Rainn Wilson says The Office couldn’t be made today because its humor would now be seen as “politically incorrect.” The actor shared his thoughts in a June 14 interview with Fox News Digital, reflecting on how much comedy has changed.
“I do feel like you couldn’t make The Office today. I think that would be too hard to be as politically incorrect as the show was. And I do kind of miss that,” Wilson admitted.
The series ran from 2005 to 2013 and was based on a British show of the same name. It followed a group of office workers, led by Steve Carell’s Michael Scott. Much of the humor came from the character’s lack of awareness and tendency to say the wrong thing at the worst time.
“The whole point of The Office is that Michael Scott is a b***,” Wilson said, adding that both the fictional boss and his own character, Dwight Schrute, often had no “self-awareness.” He admitted that even though the audience was meant to view the characters as foolish, that style of humor would still face backlash given today’s norms.
“We milked that for a lot of great, really inappropriate stuff. But even with the fact that painting that character as just an idiot, I don’t think you could get away with it today,” Wilson said.
He pointed to the Season 1 episode “Diversity Day” as an example. In it, Michael creates his own version of a diversity seminar, which quickly goes off the rails. The episode ends with Mindy Kaling’s Kelly Kapoor slapping him.
Wilson also said he’s not deeply involved in the world of comedy and is “just an actor.” However, when he hears comedians complain about restrictions, he has one simple piece of advice: “Make them a little smarter.”
The Office earned countless Emmy nominations over the course of its long run, ultimately winning five. Wilson himself was nominated thrice, while Carell was nominated six times.
Despite its politically incorrect humor, it became the most-streamed series during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its appeal years after it ended.
That popularity carried well beyond its original run. More than a decade after the finale, a spin-off titled The Paper debuted, tapping into the show’s loyal fanbase. The Paper quickly gained traction, breaking into the top 10 most-watched series during its premiere week in October 2025.
