Steve Carell is leaving The Office at the end of this season. Speculation is rampant about which character will replace him as the boss, but let’s face it: Carell’s character, clueless, genially racist boss Michael Scott, is far and away the most memorable thing about the show. So rather than trying to fill his role with a new actor or an existing character, we’ve got some creative solutions the show could employ to deal with Carell’s absence.
Scott Minus Scott: The Office could go the route of the surreally brilliant Garfield Minus Garfield and just continue to write, shoot, and air scripts starring Michael Scott – with no Michael Scott. It becomes clear that Michael never existed, that he was a joint delusion shared by an office of cubicle dwellers driven mad by boredom, and this sophisticated commentary on white collar ennui nabs The Office the Best Drama Emmy out from under those snobby HBO shows.
Office Babies: A spinoff in which the office is populated by eight-year-old versions of the cast. And one giant pair of feet.
Mr. Wilson: Recast the role of Michael Scott with someone who can do a decent vocal Carell imitation. Then obscure his face in every shot, like the neighbor on Home Improvement. This one will work best if you build a picket fence through the middle of Michael’s office.
