Q 1

PLAYBOY: You're starring in an NBC show called The Office, based on the very successful British sitcom. A lot of critics thought it was foolish to re-create such a beloved cult comedy, but now that you're returning for a second season, do you feel vindicated?

Steve Carell: Frankly, I'm just happy to be employed. I don't think it's possible to improve on the BBC show, and that's not what we were trying to do. Fans of the original were understandably dubious about the American version at first, so expectations were incredibly low. In a way we had that going for us. Most people were shocked that it didn't suck. Luckily the network trusted us and left us pretty much alone. Not once did they try to turn it into a conventional sitcom; there was never talk of a laugh track or fast-paced banter. Much of what makes The Office different are the uncomfortable pauses and awkward moments between the characters. The only thing that NBC wanted to change was to make us all attractive Manhattan 30-somethings who fall in and out of love and meet at a coffeehouse called Central Perk, where we drink from salad-bowl-size mugs. We will try to fit that in this season.

Q 2

PLAYBOY: On The Office, you play an inept and egomaniacal boss named Michael Scott. Do you identify with him, or is he just a clueless ass?

Steve Carell: Well, I'm a clueless ass, so that was an easy transition for me. This is a man in absolute denial about how people perceive him. He may be an excellent salesman, but he's also completely incompetent. And he doesn't understand that or acknowledge it. To the contrary, he believes that he's an incredibly good boss -- efficient, a great motivator, well liked and respected. He thinks of himself as a natural-born leader with exceptional people skills and a talent for bon mots. But of course he's none of those things. His lack of self-awareness is staggering. It's the person who thinks he's clever who's generally the biggest asshole.

Q 3

PLAYBOY: How were you able to nail so perfectly the existential dread of working in an office? Did you have any horrific day jobs from your past to draw on for inspiration?

Steve Carell: I worked the third shift at a convenience store for a few months. At four in the morning most people are looking for cigarettes, porn or one of those shriveled, angry-looking hot dogs from the rotating grill. One night, though, a woman came in during the wee hours. She looked a bit distraught as she paid at the counter. She paused for a moment, looked up at me and asked, "Do you think I'm pretty?" As it turned out, she had just walked in on her boyfriend with another woman. We proceeded to have a lengthy conversation about a person's self-worth, fidelity, trust and relationships. And then I treated her to a slushy blue frozen drink.

Q 4

PLAYBOY: You started performing at the age of six, in a grade school Thanksgiving play called The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Turkey! What can you tell us about this groundbreaking production?

Steve Carell: I played a Native American in a canoe. It was the first time I'd tried acting of any sort, so it was a big deal for me. I can still remember my teacher, Mr. Blackman, commenting on the fact that I paddled on both sides of the fake canoe. He pointed it out to the rest of the class and said, "Notice how he did that so the canoe didn't go in a circle." It was one of the only times I was singled out for doing something well. That sounds sad, doesn't it? But it stuck with me. I knew at that very instant that I wanted to be a professional canoeist.

Q 5

PLAYBOY: You briefly contemplated a career as an attorney. What did your law studies teach you about comedy?

Steve Carell: Not a damn thing. Being a lawyer just sounded good to me. Kind of like how being a doctor or being an astrophysicist or a microbiologist sounds good. But it took a complete turn when I was filling out my law-school application. I couldn't answer the essay question, which was, Why do you want to be an attorney? I had absolutely no idea. Uh, to make a lot of money and sue people? To be hated based solely on my job title? I couldn't come up with one good reason. That ended my law career rather quickly.