--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know whether The Office was…" description: "\"I didn't know whether The Office was going to make it past six episodes, let alone have an effect on anybody's career. We were definitely up against it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/steve-carell-2000_high-hopes_i-didn-t-know-whether-the-office-was-goi_1468893.jpg" --- # I didn't know whether The Office was going to make it past… ![“I didn't know whether The Office was going to make it past six episodes, let alone have an effect on anybody's career. We were definitely up against it because obviously we were faced with comparisons to the BBC version right off the bat. I think everyone was very dubious about recreating what is…” quote by Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/steve-carell-2000_high-hopes_i-didn-t-know-whether-the-office-was-goi_1468893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/steve-carell-2000_high-hopes_i-didn-t-know-whether-the-office-was-goi_1468893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/steve-carell-2000_high-hopes_i-didn-t-know-whether-the-office-was-goi_1468893.jpg) > “I didn't know whether The Office was going to make it past six episodes, let alone have an effect on anybody's career. We were definitely up against it because obviously we were faced with comparisons to the BBC version right off the bat. I think everyone was very dubious about recreating what is now a classic TV show. Most people did not have high hopes, us included, frankly. We were just trying to do the best we could and, with any luck, turn out a good show.” [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The show faced skepticism due to comparisons with its British counterpart, yet creators persisted, hoping to succeed despite doubts. **In simple terms:** People doubted the show’s success because of its origins. Key Takeaway Persist despite criticism and focus on quality. Themes skepticism creativity perseverance Mood optimistic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - TV production - scriptwriting - pilot testing - audience research - marketing Key Concepts adaptation media culture Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help creators overcome early criticism? - How does adaptation influence originality? A Different Perspective Success is not guaranteed; external expectations can hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bbc Version](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bbc-version-4271251/) [Comparisons Bbc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparisons-bbc-5325272/) [Episodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes/) [Episodes Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes-let-5325273/) [High hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-hopes/) [Past Episodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-episodes-4440860/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [The great thing about having a serialized drama (like 'Sons of Anarchy') is that I'm allowed to bring up events and circumstances that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-great-thing-about-having-a-serialized-drama-like-sons-of-anarchy/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [The tsar of War and Peace, especially in the BBC version, is a complete popinjay and a useless character. The real tsar, Alexander I,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/the-tsar-of-war-and-peace-especially-in-the-bbc-version-is-a-complete/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [“My name is Professor Ben Fielding and I’d like to invite you to experience our ‘Game’. It remains currently in a Closed Beta stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ade-mcoran-campbell/my-name-is-professor-ben-fielding-and-i-d-like-to-invite-you-to/) [Ade McOran-Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ade-mcoran-campbell/) > [Our thoughts about an event can have a dramatic effect on how we go through the event itself. When our expectations are low, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/our-thoughts-about-an-event-can-have-a-dramatic-effect-on-how-we-go/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“High hopes were once formed of democracy; but democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/high-hopes-were-once-formed-of-democracy-but-democracy-means-simply/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I went along with it, and wanted to appoint a significant figure in Malcolm Fraser. I didn't have high hopes that they'd be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/i-went-along-with-it-and-wanted-to-appoint-a-significant-figure-in/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [It's never too easy to start again. All you have to have are high hopes to start again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghassan-el-labadi-2/it-s-never-too-easy-to-start-again-all-you-have-to-have-are-high/) [Ghassan El Labadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghassan-el-labadi-2/) > [I have high hopes for Renee Ballard's literary life, and it can't start out better than the top of 'USA TODAY''s best-seller list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-have-high-hopes-for-renee-ballard-s-literary-life-and-it-can-t/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [I really believe in completely being naive and having high hopes when meeting someone new. I can kind of re-do my stupidity or my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-really-believe-in-completely-being-naive-and-having-high-hopes-when/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [We're showing a lot of the good signs you need for a good team, so I have high hopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-lundqvist/we-re-showing-a-lot-of-the-good-signs-you-need-for-a-good-team-so-i/) [Henrik Lundqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-lundqvist/) > [“I was given the name Prospect because people have high hopes for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-okita/i-was-given-the-name-prospect-because-people-have-high-hopes-for-me/) [Dwight Okita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-okita/) > [ So to some extent he \[Barack Obama\] is a victim of the expectations and the high hopes that we experienced. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullilove/so-to-some-extent-he-barack-obama-is-a-victim-of-the-expectations-and/) [Michael Fullilove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullilove/) > [I will keep my head high and my hopes up, because the best kind of revenge is a smile that never gives up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crazymaff/i-will-keep-my-head-high-and-my-hopes-up-because-the-best-kind-of/) [CrazyMaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crazymaff/) > [“Sometimes when we go through transitions, we aren’t aware of the impact they have on us. Stress, doubt, and even depression commonly result from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/sometimes-when-we-go-through-transitions-we-aren-t-aware-of-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“One of Lucy's admirers took to her, apparently." "Took to her?" echoes William, his own feelings for Sugar causing him to construe the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/one-of-lucy-s-admirers-took-to-her-apparently-took-to-her-echoes/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) ## More by Steve Carell > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Im not funny. Im actually quite a boring person to meet one-on-one. That seems to shock quite a few people who I run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/im-not-funny-im-actually-quite-a-boring-person-to-meet-one-on-one/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [It's harder when people are playing along, because it's just not as funny. They're trying to be funny, and it sort of cancels out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-harder-when-people-are-playing-along-because-it-s-just-not-as/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [My wife is way funnier than I am. As much as I don't really feel I share a sense of humour with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/my-wife-is-way-funnier-than-i-am-as-much-as-i-don-t-really-feel-i/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [From cheesecake on a stick to meat skewers to deep-fried bananas on a stick - there are no plates anymore. In Los Angeles, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/from-cheesecake-on-a-stick-to-meat-skewers-to-deep-fried-bananas-on-a/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [If I'd had a great level of success early on, who knows how I would have responded. I might have been a complete jerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/if-i-d-had-a-great-level-of-success-early-on-who-knows-how-i-would/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [It was kind of like they were just giving us a toy to play with, to do whatever we wanted with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-was-kind-of-like-they-were-just-giving-us-a-toy-to-play-with-to-do/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I wasn't a class clown, I never developed this comedic flair as a kid. Even when I decided to become an actor, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-wasn-t-a-class-clown-i-never-developed-this-comedic-flair-as-a-kid/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Whenever I hear someone describe something as a 'kids movie' or a 'family movie,' it immediately has a negative connotation in my mind because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/whenever-i-hear-someone-describe-something-as-a-kids-movie-or-a/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I don't text, I don't have a Blackberry. Literally, I just have a cell phone that I haven't programmed and the whole Bluetooth. No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-don-t-text-i-don-t-have-a-blackberry-literally-i-just-have-a-cell/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I ate fiberglass insulation. It wasn’t cotton candy like the guy said… my tummy itches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ate-fiberglass-insulation-it-wasn-t-cotton-candy-like-the-guy-said/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [After enjoying a tuna fish sandwich, my seven year old son kindly asked me to 'Change my breath.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/after-enjoying-a-tuna-fish-sandwich-my-seven-year-old-son-kindly/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Different things just strike people differently. And it's so subjective, too. Because what makes one person laugh won't make others laugh. I guess it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/different-things-just-strike-people-differently-and-it-s-so/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [“I hate hospitals, in my mind they are associated with sickness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-hate-hospitals-in-my-mind-they-are-associated-with-sickness/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I think when someone who's known for doing drama does a comedy but just tries to be funny, that's a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-think-when-someone-who-s-known-for-doing-drama-does-a-comedy-but/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) [Explore all 192 Steve Carell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## More Episodes quotes > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. 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It was extraordinary stuff. He wrote… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-carradine/walter-hill-basically-brought-me-into-that-wild-bill-hickok-and-it/) [Keith Carradine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-carradine/) > [ On the other hand \[making a string of one-off episodes\], there's a real freedom, because you're kind of reinventing the show every week. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/on-the-other-hand-making-a-string-of-one-off-episodes-there-s-a-real/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [All Internet comedy is niche comedy. If you do an Internet video about Halo, every Halo fan will send it to every other Halo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-van-veen/all-internet-comedy-is-niche-comedy-if-you-do-an-internet-video-about/) [Ricky Van Veen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-van-veen/) > [I understand why creative people like dark, but American audiences dont like dark. They like story. 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I went and bought 100 episodes and watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-epps/i-can-remember-when-i-was-a-baby-and-my-mother-was-there-watching-the/) [Mike Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-epps/) > [I did this TV show, which was my first job ever. It wasn't a real acting part. It was like this promo for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-did-this-tv-show-which-was-my-first-job-ever-it-wasn-t-a-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's the definition of a mini-series. A mini-series is a show that has no continuing story or narrative elements between one group of episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landgraf/that-s-the-definition-of-a-mini-series-a-mini-series-is-a-show-that/) [John Landgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landgraf/) [Browse all 861 Episodes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episodes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know whether The Office was going to make it past six episodes, let alone have an effect on anybody's career. We were definitely up against it because obviously we were faced with comparisons to the BBC version right off the bat. I think everyone was very dubious about recreating what is now a classic TV show. Most people did not have high hopes, us included, frankly. 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