How Apple's Video iPod Unknowingly Saved 'The Office' Show From Getting Cancelled
Did you know that an accidental product placement for Apple iPod helped popularise the cult series The Office?
The Apple iPod revolutionised how we consume music, becoming the envy of every tech company when it first came out in 2001. While the first iPod could only store 1,000 songs (WOW!), it may have assisted one of the world's most-loved television series in reaching fame.
Turns out, the release of 5th Generation iPod Classic wherein video functionality was introduced is when The Office also began witnessing a boom in viewership and fan following.
NBC
The iPod-The Office connect
In "Welcome to Dunder Mifflin," an oral history of The Office, the show's cast and crew talk about the early days of filming the hit sitcom and the setbacks it faced.
Brian Baumgartner who played Kevin Malone on the show mentioned how the series' future was unsure during the first two seasons.
Also read: Apple Sues NSO Group For Hacking Into iPhones With 'Pegasus' Spyware
Apple
After the season 2 episode called "Christmas Party," The Office got a significant bump in ratings. A Secret Santa themed episode, the episode showed Michael buying a $400 iPod for Ryan Howard, breaking the rules of the $25 cap. Eventually, everyone participating in Secret Santa wanted to get the new iPod.
Unknowingly, the creators kick-started a relationship between The Office and Apple. While Apple didn't pay for product placement for the Christmas episode, it later began to provide computers for the series - at the same time investing as an advertiser and a supporter, according to John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert on The Office.
Apple
Also read: Leaked Patents Reveal Futuristic All-Glass iPhone, Apple Watch & Mac Pro Tower
Not much later, The Office was becoming a rave on iTunes, giving the actors and creators a chance to move beyond the fear of cancellation. And the rest, as they say, is pop culture history the likes of which we haven't seen since F.R.I.E.N.D.S, wouldn't you agree?
Did you know there was a connection between Apple and The Office? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Citation
Gallucci, N. (2021, November 23). How Apple¡¯s iPod video saved ¡°The Office.¡± Mashable.
I live for all-things-technology - gadgets, novel climate solutions, and startups that are changing the game. In my leisurely hours, you can find me binge watching science fiction films, writing poetry, or dancing to pop anthems.
Read More
