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The Office Season 9 spoilers and news

January 31, 2013: Deadline

[Roseanne] Barr is doing a three-episode arc on the final season of the NBC/Uni TV comedy series The Office. She will play talent agent Carla Fern who agrees to help office manager Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) realize his show business dream. Filming of her episodes is set to begin this week.

January 29, 2013: Entertainment Weekly

In an interview with The Office executive producer Greg Daniels:

… Office superfans were left with questions — like whether Brian, a character that was inspired by the show’s real-life boom operator Brian Wittle, will play a role the episodes to come.

At least in the next two episodes, airing back-to-back this Thursday, he absolutely will, says Daniels, adding, “Once you open this can of worms, it’s hard to go back.” And that’s exactly why revealing the crew has been a slow process. Steve Carell’s last episode — which showed Michael Scott taking off his mic — was the first hint that the show would begin pulling the curtain back, and earlier this season, we heard the crew’s voices.

Introducing Brian, however, is more than a nod to the documentary — it’s also a piece of a major storyline involving the show’s longtime key couple, Jim and Pam, who have had a rough time this season. “Pam and Jim have this incredible, intense bond that has developed over years and years of little workplace jokes and conversation, [and] the thing I think is so, like, disturbing, maybe, is the realization that there may have been another guy who was there in an invisible setting this entire time also participating in little jokes with them and killing enormous amounts of hours at work,” Daniels says. “Once you start opening the box of who’s working on [the documentary], you have to picture that when Pam does an interview, Brian is right there, right off camera, holding a boom mic.”

The next two episodes, he says, “really follow that thought.”

Naturally, the appearance of a new man — or, in this case, a new old man — in Pam’s life has also been a cause for concern among fans. Will she cheat? Will she almost cheat? Will Jim get jealous? Daniels wasn’t giving up answers, but admits, “I’m glad that [fans] are worried.” “You know, I think one of the reasons we did it was to kinda shake things up and cause people to wonder and worry,” he says.

So what will happen next? And exactly how involved will the documentary crew get in the lives of our characters in the final episodes? Despite their best efforts to remain flies on the wall, that might not be the case for long. “We certainly have a lot of that under discussion. [We’re] always referencing that Star Trek law — they were supposed to not interfere with the planets histories when they landed on them,” he says, referring to the Prime Directive. “That holds true for the documentary crews also; they’re supposed to observe without affecting [lives]. But they can’t really. It’s an interesting point — with a documentary, you’re always affecting things.”

January 29, 2013: TVLine

Question: Any news on The Office finale?
The documentary-within-the-show will soon start airing, “and you’re going to see people in the office reacting to being all of a sudden on television,” [Angela Kinsey] says. Will there be any breakout stars? “We’ll see,” she teases. “It’s going to be very odd for everybody.” And though Kinsey’s cat-loving accountant may not get caught up in that particular kerfuffle, there will be “a big shake-up in her life,” the actress previews. “I can’t wait to act it out, because it’s really awesome.”

Question: After the latest Office episode, I need some reassurance that everything will end happy with Jim and Pam.
I can tell you that we’re going to meet more of the documentary crew – beyond the boom operator who comforted Pam after her phone call – as the series winds down. “How the interaction between the documentary crew and us plays out, it’s pretty amazing,” Brian Baumgartner told TVLine at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. “Our hope is you begin to think, ‘Oh yeah, there have been some other people who’ve been in the office, following these characters around for nine years. Of course they’re going to have relationships with those people.’ There were rules that we’ll learn were set up between the documentary crew and its subjects, and those lines start to get blurred as we move ahead.” Baumgartner also hinted that, if things go the way he thinks they will for Kevin, “I’ll be pleased.”

January 28, 2013: Entertainment Weekly

The Office is preparing for its big goodbye but for one member of the current crew, goodbye is going to come a little early — they’re getting canned! But while the Office cast is mum on who gets the ax, Kate Flannery tells us of the firing: “I don’t think anyone will see coming.”

“There is a huge public humiliation in store for Angela,” [Angela Kinsey] teases. “She is a woman scorned, and she can’t be held accountable for what her scorning is doing to her. She’s spiraling, and it is going to get out of control. We have been building to it and it’s a-coming — just you wait.”

January 28, 2013: Access Hollywood

What Jenna Fischer told Access Hollywood at the SAG Awards:

“You learn that Pam knows the boom operator Brian and you’re going to learn more about the nature of their relationship in the upcoming episodes,” Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam, told AccessHollywood.com…

“Jim and Pam are still struggling to be together, but there’s going to be an increase on that struggle,” Jenna continued, noting that Jim’s job out of town, and the pair’s struggle to deal with the distance, continue to provide challenges for the pair.

“It’ll be interesting to see how they handle it,” she added.

January 28, 2013: NBC

A summary of the episode, ‘Moving On,’ airing February 14:

ANDY TRIES HIS BEST TO MOVE ON — Pam (Jenna Fischer) interviews for a job in Philadelphia with a manager who gives her deja-vu. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) brings Angela (Angela Kinsey) with him on a mission to clean his elderly Aunt Shirley. Andy (Ed Helms) returns from his long boat voyage. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

January 25, 2013: NBC

A summary of the episode, ‘Couples Discount,’ airing February 7:

ERIN IS NERVOUS FOR ANDY’S RETURN — The Office pairs off into pretend couples to take advantage of a Valentine’s Day discount at a local mini-mall. Erin (Ellie Kemper) assures Pete (Jake Lacy) she will break up with Andy (Ed Helms) when he returns, but he has good reason to doubt her. Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) share a meal with Brian, the documentary’s sound man. Rainn Wilson, Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

January 18, 2013: NBC

A summary of the episode ‘Vandalism,’ airing January 31:

PAM’S WAREHOUSE MURAL IS DEFACED — When Pam (Jenna Fischer) asks the office to help her track down the vandal who defaced her mural, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Nellie (Catherine Tate) spring to action. Darryl (Craig Robinson) has difficulty dealing with the cleanliness habits of Jim (John Krasinski) in their shared Philly apartment. Meanwhile, Angela (Angela Kinsey) grudgingly allows Oscar (Oscar Nunez) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) to attend her son’s first birthday party. Ellie Kemper, Clark Duke, Phyllis Smith, Leslie David Baker, Paul Lieberstein, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton, and Jake Lacy also star.

January 18, 2013: E! Online

Haley: Did Greg Daniels happen to say anything about what’s going on with Jim and Pam for the rest of the episodes?

Jim and Pam’s marriage will be a focal point in the remaining episodes, especially since a showdown between the two of them now seems inevitable. So a big fight is coming, but so are callbacks to Jim and Pam moments from the earlier seasons. “One of the things that we’re excited about for this year is the chance for people who have been following the show, all the fans who have been following it religiously for years, to really get off on all the connections and the wrap ups and the artistry that we’re trying to bring to the end,” Daniels said. Translation? Count on the fact that Jim chose Pam over New York in season three to come back up again soon.

January 17, 2013: TV Guide

… [Greg] Daniels said fans can also expect a… story line centered on the notorious Scranton Strangler. “Toby is going to go visit him in prison soon, so we will learn a little bit more about whether he was wrongly imprisoned or rightfully imprisoned, and it still remains to be seen whether there is a big reveal or not,” Daniels said. “Creed’s been pushing for some weird connection to this guy.”

January 16, 2013: TCA Winter Tour

From today’s TCA Winter Tour event held on The Office set:

  • The Office executive producer Greg Daniels stated that Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak will return for the series finale. Zach Woods is also scheduled to make a return appearance.
  • The episode that airs next week is “the beginning of the end, where we start to break down what’s going on with this documentary and see behind the scenes of who’s involved.”
  • Someone is fired in episode 15. Greg says “There’s drama, and someone has to pay for it.”
  • Ken Kwapis will direct the one-hour series finale.

January 15, 2013: NBC

A summary of ‘Junior Salesman,’ airing January 31:

DWIGHT BRINGS BACK OLD FRIENDS — David Wallace (Andy Buckley) tasks Dwight (Rainn Wilson) with finding a new part time salesman to fill in for Jim (John Krasinski). Dwight assembles a super-team of his cronies, starting with Mose. Pam (Jenna Fischer) tries to figure out who will be her new desk mate. Erin (Ellie Kemper) tries to find her birth parents with Pete’s (Jake Lacy) help. John Krasinski, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Catherine Tate and Clark Duke also star.

January 8, 2013: TVLine

Question: Jim left for Philadelphia on The Office, but does that mean John Krasinski will be off the show for a while? —Graham

Ausiello: That’s actually not what that means. As exec producer Greg Daniels explains, we will follow Jim to his new sports marketing job in the City of Brotherly love. “We’ll show you his office in our next episode,” Daniels reveals. “It’s very different [compared to] Scranton. It’s in a converted old industrial building and it’s all concrete; it’s very cool. It’s a very different vibe from the Scranton office.” Daniels says viewers will see Jim realize “the brilliant career” he always dreamed of. Bonus Scoop: Office producer (and onetime NBC boss) Ben Silverman will recur as one of Jim’s new colleagues. “He’s actually quite good,” Daniels says with a laugh. “I couldn’t believe it. We’re kind of starting to write toward him as if he’s an actor.”

January 5, 2013: NBC

A summary of ‘Suit Warehouse,’ airing January 17:

DWIGHT AND CLARK POSE AS FATHER AND SON TO MAKE A SALE — Clark (Clark Duke) returns from his sex jaunt with Jan and gifts the office with a new espresso maker, which everyone abuses. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) takes him to sell a father – son suit warehouse. Meanwhile, Darryl (Craig Robinson) interviews at Jim’s (John Krasinski) company and Pam (Jenna Fischer) comes for a surprise visit. Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Ellie Kemper, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

A summary of ‘Customer Loyalty,’ airing January 24:

RELATIONSHIPS ARE TESTED — Dwight (Rainn Wilson) tries to prevent Darryl’s (Craig Robinson) move to Athlead. Jim (John Krasinksi) is forced to miss Cece’s first recital when a big investor exits his new company, to Pam’s intense disappointment. Nellie (Catherine Tate) exposes Pete (Jake Lacey) and Erin (Ellie Kemper). And we start to see behind the scenes of the documentary. Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton and Clark Duke also star.

January 3, 2013: TVLine

Ausiello: [Ed] Helms returned to work on the show right before the Christmas break, so, by my calculations, that puts Andy’s first episode back at around February or March. And as exec producer Greg Daniels points out, “It was very easy for Erin and Pete to be the romantic focus when he wasn’t around,” adding that Andy’s reappearance makes the situation “more of a horserace.” (He also notes that the triangle has stirred up a number of debates in the writers room, which tells me even they don’t know at this point which guy Erin will choose.)

Ausiello: Daniels “definitely encourages” fans to watch the show’s Jan. 24 episode. “We start to break down the mystery of who’s behind the documentary,” he teases. “It’s a total explosive mind-bender.”

January 2, 2013: TVLine

… Jon Favreau will be paying a visit to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch before it closes its doors in May, albeit behind the scenes. TVLine has learned exclusively that the actor-writer-director will helm an episode of The Office later this season.

December 26, 2012: TVLine

From an interview with The Office executive producer, Greg Daniels:

… the Office outing that was intended to serve as The Farm‘s first installment is “a very good episode” and confirmed that it will air before The Office‘s series finale in 2013.

“We’re not going to air exactly what it was, because it has certain aspects that were appropriate for a pilot of a new show,” [Daniels] says. “We’re going to shoot a little additional material to make it fit into the season more.”

Daniels says the show had two scenarios for the oddball assistant to the regional manager: One involved him continuing on the new show (presumably without a certain petite blonde cat enthusiast in tow [Angela Martin, played by Angela Kinsey]), the other didn’t. “We’re into the [latter] scenario,” he says.

December 21, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘Lice’ airing January 10, 2013:

THE OFFICE IS INFESTED WITH LICE — JULIUS ERVING GUEST STARS — Pam (Jenna Fischer) accidentally brings lice into the office and lets Meredith (Kate Flannery) take the fall, while Dwight (Rainn Wilson) vows to destroy the parasites. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) has a fantastic day in Philly wooing a potential business associate (guest star Julius Erving). Meanwhile, Phyllis (Phyllis Smith), Nellie (Catherine Tate) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) meddle in Darryl’s (Craig Robinson) love life. Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Ellie Kemper and Jake Lacy also star.

December 18, 2012: Rainn Wilson

Rainn tweeted: “Just got out mtg w/Office writers. Holy Sh** the 2nd half of this season is going to explode yr TVs!”

December 15, 2012: Salon

In an interview with Rainn Wilson, Rainn says “The documentary is finally going to air, and “The Office” characters are going to get to watch themselves on the documentary. That will be an interesting mind-bender.”

December 16, 2012: Huffington Post

From an interview with Rainn Wilson:

We’ve heard we’re going to find out who’s been making “The Office” documentary. Is that how the series is going to end?
Yes. It’s Ken Burns. [Laughs.] Part of the ending is going to be not only resolving the characters and what’s happening in their lives, but the showing of the airing of the documentary on “The Office,” and showing what effect that has on the characters. That’s going to happen over the course of the last six or eight episodes. “The Office” characters get to watch themselves in the documentary. I think they’re probably being documented as they’re watching themselves in the documentary.

I’d read that the pilot of “The Farm,” the Dwight spinoff that NBC decided to pass on, would be airing as an episode of the “The Office.” Is that still the plan?
Yeah, either all or some of it will be airing as an episode of “The Office.” So you will get to meet Dwight’s brother and sister, some other family members, and see a little more life on the farm.

December 13, 2012: Rainn Wilson

Rainn posted a video which showed a list of upcoming Season 9 episode titles:

The titles include:

  • Lice
  • Suit Warehouse
  • Customer Loyalty
  • Junior Salesman
  • Vandalism
  • The Farm

Tipster: nardpups

December 13, 2012: Entertainment Weekly

Julius Erving, a.k.a. Dr. J, has a new teammate, and his name is… Jim Halpert? The basketball Hall of Famer will guest-star as himself on The Office, EW has learned. In the episode, Dr. J becomes an investor in the sports marketing business that Jim (John Krasinski) is trying to launch in Philadelphia, where Erving scored more than a few baskets as a 76er.

Link: ‘The Office’: Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving to guest (includes photos!)

December 11, 2012: E! Online

Prepare to meet the crew! “I can tell you that we’re very soon going to see the camera crew, and I’m excited for that,” [Angela] Kinsey reveals. “We’re going to peel back the curtain a bit and see the people who have been behind the show all this time.”

Seems like it’s getting more and more likely that Steve Carell will return to make an appearance on The Office. Any scoop on that?
… at first the cast was just saying “we hope it happens,” and now we’re hearing talk about working out schedules, which is exactly what John Krasinski told us. “I would love it if he came back. I think they’re still trying to figure out his schedule,” he tells us. “Look, it’s going to be a really, really emotional time and it just wouldn’t be the same without him.

December 6, 2012: E! Online

Tamie in Eldin, Mo.: I’m a little worried about Jim and Pam on The Office. Can you give me scoop on what’s next for them?

This has definitely been a different season for our favorite married couple, so we went directly to Jenna Fischer, aka Pam, to get the lowdown on what’s coming up. “I don’t think I want to say much because the excitement will be in watching how it unfolds. It gets dramatic and there’s going to be some surprises,” she tells us. “There’s going to be some opportunities for each of them to leave Dunder Mifflin and try new things. We’ll just have to see how their relationship deals with that.”

December 4, 2012: E! Online

“We would all love Steve [Carell] to come back,” Jenna Fischer told us at the taping of the 2012 CNN Heroes news special. “He’s more than welcome and more than invited to come back. There’s nothing confirmed, but everyone’s fingers are crossed… There’s a lot of things you have to work out in order to make that happen, but it would be great.”

Rainn Wilson echoed Fischer’s enthusiasm. “There’s talk of it,” he said. “He’s a very busy man and a huge movie star, so it’s going to be a tough one. But we’ll see what we can do.”

November 22: Celebrity Cafe

In an interview with Angela Kinsey:

Do you know what can fans expect from the show’s very last episode?

AK: We’re still halfway through the show. I actually don’t know what the final episode will be. They’re still working on that. But I think this season is turning out to be really great because there are a lot of characters having these big crisis moments in their lives.

My character just figured out that Oscar is sleeping with the Senator, which is going to unravel Angela Martin’s world. Jim and Pam are at a crisis because Jim is getting this job in Philadelphia. Andy is also going to have a big break in his life and so is Erin. All these characters are having these huge moments that are going to play out. I think the show is going to have a great ending.

November 16: NBC

Summary for ‘Dwight Christmas,’ airing December 6, 2012:

When the party planning committee drops the ball on the annual Christmas party, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) gets everyone to celebrate with a traditional Schrute German Christmas. Darryl (Craig Robinson) fears Jim (John Krasinski) has forgotten his promise to take him along to the new job in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Pete (Jake Lacy) teaches Erin (Ellie Kemper) about his favorite movie Die Hard. Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, and Catherine Tate also star.

October 22: NBC

Summary for ‘The Whale,’ airing November 8, 2012:

DWIGHT FACES HIS GREATEST PROFESSIONAL HANDICAP: SELLING TO WOMEN – When Dwight (Rainn Wilson) must sell to a woman at the lucrative Scranton White Pages, Pam (Jenna Fischer) and the ladies teach him how to interact with female clients. Angela (Angela Kinsey) suspects the Senator (guest star Jack Coleman) is cheating on her; she and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) spy on him at his yoga class. Meanwhile, Andy (Ed Helms) skypes in from his boat, and Toby (Paul Lieberstein) convinces several guys in the office to grow mustaches in honor of “Movember.” John Krasinski, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke, Andy Buckley, Phyllis Smith, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton, and Jake Lacy guest star.

October 12, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘The Boat,’ airing November 1, 2012:

ANDY IS FORCED TO STEP UP WHEN HIS FAMILY COMES UNDER HARD TIMES — JACK COLEMAN (“HEROES”) GUEST STARS — Andy (Ed Helms) must man up when his Dad blows all the family money. When Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is interviewed on local radio, Jim (John Krasinski) and the office torture him with bizarre call-ins. Meanwhile, Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) discovers a secret about Oscar (Oscar Nunez), and struggles to keep it, while Oscar’s fate hangs in the balance. Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Catherine Tate and Jake Lacy also star. Andrew Santino (PUNK’D) also guest stars.

October 5, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘Here Comes Treble,’ airing October 25, 2012:

ANDY DEALS WITH A CAPPELLA DRAMA — STEPHEN COLBERT GUEST STARS (“The Colbert Report”) — It’s Halloween in the office and Andy (Ed Helms) invites his college a cappella group to perform, which leads to a confrontation with his frenemy Broccoli Rob (guest star Stephen Colbert). Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) finds evidence that a madman is loose in the office and tries to track him down, and the first meeting of Jim’s (John Krasinski) new job causes a fight with Pam.

Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Catherine Tate, Clarke Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

October 4, 2012: TV Guide

Someone from Andy’s (Ed Helms) past is coming back on The Office, but this time he’s singing a very different tune. Josh Groban is returning as Andy’s younger brother, Walter Jr., TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Walter Jr. was first introduced last season, along with Andy’s parents, at his garden party at Schrute Farms. Although it was made very clear that Walter Jr. was his parents’ favorite – much to Andy’s dismay – a lot has changed in the year since we last saw the Nard Dog’s baby bro. In the Nov. 1 episode, titled “The Boat,” Walter Jr. pops back up as a drunk who has fallen from grace.

September 20, 2012: Entertainment Weekly

The host of The Colbert Report is reporting for comedic duty on The Office! Stephen Colbert will guest-star this season as Broccoli Rob, a former member of Here Comes Treble, Andy’s a cappella group, EW has learned. In the Halloween-themed episode, Andy (Ed Helms) discovers that the smarmy, competitive Broccoli Rob is singing a different tune about the history of the group and stirring up drama, which only intensifies the rivalry between these two frenemies.

September 28, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘Work Bus,’ airing October 18, 2012:

THE OFFICE HITS THE ROAD — When Jim (John Krasinski) convinces Dwight (Rainn Wilson) that the building is unsafe; Dwight rents a bus and sets up the office inside. Nellie (Catherine Tate) asks for Andy’s (Ed Helms) help in adopting a baby. Meanwhile, Jim tries to make Pam (Jenna Fischer) happy with some pie. Lesley David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

September 14, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘Andy’s Ancestry,’ airing October 4, 2012:

ANDY LEARNS HE IS RELATED TO MICHELLE OBAMA — Darryl (Craig Robinson) has a hard time in his new role as assistant regional manager when Andy (Ed Helms) flaunts his bloodlines. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) teaches Erin (Ellie Kemper) the Dothraki language to impress her boyfriend’s educated family. Nellie (Catherine Tate) tries to convince Pam (Jenna Fischer) that Jim (John Krasinski) is having an affair, and Jim reveals his secret in the warehouse. Brian Baumgartner, Clark Duke, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Jake Lacy, Leslie David Baker, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein also star.

September 7, 2012: NBC

Summary for ‘Roy’s Wedding,’ airing September 27, 2012:

PAM AND JIM GO TO ROY’S WEDDING –- DAVID DENMAN GUEST STARS. The wedding toast of Pam’s ex-fiance Roy causes Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) to examine their relationship for buried secrets. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) stubbornly protests Nellie’s (Catherine Tate) mandatory charity initiative by supporting the Taliban and agreeing to live by their severe laws. Clark (Clark Duke) hits on Erin (Ellie Kemper) by dangling a fake newscaster job; Andy (Ed Helms) also takes the bait. Craig Robinson, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Leslie David Baker, Jake Lacy also star.

September 6, 2012: TVLine

Exec producer Greg Daniels’ mission for the show’s ninth and final season is make every episode Must-See TV… Among the noteworthy plots in the pipeline: The Scranton Strangler will be unmasked; Kelly leaves her job, but not before saddling the two new hires — played by Jake Lacy and Clark Duke — with upwards of 4,000 unanswered customer complaints; Jim and Pam attend her ex Roy’s wedding; and viewers will finally get the full story about the documentary crew that’s been shadowing the gang for the past decade. Although Zach Woods’ contract option was not picked up for the final season, sources confirm that we have not seen the last of Gabe.

Tipster: PhillyInDC

September 4, 2012: Rainn Wilson Facebook page

The Office’s Rainn Wilson posted this information on his Facebook page:

Here’s the deal with ‘The Farm’ as there have been so many questions of late. We are shooting an episode of the Office entitled The Farm. It introduces Schrutes we’ve never met before- Dwight’s sister Fannie and her son Cameron who’ve been in Boston for 10 years, brother Jeb, a pot farmer, and (nazi curious) Uncle Heinrich. Also there’s Mose’s brother Zeke.

(note: we’ve assembled an AMAZING cast and I’m so thrilled to be working with them! I know that sounds cliche but it’s TRUE!)

This episode will be done soon and then NBC will decide if they want “The Farm” to be a series or not. Either way the episode will air as an Office episode in the winter sometime.

If we shoot more, they would start airing in the winter/spring probably.

The number of Office eps I do this last season is really dependent on what happens with The Farm. Definitely 12 or 13 and maybe more.

Wish us luck. See you at Schrute Farms!

Rainn

August 31, 2012: NBC

Summary for The Office Season 9 premiere on September 20, ‘New Guys’:

THE OFFICE BEGINS ITS FINAL SEASON. Jim (John Krasinski) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) are thrown off balance by the arrival of two young employees (Clark Duke and Jake Lacy) that the others dub “the new Jim” and “Dwight, Jr.” Andy (Ed Helms) comes back from Outward Bound leadership training with a desire for vengeance on Nellie (Catherine Tate). Will Oscar (Oscar Nunez) adopt Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) cat? Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) saves a turtle. Jenna Fischer, Ellie Kemper, Craig Robinson, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Paul Lieberstein, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton also star.

August 30, 2012: TVLine

… current Parks and Recreation showrunner — and former Office EP — Mike Schur is set to reprise his role as Dwight’s oddball kin in the departing NBC comedy’s upcoming Schrute-centric episode/planted spin-off, “The Farm.” No word yet on how Mose will figure into the half-hour, but in a recent interview with TVLine, Schur joked that he’s praying the Farm pilot revolves around Mose’s funeral. “That would be the best case scenario, I think,” he laughed. “If Mose was in a horrible tractor accident, and he was chopped up into little pieces so that there was no way he could come back… I’d be really psyched.”

August 25, 2012: Deadline

Veteran Tom Bower (Die Hard 2) has been cast as Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) great uncle Heinrich in The Office spinoff project, which will be introduced in an episode of the veteran NBC comedy’s upcoming final season. Titled The Farm, the spinoff has Dwight (Wilson) living at the Schrute family beet farm and bed & breakfast. Bower will play the Dwight siblings’ (Wilson, Majandra Delfino, Thomas Middleditch) great uncle Heinrich Manheim, who is charming, greedy, manipulative… and may have had to spend time in Argentina following World War II, thanks to his German National Socialist roots. Co-starring in the project is Matt Jones as Dwight’s cousin Zeke.

August 24: THR

Breaking Bad alum Matt Jones has been tapped to play Rainn Wilson’s mysterious cousin Zeke in the potential spinoff of NBC’s The Office… Jones will play Zeke, Dwight’s cousin and joins the previously cast Thomas Middleditch as Dwight’s wacky brother Jeb, Majandra Delfino (Roswell) as Dwight’s younger sister, Frannie, and Blake Garrett as his nephew, Cameron.

August 23, 2012: THR

While Jeb has tried several different career paths — worm farmer, Bigfoot hunter, Army farmer and now running a successful pot farm in Northern California — he lacks Dwight’s sense of principle, hierarchy and work ethic. He’s also said to have made his own exercise video of things you can do with a knife and canoe (naturally!).

August 22, 2012: TVLine

Thomas Middleditch… has been cast as Jeb, the Dunder Mifflin salesman’s sibling, TVLine has confirmed. The character — along with the previously cast Majandra Delfino (Roswell) and Blake Garrett (Bridesmaids), who will play Dwight’s sister and nephew, respectively — will first be introduced in an episode of the departing NBC comedy this fall. Should the network move forward with the Schrute-centric spinoff, all three would be series regulars. When [Dwight] decides to leave the paper biz and give the new venture a shot, he must convince his brother and sister to join him. Middleditch’s Jeb, however, is the polar opposite of Dwight, with absolutely no work ethic and few life aspirations. In fact, the most success he’s found in his thirtysomething-years is running his own pot farm.

August 21, 2012: TVLine

From an interview with Greg Daniels:

Last season Andy was more of an off-and-on boss. Is this the season he fully takes the reins at DM-Scranton?
David Wallace, who now owns Dunder Mifflin, sends Andy for Outward Bound-leadership training over the summer and he comes back pretty aggressively in charge.

Andy and Erin — what is the state of their relationship this season? What is their next obstacle? Same question for Jim and Pam. And Dwight and Angela.
All the main characters will have serial stories and relationship arcs.

How will Nellie fit into the office this season?
At the end of last year, Andy softened and allowed Nellie to stay as Director of Special Projects. But he comes back from Outward Bound with the confidence and desire to torment Nellie for what she did to him last year and make her quit.

Describe the two new characters played by Jake Lacy and Clark Duke.
Jake and Clark play Pete and Clark, two guys in their mid-20s who have been hired to go through the 4,000-plus unanswered customer complaint voicemails that Kelly leaves behind when she goes.

What brings Roy back?
Jim and Pam are invited to Roy’s wedding in Episode 2.

August 20, 2012: THR

Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston will direct The Office Season 9 episode entitled “Work Bus,” scheduled to air October 18.

August 18, 2012: TVLine

Majandra Delfino (Roswell, State of Georgia) has landed the role of his sister, Fannie, while Blake Garrett (New Girl, Bridesmaids) will play his nephew, Cameron, TVLine has confirmed. Both characters will be introduced in an episode of The Office to air this fall. If NBC decides to move forward with the offshoot, tentatively titled The Farm, both will appear as series regulars.

August 3, 2012: TVLine

A classic character is returning:

David Denman will guest-star in the upcoming ninth season of the NBC comedy, TVLine has learned exclusively. According to sources, the hot-tempered former Dunder Miflin employee will show up in Episode 2.

August 1, 2012: Jenna Fischer

Jenna tweeted: “I so wish I could take a photo of what we are doing today on set. It’s so cool and insane!!! Ahhhh!!!”

July 28, 2012: Entertainment Weekly

Better With You actor Jake Lacy is joining NBC’s The Office as a series regular for the upcoming ninth season… sources say he’ll play a new hire named Pete who’s also a potential love interest for Erin (Ellie Kemper). In describing his new gig to a cute barista in a rough-draft scene, Pete quips, “Not only am I the new guy who has to do the coffee runs, but it’s a paper company, so pretty much a non-stop adrenaline rush.”

July 26, 2012: Kate Flannery

Kate tweeted: “We are heading back to #theOffice this week. Best desk job ever.”

July 24, 2012: E! Online

“I think some big things are going to happen because it’s time for big things to happen,” Angela Kinsey tells us of the NBC comedy post-James Spader. “I’m told right out of the gate some Dwight-Angela stuff happen with the baby. Who’s my baby daddy?”

July 17, 2012: TVLine

Question: What can we expect to see from Season 9 of The Office?

Ausiello: You can expect to meet Dwight’s kooky clan in this season’s fourth episode. According to sources, that’s when NBC is planning to air the Schrute-centric planted spin-off The Farm.

Tipster: ivanARG

July 5, 2012: Variety

In an interview with The Office executive producer Greg Daniels:

“I’ll tell you that the last couple of years, I don’t think we did any big arc-type things in the way that we used to in the beginning,” Daniels said. “I think the thing we’re going to do is bring back a lot of arcs, so there’s going to be a lot of change in (the characters’) status and their relationships from a week-to-week basis.

“And other sort of major things happen, and my hope is we’ll get some of that feeling of needing to see it on the night that it airs, because you don’t want to miss the big changes that are happening to people.”

“I don’t think we’re really telling the story of who’s in the manager’s chair,” Daniels said. “We’re definitely telling different stories where different characters are the leads of them.”

July 3, 2012: TVLine

Clark Duke (Greek, Kick-Ass) “is in talks to join The Office’s upcoming ninth season as a series regular.”

June 4, 2012: TVLine

… sources close to The Office confirm to TVLine exclusively that Catherine Tate is poised to return for the show’s upcoming ninth season as a full-fledged series regular.

June 1, 2012: Jenna Fischer

Jenna tweeted: “FriFav3: The writing staff on The Office. In full pre-production and the plans for next Season are amazing!!! #theoffice #mylipsaresealed”

May 30, 2012: Huffington Post

In an interview with David Koechner:

I think I’m going to be doing a lot more of “The Office,” which is great because I get to be in town and home with my family.. they’re bringing it back, whether or not it’s the last season, I don’t know. I hope to be on it a lot more. It’s been mentioned that that’s going to happen. We’ll see. It’s not 100 percent, but, my understanding is that I’m back for some more.

Tipster: Darren

May 21, 2012: Angela Kinsey

Angela tweeted: “our writers go back to work today! The actors will go back in a few weeks! Woohoo!”

May 14, 2012: New York Times

After protracted negotiations, “The Office” will return with most of its cast intact for what may be one last season, and its creator, Greg Daniels, will be back at work, too. Mr. Daniels, the original supervisor for “The Office,” is expected to return in a hands-on capacity, Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in an interview. (Paul Lieberstein left that role at the end of last season.)

May 13, 2012: E! Online

[Robert] Greenblatt says most of the cast of The Office, including Rainn Wilson and B.J. Novak will return for the comedy’s ninth season. “I expect to see all of that cast back except Mindy [Kaling], who is going on to her own show, which we’re thrilled about. We’re thrilled for her.” He also teases that fans should “expect some new faces to drop in” to The Office next season.

March 2, 2012: Vulture

Tidbits from Paul Lieberstein:

[Paul] Lieberstein… hints that [in Season 9], there might be a switch back to how things were during the bulk of the show’s run. “I have a romantic feeling for the simplicity of the single-manager structure,” he says. “Next year might see a return to it.” Not surprisingly, Lieberstein wouldn’t elaborate further, except to say that there almost certainly won’t be multiple layers of management at the Scranton office.

Lieberstein confirmed that he’s working with Rainn Wilson on an Office offshoot (tentative title: The Farm) to be top-lined by Rainn Wilson: “It’s a show about Dwight’s life on the farm and [running] the business — the bed and breakfast and the farm — with his family,” he says. “Basically we have a show about a family working together and a family business in the heartland. It’s kind of focused on some people who are not often represented on television. I think it’s really interesting; I’m super excited about it. I haven’t grown up on a farm myself, so I have a lot of research to do.”

Original reports about the spin-off got the timetable for the project wrong, however. While the goal is to do a special episode of The Office that would serve as a pilot for the show, “the plan is to do it early [in Season 9],” not [in Season 8]. “We’ve been talking about it for about a year I guess,” Lieberstein says. “And then when it finally was really coming together, we were just in the heart of the second half of [Season 8], and contracts came together slowly, and we just found ourselves without time to properly do it.” By waiting until the fall [of Season 9], “We’ll be able to focus on casting outside of pilot season… We’ll get to really do it right.” Sadly, Lieberstein confirms what we expected: Dwight’s Cousin Mose, played by Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur, is not expected to be a regular. “We’re going to have to explain why he’s not there,” says Schur. “He will do what he can, now and then. But for the most part, he can’t be Mose.”

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285 comments

  2. So basically Lieberstein wants things to go back to the way they were, but Greenblatt wants new cast members.

    Typical.

  3. Did they ever really say Rainn Wilson would leave the show? I haven’t read anywhere that he’s leaving the office to just do the spin-off. Is it possible that he’s starring in both?

  4. @Andrew: While we would all love for that to happen, I thought it was strongly implied at one point that the special episode serving as a pilot for The Farm would be Dwight’s departure. Of course, there is always the possibility that the Farm flops and is canceled, and Rainn Wilson returns to the Office. That’s why I can’t decide if I’ll be rooting for the Farm or not…

  5. He won’t be in both shows. The Office only has one season left, the spin off is probably going to replace the office’s time spot when it ends.

  6. YOLO?
    You only live once?

    And this is not the last season of The Office.

  7. Oh, and also, The Farm hasn’t actually been picked up yet, but if it does, I believe it will begin mid-season, which means that Dwight/Rainn will be leaving The Office sometime during the first half of the season. But if The Farm doesn’t get picked up, then I hope Rainn stays on in The Office.

  8. So I guess Tom Peets thinks he knows all the answers for Season 9 and the rest of series…

    Something like this:
    – David is CEO of DM, and Andy is RM of DM Scranton.
    – Kelly has moved in with Ravi and went back to school (exit Kelly).
    – Nellie works on a special project for a story arc and gets a few others on board.
    – Dwight struggles with money and faces losing the building.
    – Scranton Branch struggles with keeping all DM/Sabre clients as well as clients from closed branches.
    – David Wallace decides that two co-managers worked well. Jim and Andy are promoted to co-manager and co-manager.
    – Scranton absorbs new salesmen from closed branches.
    – blah blah blah… more stuff happens.
    – Jim promoted to regional manager of new branch where some of the office goes.
    – i dunno

    Wouldn’t it be awesome if Tom Peets never really died!?

  9. Hey I really like this article: looking-back-on-the-office-season-8-cmon-guys-it-wasnt-that-bad-28698

    It’s so true. Season 8 really was so good. But it just happened after the first seven seasons. Take those away. Take Michael Scott away and you have a great cast with great humor.

  10. I wish all of these characters the best as they continue their careers. The show is not what it used to be but regardless, I am all in. It seems like there is a new writer writing the show every week. Just keep it simple like in seasons 2-3. Everyone wants that!

  11. I truly hope Dwight will stay for all of Season 9! I was looking forward to Dwangela again. It is just getting interesting. I didn’t care much for season 8. Quite boring & predictable,
    in my opinion. And for Kelly, good riddance. She was pretty pointless anyway. I say stick with the same cast, not new characters, and pleeeease get rid of Nellie!!!! I didn’t think I’d ever say it… but, I miss Michael. The Office will never be the same.

  12. That TV.com article was hilarious. It basically said “I hated all of the major plotlines and new characters, but Darryl and Val were okay, so it wasn’t that bad.”

  15. They could always recast Mose. And hopefully bring in James Urbaniak as Rolf.

  16. The office is the best show ever! I would be sad to see it go if season 9 was really the last. They need to bring Michael back into at least one of those episodes if that’s the case. Dwight is funny, I hope his show does well. I will definitely watch it. Kelly is okay, I wish her well. I don’t think I’ll stop watching even if it is the last season, thank goodness for netflix! The office always leaves me smiling and satisfied…. That’s what she said!!!!!

  17. Per David Koechner, there is a good chance we will be seeing a good bit of Todd Packer this coming season.

    [from tanster: thanks for the tip!]

  18. Whoa! Greg Daniels is coming back? Maybe he can sort things out. That’s an interesting move.

  19. Well I think it’s official that the writers don’t pay attention to fans anymore…Catherine Tate is a black mark on this show and I’m not sure what she did to Paul Lieberstein that’s made him obsessed with her and her character.

  21. I’m not happy about Tate’s return either. If they plan on returning the show to its old self, then Tate should NOT be a part of it… She barely fit when she came in and she won’t fit anymore so now.

  22. I don’t mind that Nellie is back. Just because she’s a series regular now doesn’t mean she’ll get a lot of screen time.She’ll be special projects manager I’m assuming. There may be episodes we barely hear a peep from her. On another note we haven’t seen the last of Todd Packer.

  23. Ugh, honestly not happy to hear Nellie will back. However, that said, there were some moments in the last few episodes that showed her more “normal human” side, and less of the whackadoo nut-job. If they continue to make her character more real and less of a caricature, then perhaps there’s hope. Some crazy is good. All crazy, not so much.

  25. I think Catherine Tate being in the show was something that either people loved or hated. Nothing in between. I gotta say that I loved her being in the show. Just hearing her talk would be OK with me, because I adore her accent. I can’t wait to see more of her.

  27. Don’t care so much about nellie but am psyched for no more robert california, worst thing to ever happen to the show, just completely unfunny!!

  28. Jenna tweeted the other day that the writers’ ideas for the new season were “amazing” and that it would “knock our socks off”, so I got really excited about it, but this news kind of deflated me. I don’t like Nellie, and believe me, I’ve tried to like her. She annoyed me a lot less by the end of the season, true enough, but I still don’t think she’s a good fit for the show. Her acting isn’t as naturalistic as the rest of the cast, and although she gets some really great lines, she throws them away. Also, her character just doesn’t work for me, because I don’t know who she is. Michael was funny because you recognised him. Everyone knows someone a bit like that in real life. Also, he was extremely well written, and everything he did made sense for his character. Nellie’s all over the place and I just don’t get her. Sigh! I’m going to trust Jenna’s excitement about the new season and hope that maybe the writers are planning to use Nellie in a way that makes sense.

  29. Wait, so Nellie is Special Projects Manager again or what? Honestly, she wasn’t terrible in that role, plus that means that if she’s in most episodes… then Corporate is in most episodes… which means more David Wallace! Hopefully he becomes a full cast member as well. I just hope they don’t try to make Nellie a central character a la Dwight, Jim, Andy, etc. If she can stay in a role no larger than the one she had in the Florida arc then she’s fine.

    Meanwhile, is it just me or is it insane that Todd Packer is coming back again?

  30. Nellie bugged the heck out of me until the magician episode which totally turned things around. Plus I am totally thrilled that the cast is coming back. No real loss with Kelly leaving.

  31. The Office has been my favorite television show for eight seasons. But I don’t think I can watch the next season if Nellie (Catherine Tate) is part of the show. Why do the writers feel they need her when they already have a talented, underused cast?

  33. UGH!!!!!! I LOVE The Office, been an avid watcher for all 8 Seasons. Even rewatched the entire collection start to finish so my wife could enjoy my favorite show, and understand my jokes….then you dump Nellie in there?…serious? So much talent on the cast and we have to see her?… cmon guys, you did us all a favor dropping Robert..now let Nellie go, she diminishes your viewing base

  34. I’m okay with David Koechner coming back, I just don’t see how. I mean, what else can they do with Packer that won’t just seem like something they did before?

  35. Everyone I know who are huge fans of The Office, completely dislikes Nellie. She is an unnecessary character who brings down the others.

  36. I agree with most of you.I don’t want to see Nellie back and I’m also glad Robert is gone.

  38. I will never watch the office ever again because of Nellie. Catherine Tate ruined the office.

  39. I really don’t see what the deal with everyone’s dislike towards Nellie. I find her hysterical, and she really adds a nice UK Office blend. Granted, I never cared for the UK version, but I still think she’s pretty funny.
    And hopefully Andy Buckley will return back in the series, hopefully either as a series regular, or just an “also starring” character, since he’s stuck with the show and deserves it!

  40. Tanster, Mindy Kaling just tweeted that BJ Novak is a on the writing staff of her Fox show. Have you heard anything about him returning to The Office?

  43. @Roy’s Mugshot, BJ is an executive producer on Mindy’s show, but I don’t know if that means he’s not working on The Office any more. Nothing’s been announced or reported about him leaving – in fact it was reported that he was in line for the showrunner job. I’m a bit confused about that as well – it hasn’t actually been announced who the showrunner is yet. Greg Daniels is returning to the show, and people are assuming he’s returning as showrunner, but that has never actually been announced.

  44. Agreed with all the others in their resentment over Nellie coming back. I absolutely hate her character and have no idea what she’s supposed to bring to the show. As someone else said, I think she brings the others down.

    I can live with no Michael, but Nellie is a bore, frankly. Utilize the other talent actors on this show. More Stanley!

  45. The Robert California & Nellie characters were not funny at all! The show is mostly not funny anymore. They had a couple of good episodes last season.
    Hoping they can turn it around for this upcoming season.

  46. Nellie a regular…OMG, I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit. I will not watch an office that includes Nellie.

  47. I still will watch, I have to see how, I tear up,how my favorite show will end.

  49. Just read that Steve Carell has ruled out returning to The Office, even for an episode. He thinks a cameo would be “ultimately disappointing” and says it’s better for people to imagine what Michael and Holly are doing rather than see it. So I guess everyone’s going to have to resign themselves to the fact that’s there’s not going to be a Michael/Holly wedding episode.

  51. Wow, this news makes me feel worse about next season. Season Eight was completely unfunny, with maybe two okay episodes. Michael was the heart of the show, Nellie makes it worse, Andy is just a homogeneous, boring character…

  52. I totally agree with nr 29: Less Nellie more David Wallace! Also I agree that most of the cast is underused and very talented. The lines/scenes they give to Catherine Tate should be given to Gabe, Oscar, Kevin, Darryl for example. The cast is capable enough to run a great show without Catherine Tate who supposedly is a big name to attract new viewers or something. She actually blocks the other characters IMO.

  53. the office is done for. Clark Duke isn’t the right actor for this show. Nellie isn’t funny, she is just depressing. Robert California was only funny for 2 episodes. Andy and Erin’s relationship became more annoying than interesting. If they get rid of dwight the show will…well…seriously? don’t do that. Michael and Holly are the only thing that could save the show. And they won’t come back. I love Jim and Pam, but their story has run its course.

  54. I’m a pretty die hard fan, but I will say that although I like Catherine Tate, I hate her character. Watching the Office is going to feel a little more like a chore with her as a series regular. It’s sad to know that the golden age of your favorite show is gone. I’ll watch to the end of course, but it’s not going to be the same at all.

  55. Wow I’ve been away on vacation and I actually just cried reading this. My favorite show ever ……goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend, listening to the same song Michael was playing over and over when Holly left DM :(

  56. At the height of its popularity the Office was centered around Michael Scott and Jim and Pam’s romance. Once Jim and Pam got together the show started stagnating. They should’ve gotten married about a season earlier and instead of Michael leaving the show it should’ve been he and Holly getting married ending the show altogether.

  57. I have to say that while the Office isn’t the same anymore, it is still leaps and bounds better than 75% of shows on TV. I will keep watching until it isn’t on anymore. :)

  59. So now I see the problem…

    People don’t like change.

    The Office is still good. Just not as good as it used to be. You people do realize that this show has eight seasons, right? I mean, 176 episodes.

    Most of us couldn’t even make up a funny joke or act for our life. So try doing that for 22 minutes.
    Okay, then do it again. Now do it 174 more times.

    Now to add to it, people are mad because you aren’t working hard enough to get it to how some people like it.

    All we have to do is watch it and talk about the lives of these made up people. Nothing we say can change the show.

  60. Until about two months ago, I had never seen an episode of The Office before. It’s always been highly rated, so I knew one day that I would finally get around to giving it a shot. Well, over a month ago, I bought all of the seasons and decided it was time to start watching. After a few episodes and I was hooked (I started with a few episodes of season 2 before going back to season 1). I also got season 8 and am currently about 5 episodes from completing the entire series. It’s been a pleasure to catch up on 7 years worth of episodes within the past 6 weeks or so. The departure of Michael really sucked, but season 8 still has its moments. I have been spoiled being able to do this though, it’s going to suck having to wait one week for each new episode for this upcoming season instead of being able to watch them back-to-back-to-back-to-back (lol, I usually watch about 7 episodes at a time). It’s also worth noting that I was never a Steve Carell fan until I saw The Office and saw how brilliant he was in the role. I do have 5 episodes left and will probably go ahead and finish off the entire series tonight and start waiting season 9 to air.

  61. I will watch The Office until the end, but it has not had the fire that first drew me into watching. I am glad to read they are going to narrow down to one manager. Last season felt so confusing and lost. However, no personal offense toward Catherine Tate, but I CAN NOT stand the Nellie character! Please make her not so whiny, annoying and stupid. Give her some intelligence and backbone!

  62. Would like to see more of a storyline for Ryan, Gabe, Nellie (obv), and Creed. They also need to add another funny chick. I could see this season working out better than last if they get back to the classic office structure.

  63. I’ve watched all 8 series in 6 weeks and coming here to read this is makes me feel empty inside. It just couldn’t be worse.

    Packer has annoyed me throughout the series and now we’re expecting to get more of him. I’m from the UK and pre-Office I hated Catherine Tate and I was praying she wouldn’t be back as a regular. Jim and Michael are/were the key members of the cast. Michael’s gone and now with Jim having reduced time I really fear for it. His and Pam’s relationship is one of the only special bits left with the Office and with reduced time for Jim that’s going to go even more. Obviously Dwight leaving halfway through is also a massive blow.

    All in all, it’s been a great ride. Unlike others, I thought the last series was decent (not brilliant) but I’m really not sure what to expect from this series. If it’s bad and the last one I’ll be really upset – right now I can’t imagine a world without it. Let’s hope that there’s a brighter future ahead and that also this won’t be the last series.

  64. Whoa, whoa whoa! This new cast member is a potential love interest for Erin? Are we really going down that path again?

  65. Saw an interview with Jenna where she teased some Jim/Pam tension this season. Nothing that sounded too soapy, just the strain of working together while raising two kids beginning to affect their relationship. If it’s done right, this could be great, especially under Greg Daniels’ supervision – we all know Jim and Pam conflict always leads to sweet moments and a stronger relationship. If it’s not done right, it’ll just depress me beyond belief!

  66. OMG! Just read on TV Line that Roy is coming back this season!! It’s says he’ll guest star, and that he’ll appear in the second episode but it doesn’t state if it’s just for the one episode or if it’ll be an arc. Why is he back?! What is this about? Aaargh, dying to know!

  67. This is the last season?? I wish they’d bring michael and holly back for at least 1 episode! Just to do their wedding! That would be a really good episode; Michael has ruined all the other weddings, so it would be really interesting to see how his own crazy wedding turns out. The office isn’t as good as it was before, but I still love it and will continue to watch it!

  68. What a horrible, horrible, horrible decision to take Dwight out of the office!! It will be so much worse without Dwight.

  69. Catherine Tate bugs me so much on this show. She needs to be gotten rid of. Although new characters could make things more interesting, adding new roles in the show for old characters would be better. I like the idea of returning to old format though. Dwight should be kept for the remainder of the show. Hopefully it will be a good last season

  70. Oh yes- think of another title for the new show coming out- NOT ‘The Farm’. Too bland, too ‘who cares’. Use the name Schrute in the title. Maybe Schrute Farm would be good. The writers should really read what people put in the comment section because so far I’ve seen things I and others agree with. BTW- look up Schrute Farms on Trip Advisor! LOL!

  71. Nellie’s best episode was the magician episode. Robert California’s best episode was the one with him basically calling Andy a soft penis. We need more Andy, more creed, and more Dwight. A little of Pam and Jim, and a lot of Kevin.

  72. I want to see an episode where Michael and Holly come back to go out to eat with Andy and Erin.

    Holly is pregnant. and it’s awkward because Erin still doesn’t get what the big deal is with Holly.
    Also… awkwardness between Michael and Andy… just because Andy has his old job.

  73. This is pretty random and nothing at all to do with the new season, but I was really hoping someone could help me out. I was reading something online about The Office recently and discovered for the first time that Jim’s middle name is Duncan. I asked my husband to guess it and he already knew. He claims it was mentioned at some point in the show, although he can’t remember when, but I’ve seen every episode I don’t know how many times, and I have no memory of that. I’m pretty sure it was never mentioned in the show. Can anyone tell me if it was and if so, what episode? And if not, how do we know it? Thanks!

    [ from tanster: his middle name has never been mentioned on the show. however, it is listed in the official wedding program which you can find here. ]

  74. Ahh, thanks Tanster! I thought I was going crazy there, I knew I’d never heard it. But this wedding program is great, I haven’t seen this before, thank you :)

  75. Many many expletive filled screams of excitement were screamed out loud when I read about Bryan coming to direct. Maybe Creed can get a Breaking Bad thing going like they tried during the Emmy’s, I mean Joss Whedon got a bat filled episode for his office directorial debut a few years ago.

  76. Oh wow, so just read that episode 2 features Roy’s wedding! Can’t wait to see that! Why the hell did he invite Jim and Pam though? Seems weird.

  77. Here’s my issue with the Dwight spin-off: It specifically mentions him leaving Dunder Mifflin. I’m sorry but that’s completely against his character, unless he goes through some amazing development this season I don’t see him quitting. Now we’ve seen him grow over the years from some blind follower of Michael into somebody willing to go EXTREME places, but for him to just say “I’ll just stick to the farm” one day is insane.

  78. @76 Jessie: I was wondering how the wedding ceremony would be written into the episode as well… my theory is that Darryl is probably invited, and perhaps Jim and/or Pam tries to come along as guests of Darryl’s.

    When it comes to this season, though, I’m going with the motto “In Greg We Trust”.

  79. @Matt Martin, I understand what you’re saying, however it strikes me that Dwight’s dedication to Dunder Mifflin was borne out of his ambition to rise within the company. Maybe this season it will finally occur to him that because of his past behaviour he can progress no further in the company, and he’s reaached a dead end. I also suspect that the whole Angela/baby thing will have something to do with his departure. There’s been nothing so far about Angela Kinsey joining The Farm, so it may well be, unfortunately, that the Dwangela does not have a happy ending.

  80. @remember to call, no, Greg Daniels actually said that Roy invites Jim and Pam to his wedding!

  81. alright… let’s be honest..

    Who called the 200 episodes thing?

    That was comment #35 for the “what final season questions do you have?” page…

    Oh yeah. this season will rock!

  82. I just read that the “New Jim” will be Erin’s new love interest. I don’t like that. Are they trying bring back the old “JAM” moment, where Jim went up to reception? I hope they don’t try to re-invent a “New” Jim and Pam when the actual Jim and Pam ARE RIGHT THERE!!

  84. It’s weird not seeing BJ Novak or Mindy Kaling listed on the cast for “Roy’s Wedding”.

    Also, has anybody else noticed that Zach Woods isn’t listed for either one? Did Gabe leave with Sabre? That’s too bad, I actually liked him last season… Maybe he returns, having been revealed as the Scranton Strangler?

  85. No more Gabe? WOO-HOO!!! Also: who cares about the Strangler? If they reveal it to be a character in the office I’ll quit the show for good.

  87. @remember to call

    I can totally see Gabe as the Scranton Strangler. He has that creepy vibe…

  89. Hey, I don’t know if this is news worthy but Brian tweeted that Matt Holliday and David Freese, two MLB players, were on the set of the Office. This is really becoming interesting if they are going to be in an episode.

  90. Not really a spoiler, but did anyone notice that the actor who played Robert Dunder (John Ingle form General Hospital) died. :(

  91. That latest spoiler might be the best spoiler in the history of spoilers – Stephen Colbert, Halloween episode, Here Comes Treble. Seriously, I can’t think of one way that could be better.

  93. alright… there has been a lot of talk about the scranton strangler.

    I do not think we know who the Scranton Strangler is.
    At least, I don’t think he worked at the office.

    My reasoning, is that Toby saw the strangler. So he would know if it was someone from the office…

  94. however… that being said…
    how funny would it be if Justin from the Job Fair was the Scranton Strangler!

  95. Yay! Josh Groban’s back. I was hoping to see him again. And he’s now a drunk! Even better. I’m taking it from the episode title that the boat he bought that Andy mentioned in the cold open of ‘After Hours’ didn’t work out for him – just like Andy predicted! Now if we can just see Nate again…I miss him.

  96. Why doesn’t the synopsis for ‘The Boat’ mention Josh Groban? Was his appearance supposed to be a surprise?

  97. Hey Tanster, The Office’s FB Page seems to be indicating Melora Hardin will be returning in an upcoming episode. Is this an official confirmation?

    [ from tanster: see these promos! ]

  100. Wait, so the camera crew is going to follow Jim to Philadelphia? Oh wow, never even thought of that, really excited to see it!

  105. Rainn just tweeted “Just got out mtg w/Office writers. Holy Sh** the 2nd half of this season is going to explode yr TVs!”
    I have always been searching for a confirmation that Dwight is staying on the show to the end. I have not been able to find it, but this seems promising!

  106. Could 915, 916, and 917 be one hour episodes? The grid they used leaves more space for those three episodes and makes me wonder if they simply forgot a line and I’m wildly speculating or if we are getting longer episodes.

  108. As always, we’ve talked at length. Based on the clues we think:
    1. Michael and Holly will return for the screening of the documentary- how could Michael resist? Kelly and Ryan return too for one ep.
    2. Dwight and Angela will end the series on the farm together- Dutch Pensylvania wedding and maybe open a cattery
    3. Some of the office regulars (Kevin, Meredith etc.) enjoy their minor celebrity as David Brent did in the original
    4. Other romantic knots tied- Pete and Erin, Nellie and Toby
    5. Toby brings the strangler to justice- a return for Robert California?

  109. @108 BritishFans: I’d have to disagree with you regarding the Strangler’s identity. If it’s anybody we know, it’s Gabe (whose return has been promised).

    The evidence:

    – Gabe’s first appearance was exactly one month before the first reference to the Strangler, in the headline “Scranton strangler strikes again” (note lowercased “strangler”, indicating the attacks had just started).

    – Gabe is obsessed with violence/horror films/general creepiness.

    – Gabe arrived late during the televised car chase of the alleged Strangler, and awkwardly encourages his coworkers to get back to work.

    – Gabe’s actions after Erin leaves him show his obsession with horror/creepiness can and does overflow into his real life, and his strangling must have ceased just before then because that was after the alleged Strangler was captured.

  111. IMDB is reporting that Jon Favreau is directing an episode. Not sure if this qualifies as spoiler or not, as they don’t know which one, but interesting nonetheless.

  112. IGN reported that the guy who directed Iron Man will be directing one of the final installments of the office.

    Cool

  113. If they’re showing the documentary crew soon, Favreau could play the documentary director.

    Also, get Joss Whedon to direct an episode again.

  114. While I’d also like to see Joss Whedon direct another episode, he definitely should NOT direct the finale– when Whedon does series finales only a handful of the regulars escape alive.

  116. I hope they include the unedited “pilot” version of “The Farm” on the season 9 DVD set…

  118. @Michael….i thought the EXACT same thing as soon as I read:

    Daniels “definitely encourages” fans to watch the show’s Jan. 24 episode. “We start to break down the mystery of who’s behind the documentary,” he teases. “It’s a total explosive mind-bender.”

    Hmm…TOTAL EXPLOSIVE MIND-BENDER. I hope Michael had something to do with this!!

  119. I wonder if Andy will get to confront Pete. I am surprised that the writers are still debating the outcome of the triangle. It is going to be interesting.

  120. What?! Even the writers don’t know who Erin will end up with?! It has to be Pete – she wasn’t even liking Andy much when he left – his dumb acapella drama, leaving her on the dock.
    Since they are re-running the whole triangle plot (aka Jim and Pam), which by the way is fine with me (loved it the first time and love Pete and Erin now!), they should see it to the end. Andy has an epiphany down in Bermuda/Bahamas (wherever he is) and comes back and proposes to Erin. Erin says yes and then gets cold feet near the finale and goes to Pete. There, issue solved.

  121. >>Someone gets fired in episode 15<<

    Wouldn't be surprised if it was Jim. Sets up the perfect "Pam moves to Philadelphia" with him storyline.

    Or, it could be Pete vandalizing something in the warehouse to declare his love to Erin. OR, it could be Pam, maybe David Wallace sees her mural in the warehouse and considers it vandalism.

  122. @120, Jan:

    I’m sorry, but in my opinion, that would be really, really boring. The show’s been rehashing old plots with interchangeable characters for two seasons now, and, whether you’re Team Andy or Pete or Erin By Herself, I feel like that would insult a lot of viewers. Not all, not most, but definitely a large portion. It’s like, oh, she ended up with the good guy who is obviously better for her — raise your hand if you’re surprised.

    I want her to go off and be her independent Erin self instead of all this Love Boat/”getting in ratings because we accidentally made Jim and Pam super boring after we exhausted their romance, whoops” nonsense.

  123. About someone being fired in episode 15. I think it’s Dwight so the spin off “The Farm” can start

  126. So Erin is looking for her biological parents. Now, what if it is revealed that she is related to Pete or Andy?

  128. Pam will be the one being fired, in Vandalism.
    Her mural is what will do it, and it will put strain on her and Jim’s relationship.

  129. Andy is going to fire Pete or Nellie once he gets back from his trip, I would imagine. I can’t see him ever firing any of the “classic gang”, regardless of how they behave!

  130. Okay, so I need the collective memory of the Tallyheads here – let’s list “Dwight’s cronies” (other than Mose), who might be on his super team!

  131. My guess is that Jim will be fired since Dwight will be looking for part-time replacements.

  132. So happy that Ken Kwapis will direct the finale! He’s great!

    [ from tanster: me too! ]

  133. @TobyFan Trevor, the Knights of the Night, his brother Jeb, or maybe another volunteer sheriff and/or guy from his karate class

  135. I don’t buy that Carell won’t be on, on the finale.
    Wasn’t there information posted on this page that they were working out his schedule. Seems like they want it to be a surprise IMO

  136. I cannot describe how excited I am about this Jim/Pam news. As a diehard JAM fan I cannot wait to have some of the past brought up. YEAH!!!

  137. I feel the same way @Karen. But I hope that it doesn’t come down to Jim having to choose between his new job and his family – like when he chose Pam instead of NYC. I really want Jim and Pam to find a happy medium. Yay for drama!

  138. Am I the only one still wanting to know what was in that teapot from the earlier Christmas episode(Season 2 I think)?
    I guess it’s better left unsaid, but it was always one of those things that would be nice to look back on and let Pam know how much Jim cared for her in those early days.
    The rest of the season looks like it’s going to be amazing. I have a feeling that Michael Scott will be behind the documentary, wanting to know about the lives of all his co-workers. Possibly getting the DVDs in the mail keeping up with everyone. I know there’s a lot of reasons this wouldn’t make sense, but it would be nice.

  139. @DanielG I like your theory about Pam being the one fired in episode 15. It would definitely create drama between her and Jim. Very interesting.

  140. @Pam No! Your theory about Michael being involved with the filming of the documentary is actually quite brilliant. In fact, someone else had previously posted something similar. That would be freaking awesome!! There has to be a reason someone would follow them around and document them for SO LONG. Both in and outside the workplace. Who would care so much about these unknown people? Michael Scott! Just the thought of it gets me excited. Sadly, I will be so disappointed cause it’s just fanfiction :( But, one can dream, right?

  141. Now now now…We already KNOW why they have been following them for so long. In the first episode of this season they said it’s because of Jim and Pam. They found them very interesting.

  142. BREAKING: The one being fired is Dwight – which will explain why we’re visiting him at his farm, right after Episode 15 (“The Farm” episode is scheduled to air right after Ep. 15 apparently). They’re still not gonna do the spinoff, of course, but they will still follow the original plan to have Dwight leave the office.

  144. My prediction- Erin’s parents will turn out to be Pete’s. Genetic Sexual Attraction storyline written all over it!

  145. If Dwight is the one that gets fired I like to imagine that if Jim proves successful in his new venture that he would hire him. Dwight and Jim are portrayed as “frenemies”, but even in a fictional TV show it still follows that you do not waste time on people you hate. They both care about each other, somewhat like brothers. Anytime Dwight has known that he was in peril he always showed Jim affection. They’re inseparable.

  147. I just watched “Customer Loyalty”. I’m starting to wonder if the boom operator Brian will comfort Pam while Jim is in Philly causing additional stress in their marriage? In the end Pam selects Jim and living in Philly, mirroring Jim’s choice of Scranton over NY. Of course Jim & Pam end up together at the end of the series….but it would blow everyone’s mind if they didn’t!

  148. I think Brian, the boom operator, gets fired for going in front of the camera and becoming part of the story that the crew is trying to film. This will allow us to see the relationship that he and Pam will continue.

    I don’t know. It was a passing thought when I read someone was going to pay for the drama created.

  149. If Darryl and Jim share an apartment in Philly, it sounds like maybe Darryl will be fired? He was going to quit anyway, but I think it will lead to a lot of drama around Athlead picking off employees from Dunder-Mifflin. Maybe Darryl gets fired and it sends a strong message to Jim that he either fully commits to DM or leave.

  150. It would be weird if Michael is the one running the documentary. I mean, unless he’s a robot with very low self esteem, and edit in all s*** said about him. I’m guessing in the end Oscar will be fired, people will finally find out he’s been messing with the numbers, not for personal gain, but to keep the branch alive. He’ll simply say to the cameras that he loved his co-workers too much. The branch closes, Oscar goes to jail, and everyone has to deal with their new lives…

  151. OMG! Erin is breaking up with Andy. Team Pete forever!

    Something tells me that I should not be happy so soon. I sense complications coming.

  154. Yep, Ellie Kemper isn’t listed in the credits for Moving On. Which likely means she is the one who is fired in Couples Discount. It makes sense; Andy fires her when he finds out about her feelings for Pete.

  155. I bet Pam vandalized her own mural in order to get fired. As the episode plot summary for ‘Moving On’ reveals that she will be looking for a job in Philadelphia.

  157. My guess is that it’s Jim. Talk about shockers. By this episode, Wallace has already had Dwight find a part time salesman; perhaps he now decides to replace him before he formally puts in his resignation, hence “firing” him. And maybe that’s why Pam is now interviewing for jobs in Philly. She knows for sure, when before she might’ve held out hope to remain in Scranton, that Philly is her destiny. It would be simple to keep Jim in the story lines this way.

  158. Interested to see that Greg Daniels emphasises Brian’s role in the next two episodes as opposed to the rest of the season. Though obviously he will continue to be a constant invisible presence behind the camera, and we’ll probably see him again. But it certainly seems like he has a major impact upon Jim and Pam’s relationship, and that it happens this week! It also sounds like Brian won’t the only crew member to cross the line and impact their subjects. I’m starting to wonder if it’s one of the documentarians that causes the upcoming firing?

  160. David Wallace will be pretty angry at Jim for poaching Darryl for Athlead, right? He’s not going to take well to the best Dunder Mifflin staff being picked off one by one after he has been so accommodating in letting Jim go part-time. Jim being fired would be explosive, of course. Pam would probably have no choice but to leave too.

    I don’t think Andy will fire Erin. Toby has already told him that he can’t fire Nellie without just cause. You can’t fire your girlfriend because she has met someone else. She would be able to sue the company!

  162. I was worried last week that Brian might be a threat to Jam. Now, I think that perhaps he will in essence be representing “us”, the viewers. He has had the same perspective as us over the years watching them, and is as emotionally vested as we are. As it looks like Jam might be dissolving, maybe he becomes “the voice of the fan” trying to keep them together.

    On a side note, with Zach Woods coming back, I would bet anything he ends up being the Scranton Strangler. The Strangler cases started right around the time he started. He was also a huge fan of horror movies.

  163. I don’t understand what’s the point of jim bringing up that he chose pam over his possible job as a regional manager. She also chose him over new york. It’s like guilting her for his professional frustration.

  164. @Courtney, 162- I think that’s a really good theory. Hopefully the behind the scenes crew is portrayed as an integrated part of the DM family and not there to drive more conflict. JAM + Conflict = not my favorite!

  166. Gah! Stunt casting! Familiar celebrities like Julius Erving and Josh Groban were clumsily, and I think unsuccessfully, incorporated into very loose plots, and neither of them had a pre-existing TV persona. Rosanne Barr is not a good enough actress to overcome Rosanne Barr. An interesting character actor or a talented unknown would have been my preference. Still, if I was going the “Roseanne” route, I’d have tapped Laurie Metcalf – she is a genuinely fine actress.

  167. Rosanne Barr?

    Every second a special guest star appears on screen is a second taken away from the likes of Creed, Oscar, Kevin, Erin, Dwight, etc etc etc.

  169. I think maybe Brian gets fired. Did anyone else hear the other camera operator say, “BRIAN!” in a really shocked ‘please don’t do it’ voice? It would make sense if he got fired for interfering.

    As for Barr…. I love this show far too much to judge it for a crappy casting call. But I hate her and hope she has very little screen time.

  170. So the thing I was thinking (and maybe the Andy/agent plotline makes sense in this context) is that after years of filming, the documentary is going to actually be shown to the public – something that would have a major impact on everyone: Andy and his dreams of stardom; Pam and Jim seeing their entire courtship and lives together on film; Angela and the Senator’s story becoming public; and the others – people who live unassuming lives thrust into the spotlight suddenly. Just a thought I had last week, but it would certainly make things interesting.

  171. TobyFan, I think you’re onto something. If you’ve seen Brian Baumgartner’s blurb about how if Kevin ends up like he thinks he might, he (both Brian and Kev) will be very pleased. I could see Kev becoming a local star and getting the hot chick he’s always wanted. On that subject: whatever became of Kevin’s relationship with the woman he met during the Blood Drive and was subsequently making out with at Cafe Disco? He did ask her out (and complimented her on her chest). That arc seemed to have dropped by the wayside. Too bad. Who knows, maybe it’ll be picked back up.

  172. @TobyFan, believe it or not, I just read a spoiler on Watch With Kristin that said that exact thing would happen! All the staff are going to become celebrities and it will have all sorts of repercussions, but that it’ll be a good thing for Jim and Pam to see the history of their relationship on screen. That was the gist of it anyway!

  173. @171 keith – Kevin and red-head girl from blood drive broke up. I can’t recall the episode, but they are in the elevator and Kevin asks if she had bacon for breakfast. That was the end of that arc.

  174. David Wallace must be the worst fictional CEO ever. His hand-picked manager is on a 3 month sail all over the world and incommunicado. His number two sales rep is working part-time while collecting a full paycheck and recruiting other employees in the office. Make Creed the boss; at least he works there.

  176. My only issue with the documentary finally airing in 2013… is that we’ve been watching it for years. So the characters finally get to see it but we’ve been watching since what, 2004?

    So we thought we were the audience, but in reality the audience won’t actually see it until 2013. So does that make us the audience of the audience? Or is 2004 really 2014?

    Inception…

  177. I wish the writers would get going on the storylines surrounding the airing of the documentary footage and exploring more behind the scenes. THAT is comedy gold but I feel it will all be stuffed into a few short episodes and not given the time it deserves. Just like finally seeing Brian – it’s cool – but it is a cool 30 seconds surrounded by the rest of a ho-hum episode. The writers are sitting on some great material….get to it!!!

  178. Does anyone think the “Danny Cordray” character (portrayed by Timothy Olyphant) will make a reappearance? He was in two episodes and is technically still a field sales rep. Did they ever mention his character again after the Halloween episode when Pam hounded him for an explanation for never calling her again four years earlier?

  179. The idea of Andy getting an agent is an intriguing one as it suggests he becomes a minor celebrity when the documentary airs. This is actually pretty much what happened in the UK Office – David Brent became a Z-list celeb who trawled the country appearing in provincial nightclubs for a small fee. He also blew all his cash on releasing an album. It has been reported that Roseanne will appear in three episodes, which suggests that this is Andy’s final arc. Of all the Dunder Mifflin employees, Andy is the one who would love to be famous.

  180. I was going to post this bit of wishful thinking on the OfficeTally birthday page, but was afraid part of it might be considered spoilerish.

    How cool would it be if, since we’ve heard that the documentary would be aired on the show and that the DM Scranton folks would become minor celebrities, they mentioned on the show a certain fansite dedicated to the documentary? Could be an awesome little shout out to a very faithful fanbase on an amazing site…

    [ from tanster: lol, that would be super cool. :) ]

  181. Theory: We find out that Philip Lipton is not the state senator’s biological son and that Dwight still technically fathered Philip. Thanks to Dwight’s “resorbed” twin, he is a human chimera with two sets of DNA– his own and his twin’s. The DNA sample of his that was tested against Philip’s was not the same because Philip has the DNA of Dwight’s resorbed twin (or Philip has Dwight’s DNA, but Dwight’s DNA sample contained the resorbed twin’s DNA). How’s that for the craziest theory you’ve ever heard for this show, Tanster?

    [ from tanster: that’s awesome, love it! ]

  182. Alright guys.
    Here’s what’s gonna happen:
    I don’t think Andy will get fired. His being gone didn’t actually affect the day to day work at the office. I think David Wallace will take away his pay and bonus for those 3 months and give him one more chance. David doesn’t want to try to find a new manager.

    Andy will try to fire Pete so that he can be with Erin again. This doesn’t work. So Andy finds Gabe and hires him back to the office because Andy knows that he can win her back from Gabe.

    I don’t know… I am trying to think how Gabe returns.

  183. I think the method of Gabe’s return is obvious: he, Ryan, Kelly, and any other finale guest stars (Michael, please?) are invited back into the office to watch the documentary.

    Or Gabe is the Scranton Strangler, as I’ve been saying all along.

  186. @Nate M, Bob Odenkirk is in tonight’s episode. I’m guessing (and hoping) he’s the Michael Scott-a-like manager who interviews Pam!

  187. Oh no, it sounds like there’s more trouble in store for Jim and Pam. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. I’m getting really disheartened, I really am.

  189. How can Pam’s career take a step backward from her made up job at Dunder Mifflin which seems to involve ordering pens? And is there only one job in Philadelphia? Man, their economy must be in tough shape.

  190. A new nemesis for Dwight? Um, aren’t there only like 8 episodes left??? Don’t we deserve classic Office for once and not this dead-end reboot stuff?

  191. What the heck is with all the guest stars? I’d rather see some small developments for Phyllis, Stanley, Creed, etc. I feel like a lot of the ensemble is interchangeable now and getting shoved aside for the rotating personalities of the mains.

  192. Looks like we are gonna get some mentions of BJ’s Ryan Howard.
    ya know… with Ryan Howard guest starring.
    Can’t wait!

  194. I think they are starting to overdo it with all the guest stars. But being a huge Phillies fan it will be cool to see his appearance. He and Chase Utley were good on Always Sunny.

  195. Please tell me that Ryan Howard the baseball player gets to meet Ryan Howard the former paper salesman. They have the same name! They can’t just ignore that fact, can they?

  196. I have to admit, I saw that new story and instantly thought “Yes, BJ’s back! BJ’s back! BJ’s back!”

    Then I read it again… if they simply ignore the name (like ESPN did in that story) I will be so disappointed…

  199. I am pretty sure that Ryan Howard the character partially was named for Ryan Howard the baseball player. When the show was created, Ryan Howard was the first baseman for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (who became the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and are now the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders)

  200. So now that the show is ending with 201 episodes, does this mean the finale will still air on May 16?

  201. Won’t there be 202 episodes since Moving On was also an hour long? It will air as two episodes in syndication.

  202. Might as well make them all hour longs! Great news!

    @201, from how I understand it, Moving On will be treated like any other Supersized episode, such as Casino Night, The Merger, The Negotiation, Women’s Appreciation, and Beach Games.

    While some of those episodes were missing scenes in syndication to fit the half hour time slot, Women’s Appreciation had scenes added in with others deleted and told a bit of a different story.

  204. Arrrrrrgh! These hiatuses are killing me! I can’t wait for “The Farm” next week! Hopefully the 2 week hiatus after it will be the last. Fingers crossed…

  206. Glad to see Jen Celotta is coming back. I think her take on things has been missing for a few years.

  208. I don’t understand. March 13th, who was interviewed by ellen? And how about this super secret filming?

  210. #208,@Vic, I don’t think that is Ellen Degeneres doing an interview, it’s someone called Ellen sending in a question to a TV columnist. The ‘super-secret filming’ appears to be speculation on the part of the columnist – if it was ‘super-secret’ then why would they tell anyone?! Maybe they’ve heard a rumour that there’s secret filming in order to keep the ending under wraps – perhaps the ending to Jim and Pam’s story, since there’s so much speculation about that? I don’t know, I’m just guessing.

  212. I love how the spoilers this year aren’t really spoilers! They keep us on our toes, and I am so excited to figure out what all of these subtle hinting spoilers really mean!

  213. I watch at this point because I used to love the show. I’m just seeing it to the end. The structure and tone has changed so much that I don’t care how they finish the storylines.

  214. I disagree with Steve… there can be a way to tastefully bring back Michael Scott in some way for the series finale. This makes me think we may be tricked into believing that he won’t be on when he really will. He needs to redeem himself after that Burt Wonderstone debocle, anyway. Perfect opportunity!

  216. NOOOOOO! I really hoped we’d seen the last of Brian. Hopefully this will be the time Pam shuts him down for good.

  217. Brian’s much more of a loose cannon than Jim ever was. When Pam was with Roy, and felt neglected by him, she turned to her “friend” Jim for emotional support. On the sidelines, the soon-to-be divorced Brian watched that friendship turn into love. If Pam reaches out to Brian now, she might get a response that is more than she bargained for.

  218. Um hey, I had no idea to post this theory so if this comment is in the wrong place, please excuse me, but Steve just tweeted that he was on a plane, followed by an Emily Bronte joke. But if Anchorman 2 is filming in Atlanta, what was he doing on a plane?? Is it possible he is flying back after filming a cameo in THE OFFICE? My hopes are now back up.

  219. Yes. I have faith!
    Everything said he wouldn’t be in the Finale.
    I think he will be in an episode before that.
    Just a small cameo.

  220. I agree! If it were to be a “secret”.. why would Steve say anything about being on the show at any point… wouldn’t that spoil it? I have faith that he will show up somewhere…whether it is the finale or another episode. There is no doubt that despite the great ensemble cast, Michael Scott is the reason The Office has had such a long run NO DOUBT! Ever since he has left the show I say at the end of every episode, ” I miss Michael”…I think most of us do.

  221. It’s an interesting thought that we’ll see some old characters back – the airing of the documentary will have an impact on more than just the principal/long-term characters, but also on people who were around for a shorter period.

  222. If they bring back Michael who has bought DM from Wallace using inheritance money from Holly’s dad’s estate, I’m throwing a shoe at the tv.

  223. I just saw the post about Jen Celotta directing Promos! I’ve been wondering about her, as I haven’t seen her name associated with The Office for awhile now. I was lucky enough to get to chat with her at the Office Convention. She was so incredibly nice – and she wrote on of my all-time faves, Drug Testing, so it was fun to talk to her about that.

  224. Here’s a thought: There could be a short scene of Michael and Holly watching the documentary — maybe not even speaking. Maybe that’s how they get around the “he’s not coming back/I’m not coming back.” Technically, Michael Scott doesn’t come back to Dunder Mifflin, but we get to see him anyway.

    Or I would even be satisfied with a phone call from Michael.

    Just wishin’.

  225. Every day it seems like the chances of a “secret” return are getting smaller and smaller, but I’m still hoping.

  226. Everyone keeps saying a variation of the same thing. That is, “he’s not coming back” and he made that clear. I’m sure the cast was told what to say if asked. I am holding out hope for a Michael Scott cameo. It will be disappointing if it doesn’t happen.

  227. Yeah, there is definitely something about the way the cast/crew denies Michael’s return that isn’t 100% convincing me. It’s not blind hope on my end — it’s just the repetitive nature of their responses…like someone from PR gave them a list of approved answers.

  228. I don’t know if Michael Scott will return or not. What I do know is that no one would ever, ever admit to Steve Carell coming back to the show. No matter what question is asked, or how it’s asked, they just wouldn’t leak that kind of info.

  229. If there really is a funeral at some point, I hope Todd Packer’s the one who eats it. That double entendre was just one of the many I hope the gang launches in his eulogy. Or maybe another bird funeral. That was also pretty amazing. I’d like to see a Dwight-Pam recorder duet again.

  230. It can’t possibly be Michael’s funeral? That way he doesn’t have to appear, but he’s still involved.

    This sudden turn from “we hope Steve comes back” to complete denial of a Steve Carell return just doesn’t feel right to me either. The talk of “super-secret filming” and “some former characters… we haven’t seen in quite some time” without mentioning who they are is more what I’ve come to expect of Office leaks.

  231. Hurray for Jennifer Celotta being involved again with The Office. She was the co show runner (with Paul Lieberstein) during season 5 and 6, then left. Greg Daniels was involved during all the arc about Michael leaving, but during the first half of season 7 and all season 8, Paul Lieberstein was the only person in charge.

    I would never link some of the decline I perceived in these seasons to Lieberstein, who wrote some of the finest episodes in the entire run. But I think the responsibility turned out to be quite exhausting for him, and I’m glad that the old gang is back in some form.

  234. I’m a bit surprised that they’re not running the rest of the episodes without a break (looks like Stairmaggedon and then a re-run) – they set so much in motion with Promos that it seems a shame to stop things in their tracks so soon afterwards.

    I don’t think Steve Carell is coming back. And I’m really okay with it. I love him, but he left, and I think the rest of the cast deserves to have the spotlight in the final episodes – especially Jenna, John and Rainn.

  237. Prediction: JAM will live on. They will move to a Philadelphia suburb in the affluent “Main Line” of Pennsylvania… Bryn Mawr makes sense, and they will move in to Pam’s “dream home,” one with a terrace (Andy dated a girl who coached at Bryn Mawr College… could have been a little foreshadow by the writers).

  238. I wonder if Dwight’s best day ever, which happens to coincide with Andy wanting to quit, also involves being named RM of DM? Which also happens to coincide with Jim spending more time in Scranton, and perhaps both he and Pam say “We’ve seen this movie before (Dwight as manager) and yep, it’s time to leave DM.” Just a thought.

  240. The happiest item for me on the schedule is the repeat airing of “Work Bus” ahead of the penultimate episode ever for this show. The reason for this feeling is that WB is an episode where Jim does something really nice for Pam and the story ends with them as a happy couple. And I just want the Halperts to finish their show journey on a positive note, so I’m hopeful that they aren’t showing, say, “Here Comes Treble” is a sign of what’s to come.

  241. Does this imply Dwight is the manager!? If this is true then Jim and Pam can break up and I’d still be happy!!! YES!!!!

  242. The synopsis for the finale scares me. Waaaay too many guest stars. I don’t care about them. I care about my DM friends. It also looks like the petition for additional time didn’t have an effect. Sigh. That means one of two things: Either we’re not going to get to see the finale that the writers and cast members wanted us to see (which will have time eaten away by a myriad of unnecessary guest stars), or (and I hope this is the case) the additional half hours added to the penultimate and antepenultimate shows will allow for all the arcs to play out like the writers and actors intended. Fingers and toes crossed on the latter.

  243. I bet the wedding is Jim and Pam renewing their wedding vows. I don’t see ol stick in the mud Angela agreeing to have a wedding with Dwight (if that happens) with the cameras there, since she didn’t do it with the senator.

  244. I’m thinking that all these guest stars are wedding guests, and the presence of Mose and Zeke suggests that Dwight’s getting married. I think the wedding is Dwight and Angela’s.

  245. A Dwight and Angela wedding is the perfect way for the Office to end. The idea of Michael Scott making an appearance at a Dwight Schrute wedding gives me comedy goosebumps.

  246. Prediction: the cast will be gathered for this wedding, and at the end of the episode we will find out whose it is: Michael’s & Holly’s. (they’re not married yet, right, as far as we know? I missed a season or 2.)

  247. I know that they keep saying Michael won’t be making an appearance in the finale, but…seriously, that would be ridiculous. Of course he is. And it would be totally unlike Michael to not invite everyone to his wedding. Hence my theory that the wedding is his & Holly’s. :)

  248. If it is Dwight and Angela’s wedding, please God, let Rachael Harris be playing Angela’s sister! That would be amazing!

  249. Holy dang! I didn’t even consider the wedding being Michael & Holly’s! It’s been like 2 years since he left & it’d make total sense for the show to end on Michael’s wedding. I really hope it happens

  250. You might appear in the finale again?! I think we need a petition for THIS! :)

  252. Tanster in the finale! Woohoo!

    And do I remember reading that you are going to activate the OfficeTally chat room during these final hours of The Office?

    [ from tanster: yes, the chat room is open for business! ]

  253. Now I know why Tanster wants an extended Office! Just kidding, I know you want it because you love the show so much, and that’s why you DESERVE to be in it! I was really hoping you would be! Now if we could just get Michael and Holly, too…

    [from tanster: lol!]

  254. I think Tanster being in the finale makes up for any lack of Michael Gary Scott, former manager of that there orifice.

  255. I just realized something… Zach Woods appeared as Gabe in “Moving On,” and by the next episode, he had disappeared with no mention of what happened to him. Does anyone know anything? Is there a deleted scene somewhere that I missed?

  258. Tanster can you comment on this newly released article courtesy from TV Line?

    [ from tanster: no comment. :) ]

  259. @258
    tanster I know you’re hiding something..
    but I’m glad there IS something you’re hiding lol

    [ from tanster: lol, i’m hiding many things. :) ]

  262. No, really. Hours after finding out the news, I went to bed, and I had a bizarre dream about the cameo. Steve Carell looked very old. However, I also had a very disturbing dream that I’m not going to go into, so I might not be able to see the future in my dreams. ..Yeah, that was a bad joke. Still, I can’t wait for the finale!

  263. Calling it now: the series will end on a talking head/voice over by Michael. Just as several episodes have.

  264. 255/Remember to call – I think both of the exes (Gabe and Pete’s ex) were just hired as “consultants” and that’s why they weren’t there after just the one episode – although I was really glad to see Gabe – I love him, in a creepy God-knows-what-he’ll-say way.

    260/Zarion – I had an Office finale dream last week – I’m not kidding – that’s so weird.

  265. The office finale has been supersized to 1 hour fifteen minutes!

  266. When the NY Times article suggested that Carell may make a cameo and Daniels didn’t refute it, that was pretty good evidence.

  269. I seriously just screamed (in my head). MICHAEL SCOTT IS GONNA BE IN THE FINALE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my word, oh my word. So dang excited!
    Tanster, you might be in the finale too?! AHH! :D

  270. Wedding for Dwangela..Michael is best man..him and Holly have adopted a baby.Toby is Scranton strangler…Pam and Jim are pregnant again…Andy wins talent contest…Kevin dates supermodel…Stanley becomes nice…Creed gets inducted into Music Hall of Fame for song writing post Grass Roots…
    I sincerely hope for a happy ending all around but especially for Dwight and Andy!

  271. In the ew.com finale photo gallery, there’s a picture of Pam sitting at reception, Jim at his desk, and they’re looking at each other…This picture says so much! It’s so beautiful! Being that it’s part of the finale, Jenna can’t talk about the picture, but does say it’s emotional. Wow…

    [from tanster: love that photo!]

  273. Wouldn’t it be awesome if they somehow tied in the Scranton Party footage into the finale.

  274. Zarion – my dream was much happier – everyone ended up just as they should be in my dream!

  275. One of the highlights of my day was checking this spoilers page. Now, there will be no more spoilers…

  276. The last spoiler. Wow.

    [ from tanster: i was just thinking that. yep, i think that is the last one. :( ]

  277. I’ve been coming to this website religiously since 2006/2007 and this is my first post.

    I, too, will miss checking the spoiler page everyday.

  278. Best finale ever…I am so sad, but it was perfect. I will miss my old friends on Thurs nights, but I guess life goes on. Thanks for 9 seasons of great writing and acting. Much Love.

  280. Sad to think there won’t be any need to check this page anymore.

  281. @Michael Klump
    Unless NBC is forced in a few years to make “The Office: The Next Generation”, a grittier and darker re-imagining of the original.

  282. Life feels so empty without spoilers. I checked this page on a daily basis. Sad there’s no need to anymore.

    [ from tanster: :( ]

  284. I say that we start a petition to get NBC to air another generation of the Office. A completely new cast and new story. I’m sure that Greg Daniels could succeed in making it.

  285. I keep checking this page out of habit. And then realizing there’s no need. And then spending an hour scrolling through OfficeTally archives… I have a problem.

    [ from tanster: i have a problem, too. it would be this time of year that i would lock this post and create a new one for the next season. can’t bring myself to lock this post… :( ]

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