There has been talk that Ben Silverman, the new chairman of the NBC network, is planning to create a spin-off of their hit comedy series, The Office, with fan-favorite Dwight Schrute, played by actor Rainn Wilson, leading the show.
The Office is an adaptation of the equally popular UK program with the same name. Silverman brought the series to the United States in 2004 as a midseason replacement. Producer Greg Daniels developed (and continues to work on) the show, while original series creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are credited as part of the production staff.
The Office has been well-received by American viewers and has garnered several awards and recognitions, including a 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. It stars Steve Carell as Michael Scott, who serves as the counterpart of Gervais’ character, David Brent, on the original series. For his portrayal of Dunder-Mifflin, Scranton’s regional manager, Carell has won a 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy.
Aside from Carell and Wilson, other major cast members include Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski, whose characters on the show finally arranged their long-awaited “first date” at the end of the third season finale of The Office.
During the party that followed the 61st Tony Awards, Wilson talked to Fox news writer Roger Friedman about the possibility of the spin-off. The 41-year old actor, who trained in theater at Tufts University and the University of Washington, and holds an MFA from New York University, has appeared in other television series, including Six Feet Under, NUMB3RS, Entourage, Monk and Charmed. His film credits include Almost Famous, America’s Sweethearts, Galaxy Quest, House of 1000 Corpses, Sahara, My Super Ex-Girlfriend and The Last Mimzy.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Fox News
(Photo Courtesy of NBC)
Staff Columnist, BuddyTV
