Rainn Wilson Argues the Antics of Michael and Dwight Are a Relic of the Past, but the Network Clearly Disagrees
A case for good comedy.
Rainn Wilson just dropped a hot take that The Office would never survive in today’s comedy landscape, calling the show’s humor “too inappropriate” for 2026. The actor, who played Dwight Schrute for nine seasons, told Fox News Digital that the cringe-worthy antics of Michael Scott and Dwight – characters designed to be clueless, offensive, and utterly lacking in self-awareness – wouldn’t fly in today’s cultural climate.
But here’s the kicker, Peacock clearly disagrees, because the streaming service greenlit The Paper, a series set in the same universe, proving that the network isn’t ready to let go of that Office magic just yet. The Paper wrapped up its first season in September 2025, with a second season already in the works. It follows the chaotic daily grind of a struggling Midwestern newspaper, and while it’s not a direct continuation of The Office, it’s hard to ignore the tonal similarities.
The cast includes Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, and even Oscar Nuñez, who played the lovably awkward accountant Oscar Martinez in the original series. If Peacock is betting on a new generation of workplace comedy, it’s safe to say they’re not buying Wilson’s argument.
Wilson has labelled the show’s infamous moments ‘jaw-droppingly horrific’
In the past, the actor has discussed how The Office pushed boundaries, calling some of the show’s most infamous moments “jaw-droppingly horrific.” He pointed to the Benihana Christmas episode, where Michael and Andy draw on an Asian woman with a Sharpie after bringing her back from a holiday party.
“They’re clueless and in their cluelessness they’re racist and insensitive, and they’re always saying the wrong thing,” Wilson said on The Last Laugh podcast in 2025, according to Variety. “It’s a show based around clueless, insensitive, racist, sexist people that kind of mirrors the United States in a lot of ways,” he had said. That’s a bold statement. It’s also a reminder of how the show thrived on making audiences squirm while still rooting for its flawed characters.
Wilson’s take on modern comedy isn’t just about The Office, though. He’s been vocal about how cancel culture and political divisions have made it harder for shows to take risks. He argued that partisan hypocrisy is fueling America’s dysfunction, with both sides quick to condemn the other while ignoring their own flaws.
He used the example of Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner, whose Nazi tattoo sparked outrage among conservatives, while progressives downplayed it. “The political right is all up in arms about that, ‘Oh, he’s a racist, see,’” Wilson said. “But they won’t look at their own side when people show racist tendencies or say racist things. And it’s the same on the left.”
It’s a frustrating cycle, and Wilson isn’t shy about calling it out
Wilson believes both sides need to hold themselves to the same standards, rather than weaponizing scandals for political gain. But despite the polarization, he sees spirituality as a rare point of common ground.
“There’s not any topic that has more commonality and mutuality than spiritual ideas,” he said, adding that faith has been unfairly politicized. Wilson made these remarks while appearing on Capitol Hill alongside lawmakers and religious leaders to promote A Common Endeavor, a five-part letter backed by the Baha’i faith that aims to bridge political divides on June 9.
So where does that leave The Office?
Wilson’s argument that the show couldn’t be made today is interesting, especially when you consider how much comedy has evolved. Shows like Abbott Elementary prove that workplace humor is still alive and well, but they approach it with a different lens – one that’s more conscious of modern sensitivities.
That doesn’t mean The Office’s brand of humor is obsolete, though. If anything, the success of The Paper suggests that audiences still crave that mix of cringe and heart, even if the jokes land a little differently now.
The bigger question is whether Wilson’s nostalgia for the “anything goes” era of comedy is justified. There’s no denying that The Office was a product of its time, and some of its jokes haven’t aged well. But that doesn’t mean the show’s legacy is tarnished. If anything, it’s a testament to how comedy can reflect society’s flaws while still making us laugh.
The network is clearly betting that audiences still want that blend of awkward humor and workplace chaos, even if the jokes are a little more carefully crafted this time around. For fans, that’s probably a good thing. The Office was never just about the shock value. It was about the relationships, the absurdity, and the way it made us feel like we were part of the Dunder Mifflin family.
If The Paper can capture even a fraction of that magic, it might just prove that the formula still works, even in 2026. And if Wilson’s right about cancel culture making comedy harder to pull off, then maybe the real lesson is that we need more shows willing to take risks, not fewer.
(Featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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