How The Office's Steve Carell Made Good on 'Scott's Tots' For Students Affected By Wildfires
The Michael Scott actor announced an act of charity for seniors at six California schools who had been affected by the fires.
One of the most infamous moments in The Office was “Scott’s Tots,” the twelfth episode of the show’s sixth season. This past week, actor Steve Carell did an act of charity in the real world that more than makes up for Michael Scott’s most cringeworthy behavior.
On Tuesday, students at six high schools in Altadena, California, gathered for assemblies only to watch what ended up being a surprise video message from Carell. Altadena was one of the areas that was hardest hit by the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles County in January, and several Altadena students had lost their homes or were otherwise affected by the blazes. Carell, who works with a nonprofit called Alice’s Kids that supports children in low-income families, was there to announce something very nice for the high school seniors.
RELATED: Steve Carell Reveals His Theory for Why The Office Is Still So Popular
“Attention. Attention all seniors. This is Steve Carell, with a very special announcement,” the actor began, according to The Washington Post. “I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice’s Kids. And Alice’s Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets.”
“Have fun, enjoy the prom,” he added. “And remember: This is Steve Carell. Take it easy, guys.”
Michael made a promise to students he couldn’t keep in “Scott’s Tots”
The announcement went much better than the time Michael was in a classroom in “Scott’s Tots.” That episode saw Michael visiting a group of high school seniors who he had made a promise to. When they were in third grade, he’d said he would pay for their college education, and the students were extremely grateful to Michael, and they threw a presentation in his honor.
Of course, the only problem was that Michael did not actually have the money to pay for their education, and he couldn’t bring himself to reveal that he couldn’t keep his promise until the last minute, leading to perhaps the most uncomfortable (and uncomfortably hilarious) moment on the entire show.
Thanks to Alice’s Kids, Carell could actually follow through with good news. The Virginia-based charity donated $175,000 to send more than 800 students to prom, with tickets to the prom costing between $50 and $185, depending on the school. The six schools are Aveson Schools, Blair High School, John Muir High School, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, and Rose City High School.
“Many, many, many of the kids who go to those schools lost homes. They’re still going to school, but they don’t have a home,” Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of Alice’s Kids, told The Washington Post. “The prom is a party, and more than anything, these kids need a party. They need something that is uplifting.”
According to WaPo, Carell said yes “right away” when Alice’s Kids asked if he would record a video announcing the news.
Rewatch The Office from the beginning on Peacock, and also check out the expanded SuperFan episodes that add in never-before-seen scenes and moments to every episode.
