Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) are some of the most beloved onscreen couples in TV history after starring in the workplace sitcom The Office. Enthralled Office fans followed the romance of Jim and Pam from the beginning when Pam was still engaged to Roy. Eventually, Pam and Jim couldn't ignore their feelings for each other any longer and the rest is history.
The couple went through a lot over nine seasons, including a rough patch in season 9 when Jim took a second job in Philadelphia. But nothing could keep these two from each other. By the end of the series, the couple moved their family to Austin, Texas, so that Jim could start a new job and their family could start a new life. And while fans think they know Jim and Pam, there are a few secrets that get swept under the rug.
Updated on December 19, 2021, by Kayleigh Banks: With Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer's Office Ladies podcast revealing plenty of behind-the-scenes facts and secrets, some fans will be surprised to learn that the writers had come up with a lot of wild storylines - even for Pam and Jim. While the fan-favorite pairing overcame a lot of obstacles to be together and get their happy ending, some fans might not have realized that there were a lot of external forces (on and off) that were close to splitting them up permanently. Luckily, with John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer's influence (and the vocal of the fans), they didn't go through with their plans.
Fischer Shared The Secret Behind The Success Of Jim And Pam In The Office
Jenna Fischer caused a stir when she shared the secret to her on-screen chemistry with Office co-star John Krasinski, during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Responding to a caller who wanted to know if the co-stars were close in real life or whether their onscreen connection was only just good acting, Fischer said the secret of her on-screen chemistry with Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert, was that they were "genuinely in love" with each other in real life.
However, with both Fischer and Krasinski being married to other people, she concluded that she and Krasinski would always remain close to each other because she regarded her co-star as a "type of spouse" due to their special on-screen relationship.
Krasinski Later Awkwardly Denied Fischer's Claim That They Were "Genuinely In Love"
Things got awkward days after Fischer told Andy Cohen that her chemistry with Krasinski was due to the fact that they were "genuinely in love with one another." While fans debated the implications of what they took to be a confession of a real-life romantic relationship, Krasinski insisted in an interview with The Daily Beast that the media had misquoted Fischer.
According to Krasinski, Fischer was only trying to say that they had a sincere and close relationship. He said that although it was an honor to have developed a close relationship with Fischer, it was inaccurate to say that they "were genuinely in love.” He said it was unfortunate that the media wildly misconstrued Fischer’s words.
The Producers Had Planned For Jim And Pam To Be An Interracial Couple
The Office executive producer Greg Daniels revealed to would be different if it were made today but it would have been incredibly different with these actors from the start.
Daniels abandoned the plan to have Erica Vittina Phillips play Pam after Fischer auditioned for Pam, as he decided she was the best fit for the role. Daniels told TV Guide that he never had a reason to regret his final decision to cast Fischer and Krasinski as Pam and Jim. He insisted that Fischer turned out to be a perfect fit for the role of Pam.
Krasinski Nearly Lost The Part Of Jim To Adam Scott And Pam Was Nearly Played By Kathryn Hahn
John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer ended up in the roles of Jim and Pam against all odds. Comments to the media by multiple inside sources, including Daniels, show that the roles might easily have gone to several other actors and actresses
Parks and Recreation star Adam Scott auditioned for the part of Jim Halpert, according to The Office Journal, and was nearly cast in the role. According to Uproxx, Scott had the best chance of being cast because Krasinski's audition did not go well. Krasinski was actually supposed to read for the part of Dwight Schrute, but he managed to convince the directors to allow him to read for Jim. Kathryn Hahn was seriously considered for the role of Pam and Angela Kinsey was also considered for the role before she was cast as Angela!
The Office Almost Got A Jim And Pam Family Show Spinoff
Executive producer Greg Daniels revealed during a May 2013 interview with TV Guide that one of the major Office spinoff proposals that they had on the table was a Jim and Pam family show. However, the former executive producer Michael Schur revealed that the idea was finally shelved due to concerns that it might hurt The Office, which was in season 4 at the time.
There were a few other spinoff ideas for The Office, one, in particular, would have featured Ed Helms' Andy Bernard as the dad of a family and Catherine Tate (Nellie Bertram) as the mom. Craig Robinson and Rainn Wilson were also considered for their own shows as Darryl Philbin and Dwight Schrute respectively.
Fischer Cried Tears Of Joy When She Learned Krasinski Was Playing Jim
During an appearance in an episode of The Jeff Probst Show in 2013, Fischer talked about her interaction with Krasinski during the final round of auditioning that involved eight actors. She recalled in her book The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide (2017) that the chemistry between her and Krasinski was already apparent at the time. She recalled that he whispered to her during the auditioning that she was his favorite and that he hoped she would get the role.
When Fischer eventually got the role, the first question she asked was whether Krasinski also got the role of Jim Halpert. Fischer said she was elated and cried tears of joy when she learned that Krasinski would be her co-star, and the start of Jim and Pam's relationship timeline began.
Jim And Pam's First Kiss Was Krasinski's First-Ever Onscreen (But He Lied About It)
Jim Halpert's first kiss with Pam Beesly in The Office season 2 finale was one of the most viewed scenes and Krasinski's first-ever ons-creen kiss, according to Entertainment Weekly. However, Krasinski was apparently shy about the fact that it was his first on-screen kiss, so when Fischer asked him about it, he lied about it at first. But Fischer was open about the fact that the kiss was her first on-screen kiss.
According to Today, the kiss was the culmination of two seasons of onscreen flirting between Pam and Jim, as well as an intensifying off-screen connection between the two co-stars since they first met while auditioning for their roles in the TV show.
Fischer "Felt Transported Into A New Reality" During Jim And Pam's First Kiss Scene
Fischer revealed in her book The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide, that she would never forget her first kiss with Krasinski. Fischer noted that after director Ken Kwapis gave instructions for the scene and walked away, she "felt completely transported into a new reality."
She wrote that in the moment after the kiss, the crew and the whole cast knew that they had just filmed one of the most iconic first kisses in TV history. It was one of Pam's more badass moments on The Office because she followed her feelings and kissed her best friend regardless of the consequences.
The Replica Of A Rest Stop For Jim And Pam's Proposal Scene Cost $250,000
The replica of a Merritt Parkway rest stop that was built for Jim and Pam's gas station proposal scene cost $250,000, The Office Ladies. They were willing to commit so many resources to that scene because it was the highlight of their five years of storytelling, Daniels added.
According to the Washington Post, the scene was supposed to take place in the rain at a gas station based on an actual rest stop on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. Director Paul Feig and the cast flew to the East Coat for the shooting, but when they found that it would cost $100,000 and that they would not be allowed to use their huge rain machines, they flew back with the film crew to Los Angeles.
Fischer Kept The Engagement Ring Jim Gave To Pam
According to BuzzFeed, Fischer kept the engagement ring that Jim gave to Pam. She kept the ring as a souvenir and allegedly wore it in public after the series ended. Fans claimed that she wore the $5,000 ring during multiple TV appearances.
However, Fischer took to Twitter in 2017 to deny rumors that the ring was worth about $5,000. She itted she was keeping the ring, but insisted it was only a silver prop ring not worth $5,000. She also denied claims that she was seen wearing it in public, as she insisted that she did not "wear it in real life."
