IfB.J. Novakhad his way, a true boss may have joinedThe Office.
During his appearance on Thursday’s episode ofWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,the actor, 42, responded to recent reports that lateSopranosstarJames Gandolfiniwas in talks to play the next boss onThe OfficeafterSteve Carell’s exit in 2011. Carell, 59, had played Michael Scott on the beloved NBC sitcom since 2005.
“I was at the meeting with James Gandolfini where we tried to convince him to join the show,” Novak recalled. “And he was a big comedy fan — his favorite movie wasThe RockerstarringRainn Wilson, so he was shy and intrigued.”
“He’s my favorite actor of all time in anything, so I just thought it would be great because, to me,The Sopranoswas actually the biggest influence onThe Officebecause of the way that comedy and drama and character were all completely indistinguishable,” he continued.
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“In fact, the way Michael Scott will say something very serious but mispronounce a word, I feel, is a direct descendent of the Tony Soprano sense of humor,” Novak said. “So I thought he would have been an incredible replacement — I really, really wanted to work with him.”
AfterAndy Cohenasked if it seemed like Gandolfini wanted to take the gig, Novak shared a bit of wisdom he received from the revered actor.
“I did [feel like he wanted it],” Novak said. “It was interesting, we suggested sort of a white collar character to play against type, and he said something I’ll never forget — he said, ‘I feel as an actor, whoever comes out at 3 a.m., that’s who you should be playing. And at 3 a.m. what comes out of me is a blue collar guy.'”
“I thought that was so interesting,” Novak added.
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Schirripa claimed Gandolfini was offered the role beforeJames SpaderjoinedThe Officein Carell’s place and said his late costar was “going to take it,” as it was several years afterThe Sopranosconcluded.
“I think before James Spader and after Carell, they offered [Gandolfini], I want to say, $4 million to play him for the season — and HBO paid him $3 million not to do it,” he said after Imperioli brought up the topic with guestRicky Gervais, who created the original British version ofThe Office.
source: people.com
