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'The Office': Handicapping Michael's potential replacements

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August 6, 2010 7:23 PM ET

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office-replacement-odds.jpgSteve Carell began shooting his final season on "The Office" this week, and the show will spend a considerable amount of screen time in the year to come looking for his replacement.

"We've got something cooked up," executive producer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays HR rep Toby) tells Zap2it. "I don't want to say what it is, but we're planning on exploring how to fill Michael's role on the air. There will be a search committee, maybe."

There's a chance that the new boss at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch will come from outside the show as it's currently constituted, but several current employees will be in the running as well. Below, we offer some early odds on who might be getting Michael's office by the end of the season -- mostly from inside the branch, but with a couple outside possibilities as well.

Dwight Schrute: Dwight (Rainn Wilson) has been angling for the branch manager job from the beginning, even going so far as to engineer a (failed) coup in Season 3. No one (except maybe Angela) really likes him, but he's also very good at manipulating people, so he's got to be among the favorites. Opening odds: 3 to 1.

Jim Halpert: You'll recall that Jim (John Krasinski) was promoted to co-manager last season, with less-than-optimal results; past times he's been left in charge have also underwhelmed, in addition to diluting his pranksterish charm. Still, he's been there before. Odds: 5 to 1.

Pam Beesly-Halpert: Has moved up the ranks from receptionist to salesperson, but it took her several years to make the change. Pam (Jenna Fischer) is also married to Jim, which means competition could cause some marital friction. Odds: 12 to 1.

Ryan Howard: Upside: Ryan (B.J. Novak) has already ascended the corporate ladder thanks to his Dunder Mifflin Infinity initiative. Downside: The spectacular failure of DMI, his arrest, his descent back to office temp, general vinegar-and-water-like behavior. Odds: 40 to 1.

Kelly Kapoor: We're not sure what Kelly (Mindy Kaling) does, exactly, but we are sure that if she were promoted, the Scranton branch would become a more musical place, in addition to a new dress code featuring a lot more sparkle. Odds: 25 to 1.

Darryl Philbin: Dunder Mifflin's warehouse manager (Craig Robinson) recently got an office upstairs thanks to the new management at Sabre. On pure competency, he'd be a fine candidate -- and we'd love to see Dwight fume at Darryl's promotion. Odds: 9 to 1.

Gabe Whatshisname: You know, the guy from Sabre (Zach Woods)? Who gets even less respect as a manager than Jim did? Odds: 50 to 1. Lewis. Gabe Lewis -- that's his name.

Andy Bernard: As he'll no doubt remind you, Andy (Ed Helms) is a Cornell graduate. Years of sucking up to bosses doesn't seem to have gotten him very far, though. Odds: 25 to 1.

David Brent: Brent (Ricky Gervais), the former manager of a Wernham Hogg branch outside London, is involved in other interests at the moment and unlikely to cross the pond. Odds: 100 to 1.

Leslie Knope: Unlikely to leave the Pawnee, Ind., parks department for the private sector. And besides, doesn't than Ann person (Rashida Jones) who's Leslie's (Amy Poehler) best friend look an awful lot like former Dunder Mifflin Scranton employee Karen Filippelli? Odds: 100 to 1.

"The Office" returns to NBC on Sept. 23.

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Photo credits: NBC

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 |  Comments (11)

it's gonna be Holly, the female Michael who he had that fling with. she would be awesome

zo | August 6, 2010 11:46 PM

I'm really hoping for David Wallace to come back.

Denise | August 7, 2010 1:25 AM

it's gotta be David Brent to garner any interest in the show without Steve. That makes the only sense. Anybody else would just make the show fade away without any interest.

td24 | August 7, 2010 11:56 AM

I want to see Rhys Darby, that would be awesome

justin | August 7, 2010 2:10 PM

I never even thought of Leslie Knope. I would be sad to see Parks and Rec go off the air, but that would be an awesome transition, having her get hired in.

And why not bring Karen back? I know she's on Parks and Rec, but I think that would be a great addition to the cast, I miss her on the Office. They could close down her branch, and move her into Michael's spot.


Random note: This final season they need to make the opening credits like they did for that one episode in season 5, that has all the main cast in it, and not just Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam, and Ryan (who is not as 'main' as a characters as others imo; like Angela). Honor the whole cast as an ensemble cast and put them all in the main credits!

Marcus | August 7, 2010 2:38 PM

Love the idea of Daryl taking over, and it would drive Dwight even further into insanity. If Dwight were boss, the whole place would be too much of a dictatorship, especially the one that led to WW11.

Angelus | August 7, 2010 4:06 PM

my bet is on carrell signing a big money 11th hour deal similar to charlie sheen to stay on at least through the 8th season

Mukul | August 7, 2010 5:09 PM

I'd much rather they try and bring in someone new.

Ed | August 7, 2010 5:23 PM

I think Stanley said it best:

"I would rather work for an upturned broom with a bucket for a head than work for somebody else in this office besides myself. Game on."

John from St. Louis | August 8, 2010 11:23 PM

I would love to see David Wallace take over. Having lost his job in corporate, there's room for some funny stuff. I saw this guy in a movie preview and it was hilarious! I vot

Chris | August 9, 2010 7:56 PM
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