Rainn Wilson Says ‘The Office’ Was ‘Jaw-Droppingly’ Offensive at Times and NBC Lost Out on a ‘Billion Dollars’ by Axing Dwight Spinoff: ‘They Really Missed Out’

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/rainn-wilson-the-office-offensive-dwight-spinoff-1236513975/

41 comments

  1. Idk that Dwight episode that served as a back door pilot was pretty awful

  3. “it’s a show based around clueless, insensitive, racist, sexist people that kind of mirrors the United States in a lot of ways.”

    bullseye, Mr Wilson

  4. At one time people also thought the Friend’s spinoff Joey was going to be a surefire hit too.

    A Dwight spin-off would probably not have lasted more than a season or two.

  6. As others have mentioned, the backdoor pilot episode “The Farm” was horrible and tonally jarring. But also, if the pilot were picked up, Dwigt and Angela wouldn’t have been endgame, so for that reason alone, I’m glad it was dead on arrival.

  7. Sitcom spinoffs following a side character that would only work as a side character do not have a good track record. There’s no way this show would have lasted more than two seasons.

  8. Ya, just look at all they money that Friends spinoff about Joey made! Hollywood never learns

  9. Guys, Young Sheldon made everyone involved a billionaire.  A Dwight spinoff would have done fine.  

  10. This only works if they incorporate others characters into it. That family of his they introduce are literally insufferable that episode

  12. The Office was offensive as satire, which it did pretty well on a subversive level unlike more in your face satire might do.

    As much as I like the Dwight character, i can’t see him carrying his own show. Nothing against the actor, he was great, but the show itself worked because of how everyone played off each other. Dwight, when he briefly had the lead, kind of ran his course of interesting character arcs.

  15. Nobody is tuning into *The Dwight Show*, buddy. Seriously

  17. Of all the cast on that show, Rainn Wilson seems the most unhappy person re his career and the good times he had.

  18. The last thing I would ever accuse the U.S Office of being is offensive… everyone wants to think they’re punk rock.

  19. It was a bit offensive for network TV, but there were tons of shows on cable channels on the same level at the time.

  20. He thinks young Sheldon is the rule not the exception. Spin-offs rarely work and a Dwight spinoff would have been terrible IMo

  21. I dont think Ive ever heard a Rainn Wilson quote that didnt come off as arrogant and self serving

  22. Saw what happened with Joey from Friends and said No

  23. Honestly, while I’ve enjoyed his work in the past, it seems like every time he opens his mouth about anything regarding the entertainment industry, something mind meltingly stupid tumbles out. He comes off as someone who believes himself to be a temporarily embarrassed A-lister rather than a competent but unexciting supporting cast member and it ends up making any project with him in it a struggle to be interested in unless the rest of the cast is stellar.

  26. It would have never worked, and Rain is just bitter.

  27. I love Rainn. But a Dwight show would’ve been terrible.

  28. Lmao a billion dollars

    Dwight was a cartoon character the last 5 seasons

    The show wouldn’t have lasted 6 episodes 

  29. Is there the part where we all start hating Dwight ?
    Yay Reddit!

  30. Man I tried watching the show honestly and I do think it’s good but honestly 30 rock was waaaay edgier and that’s not exactly a very “offensive” show. I think it was just kinda out there for NBC standards.

  32. Rainn Wilson is a moderately talented actor who lucked into his dream role. Dwight Schrute spinoff would have died quickly with little fanfare.

  34. I don’t think the spin-off would be great.

    And I think the “you couldn’t make that anymore” claims don’t hold up when Always Sunny is still on the air.

  35. Man a Dwight spinoff where it’s just him running the bed and breakfast with cousin Mose would be so good

  36. Man Rainn Wilson must be struggling for roles. I have heard his name quite a bit lately and it’s just him complaining

  37. He’s an asshole that’s bitter that his fame fell off. The Farm was a desperate continuation of character that lasted too long on the original.

  38. That character worked in the context of the other characters, with all due respect, he is wrong.

  40. They should have done a series called Dwight Schrute: Private Eye.

  41. Dwight drove me nuts. But he is the reason I watched the show. I had to see what other obnoxious things he’d come up with. That would have a cash cow for NBC.

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