Should THE OFFICE Lights Stay on Past Steve Carell?
April 28, 2010 by Kath Skerry
In a recent BBC Radio interview, when asked about his future with the show,THE OFFICE‘s Steve Carell said that he’s contracted through the next season, adding “I think that will probably be my last year.”
Should THE OFFICE keep going without Carell at the helm? Would the show be the same?
As much as it pains me to say so, I think Dunder Mifflin should shut its doors with the departure of Michael Scott. Yes, it would destroy me not have to have Jim, Pam, Kelly and the rest not in my living room each week, but all good things must come to an end. THE OFFICE defied all early expectations and has carved out an important space in television and comedy history. It’s accomplished what it needs to and I think it’s time to move on. THE OFFICE just wouldn’t be THE OFFICE without Michael Scott….and Steve Carell.
What do you think? Do you think THE OFFICE could reinvent itself without Carell? Would you like it to stay on sans Michael Scott? Share your thoughts below.
By the way…
In case you’re wondering, yes…I too am flabbergasted by my maturity. Did I just endorse an option that would take away my weekly viewing of John Krasinski?
Related Posts
Filed under Steve Carell, The Office
I fully support my favorite show ending. Why? Because the cast and crew have so many other opportunities. With Greg and Mike busy with Parks and Rec, Mindy with her book deal (and doesn’t she have another show deal, too?), many of the cast members working on movies, I just don’t think the show can continue as it is for much longer anyway.
I’m looking forward to seeing how The Office ends. I think there is a lot of potential for some great plots knowing that’s where they are going. I’ll have a lot more respect for NBC if they allow it to end, rather than dragging it out and sucking all the life out.
I agree. I’d miss it terribly, but The Office just wouldn’t be The Office without Michael Scott.
Let’s be honest, Carell is one of the last consistently funny things about The Office. I would have ended it 2 seasons ago. I don’t even watch the show regularly anymore because it just bores me. I’m over the recycled jokes and bogus plot lines.
I agree. I would much rather have the show go out in fine form, than have to watch as it crawls downhill.
I love this show and I think that this should’ve been its last season. I just can’t see where else they can go with the characters even into next year. This show is like family to me, but I’d rather see it go out as a group, together, than try and string a season or two along without Carell/Michael after next season. It’s time to go, to put an end date on this thing, to give Michael a happy ending with Holly or whoever, and to say goodbye with as strong a cast as they could possibly have.
The Office will jump the shark big time without Michael Scott. I hate to see it end but it can’t go on forever and honestly I’m not sure how much longer it can go on and maintain the quality. I feel like it may have already peaked.
I’ve been thinking all season that they really should make next the last one for the show. Next season will be….what? Season 7? That’s pretty damn respectable, especially considering the slow start it had in the ratings (although I will say I was devoted from day one).
Carell leaving makes this choice even more apparent. I’m sure that the entire cast is looking forward to seeing where they can go next, and as much as I love the show, I think it’s time to end it before it starts to become “that show” that wouldn’t die. If they make the decision to end early, they can spend the whole season building towards a fantastic finale that we, the fans, will love (and that will make us cry a la Casino Night, hopefully!) and that does the characters justice.
I totally agree Kath. I will be disappointed to see John Krasniski and Co go, but I think it’s time. Nothing lasts forever, and I think I would rather have a wonderful wrap of the show, with the benefit of knowing that it’s ending. Plus, I think all the actors, writers and show runners will go on to other successful projects. The end of The Office does not mean I won’t see my favorite actors anymore, it just means I’ll see them in different settings. I’m looking forward to what NBC decides.
The JAM wedding felt like a natural conclusion to the show, especially if a parallel arc had brought Michael & Holly together to ride off into the sunset. The rest of Season 5 & 6 have felt like retreads of earlier storylines, and attempts to recreate the magic of Season 2.
I love all of these characters, and when my friends ask what my favorite show is, my muscle memory kicks in to say, “The Office.” My viewing habits would disagree, since it is often the 3rd or 4th show I watch in catching up on my DVR. Parks & Recreation has surpassed it for overall laughs, and I’m slowly but surely becoming a hardcore Community fan.
Kristen made a brilliant point in her response. Like her, I will remain a fan and supporter of all things Carell, Fischer, Krasinski, Wilson, and Kaling. Will all of their future endeavors be greeted with the success that this show has had? Of course not. They WILL, however, have my dollars lined up at the box office, bookstore, etc.
I completely agree with everyone. I’ve already lost some of my enthusiasm for The Office – something I would not have thought possible two years ago given my complete obsession with it. I can’t even really pinpoint why my interest has cooled, and it hurts me deeply to admit that it has, because I have so much love for these characters. For example, I have not even watched last week’s yet. and generally by now I would have watched the newest episode at least 3 times.
I think the show should go out on its own terms and not due to cancellation. So, given what SC has said, next year should be the last year, in my opinion. It makes me sad to think that I would no longer be a part of the Dunder Mifflin world but that would be the best for everyone. Most of the actors have many other projects going on and the show really has run its course. But, oh how I will miss Dwight, Michael, my lovely Jim and Pam, and all of the happenings at Dunder Mifflin 🙁
I just reread everyone’s opinions, and one thing stands out. All of the comments have come from genuine fans of the show. Yet, no one has argued that it isn’t time to wind things down in Scranton. It’s a real credit to the audience of The Office that we don’t want to end things on a down note.
I agree that the show should end. I want The Office to end with me still loving the show.
No Michael Scott – No Office – Period !!
I agree with you all. I was once obsessed with the show but after Jim and Pam’s wedding, my enthusiasm has deteriorated in a major way. I still love the characters and the magic they created, but it’s time to move on. If they chose to continue the show without Steve Carell, it would in fact be another show. So, I hope the people at the top have enough sense to cancel instead of dragging out more seasons of something running under the name of The Office.