Clark Duke, left, as Clark and Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute star in Thursday epsiode of "The Office," airing at 8 p.m. on NBC, channel 2, cable 9. DALE BERMAN/NBC
Fans of "The Office" shouldn't expect the return of actor Steve Carell to "The Office" when it ends is nine-season run on NBC this spring.
That's the word from Greg Daniels, executive producer and showrunner of the series at Wednesday's Television Critics Association panel in Los Angeles.
Carell "was very much of the opinion that the 'Goodbye Michael' episode and story arc leading up to it was the goodbye to the fans and the show," said Daniels, adding this final season "is the goodbye that the rest of the show gets to have," reported deadline.com.
What Daniels did reveal is that one character will be fired in episode 15 and the series will wrap up with an hour-long episode possibly featuring some series regulars and guest stars, including Mindy Kaling. No series finale air date has been set yet.
“The Office," based on the award-winning BBC hit, is a fly-on-the-wall "docu-reality" parody of modern American office life that delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Series star Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute the arrogant assistant to the regional manager, was also a member of the panel for TCA.
He talked about the early days of the series when cast members would sit around wondering if the network would pick the show up for even a second season.
He called the cast a family that had "grown up together" and even “fought a little bit, not like (the cast of) 'Grey's Anatomy,'" reported the entertainment website.
He told the TV writers what he will miss most is the innocence of the "kids" who are now "giant megalomaniac TV stars," the website reported.
In Thursday's episode, Clark (Clark Duke) returns from his sex jaunt with Jan and gifts the office with a new espresso maker, which everyone abuses. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) takes him to sell a father - son suit warehouse. Meanwhile, Darryl (Craig Robinson) interviews at Jim's (John Krasinski) company and Pam (Jenna Fischer) comes for a surprise visit, according NBC.
On the January 24 episode, fans will start to see what goes on behind the documentary plus Dwight (Wilson) tries to prevent Darryl's (Craig Robinson) move to Athlead. Jim (John Krasinksi) is forced to miss Cece's first recital when a big investor exits his new company, to Pam's intense disappointment. Nellie (Catherine Tate) exposes Pete (Jake Lacey) and Erin (Ellie Kemper).
