Jenna Fischer reveals why she was fired from Matt LeBlanc sitcom

What happens when an actor’s on-screen performance is so well known and loved that it becomes almost impossible to separate the character from the actor? Sometimes fans shout the character’s iconic catchphrases at them in public, but in the case of “The Office” star Jenna Fischer, it cost her a starring role.

In the latest episode of her “Office Ladies” podcast, co-hosted by “Office” alumna Angela Kinsey, Fischer – who played Pam Beesly on the NBC hit series for nine seasons – revealed that she had been chosen to play opposite “Friends”. star Matt LeBlanc in his CBS sitcom, “Man With A Plan”.

Fischer said she filmed the pilot episode and other scenes from the series, but when the network tested the show with focus groups, audiences couldn’t separate Fischer from her character though. loved by Pam or LeBlanc from her popular character, Joey Tribbiani.

“They said, that’s a literal quote, they said, ‘I don’t believe Pam would marry Joey. The chemistry doesn’t work between those two, ”Fischer, 47, told Kinsey. “These are the comments they received. “

“Could they only see you as Pam and Joey?” Asked Kinsey, who played Angela Martin on the NBC series.

“Yes,” Fischer said. “So it didn’t work for them that we got married and had a family. “

Fischer explained to listeners that she learned she was fired from the show as she prepared for a trip to have the show shown to the public at CBS Upfronts.

“The first thing I said was, ‘Isn’t it being picked up?’ And they said, “It’s worse than that, eh,” she explained. “And I was like, ‘What’s worse than that?’ They said, ‘It’s being picked up, but without you.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, I guess I’m going to unpack my suitcase.’ “

Fischer starred in the pilot episode of “Man With A Plan,” which ran for four seasons from 2016-2020. Ultimately, Liza Snyder replaced her to star alongside LeBlanc’s character, Adam Burns, in the role of his wife, Andi.

“My whole career I’ve never played a guy in a relationship. I’ve never played a dad,” LeBlanc told Watch! magazine about his decision to join the project, which he also produced. “I thought no one was getting any younger. That’s what my life is now.”