Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey launched a podcast called "The Office Ladies."
Jenna Fischer opened up about career after "The Office" during an new episode of "The Office Ladies," a podcast she co-hosts with Angela Kinsey.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
  • Jenna Fischer appeared alongside Angela Kinsey on a new episode of the "Office Ladies' podcast.
  • Fischer, 47, opened up about being fired from "Man With a Plan" that starred Matt LeBlanc.
  • She said focus groups' reaction to the show's pilot caused her to be recast.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jenna Fischer explained why she was fired from the CBS sitcom "Man with a Plan" that starred Matt LeBlanc.

During the latest episode of the "Office Ladies" podcast, Fischer sat alongside co-host Angela Kinsey to open up about her brief time on the sitcom. The series was launched in 2016 after LeBlanc, 53, had already risen to fame as Joey Tribbiani on "Friends" and Fischer starred as Pam Beesly on 'The Office."

According to Fischer, she was initially cast as LeBlanc's on-screen wife in the series and appeared in a pilot episode. She recalled how the network requested "more scenes," but the situation shifted after focus groups reacted to the TV couple.

"They liked me, but they said – this is a literal quote – 'I don't believe Pam would marry Joey.' The chemistry doesn't work between these two," Fischer said. "That was the feedback they got."

"They could only see you as Pam and Joey," Kinsey, who played Angela Martin on "The Office," said.

Matt LeBlanc acting during a scene of the CBS sitcom, "Man With a Plan."
Matt LeBlanc starred on "Man With a Plan" for four years before it was canceled.
CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

"Yeah," said Fischer. "So it wasn't working for them that we got married and had a family."

Fischer said she was told only a few days before the show was to be announced at a press junket.

"And then I get this call, and everyone's on the phone," Fischer said.

She continued: "The first thing I said was, 'Is ["Man with a Plan"] not getting picked up?' And they said, 'It's worse than that, hun.' And I was like, 'What's worse than that?' They said, 'It's getting picked up, but without you.' And I was like, 'Wow, I guess I'll unpack my suitcase.'"

Fischer added she was tempted to give herself bangs after being dropped from the show, but Kinsey stepped in to stop any drastic changes.

"Man with a Plan" appeared on CBS from 2016 to 2020 before the series was canceled after four seasons, TV Line reported.

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