Steve Carell leaving The Office?

In a recent interview, Steve Carell said that he is under contract through next year for The Office, but he thinks that will be his last year.  I've been a huge office fan, but have felt that the show just isn't what it used to be.  Sure there are a few funny moments, but it's not nearly as consistent as it used to be.  Does The Office end when Steve Carell leaves or does NBC try to milk it and continue the show?  I hope it ends imo.

I don't watch the show, but I know that Steve Carell is a huge part and that he's got great comic timing and acting. I think it's best if it ends.

What? I hope you are kidding. Yes office has been lacking in the past season or two, but still. its a great show. if he leaves i think they should end it. I hope he doesnt tho :(

The last 2 seasons have been pretty inconsistent in quality.  I think without Steve, the show doesn't work anymore.    

Wait I thought the Office was an english programme ? :s

No Steve Carell = No Office.

I hope it ends. The writing this season has gotten so stale. And It definitely ends when Carell leaves. A show might be made using the rest of the cast, but it would feel more like a spin off than The Office.

" Wait I thought the Office was an english programme ? :s "

It has a US spin-off.

The series should end, there weren't many shows that still managed to thrill anyone when the pitch resigned - remember what a mess was the Northen Exposure without Fleischman and how bad is CSI with Larry Fishburne replacing Grissom?

If Steve leaves the office the Office should leave the air. But these are the rocket scientists at NBC we're dealing with, so count on Steve Leaving and the Office getting cancelled in a pathetic whimper a year or so later (See ABC's handling of Scrubs)

The English version was the original and best, though the same plot, the American Office is good, though not on par with the Original Office which only lasted 2 seasons to keep its quality from slipping.

Yeah, he said this a few weeks ago on Richard Bacon's radio show. Even though he is central to the show, I could easily see them continuing it without him, or forming some sort of spin-off show - it's got too much momentum and popularity. Look at Scrubs, they made an 8th season when they probably shouldn't have...

When will he be coming back? you know, to the office ? I can't wait long. shall we reschedule ?

He holds the whole thing together. Who is going to be the weird manager? Dwight? Actually, that could probably work.

If there's no Steve Carell, there's no Office.

I will stop watching if/when he leaves. 
 
thats what she said :D

the office is dead without him. :\ 

I love The Office, and i agree it has lost some of its charm recently. I personally don't care for Steve's  character, i feel that he's just not  realistic.
However, I don't think the show would be able to go on without him. As The_Philosopher said, it's his character that causes all the funny moments in the show.

" If Steve leaves the office the Office should leave the air. But these are the rocket scientists at NBC we're dealing with, so count on Steve Leaving and the Office getting cancelled in a pathetic whimper a year or so later (See ABC's handling of Scrubs) "

If he leaves, The Office should end. It wouldn't be nearly the same.

Im pretty sure NBC will throw more money at him to sign another contract

Steve has been in a position to make an exclusive career in film for years now. Its almost like he sticks around as charity for the majority of the rest of the cast, that will have nothing else when the Office is gone.

" I will stop watching if/when he leaves.   thats what she said :D "

I think the show ends when he leaves.  Not because I particularly enjoy Steve Carell, but because his character is not one that you can replace very easily.

IT ENDS. Alot of what makes the show funny is Steve Carell being a goofy boss and interacting with the rest of the employees, if you cut that out theres not enough to make a show.

We all think that it should end. But it all depends on what kind of ratings the show is getting. Take a look at Firefly. We all think that show is good but Fox cancelled it after one season because the ratings were poor. What I'm trying to say is that they will most likely continue it.

All shows should end earlier rather than later.  It is just a good general rule.  They should take it as an opportunity to end with good memories, not poor ones.  I have only watched the first 2 seasons and enjoy it thoroughly.

Well presumably most of the cast are on a 7 year contract. I can't see Ed Helms and John Krasinski staying past their contracts either so I would imagine season 7 will be the last. 

"No Steve Carell = No Office. "

Ah it's not the real Office.

Definitely agree that The Office hasn't been quite as good lately; but it would be completely gone without Steve Carrell. Something tells me that the network would just keep going on with the show driving it into the ground even if he left though. 

The Office needs to die. It's turned into complete shit.

I don't see it going on without him, which is a shame because I love all the supporting characters but, like he oh so often says, he brings them all together.

The show is nothing without him, just...*shivers* Jim and Pam as the main storylines...
 
I could see a spinoff about Kevin and Andy, maybe they get jobs at corporate or something, I have no idea.

Whenever there is a thread about the American version of the Office there is always like a bunch of English people who have to come and tell people how stale the American version is. For Christ's sakes there was like only ten original episodes and this version has had like 100 episodes( all of them I would consider pretty decent).  
but besides all of that, they have to end the show if Steve Carell leaves...

I very rarely watch it, but it seems, at least with the episodes that I've watched, that he is the best in terms of comedic timing. I'd say end it in the case that he leaves.

I so hope that they end the show if he leaves and give it the sendoff it deserves but if they think it will work without him they will try to milk it for another year or two.

office is unfunny and repetitive 
i hope he leaves...

"@soundandcolour said:

" Wait I thought the Office was an english programme ? :s "

It has a US spin-off.

The series should end, there weren't many shows that still managed to thrill anyone when the pitch resigned - remember what a mess was the Northen Exposure without Fleischman and how bad is CSI with Larry Fishburne replacing Grissom?

"

The Office has been pretty shitty since Pam and Jim married. I wanted that to be the final episode. If Steve leaves there will be absolutely no reason to watch the show, but I can see NBC milking it for another season or two if the ratings hold up. 

Don't be like Scrubs, don't be like scrubs....

That show jumped the shark awhile ago, just not funny at all and has become too ridiculous. Its NBC though and the office is a big hit for them, expect a spin off about dwight when carell leaves.

how could they continue without him?

I feel like it's kind of what happened to Scrubs after Zach Braff left. He was the main character, the funniest of them (In my opinion) and really the essential part of the show. You take him out and you're left with this new "Hospital School" concept. I just don't think it's as good as it was, just like The Office. I hope Carell doesn't have to leave, but frankly the show has been through a rough patch lately.

I liked Carell when he first came around, but he is only good in ensembles and supporting roles.  He is NOT a lead actor. 
 
With that said, he is a big part of The Office, and if he leaves, that'll suck.  Oh well, though.