Movies and TV shows get made multiple times before they’re finished. It often starts with the script, getting the story as fleshed out as possible. Then there’s production, where the script can (and will) change depending on numerous factors. After that, we have the edit, where a show or film can change entirely with a music cue or slightly different semblance of shots. Because of all these steps, sometimes things that seem integral to the final product were not only absent but they were fought against.
The finale for the first season of the American version of The Office saw a young Amy Adams as the guest star. Michael Scott spends the whole time harassing her, as does Dwight, while Jim swoops in at the end to ask her out. By that episode, it is abundantly clear that Jim has feelings for Pam, his redheaded coworker. So, seeing him go out with someone who looks similar makes a lot of narrative sense and sets up some fun conflict. It’s a smart move and was not the show’s intention (at first).
Jenna Fischer (who played Pam) and Angela Kinsey recently revealed that Adams was not the original choice for the role for the exact reason that made her perfect for the part. “In our original breakdown of this episode, we mentioned that Amy Adams, who stars as the purse girl, Katy, was [episode writer and star] Mindy Kaling’s first choice for the role,” explained Fischer. “But what we didn’t share was that Amy Adams was not the first person cast in the role.” People wanted Adams but there was one “problem:” she looked too much like Pam.
“There was this concern that Amy and I looked too similar. And I guess one of the writers even said, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t cast her. She’s like Jenna 2.0.’ And so they got cold feet and they cast someone else,” Fischer noted. “But when it didn’t work out, they decided to cast Amy and just lean into the fact that she and I looked similar because that wasn’t the idea behind the role at first.” A happy accident, I guess? It’s wild to me that the thing that enhances the story was potentially standing in the way! The negative reaction was even worked into the episode, as Michael referred to Adams’ character as “Pam 6.0.”
Luckily, they went with Adams and the rest is history. Working her in was “seamless” according to the hosts. Kinsey would go on to reveal that Adams even improvised a lot, which got into the show, saying, “She improvises a lot, you guys. A lot of her improvs make it in. She just knew who this woman was.” It should go without saying but when you have Amy Adams you go with Amy Adams!