Jenna Fischer Reveals How The Office Finale Was Almost Way Less Sentimental

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Jenna Fischer reveals how the finale of The Office could have lost one of its most sentimental moments. Fischer played Pam Beesly, one half of the will-they-won't they relationship with John Krasinski's Jim Halpert, on the NBC sitcom. While The Office is renowned for its comedy, it's almost just as revered for its heartfelt moments and relationships.

For example, one of the most emotional moments for the audience came in season 3, when Michael Scott (Steve Carell) showed up to Pam's art show. It was the end of the night and no one else had come, so when Michael appeared and showed genuine pride in Pam's work, it was an instance of tearful, friendly affection between them. Michael even purchased the painting Pam had made of their office building and hung it up outside his office door. Then, In the final moments of The Office's series finale, Pam takes the painting from the wall to keep it—and the memories—with her.

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Now, Fischer reveals on the Office Ladies podcast (via Mashable) that this moment from the finale almost didn't happen at all. There was a storyline in the season 6 episode «Mafia» that had receptionist Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) accidentally destroy Pam's beloved painting, and Fischer states that she was vocal about her disapproval of this idea from the start. She broached her concerns with writer Paul Lieberstein, creator Greg Daniels, editor Dave Rogers, and writer and producer Brent Forrester, despite getting turned away multiple times. In the end, Fischer succeeded in getting the gag edited out, but the team behind The Office didn't realize the impact this decision would have until those final moments of the finale. Read more of what Fischer