Paul Lieberstein leaves The Office showrunner spot

From The Hollywood Reporter:

NBC is searching for a new showrunner to replace Paul Lieberstein on its top-rated comedy The Office, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Lieberstein — who currently heads the writing staff, produces and co-stars as Toby — is looking to shift his focus from the network’s Thursday staple to The Farm, the rumored Dwight Schrute spinoff the network is currently developing.

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Press call with Ed Helms and Paul Lieberstein

Thanks to The Office’s Ed Helms and Paul Lieberstein, who held a press conference call on September 27, 2011.

Ed and Paul discuss Ed’s new role as manager, upcoming storylines, the Scranton Strangler, and even the status of the documentary that has been filming for seven-plus seasons!

Here’s an optimized transcript of the call. Enjoy! Continue reading “Press call with Ed Helms and Paul Lieberstein”

Paul Lieberstein signs 3-year deal with UMS

According to Deadline.com, Paul Lieberstein signed a 3-year deal with NBC Universal Studios, which includes continuing to serve as showrunner/executive producer for The Office.

The article includes some interesting tidbits about the origin of his role as hapless HR rep Toby Flenderson, as well as The Office Season 7 finale.

Congratulations, Paul!

Link: ‘The Office’ Showrunner Paul Lieberstein Signs 3-Year Overall Deal With UMS

P.S. The Office Season 8 has been confirmed, no other seasons beyond that. (Yet.)

Steve Carell’s replacement: Harvey Keitel?

E! Online’s Kristin Dos Santos reports that The Office showrunner Paul Lieberstein is interested in tough-guy movie actor Harvey Keitel as a possible replacement for Steve Carell this season:

“He’s probably the only guy who can do it, and he’s doing TV now,” Paul tells us of the Oscar nominee, who recently starred on ABC’s Life on Mars.

Paul is so jazzed about the idea of Harvey joining the show, he already has a bulk of the maybe-replacement’s role already written.

“He’s an old salesman who thought he could retire and the stock market went down, and he has to come out of retirement to work for a few years.”

Link: Steve Carell’s Replacement on The Office to Be… Harvey Keitel?!

TV Squad’s interview with Paul Lieberstein

The Office’s Paul Lieberstein talks to TV Squad about Season 7 and scenarios for Michael Scott’s departure:

Paul Lieberstein is familiar to most fans of ‘The Office’ through his acting work as Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s put-upon HR rep Toby Flenderson. But Lieberstein has also been on the show’s writing staff since day one and ascended to the role of showrunner a couple of years ago. So if there’s anyone who has an idea of how the show is going to replace Steve Carell and his iconic character of Michael Scott, it’s Lieberstein.

Link: Paul Lieberstein of ‘The Office’ Talks About Replacing Steve Carell

Auction: lunch and set visit with Paul Lieberstein

Paul Lieberstein

Charity Buzz is auctioning off a visit to The Office set to meet Paul Lieberstein.

Listing description: Lunch for you and 4 friends with Paul Lieberstein. Green Room access on the set of The Office and the chance to watch filming.

Proceeds benefit Hamilton College, Paul’s alma mater.

The auction ends June 24th.

Auction: The Office set visit with Paul Lieberstein

Charity Folks is auctioning off a visit to The Office set to meet Paul Lieberstein!

Listing description: You and a friend will receive an exclusive two hour experience including a backstage tour of the set, time in the VIP green room, and watch filming! In addition, you will receive a meet and greet on set with the donor of this auction lot, Paul Lieberstein, known to The Office fans as Toby Flenderson!

I contacted The Office staff and they verified the auction is legitimate.

Proceeds benefit The Young Storytellers Foundation.

The auction ends June 10th.

P.S. The winning bid for the last set visit auction was over $17,000, so be prepared!