After months of hype, oodles of retrospectives and one super-sized farewell that touched on all the right notes, Michael Scott has finally left the building. Our feelings for which we’d like to sum up by borrowing a line from our favorite fictional President by asking, “What’s Next?”*
With apologies in advance for not wallowing in the comedic genius that is Steve Carell and what have you, the simple fact of the matter is that his exit couldn’t have come at a better time. In fact, three seasons from now, there is a very good possibility that fans of the series may look back upon last night’s episode as right up there with the best thing to happen to THE OFFICE since the introduction of the line, “That’s what she said.” Suffice to say, seven seasons is a long time for any series, let alone one that takes place within the confines of an increasingly crowded office park. And while there’s no denying Carell’s importance to THE OFFICE, and his award-winning contribution to what will go down in history as one of the fledgling fourth place network’s [NBC] only bright spots over the course of the past few seasons or so, there is also no denying the fact that our interest in THE OFFICE has been waning. So much so that what was once at the top of our Thursday watch list had more recently found itself on the bottom.
Again, don’t get us wrong. We are in no way claiming that a Scott-free OFFICE will be an upgrade on the original, and we sure as heck aren’t about to suggest that anyone is capable of simply waltzing in and filling Steve Carell’s shoes. What we are suggesting is that next Thursday — the first of what will hopefully be many Thursdays in the post-Michael Scott era — brings with it a level of anticipation and excitement not seen since the early years of Pam and Jim’s courtship. And while we don’t seriously pretend to know whether or not the show will be able to survive in the long run without the “World’s Best Boss,” we do know that for the first time in quite some time, we’ll be firmly planted on our couch at 9PM anxiously awaiting to find out. Will you? 
* In case you’re wondering, our favorite fictional President is THE WEST WING’s Josiah Bartlet!