Steve Carell is definitely a meme king. After all, the numerous Michael Scott GIFs and memes circulating online have everyone rolling on the floor. Beyond being a television series, the American version of The Office has a special place in the hearts of the audience. And it’s the witty humor that has kept the show alive, even years after the airing of its last episode.
However, all jokes come at an expense. And interestingly one of Steve Carell’s jest cost the series $60,000.
Steve Carell’s The Office joke incurred a whopping $60,000 price tag
The Office actors Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, who portrayed the roles of Pam Beesly and Angela Martin respectively in the series revealed the costly consequence that raised from a Michael Scott joke. While sharing the behind-the-scene insights on their podcast Office Ladies, the two described how the Benihana Christmas episode proved to be quite expensive.
In this particular episode, Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott is seen eagerly anticipating to surprise his girlfriend Carol with a Jamaican getaway. And during the scene, Carell briefly sings Eddie Money’s Two Tickets to Paradise, a seemingly harmful musical interlude.
However, as harmless as it may appear, this particular moment had a far-reaching financial impact on the production team since it received a notable bill. As writer Jen Celotta recollected on the Office Ladies podcast,
“I was like, it’s a fine joke, but none of my jokes I’ve ever written have been a $60,000 joke. But I remember not so long after that we had some of our music budget pulled away from us. And I can’t help but think I mean, I was sitting at the mix and had no idea that because he sang that song, that song had to be cleared and that joke was $60,000.”
Well, isn’t that the most Michael Scott thing that Steve Carell might have done? An oblivious blunder that lives on forever. But this was not the only music-related anecdote shared by the Ladies.
When John Mayer laid down a special condition for allowing The Office to use his song
In another segment of Jenna Fisher and Angela Kingsley’s podcast, the duo revealed how the same episode A Benihana Christmas managed to secure the rights to John Mayer’s Your Body is a Wonderland. Set against a Christmas backdrop, in the episode Michael Scott is seen parting ways with his girlfriend Carol. And to cheer Scott up, a few of his employees plan a dinner outing in Benihana.
However, in a funny twist, Andy (Ed Helms) and Michael bring waitresses from the restaurant back to the party, and serenade them with Your Body is a Wonderland. But obtaining the rights to the song was no cakewalk. Reportedly, B.J. Novak who portrayed the character of Ryan on the show and was also a writer, director, and producer of the project was friends with John Mayer. But when asked to include his song on the show, Mayer put forth a condition. As Fischer explained,
“He was like, ‘Now, I’m not making apologies for my work, but it’s safe to say I don’t get asked to use “Wonderland” for strongman competitions and documentaries about aircraft carriers. I usually get asked so that people can goof on it. So I initially turned down their request. But after thinking about it, I decided to go for it. But with one stipulation.'”
And Mayer’s condition for granting permission was both unique and endearing. Interestingly, the musician expressed a desire for a Dundie, the fictional award presented annually by Michael Scott within the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office to his employees. And Novak happily fulfilled the request by presenting Mayer a custom Dundie for being the “Tallest Music Dude.”
