Millions of “The Office” fans were shocked a few months ago when Steve Carell, the show’s star, announced that this would be his seventh and final season as the hysterically clueless boss Michael Scott.

 “I just think it’s time,” Carell told E! in June. “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.”

Sounds like a flimsy excuse, considering the show is one of NBC’s most popular comedies, and doesn’t seem to need any character changes.

Perhaps Carell is planning on going back to the big screen? Afterall, he found much success in his past movies such as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “The 40-Year Old Virgin,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” and “Get Smart,” just to name a few.

Or maybe the 48-year-old actor just wants to spend more time with his family. He is married to Saturday Night Live alumna Nancy Carell, and the couple has two young children, ages nine and six.

Whatever Carell’s true reason for leaving, one thing is definite: the show must go on. 

Season seven is underway, and many fans are curious as to how Carell will be phased out. The writers’ plan is to devote the first half of the season to celebrating Carell’s final year while highlighting different actors on the show, all of whom have potential to become the boss next season. The second half of the season will be more closely devoted to Carell leaving and who his replacement will be, which will be announced by the end of the season.

NBC is looking at this opportunity with optimism; they are attempting to give the show new momentum and launch it to an even higher level of popularity. For instance, NBC plans to initiate online tie-ins in the spring, such as polls, to increase the fans’ anticipation about who should replace Carell. NBC has also scheduled many celebrity guest stars to be sprinkled throughout the season, such as Timothy Olyphant, Kathy Bates, and Amy Ryan.

It is hard to predict whether “The Office” will continue to be successful without Carell. In the past, many shows have crashed and burned after losing main characters. For instance, “The O.C.” only lasted one more season after losing Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) at the end of season three. On the other hand, shows such as “ER”, were able to recreate themselves after losing a main character.

Hopefully “The Office” writers can act like “ER” doctors and resuscitate the show for season eight.

 

To contact The Ionian’s Lauren Urban, e-mail her at [email protected].