Jenna Fischer Reveals the Role Ed Helms Originally Auditioned for on 'The Office'

Especially while we're all stuck inside during quarantine, Office Ladies is the podcast that we need. In the show, hosted by Office alums Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the former co-stars go through every episode of the iconic NBC series, breaking down key plot points and blessing fans with behind-the-scenes secrets along the way. While you might not be keeping up with every episode, the two ladies have continued to drop some really awesome revelations about the show we all love so much.

For the latest, the pair discussed the Season 3 episode "Gay Witch Hunt," and transitioned into how the Stamford branch was introduced. Of course, fans will recall that Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) transfers to the other Dunder Mifflin office once things with Pam Beesly (Fischer) go south, and it's there where we meet characters Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) and Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones). The two actresses recalled how the newbies were cast on the show, as reported by People, with Fischer dropping the ultimate tea: Helms originally auditioned for the role of Jim!

"Ed told me that he was a huge fan of the original BBC Office, and he said not many people know this, but he originally auditioned in New York for the role of Jim," Fischer explained, to which Kinsey agreed she had not known. The Pam actress continued by saying that Helms, "said he didn't get the role obviously, but he heard that Steve [Carell] got the role of Michael Scott and he was so excited because he had worked with Steve on The Daily Show." She added:

"He was so excited for our American version of the show and he watched it and loved it, and somewhere near the end of season 2, he got a phone call to meet with [creator] Greg Daniels and [producer/Toby Flenderson actor] Paul Lieberstein about a new character that they wanted to introduce in Season 3."

And the rest is Dunder Mifflin history! To read why Helms had to take a break from the show in its final season, head to the link here.