Mindy Kaling Says THE OFFICE Is "So Inappropriate" and "Couldn't Be Made Today" and the Fans Respond
The Office was a hugely popular hit for NBC during its run back in 2005-2013. And since hitting streaming and syndication, it has reached way more fans, and continues to garner more. It’s a classic hilarious show that has as many cringy moments as it does heartwarming ones.
Actress and writer Mindy Kaling, who is best known for playing Kelly Kapoor on the series, as well as writing many of the show’s episodes, was recently asked by Variety what she thought about the possibility of the show getting a reboot one day. She explained:
“That show is so inappropriate now. The writers who I’m still in touch with now, we always talk about how so much of that show we probably couldn’t make now. Tastes have changed, and honestly what offends people has changed so much now. I think that actually is one of the reasons the show is popular, because people feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show.”
When asked what her character, the pop-culture obsessed Kelly Kapoor, would be doing in a 2022 version of The Office, Kaling responded:
“I think she would have quit Dunder Mifflin to become an influencer, and then probably be canceled, almost immediately. Actually, most of the characters on that show would be canceled by now.”
Many fans have responded to Kaling’s statements, saying that the show has always been inappropriate! It was about a group of diverse people, many of whom were oblivious to political correctness, or even social proprieties. It felt like watching real people, and that’s what made it fun. But as other stars from the series have talked about, it would definitely be hard to recreate the magic of the original series.
Steve Carell, who starred in most seasons of the ensemble series, has been vocal over the years about not being open to returning for a reboot, previously telling Collider:
“The show is way more popular now than when it was on the air. I just can’t see it being the same thing, and I think most folks would want it to be the same thing, but it wouldn’t be. Ultimately, I think it’s maybe best to leave well enough alone and just let it exist as what it was.
“You’d literally have to have all of the same writers, the same producers, the same directors, and the same actors, and even with all of those components, it just wouldn’t be the same. So, no. But, I love the show. It was the most exciting time, and all of those people are my friends. We all love it. It was a special thing. It was a special thing before people thought it was a special thing. It was special to us, before other people started feeling that way. But, no.”
I definitely see where Carell is coming from. The Office is one of my all-time favorite shows, and I would be really excited for a reunion of sorts, but I know it would be a tricky endeavor, and it would be sad if it didn’t come together the right way.
All episodes of The Office are currently available to stream on Peacock. Below you’ll find some amusing posts from fans in response to Kaling’s comments.