‘The Office’ jokes and memes remain alive and rampant on social media proving how its comic relief is timeless. However, did you know that one punchline cost the team thousands of dollars?
Sure, quips don’t cost a thing, but ‘The Office’ made a shocking error that had them paying $60,000. It involved Steve Carell’s Michael Scott and a ‘70s song – now, you may have an idea.
Expensive Song
Diehard fans may remember the season 3 episode titled ‘A Benihana Christmas,’ where the characters were singing karaoke during a party. But those tracks weren’t expensive – ecstatic Michael, who can’t wait to take his girlfriend Carol on a vacation, sang to the tune of ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’ with different lyrics.
NBC | The scene had Michael Scott excitedly singing
Even though the character altered the lyrics and only used a small portion of the song, it still set the team back by $60,000, a fact that writer Jen Celotta only found out later. She discovered it at the sound mix and was shocked.
The Eddie Money song that Michael sang to his girlfriend really did cost them a lot of money, producer Kent Zbornak informed the writer. Jen, who couldn’t believe what happened, noted how after the incident, the music budget was pulled away.
Another Song
The writer may have taken this lesson well because when they decided to use ‘Your Body Is a Wonderland,’ the team asked for permission from the singer, John Mayer. BJ Novak, another scriptwriter, contacted the artist, who is also his friend.
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock | BJ Novak asked permission to use the song first
However, despite the friendship that they share, John initially denied ‘The Office’s’ request. He later changed tune as he allowed his hit track to be used in exchange for something valuable … and it’s not thousands of dollars.
Andre Luiz Moreira / Shutterstock | John Mayer granted the show to use his song
In a blog post, John explained that the reason he turned down the offer was that ‘Your Body Is a Wonderland’ is usually made fun of in programs. However, upon hearing what the show had planned for his song, he finally agreed, but he wanted a Dundie award – so ‘The Office’ gave him his very own ‘Tallest Music Dude’ recognition.
Fun Times
Despite the setbacks, the cast had a nice time on the set of the comedy show. In fact, they had become like a family more than co-workers – and the stars have been so vocal about how their roles changed their lives.
Despite forging an unbreakable bond, one of its lead stars, Steve, decided to leave the show after season 7, leaving a huge hole in its fans’ hearts. Although ‘The Office’ continued to air for two more seasons, it wasn’t the same without Michael on the program.
