Amy Poehler became one of the leading stars in Parks and Recreation, but the actress almost played a key supporting character in The Office–the one and only Jan Levinson. The SNL vet worked on the NBC comedy for seven seasons, portraying the dedicated public service employee, Leslie Knope. The series set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, debuted four years after The Office premiered on the same network. At times, the two shows would even air back-to-back as part of the Thursday night comedy block of programming. Though Jan was a prominent figure in The Office, Poehler's role as Leslie was a key part of Parks and Rec's lasting success.
Unlike Leslie, who appeared in all seasons of Parks and Rec, Jan provided more of a supporting role. Initially introduced in The Office pilot as a Vice President of Northeastern sales at Dunder Mifflin, Jan made a few visits to the Scranton branch as a corporate enforcer. Despite her cold demeanor, manager Michael Scott didn't fear her. In fact, the two eventually embarked on a romantic relationship, something she was first reluctant to accept. Following the fan-favorite "Dinner Party" episode, Michael and Jan broke up before returning in season 5 in a storyline surrounding her pregnancy with the help of a sperm bank. No longer working at Dunder Mifflin, Jan only made a brief season 7 cameo before appearing in multiple episodes of The Office's ninth and final season, acting as ruthless as ever.
Though Jan wasn't The Office's most likable character, that was an intention through the writer's room. The stern figure was meant to invoke fear despite her obvious insecurities. Much of her arc was also focused on her proving to herself and others that she could thrive with independence, hence raising her daughter as a single mother. Melora Hardin, who portrayed Jan for epsiodes spanning seven seasons, nailed the role, but she wasn't a shoe-in during the audition process. Poehler, a rising comedic actress, was also up for the role of Jan before creator Greg Daniels went with Hardin. However, the decision worked out for all involved.
When Parks and Rec was in the early stages of development, NBC originally wanted it to serve as a spinoff of The Office. Daniels, who created The Office, took the helm of Parks and Rec's development alongside Michael Schur. At one point, Rashida Jones was meant to pave the way for the connection between the new show and The Office until she was cast as a new character. When Daniels and Schur abandoned the spinoff plans, they were still tasked with filling out the show's cast. Daniels kept Poehler in mind after her Jan audition, believing she was a better fit for the upbeat government employee. From there, Parks and Rec was born and it's difficult to picture anyone in the role of Leslie other than Poehler.
While it would have been interesting to see how Poehler would have tackled the role of Jan, missing out on the gig was better for the long run. Her appearances would have been limited based on Jan's tendency to pop in and out of The Office. Poehler's comedic presence is better suited for a good-natured, yet zany character, who is pivotal to the core plot. Much like how Michael Scott was the central piece to The Office for much of the run, Leslie Knope was the glue that kept the Pawnee group together in Parks and Recreation. While viewers missed out on seeing Poehler play Jan, the bigger regret is that Daniels never crossed over his shows so Michael could share a scene with Leslie.
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