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3w ago

Rainn Wilson Calls The Office’s Post-Carell Seasons ‘Chaotic’ as Peacock Greenlights The Paper Spin-Off

Strong streaming viewership has driven Peacock’s commission of The Paper for a September 2025 premiere

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Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute and Steve Carell as Michael Scott in a still from The Office

Overview

  • Rainn Wilson said on the Good Guys podcast that after Steve Carell’s 2011 exit the show became “a little bit chaotic” as cast and crew struggled to find a new lead and tone.
  • He described Michael Scott as the series’ “comic engine” whose absence disrupted story direction and on-screen dynamics.
  • To fill the void, producers added James Spader as Dunder Mifflin CEO Robert California and promoted Ed Helms’ Andy Bernard to regional manager.
  • The Office’s ratings dipped after Carell left, dropping from 7.7 million average viewers in season seven to 6.5 million in season eight and 5.1 million in season nine, while Rotten Tomatoes scores fell from 83% to 44%.
  • Continued popularity on streaming platforms has sustained The Office’s cultural impact and led Peacock to greenlight the spin-off series The Paper for September 2025.