TV Goodness Says Goodbye to NBC’s The Office 

“T-shirt idea: Goodbyes stink.” No one can sum up tonight better than Michael Scott. As a loyal
Office fan (yes, I know the show’s had a few rough patches, but all in all, it’s provided me with
hours of laughter and endless quoting opportunities), I’m not ready to say goodbye to Jim, Pam,
Dwight, Angela and the rest of the gang. Yes, most of these characters would drive me crazy in
real life, but that didn’t for one second stop me from wishing I could be a Dunder Mifflin
employee. Never have safety training, performance reviews or blood drives been so much fun.
However, it’s safe to say I’m not the only person who will miss these inappropriate,
unpredictable and often awkward workplace experiences. In a recent press call, John Krasinski
told us how Dunder Mifflin has changed his life and what he’ll miss the most:

“There’s so much to miss. I mean, for me, and I think probably more than the other cast
members, I mean I was a waiter before this show, so what I miss most about this character is way
too complexly entwined in my real life. So to me, this was a winning lottery ticket, except with a
winning lottery ticket you just get money, and with this you get a whole change of your life. And
everything about my life has changed and become better, and I feel so lucky to be where I am.
So, it’s hard to separate the two, because I’m so sort of meshed in the experience. But for sure,
you know I will say, and I don’t know if this a good answer or a bad answer, but I will say I
think the thing I’ll miss most is playing a character that people believe in so much and attach
themselves to in various degrees. There are some people who think they are Jim. There’s some
people who are looking for Jim. And, you know I think to me, and I know to Jenna playing the
Jim/Pam relationship and realizing how important it became to so many people was such an
incredible honor….I felt like I was given a tremendous responsibility, and that responsibility I
really will miss because it’s just so much fun to play a character that people are watching and
rooting for and loving….So, it’s incredibly hard to leave, but at the same time I know in my
heart that it’s given me everything that I have and has defined me, and hopefully given me every
single strength and talent that I have to go on and do other things, but I will always use that as a
touchstone going forward.”

I mean honestly, could we LOVE him any more?! This call lasted about 45 minutes and I can
guarantee that every single thing he said felt equally as genuine and grateful. Early on, the sitcom had
an uncertain future and it was on a week-to-week basis as to whether the show would continue,
but as John shared with us, even then the cast knew they were a part of something special.

“I remember saying, “Is there any way I could get a DVD of this to show my mom, because this
is definitely the best thing I’ve ever done.” And I was happy with that, and I actually still have
that DVD. So for us, it was just like we were in the best regional theater group in the world.
You know, we just thought no one was necessarily paying attention, but we were having a blast.”

Luckily, John was wrong. We were paying attention to every booze cruise, fun run, diversity day
and beach game. It’ll be hard to let this show go (that’s what she said!), but we’re grateful for the
laughs, the tears and the moments of cringe-worthy awesomeness it’s given us the past nine
season. So to The Office, goodbye and thank you. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.