It's finale week and a lot of shows have geared up to bring something different on the forefront. But The Office isn't just wrapping up its fifth season -it's also celebrating a milestone as it reaches its 100th episode tonight. Looking back, however, it was almost an impossible feat.
The Office, the remake of the BBC series starring Ricky Gervais, started as a midseason entry that kicked off in March 2005. It first few episodes drew mixed reviews from critics, and despite its promising cast (Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and Rainn Wilson), not a lot of people were watching the series. But thanks to Judd Apatow, whose feature directorial debut, The 40-Yea-Old Virgin, hit screens and went on to gross $177 million worldwide, Steve Carell, who had been active in film and television for several years, finally became a household name. And that accelerated The Office's exposure, according to NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman.