geeks", "Arrested Development", "Parks and Recreation", "Veep" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", as well as movies such as "Bridesmaids", "Lady Bird" and "Barbie". She highlighted her philosophy of repeatedly bringing back promising actors, even if they don't book a job initially. Kristen Schaal, Zach Woods and Aubrey Plaza were auditioned for "The Office", with Woods joining later on the series and Schaal and Plaza being cast in other Jones-led shows.

"The Office" search for authenticity and the resulting cast have left a lasting impact, leading to a reboot from Daniels and Michael Koman. The new series promises to revive the mockumentary style, focusing on a dying Midwestern newspaper and its volunteer reporters, mirroring the charm and ingenuity of its predecessor.