Everyone knows that The Office is one of NBC's greatest shows of all time. There's just no arguing that, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t quoted it, binge-watched it, or debated who the best character is. Fans still to this day are holding hope that one day NBC will bring this iconic show back, but for now, they'll just have to look forward to its upcoming reboot, The Paper.
Meanwhile, Jenna Fischer has shared some surprising insights concerning the original series that challenge the common belief that the show declined after Steve Carell’s exit. Fischer portrayed Pam Beesly in the mockumentary sitcom for all nine of its seasons. Pam begins the series as a reserved receptionist at Dunder Mifflin before transitioning into a sales role and ultimately taking on the position of office administrator at the paper distribution company. She's also known for being one half of one of TV’s most beloved couples, alongside Jim Halpert, played by John Krasinski.
David Spade and Dana Carvey recently got the opportunity to speak with the talented actress behind the fan-favorite character via their Fly on the Wall podcast, and she offered a fresh perspective on the show’s later seasons. Contrary to popular belief that The Office lost its magic after Carell’s departure as Michael Scott after season 7, Fischer defended the quality of seasons 8 and 9. She explained that after her own rewatch of the series, she found that some of her favorite episodes were actually in those later seasons after Carell had already left. In fact, she found that the show was consistently really good throughout its entire run.
"My biggest takeaway from having rewatched it was that it’s really good the whole time. I think there was this lore, especially among the cast and the creatives, that maybe we hit our peak in Season 3 or Season 4. And also this belief that the two seasons after Steve left, we were just treading water and maybe they weren’t as good. But when I watched everything, some of my favorite episodes were in Seasons 8 and 9 after Steve had left. There were still these amazing storylines."
I personally would agree with Fischer. While Carell’s presence was undeniably a huge part of what made the show special, The Office still had a lot to offer after his departure and still delivered plenty of laughs. The ensemble cast also continued to deliver memorable performances, and new additions brought fresh dynamics to Dunder Mifflin. Maybe the later seasons had a different feel, but that allowed the show to explore new directions and give other characters their moment to shine, proving that the series was never just about one person. It was about the whole quirky, lovable office family.
Like Fischer, maybe a rewatch session is needed for many viewers to fully appreciate the show as a whole. Sometimes, watching a show more than once helps you notice details or enjoy it more deeply. Ultimately, The Office stands as a timeless comedy classic that you can revisit again and again, always discovering fresh humor no matter how often you watch.