Eh. Steve Carell confirmed to Entertainment Weekly and other media outlets over the weekend that he is going to be leaving The Office after next season, which is all that he is contractually obligated for. So, I have to applaud him for not being an a–hole, and actually acting like a professional and fulfilling his contract. And I also have to give him credit for making the most of out the midlife career opportunities he’s had, parlaying television success into a genuine nice-guy comedic likeability in several very successful films. But still, it kind of sucks that he’s leaving a series that gave him so many opportunities:
It looks like Dunder Mifflin may soon have to hire a new boss for its Scranton branch. After more than half a dozen seasons on The Office, Steve Carell hints to E! News that he may not be returning to the hit NBC comedy after its seventh season wraps next year.
“I just think it’s time,” he said at the premiere of his new movie, Despicable Me, Sunday in L.A. “When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go.”
But Carell, 47, who plays regional manager Michael Scott on the show, says fans shouldn’t get too worried -– the show will do just fine, maybe even better than before.
“[This might] add some new life and some new energy to the show,” he says about leaving a role that earned him multiple Emmy nominations. “I certainly didn’t anticipate any hubbub over it. I didn’t see it as a huge deal.”
“[The writers],” he adds, “have incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it’ll continue as strong if not stronger than ever.”
When reached, NBC had no comment.
[From People]
Will The Office survive without Michael Scott? Believe or not, I don’t think people are tuning in for him, and I could easily think of a dozen different scenarios that would work on a sitcom-level for the post-Michael Scott Office. Scenario 1: Put Creed in charge. Scenario 2: Put that crazy redheaded drunk in charge. You get the picture. Anyway, I do think that The Office won’t survive but another season or two after Steve Carell leaves – not because it stopped being funny (although it stopped being as funny as it used to be), but because it’s just getting predictable and it might have overstayed its welcome if it stays on much longer. Just my take.
i have to agree, the original office only lasted two seasons and a christmas special, and to this day, i can watch it over and over again.
as for the american office, once season three hit, it seemed as though it had overstayed it’s welcome.
I think it will stay on, Dwight is flipping awesome! And I agree there could always be more Creed!
That show is not funny and once Steve leaves it’ll be worse.
With the newer mockumentary sitcoms like Parks and Recreation and Modern Family which are fresh and hilarious the office has more competition in the same category to step up the writing and compete on level.
It’s still a funny show imo but maybe Michael leaving and being replaced will bring in enough new energy to reboot the writing and the storylines.
thats what she said
I dunno if it’d survive after he leaves. 7 seasons is a long and healthy run, and I would not be terribly upset if the show ended with Michael’s departure. Though having Jim take over as boss could be interesting…
I think this is a smart move on his part. The show is going seriously downhill and he has to be getting bored with playing such a one note character for so long. I think the show should have been cancelled a few sesaons ago, but that it almost certainly will now without him. The rest of the cast is very talented, but he’s the only big “name” among them. His character was really the centerpiece of the show.
I actually think it’s great that he’s leaving the series that gave him so many opportunities in a way that’s surely to be enriching for The Office.
First, he’s smart enough to not outstay his welcome and retroactively stain the reputation of the series.
Second, viewership will surely be up next season with everybody knowing it’s his last.
Third, enough time for the writers to come up with a smart storyline (as said above) and get him back with Holly.
Fourth, the Emmys favoured 30Rock and Alec Baldwin in the last years but knowing that Steve Carell isn’t up for nominations anymore I’ll bet they will reward him in his last year. And an Emmy win for him means accolades for the series as well. Everybody wins. That’s the way it should be.
I agree, the show has been going downhill but it’s because it’s the same episode over and over. He’s a great actor but there’s only so much Michael Scott you can handle. I think it can survive without him.
Boooo!
It’s so going to fail. He IS the reason people tune in. All the other characters are only good in RELATION to Michael Scott. They’ll lose it without him….Which is too bad because Dwight is probably the funniest character in television….Although, again, funny because of his Michael Scott-related antics….
And besides that, who’s gonna act like a fool so Jim can make extended eye-contact with the camera?
It all depends on who the new boss will be. It can’t be a Carrell type character, but needs to be interesting in their own way. NBC has some very tough decisions to make!!
I’m sad, but I can understand his reasons. I think it will be OK without him, and maybe will be the jolt the show needs. It’s still one of my faves, but has been less funny and engrossing this season. A return to more interaction from all the supporting characters would be great, and either a promotion or new boss might stir things up.
The show’s ratings struggled badly in the first year, so even reaching 7 seasons is a great accomplishment.
I am LOVING Parks & Rec this season (though I suspect it’s partly to blame for the decline in the Office) and 30 Rock and Modern Family.
Glad I’m not the only Creed fan! I could use a lot more Toby too.
Lucy2, Parks & Rec magically transformed into one of the best shows on tv this season. 30 Rock has always been great, and I too love Modern Family. Phil Dunphy (not sure of the actor’s name) is peerless in my opinion. Perfection. I swear I think this is the first time I’ve actually watched primetime TV since the 80s. There is finally something on beside reality shows and crime dramas, thank goodness.
I looooove The office, and I think Michael Scott is the heart of it. It cracks me up how clueless he is, and no other boss would be as funny.
Sad he is leaving.
I totally disagree that The Office has overstayed their welcome. It’s still my favorite show as it has a different format, and it’s hard to find an original comic TV show.
As a long time Office fan, I think Michael is the heart of the show and people will stop watching when he’s gone. But then, the show was less funny this season than in past ones, and I think if they bowed out gracefully after Steve’s contract is up, it’d be a good thing.
David Brent & Wernham Hogg >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Steve is doing what the producers should have done a season or two ago. Said Enough. One of the differences between Brits and Americans in the TV arena is the Brits know when to say enough. A lot of series in Britain leave at the top of their games, leaving stellar legacies. A lot of American series play out until something goes wrong, either writing, casting or viewership from boredom.
I still like The Office, but it’s become dry. The writers really need to focus on some of the other characters.
Michael Scott is awesome and nobody can replace him, but Kathy Bates has been hilarious and, surely, there are a few more good seasons to be had.
Please, though, let Jim and Pam fade into the background. Ditto for Dwight. And crazy cat lady. They’re boring at this point. Focus on the others, whose names I can’t even remember because they’ve had such small parts.
That’s the only thing that will keep the show funny and fresh.
i prefer the british office – it is only 2 seasons but every episode is gold. i love the mundane quietness, with long, uncomfortable silences. ricky gervais says he never meant to make his characters “lovable” but you ended up caring about them anyway. when brent begs for his job at the end of season 2 it is really kind of heartbreaking.
Am I the only one who doesn’t think Barney Rubble nose is believable in the role?
I don’t know how in the WORLD they think they’re can be an “Office” without Michael Scott?! I mean, the guy makes the show! I was watching re-runs just last night thinking about how incredible his acting is with that character. I mean, is anyone honestly interested in watching the “Jim and Pam now-that-they’re-married-uninteresting-and have a baby” show? I’ll tell you, those characters went right down hill after that sub plot came to an end…should be intersting to see how they pull Carell’s absence off.
I loved the first few seasons of this show.
I LOATHE it now. It’s gotten so “zany” and sitcomy these past two seasons. The episode where Michael thinks he is dealing with the mafia? It’s like a rejected Three’s Company plot. The addition of one-note Erin to repeat the old Jim-Pam storyline with the caricature that is Andy. The stereotypically smug straight-men (Jim and Pam). And Michael’s shift from “hilarious-because-I-know-that-douche” to “stupid-for-no-reason-at-all” has all but turned him into a cartoon character…
The humour is so dated and gimmicky. It’s just plain unfunny now.