NBC has gotten a lot of success out of "The Office." However, the show feels a little off lately. Part of the reason is that there are so many new characters that it is hard to relate to them all. New boss Nellie is the latest character that seems to be eating up screen time. The most recent episode heavily focused on her and finally made her seem a little sympathetic. Could Nellie be joining "The Office" for the long haul? With rumors swirling about the show getting a reboot, it seems possible. However, the uncertainty is really hurting the show right now.
At the present time, several key actors are set to have their contracts end after the current season. Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, and John Krasinski are all up in the air for next season. In addition, Rainn Wilson is expected to leave at some point next year for a spin-off, and Mindy Kaling is already appearing in a pilot on another network. James Spader is already confirmed to be leaving. While there is still hope for the main cast to return for one more season, that possibility feels less likely with each passing day. The idea that NBC and Greg Daniels are even talking about a reboot is a little concerning. But if this is in fact the end for several stars, it would be nice for the show to focus on them instead of new characters.
When Steve Carell was preparing for his exit last season, the show made a mistake by bringing in Will Ferrell. Ferrell distracted from what should have been a proper goodbye for Carell. It is starting to feel like that again. Characters like Nellie and Robert are distracting from Jim, Pam, Andy, and the rest of the traditional stars. With the season winding down and the future uncertain, it would be a shame if the lasting image of these characters is what we are seeing now. They feel more like supporting players to characters that have little association with viewers.
Hopefully, the main cast will come back for one more year. But if they don't, the writers of "The Office" should put the focus on the characters that we spent years caring about instead of preparing for a new version of the series. Anything else would be a major disappointment to a show that had such a strong run. Fans should cross their fingers that the regular office gang gets more screen time for the rest of the season.
