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NBC and producers of The Office are pulling out all the stops for the finale of this pivotal seventh season, lining up several major guest stars for the final episode.
EW can exclusively reveal that Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett will appear in the finale.
What will they be doing? Can’t say. The episode is still being written. We can tell you the one-hour episode will air May 19, have Gervais appearing on the show for the second time, and has Arnett appearing for the first time. Also, that there will be other notable guest stars as well.
Sources did warn that one shouldn’t assume that just because Gervais and Arnett are in the finale, that either is going to replace Carell next season as the Office boss (but one can dream of it, right?).
The Office is also returning after a few weeks of hiatus this Thursday with a major Michael Scott-centered episode titled “Garage Sale.” The set-up is that Dunder Mifflin will have a garage sale in the warehouse, but there’s more to it than that…. (promo below)
Read more:
The Office director on Steve Carell’s ‘very emotional’ final episode
The Office to bid goodbye to Steve Carell on April 28
Will Ferrell hired as NBC’s Office temp
The Office earns early renewal for next season
No way Will Ferrell will be new Office boss, says Rainn Wilson
Having Gervais on the US version is, and I really hate using this term since it’s overused (like “epic”), jump-the-shark territory.
Disagree a million percent. Ricky Gervais is probably the only one who could save the show from jumping the shark if he replaces Carell when he leaves
I think the show jumped the shark when Pam and Jim got married.
How is it jumping the shark? He worked in the paper business in the UK. Hard to believe that he would end up in the US looking for work? Come on. Plus it is just TV!
Yeah because the world IS that small.
*rolls eyes*
Yeah even though it’s a TV show and many, many things the characters have done call for a suspension of disbelief, this is one time where a plot point takes me out of it.
On one hand, yes, if Ricky Gervais’ David Blaine were to REPLACE Michael Scott, I believe the show would run the risk of jumping; but on the other hand, only to have him appear as a one or two time appearance should not be a problem at all.
Seeing Ricky Gervais play David Blaine would be pretty interesting. I’d prefer if he played David Brent, though.
I wish they’d left it with just Gervais’ genius cameo from earlier this season.
How is it “Jumping the Shark” if it’s the last episode? lol
It is not the last episode. It is the last episode of the season. It will be back next year.
Could you give us some more examples of over-used words? The concept is so difficult to comprehend otherwise. It really makes us respect you when we see how astute you are to recognize that using them is unimaginative and lazy.
“Jump the shark” jumped the shark when EW commentators started using “jump the shark.”
will there be illusions?
As long as there aren’t any tricks.
They’re not tricks, they’re illusions… C’MON!
Will Arnett would be a perfect replacement. My guess is that he will take over for Steve Carell.
let me guess, he will play a variation of Gob again. Which was already getting boring during Arrested Development before he did the same thing on 30 Rock, then his gob awful show on fox.
Michael Cera gets busted on for being Michael Cera, Will Arnett gets a free pass, I don’t get it.
Will Arnett’s sitcom was cancelled. He is available. Sounds like this is a done deal.
First of all, I love your name, and it’s fitting since we are talking about Will Arnett. I think he is the best person to take Steve Carell’s place.
yeah… like the guy in the $3000 suit would work for a paper company… C’mon!!!
I agree that it would be great for Arnett to replace him. Although, I would be even happier if your namesake chose to step in.
Ricky Gervais was quoted as saying earlier this year that Will Arnett would be the perfect repacement for Carell.
will arnette would be great! GOB bluth!!!
Will Timothy Olyphant be one of those guest stars?
Yes please let Timothy Olyphant come back! Love Kelly and Meredith’s reaction to him.
Seriously, what happened to his character?
Olyphant’s character was hired as a traveling sales manager much like Michael’s friend, Todd Packer, was before he moved away a few episodes ago. So he’s presumably on the road and can pop up on occasion much like Packer did from time to time.
Timothy Olyphant has his own GREAT show, Justified, on FX.
I like Timothy Olyphant, but his story arc was completely underwhelming.
please please please please please let will arnett be the new boss! (also can he bring along his devon banks bathrobe?)
Another vote for Arnett to take over for Carell!
WILL ARNETT!
(not to take over from Carell, specifically, just in general)
WILL ARNETT!!!!!!!!!!!!
WILL MUTHAFREAKING ARNETT!!
STEVE HOLT!!!
Will Arnett would be perfect to replace Steve Carell, because he would be a completely different type of character but would still be absolutely hilarious, assuming that he played a GOB-like boss. This is fantastic news if he is the replacement!
Wouldn’t it be cool if he actually was GOB?? Love Will Arnett though. He’d make a great replacement.
Plus they could have Alec Baldwin guest and they could have a battle of guyssss who talk like thisssss….
You really think a guy I’m a $7000 suit is gonna sell paper product!!! COME ON!!! He wouldve MADE A HUGE MISTAKE!!! Haha nah he’d actually be perfect to replace Carrel.
Please let Gervais take over the show. It would probably be the only way the show would survive and would give us original office fans something we’ve wanted since the us version started.
Gervais has already said that he will not be a regular. He certainly doesn’t need the money. As he says, he makes money for doing nothing on the show, why would he want to work and make the same amount?
It’s not going to be Gervais. He’s said ‘No’ too many times to count. Will Arnett, on the other hand, would be an excellent choice. They need to bring in someone new, not promote an existing character.
As great as Ricky is I don’t think he has a high Q factor among audiences, most don’t like him or can even understand his thick accent. Most of America never watched the original British version of the show.
Ah! I love Will Arnett. He’d be a great choice to fill in The Office.