Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The Officehas followed through with some very bizarre storylines over the years. In its nine seasons, fans have seen the rise and fall of Ryan to Michael taking a minor hostage and the peculiarity of Andy’s character. However, even in the thick of all of it, one of the most fantastically exciting characters that the series has ever introduced has to be that of Jan Levinson.
Starting off as a slightly self-aware character who was stuck in the chaos of Michael’s workplace, she very quickly became one of the most unhinged characters in the series. This can all be traced back to one moment in his character. One that her actress, Melora Hardin, came up with.
Jan and Her Decent Into Madness
When Jan Levinson was first introduced inThe Office,she was the personification of the corporate side of Dunder Mifflin. Being the buzzkill to all of Michael’s elaborate schemes,Steve Carell’scharacter was very evidently hostile towards her. However, things very quickly changed for her when she became involved with Michael.
When they first got together, she was outright horrible to him, making the power imbalance in their relationship evidently clear and leading to an inevitable breakup. However, when they got back together, fans quickly realized that her weirdness was only starting.
“I knew it was Steve’s last season”: Will Ferrell Just Had 1 Request from The Office to Replace Steve Carell That Sadly Didn’t Go Well
The one episode that perfectly encapsulates the dynamic of her relationship with Michael isDinner Party.Hosting two couples along with Dwight and his babysitting/girlfriend, the night continued to get more and more unhinged. Fans got to see all of her colors and everything that she was behind closed doors.
Being downright abusive towards Michael, she was a horrible person. However, she was also an incredibly hilarious character to watch. Fans saw her descent into madness, one bad decision after another, and this all started when she got her b**b job.
Jan’s Plastic Surgery Was Melora Hardin’s Idea
In the final episode of the third season ofThe Office, titledThe Job, Jan’s character is reintroduced into the series, this time with a new perspective on her life. That and she just got a b**b job. With all her weapons in her arsenal, she walks into Michael’s office and asks him to get back together with her.
It is safe to say that no one expected her character to go in such a direction. During an interview withRolling Stone,Melora Hardinrevealed that this direction was something she came up with. She revealed that she was looking around at the female crew of the series and wondered that none around her had a b**b job.
Jan’s bb job came from the first year that we went to the [network] upfronts [where advertisers preview upcoming shows], and I turned to Greg and said, ‘It’s funny, I’m looking around at the females in our cast, and I’m thinking nobody in our cast has a bb job.’
That was when he thought, “Ding-ding-ding-ding! Jan’s getting a bb job!” When Michael broke up with her, in order to get him back, she goes and gets her bbs giant. I just think that’s hilarious, and obviously the beginning of her losing her sh*t.
Ricky Gervais: ‘I actually thought it was over’ on The Office Ending After Steve Carell Left That Still Makes Us Angry
When she mentioned this to Greg Daniels, they ended up getting the perfect idea. She revealed that the creator came up with the perfect direction for Jan’s character, writing in a b**b job for her. Hardin added that the idea was hilarious in the best ways possible and was perfect to act as the catalyst of her descent into madness.
The Officeis available for streaming on Netflix.
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
