The Surprising Way John Krasinski Changed Pam's Ending On The Office

Brian Wittle (Chris Diamantopoulos) is a member of the documentary crew that films the antics of the employees of Dunder Mifflin. During the Season 9 episode "Promos," Pam and Jim have an argument over the phone in full view of the cameras. After she hangs up, Pam bursts into tears. Brian — the camera operator who has been following her since the first season — puts his camera down and comforts her. 

Per People Magazine, and as described by the new book "Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office," we learn that this storyline was sparked by an idea that Krasinski shared with Greg Daniels, who adapted the program from the U.K. original for U.S. audiences.

 "I had this idea that I pitched Greg, and it came from Chris Workman [camera operator on the show]. He had put down the camera and left it running. And I was like, 'Let me see the footage.' We went over the footage and it was just feet, and you could hear people talking," Krasinski said. "I said to Greg, 'Dude, you should do that. Have someone in the camera crew put their camera down, not knowing that they're catching a moment, and they left to go to lunch or something.' And then it ended up in the episode with the boom guy."

Further Season 9 episodes hinted that Brian harbors a crush on Pam that's as strong as the one Jim first had on her years ago. He even fights a warehouse worker who attempts to attack Pam for retaliating against their defacement of her mural. But the connection between them is never fully explored. Though Brian eventually leaves his wife, Alyssa, Pam ends up sticking with Jim.