Mike Schur Reveals How ‘The Office’ Pals Tried to Talk Him Out of Joining and More!

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Michael Schur is well-known in the TV world for his successful roles as showrunner, with hits like “Parks and Recreation,” “The Good Place,” and at present, “A Man on the Inside.” However, fans of “The Office” might remember him primarily as Mose, Dwight Schrute’s Amish relative. This minor role was taken up by him during his tenure as a writer and producer on that show, and it remains a popular topic in discussions.

To such an extent that when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce bestowed a star on their Walk of Fame upon Schur, I couldn’t help but think, “Even a 24th-tier character from ‘The Office’ is receiving recognition like this, indicating just how popular the show must be.

However, contrary to expectation, Schur is being celebrated for his writing career, a fact that catches him off guard nearly as much. “It didn’t appear that such recognition was within my reach,” he admits. “I associate stars on the Walk of Fame with George Clooney and Julia Roberts. I never thought they would be bestowed upon someone like me. Yet, I am pleased that they can honor writers. I am a strong advocate for writers, and I believe there are many others who deserve this kind of recognition.

To add a touch of humor and personalize the experience, I might say, “Well, if they really want to drive home the point? They’d place it right outside a Chipotle, you know, as a subtle nod to the countless Chipotle meals we’ve shared during brainstorming sessions in writers rooms.

For Schur, receiving this recognition holds a unique significance since he primarily films his series within the Los Angeles region, such as “A Man on the Inside.” As the call to maintain jobs locally grows louder across the industry, Schur has been increasingly vocal about his backing: “I’ve had numerous discussions with crew members who all echo the same sentiment: ‘It’s wonderful to be working in Los Angeles.’ It’s growing increasingly challenging due to rising costs here. I know many individuals who are compelled to relocate to other locations to produce the shows they desire as budgets shrink and expenses increase. However, the benefits of residing and working in a place like this are immense. It’s essentially a matter of quality of life. The decision to persist in LA has played a significant role in our ability to maintain our crew as cohesively as we have.

For over two decades, Schur has resided in Los Angeles, choosing to relocate westward to be with his girlfriend (later wife) and fellow writer, J.J. Philbin. Prior to this move, Schur had been contributing to “Saturday Night Live,” and when he informed his colleagues about accepting a position at the American reboot of “The Office,” they found it hard to believe.

As a die-hard fan of the British series, I voiced my concerns to everyone around me, “This plan seems disastrous!” My companions echoed similar sentiments, “Oh dear, this could turn out to be a catastrophe.” We all shared a mutual love for the original show and feared that this adaptation might not live up to our expectations.

Apart from admiring Mike’s exceptional writing skills, Seth Meyers also found him to be an ardent supporter of fellow writers. Behind the scenes, Mike was more than just a writer; he was a champion for others. As a mentor, collaborator, or even just an audience member with a contagious laugh, everyone benefited from his presence.

For Schur, meeting Greg Daniels, who was adapting “The Office” and later turned into his mentor, shifted everything. After their encounter, he emailed his agent and manager saying, “I’m not certain if this series will succeed, but if he offers me a job, I’ll accept it because he’ll teach me how to write. That’s precisely what transpired. Even if the show had only lasted six episodes and been canceled, it would have been the right decision. Greg taught me everything I know about scripting half-hour TV shows: storytelling structure, joke writing, character creation, and simply managing a series.

The mutual admiration is evident. Daniels praises Mike by saying, “Mike is an intellectually gifted comedian,” adding that “there’s no one else who can create characters that are both intelligent, virtuous, and humorous like Mike does.

Twenty years have passed since the U.S. airing of “The Office”, and considering its continued popularity among a fresh wave of viewers, it’s clear that Greg Daniels and Mike Schur made a wise decision with their choice. Following this success, they collaborated to produce another hit series titled “Parks and Recreation”.

Schur shares that he learned countless lessons, but the most enduring one is ‘the best idea prevails.’ He emphasized that this didn’t matter if the idea originated from a junior staff writer, a co-executive producer, or an executive producer with decades of experience. In fact, he valued ideas equally from everyone in the team, whether they were in catering, working as a best boy, operating cameras, or costuming. For him, the best idea to solve a problem at hand was always what mattered most. Despite how simple this concept might seem, it requires a truly selfless individual to actually implement it.

After that point, Schur has seized opportunities to reciprocate, collaborating on television series such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” with Dan Goor and “Rutherford Falls” alongside Ed Helms and Sierra Teller Ornelas.

On the show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” it wasn’t just his comedic skills that left an impression on the cast. As Andy Samberg puts it, “There has never been someone who so skillfully blended creative genius with the tranquil talent to handle any personality type.” Stephanie Beatriz further remarks, “It is both a joy and a test to work with and for someone who genuinely strives to be an exceptionally good person (somewhat irritating, incredibly inspiring).

In his role as executive producer, Schur was instrumental in initiating the debuts of the comedies “Master of None” and “Hacks.” These productions are all part of Universal TV, a creative home for Schur throughout his entire professional journey.

Pearlena Igbokwe, NBC and Universal Studio Group chairman, has been involved since the early days of Schur’s career, acknowledging his significant role in shaping comedy for a generation. This influence not only makes our content more humorous but also thought-provoking and inspiring us to become better individuals. To add to this impressive resume, Mike even authored a guide on “How to Be Perfect.

Regarding the concept of “Hacks,” the creators, Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello presented their idea and comprehensive pitch to Schur, except for adding a few jokes and plot points in the margins. According to Schur, he had two choices: either try to dominate the project by making numerous changes to assert himself or offer assistance wherever it was needed. Schur chose the latter approach, recognizing that the existing concept was exceptional and didn’t require extensive alterations. In other words, one in a million.

Statsky acknowledges that Schur significantly impacted her professional journey as well as his approach to workplace interactions: “For quite some time, there was a belief that a tortured artist or that only great art could emerge from challenging individuals, and these difficult personalities were considered an inevitable part of the creative process. However, Mike challenges this perspective because he is a genuinely kind person, mentally sound, capable of producing exceptional work without neglecting people’s emotions along the way.

Michael Schur originally developed “The Good Place” independently, but it’s his collaborative efforts that he truly cherishes. Next on his list is a reunion with Amy Poehler, star of “Parks,” for the upcoming Peacock comedy series titled “Dig.” (Philbin also joins the production team as an Executive Producer.)

It’s evident that Schur’s peers admire him not just for his professional skills, but also for his personality. As Poehler puts it, collaborating with Mike Schur is like hitting the jackpot. He is a brilliant, humorous, and compassionate writer who can effortlessly lead a team. Schur embodies the fact that groundbreaking ideas don’t have to stem from disorder and confusion. He enjoys laughter, values the best idea, and has a hidden sense of humor. I am incredibly proud of the work we accomplished together on ‘Parks and Recreation’, and I eagerly look forward to our future collaborations.

Regarding a potential adaptation of “Field of Dreams,” Schur had been developing a series variant, but it didn’t progress at Peacock. Currently, there are no active plans for it. He has two distinct versions ready – the initial one was a seven-episode series, and a subsequent shorter five-episode version to attract other producers. The scripts for both versions have been written, and he hopes that circumstances might align in the future for this project to become a reality.

He has no second thoughts about it. In his own words, “The Good Place was undoubtedly the most challenging concept I’ve ever developed for a show. It demanded the most brainstorming, research, and effort. People might find it entertaining, but don’t be fooled – enjoyable and simple are not the same thing. The joy comes from the creative challenge, the struggle, and the headaches as you try to solve problems and make things work. ‘Field of Dreams’ was similar. I knew there would be those who thought it was a terrible idea, but that made it even more captivating for me.

Currently, “A Man on the Inside” represents Schur’s latest passion project, where he has taken on the roles of writer, director, and executive producer. This series came about following a suggestion from his production partner Morgan Sackett to adapt Maite Alberdi’s documentary “The Mole Agent” into a television show. Moreover, their primary motivation was to collaborate once again with “The Good Place” star Ted Danson.

In ‘A Man on the Inside,’ you fall into one of two categories: either you’re around Ted’s age, or your parents or grandparents were around his age,” Schur explains. “Although discussing aging seemed a bit daring, I felt that if we handled it correctly, it would resonate with almost everyone globally. The topics and concepts the documentary delved into are profound and captivating.

For the first time, Schur has created a Netflix series, but Bela Bajaria, the chief content creator, remembers his “heartfelt, comical, and unforgettable” concepts for “The Good Place” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” throughout the years. As she tells EbMaster, “Mike is one of the most intelligent, considerate writers and an excellent producer. He’s a virtuoso at combining humor, intelligence, and depth; skillfully examining humanity and social themes through standout comedy and characters.” These ideas have since gained legendary status.

Over the past ten years, Dansson has predominantly collaborated with Schur. He points out that Schur is among a select group of authors who have the ability to elicit laughter, stimulate thought, and evoke emotion in readers.

He goes on to say, “In ‘The Good Place,’ he inspires us to ponder the essence of living ethically. On ‘A Man on the Inside,’ he infuses tales about aging, sorrow, and memory loss with raw honesty, yet manages to keep it all laugh-out-loud funny. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to collaborate with him and to count him as a friend.

Fans can look forward to a funnier and more romantic Season 2, as the team is currently working on the upcoming installment. As he puts it, “Season 1 focused heavily on grief and dealing with loss.” Now, they have the opportunity to explore a different narrative thread, one that will be lighter in tone and filled with romance.

Among the numerous praises showered upon Schur, perhaps Kristen Bell’s stands out most aptly: “His character and kindness are the reasons we keep returning to work with him time and time again.

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2025-05-21 18:51