Steve Carell, the fan-favorite Michael Scott from ‘The Office,’ recently revealed that he almost didn’t take the role. While many in the industry advised Steve to stay far away from the role, he still took it. The performance that almost never happened soon became a career-defining feat for him. What if Steve Carell had not taken the role of Michael Scott in ‘The Office’? What if he didn’t take the shot? Luckily he did. And now nothing fits better than one of his quotes from the office: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Quote of the day by Steve Carell
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” While the original motivational proverb belongs to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, the character Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) famously writes it on a whiteboard in his new office, attributing the quote to himself as a “quote of a quote”.The gag appears in the Season 5 episode titled “Michael Scott Paper Company.” Having recently quit Dunder Mifflin to start his own firm, Michael is looking for inspiration. In a brief shot, a whiteboard in the background displays: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.— Wayne Gretzky— Michael Scott”
Even hockey legend Wayne Gretzky loves the gag
The joke became so iconic that Wayne Gretzky himself eventually paid homage to it during a 2022 NHL playoff broadcast on Turner Sports. The original quote was first documented in a 1983 interview with Wayne Gretzky in The Hockey News. Gretzky was explaining his high volume of shots on goal, noting that even with a low probability of scoring, you can’t succeed if you don’t try.
What if Steve Carell had not taken the shot?
It’s difficult to imagine The Office without Steve’s awkward yet oddly endearing take on Michael Scott. Steve earned six Emmy nominations for ‘The Office.’ We’re glad he took the shot!
More about Steve Carell
Steve Carell continues to stay relevant well beyond ‘The Office,’ currently appearing in ‘Rooster,’ where he plays a layered, emotionally complex character navigating personal and professional challenges. In recent years, he has impressed audiences with performances in ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘The Patient,’ proving his strength in dramatic roles. Beyond television, Carell has delivered standout performances in films like ‘Foxcatcher,’ ‘The Big Short,’ and ‘Beautiful Boy,’ while also remaining a fan favorite as Gru in ‘Despicable Me’.
