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Serious Downsizing at 'The Office'

Reports: Toby and Kelly to follow Dwight and Robert out the door

By Corey Levitan Mar 22, 2012 9:57AM
NBC

If "The Office" returns for a ninth season -- and that's apparently a big if -- NBC's number-one-rated sitcom will be short-staffed on familiar regulars.


According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paul Lieberstein -- who currently heads the writing staff, produces and co-stars in the show as submissive HR director Toby Flanderson -- wants to leave the series to join "The Farm" as co-creator. This is the widely reported NBC spin-off that, if successful, will transplant Rainn Wilson's cantankerous Dwight Schrute from "The Office" to the Schrute family bed, breakfast and beet farm. (A test run for the series is expected as an "Office" episode later this season.)

 

Bing: More about 'The Office' | Video: Full episodes and clips of 'The Office'

 

The latest news comes two months after FOX green-lighted a pilot from Mindy Kaling, a reportedly "Bridget Jones-esque" comedy which -- if picked up -- would probably spell the end for her Kelly Kapoor character.

 

Unfortunately, the potential downsizing goes deeper. Veteran and integral cast members John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) and  Jenna Fisher (Pam Halpert) have yet to extend their contracts past this season. Neither has Ed Helms, whose Andy Bernard character slipped into the irreplaceable district-managing shoes of Michael Scott when Steve Carrell split at the end of Season 7. (One thing Helms has signed himself on for, however, is the role of potential love interest on Kaling's pilot, which will reportedly also star "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Bill Hader.)


Finally, James Spader -- who joined "The Office" as the district manager this season -- has already announced that he will not return for a second.


The only obvious plug for this potentially massive casting hole is Ricky Gervais, co-creator of "The Office" and progenitor of the Michael Scott character in his sitcom's earlier British incarnation. But there is no apparent interest there. According to this New York Times report, Gervais tweeted on Thursday, March 22: "I can't do this AND take over as archbishop." (The tweet has apparently since been deleted.)

Would any of you stay tuned for an "Office" anchored by Kevin, Stanley and Ryan?

"The Office" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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20Comments
nclexingtonguy
Apr 11, 2012 2:54PM
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I think the stars of this show are coming to the same conclusion as many of the viewers...THE OFFICE is done.  With so many ready to move on, they need to go ahead and plan a finally for the series this season.
Chewie Wookie
Apr 6, 2012 2:26PM
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Cal and Letmesee - I have watched both. I am from the UK and view them as different animals. But I didn't at first and found myself almost bitter about it -  I have to say that Steve Carrell was too Brent-like in the early series and eventually developed his own character (symbollically the greased back hair went after a few shows). But I stopped comparing the two and love the way the US Office has evolved. After all you are comparing 12 episodes against 175+. Try keeping an audience entertained after 20! But maybe it has run its course and the Shrute farms byproduct is the perfect way to handover the baton!
calblue239
Mar 27, 2012 4:15PM
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No wonder Gervais ended his series in such a short time. The US office has run its course but it's not realistic, and it gets worse by each episode.

@letmeseeaboutit -- The idiots will thumbs you down because their humour is on point with a baby laughing at its own fart.
letmeseeaboutit
Mar 22, 2012 3:19PM
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I was a huge fan of the original English show and tried to watch the Americanized version....it sucks.
Brutus625
Mar 22, 2012 3:06PM
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It seems when you fundamentally alter a major character on a sit-com, it's all downhill from there and there's usually no going back.  When Jim and Pam got married, the dynamic fundamentally changed.  Same thing happened on Friends, Roseanne, Home Improvement, Married with Children, Andy Griffith, Cosby, etc....  Look at the sit-coms that have had the longest run and were still great at the end - Seinfeld, Mash, Cheers, Simpsons, King of the Hill, etc...  They all share one thing in common - their characters never fundamentally changed.  20 years later - Bart Simpson is still a 3rd grade smart mouth.  Near the end of their show, Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza were still single quirky best friends who still over-analyzed the most mudane parts of life in a funny way.  If they'd gotten married and had kids and moved to the suburbs, that show wouldn't have been nearly as funny for nearly as long.  JMHO
tvfan2012
Mar 22, 2012 2:57PM
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Get rid of Robert. Bring some fun back with Dwight and Angela together and something better for Jim and Pam...they are very boring now. 
skeptical48
Mar 22, 2012 2:42PM
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Steve Carell was to "The Office" as Charlie Sheen was to "2 1/2 Men".  It just doesn't work without him.  They were the "straw that stirred the drink" - Reggie Jackson.
Danielle121885
Mar 22, 2012 2:19PM
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The show jumped the shark after Jim and Pam got married, in my opinion. I stopped watching after Steve Carrell left. It should have ended a couple seasons ago. It's sad, but it has to happen. Shows can't stay on the air forever (unless it's the Simpsons, that show's been running for over 20 years!) 
Someone
Mar 22, 2012 2:08PM
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Why not still have Dwight on the Office and then leave to go home and the next show is him in the "Farm"?? Please Jim and Pam, don't go!

Thank God Spader is gone so blah, and please lets kill off Nelly and never bring that back again!!

Redangel78
Mar 22, 2012 1:59PM
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Yah, if the remainder of the original case is going to leave, then they should just cancel the show and end on a high note. They were lucky enough to still pull the show off after Steve Carell left but when you change the dynamic of the group of characters too much, it won't be the same and then the show will end anyways and fans will be disappointed- and thats what will be talked about. End while you are ahead just like Seinfeld did.
Erf Tonz
Mar 22, 2012 1:58PM
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I honestly think having a lot of cast turnover could potentially be great for the show as it has felt really stale this season. Quite frankly, it's pretty stunning for a business to have as little employee turnover as Dunder-Mifflen, Scranton has had. 

I'm a big fan of "The Office" and I haven't really enjoyed this season at all. I think some fresh blood on the show would be great. My biggest problem with "The Office" is that it seems like it's just spinning it's wheels.

If the writing is solid (and ultimately, THAT'S what makes us laugh) then the show could be even better with a fresh cast not recycling the same plots over and over again. 

Since I haven't been fond of this season, I'm all for it! It could be bad, but it could be great. 

I'd definitely give a new cast a look. I'll miss Dwight, Jim, Pam and most of all I miss Michael Scott. However, let's not assume a new cast couldn't be just the shot in the arm that the show needs. 
alysocool
Mar 22, 2012 1:54PM
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Personally, Kevin is my favorite one on the show.
Anthony
Mar 22, 2012 1:51PM
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@Baby Trouble -- "Lets let it end while it's still on top!"

 

Really? On top? The Office has been on a downward spiral for about 4 years now.

taylor982
Mar 22, 2012 1:50PM
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I stopped watching "The Office" regularly when Steve Carrell left the show but I can honestly say that if Pam, Jim, Dwight, and Andy leave then I will stop completely.  It makes me feel sort of blue because the original cast were awesome together.  End of a good show. Crying
Baby Trouble
Mar 22, 2012 1:46PM
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Though I am a HUGE fan and own all the former seasons, I too think it's time to call it quits! Lets let it end while it's still on top! Maybe the farm will be the something new to get excited about!
Victo34455
Mar 22, 2012 1:44PM
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Yes, actors are replaceable. Stanely and Kevin are actually two of the best characters. The problem with people getting famous is that their perception of reality gets warped. That is, they don't see how great they have it and figure they can allot better. Remember Dylan from 90210? When is the last time you've seen him since he left a hit show to become a "movie star"? How about even Carrell himself? He was eagar to leave the Office and the millions in dollars he was reliably paid for his role. Where is he now? Now that he's no longer on the Office, he is largely forgotten. If he's had any films at all since he left to be a "movie star", they must have been stinkers because I haven't heard a peep about him in the last year. 

 

I've watched the Office since it first started and was worried that when Carrell left it would hurt the show. Honestly, I think this has been one of the best seasons yet. I think the idea that Carrell was leaving and unhappy was affecting the show. The two seasons prior to this one were so slow, I almost stopped watching and several episodes were so bad, I turned them off. This season with Carrell gone, it seems as the cast is happier and the show has revived the fun that it had years ago,

 

mrgreenjeans
Mar 22, 2012 1:43PM
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I think its time to cut & run on this show the remaining characters aren't funny and it seems to be stagnant and old  unless they find someone to keep it alive its best if its taken off
libra007
Mar 22, 2012 1:30PM
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Has there been an actual confirmation of "The Farm"? I swore it was widely reported that Rainn Wilson himself denied this rumour on Twitter.  I'm glad Robert isn't returning. I actually blame him for the bad season they've had.... but no PAM? Or JIM? Or KELLY? Or DWIGHT? Or ANDY? That takes out every reason for watching the show!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!
Davin Riley (driley_kean)
Mar 22, 2012 1:27PM
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I really love this show, but I think it's time to call it quits.
DarkSide2473
Mar 22, 2012 1:17PM
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End it this season. It's obviously gone down in quality. There's a reason the original Gervais/Merchant series only ran 2, 6 episode seasons and a special...
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