15 Years Ago, The Office Delivered Its Only Crossover Episode (With the One Other Show That Made Sense)

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Everyone recognizes The Office as a truly memorable sitcom. What makes it stand out is that it achieved success without using typical TV tricks, like having characters from other shows make guest appearances. However, the show did have one crossover event, but it was perfectly suited to its quirky and unique style of comedy, and viewers really enjoyed it.

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s been fifteen years since The Office pulled off one of the biggest surprises in sitcom history with Season 7’s “The Seminar.” As a longtime fan, I remember exactly where I was when it aired – it was a truly unforgettable moment!

The Office Brings Its Two Crazy Managers Together

By Season 7 of The Office, Steve Carell was ready to leave the show. The writers handled his departure beautifully, creating a storyline where his character, Michael Scott, prioritized love and moved to New England to be with Holly Flax. The whole season felt like a farewell, filled with things Michael wanted to do before Steve Carell left. One special moment was finally having Michael meet David Brent, the actor who inspired the character.

The American version of The Office was originally based on a British show with the same name that aired a year earlier. The UK series focused on David Brent (played by Ricky Gervais), a regional manager who lacked self-awareness. His humor was known for being dry and sharply ironic, especially when he attempted to appear cool – often through awkward dancing or inappropriate flirting. When the show was adapted for America, Steve Carell played Michael Scott with a bit more heart than Gervais’s David Brent, balancing out Michael’s often embarrassing cluelessness. Before Michael Scott left the show, the creators arranged a meeting between the American and British versions of the character.

Each episode of The Office began with a short teaser scene, and the one for “The Seminar” was used to create a memorable crossover moment. It shows Michael Scott accidentally running into David Brent as he leaves work. Their awkward encounter is filled with intentionally awkward and offensive jokes – including poorly imitated accents – as they connect over their shared desire to be seen as funny and their love of making suggestive “that’s what she said” comments.

The scene is short, but surprisingly hilarious on multiple levels. It’s a playful jab from Ricky Gervais at Steve Carell and the American version of The Office, acknowledging how much Michael Scott’s character borrowed from his own David Brent. The meeting between the two characters has become a legendary moment in The Office history, largely because it’s such a subtle crossover. Viewers familiar with the original UK series were shocked, while those new to Gervais’ work got a fantastic introduction to his sharp humor – and a great, free advertisement for the UK The Office.

Steve Carell left The Office and became a highly successful movie actor, even earning an Oscar nomination for his role in Foxcatcher. Meanwhile, Ricky Gervais also found great success on television, winning two Primetime Emmys for his satirical series Extras. So, if Michael Scott and David Brent were to meet today, it would undoubtedly be in much more glamorous settings than the Dunder Mifflin office.

Watch The Office (US) on Peacock! Share your favorite scenes and moments with other fans on the ComicBook Forum.

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2026-01-31 18:14