'The Office' New Boss: Jim, Dwight Or Andy?

After all those guest stars, it looks like "The Office" may be hiring from within, after all.

Following star Steve Carell's summer announcement that he would leave the hit comedy he led for seven seasons as lovable dunce Michael Scott, the show's producers went on a massive search for a new star boss; theybooked Will Ferrell for a four episode arc as the temporary boss, and then overloaded the season's final episode with a long series of guest stars. But according to TV Line's Michael Ausiello, the plan right now may be to hire from within.

He says that the producers are, for now, deciding between Jim (John Krasinksi), Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Andy (Ed Helms) to take the boss's chair; on the show, Dwight and Andy both vied for the role, while Jim turned the temporary gig down, which set off the long search for a new head honcho.

Throughout the spring, the slew of guest stars was slowly announced. In March, it came out that Will Arnett and series creator Ricky Gervais would appear; then, in early April, Ray Romano, James Spader and Catherine Tate were added to the list. Finally, in late April, Jim Carrey booked his ticket to Scranton.

Word earlier was that Tate was the number one choice for the role, and NBC still has an option on her contract, should they want her for that role or something else. Instead of taking over for Michael, it looks like Spader will be taking the job of Dunder Mifflin CEO, formerly played by Kathy Bates.

For more, click over to TV Line.

Comments

[ctvance3]

11:34 PM on 07/04/2011

definitely Andy... Aaandy! Aaandy! Aaandy! Jim is too boring and Dwight too funny. Andy seems like he could keep the show running most smoothly, if anyone.

[joemondo]

05:47 PM on 06/30/2011

Gotta be Andy, if that's the case.

Dwight is too evil for it to be funny on an ongoing basis; Jim is too likeable and sane for it to work on ongoing basis.

Andy would have the balance of demented but well intentioned.

[abaybay]

04:02 PM on 06/30/2011

I'm glad they are going this route (hopefully). I still think the show is doomed without Michael Scott as boss (I've recently turned my full attention to Parks and Rec.).

Regardless, anything will be better than Ferrell's southern-boss character.

[blacksmithn]

11:13 AM on 06/30/2011

The 'Nard Dog. Clueless, inept, and ineffectual, he's the perfect heir to Michael.

[BacSi]

04:18 PM on 06/30/2011

For me this is the only good option out of the 3. And actually a pretty good one at that.

That Jim and Dwight dynamic as co-workers is not to be messed with IMO.

[mokachyna]

05:00 PM on 06/30/2011

But he went to Cornell!

[Num1Christy]

10:39 AM on 06/30/2011

Jim! Tate was the worst IMO, hope it doesn't end up being her.

[melanielpc]

10:29 AM on 06/30/2011

Dwight!

[pickle541]

09:23 AM on 06/30/2011

Andy. Preppy Ivy League boy, thinks being nice to everyone is an asset, brags about useless things, absolutely clueless. He mirrors so many office managers out there.

[ethiopia1a]

08:43 AM on 06/30/2011

Darryl or Creed.

[Num1Christy]

10:40 AM on 06/30/2011

If Darryl was an option, I'd definitely pick him.

[ethiopia1a]

11:01 AM on 06/30/2011

Creed he`s effing funny.

[Mac1000]

08:04 AM on 06/30/2011

I thought Kathy Bates was the Sabre CEO.

[Davey Johnson]

07:35 AM on 06/30/2011

Pam.

[Mac1000]

08:05 AM on 06/30/2011

Brilliant!

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

05:50 AM on 06/30/2011

Jim. He deserves it the most. {{-_-}}

[mheister]

04:31 AM on 06/30/2011

Of the three, I understand the temptation to promote Andy's character because of Ed Helms' rising star as film actor, but IMHO the greatest potential for conflict - hence, comedy - would come from upping Dwight. That would allow the writers to play with the power dynamics between Dwight and Jim in a new way, with the James Spader wildcard thrown in to keep things truly off-balance.

Jim seems the least likely choice - from a writing standpoint - as his character is pretty much a get-along-to-go-along type.

[Spartan Ideal]

02:27 PM on 06/30/2011

But Andy is so ineffectual that there's comedy in that-he won't be able to maintain the business. Unless they rewrote Dwight, it'd come off as silly that he's not firing everyone nonstop.

[Hendrew]

12:46 AM on 06/30/2011

community and parks and rec are what carry nbc's thursday nights now

[CaroleK1970]

02:04 AM on 06/30/2011

Parks and Rec is brilliant!

[abaybay]

04:03 PM on 06/30/2011

I can't get enough Ron Swanson.

[Craig 212]

03:28 AM on 06/30/2011

In terms of quality, yes. But The Office is still their highest rated comedy.

[Ben Mathews6969]

12:22 AM on 06/30/2011

I would like either the Nard-dog or Spader

[MAJK]

02:56 AM on 06/30/2011

Totally agree. Nard-dog rules... and Spader was perfectly weird, awkward, creepy and amazing.

[Tazzie]

10:01 PM on 06/29/2011

I usually lose interest in any TV show after 3-5 seasons (The Law and Order Franchises being the only exception) but I thought if Catharine Tate joined the cast I'd be all in. While I like all three actors their characters have become a bit stale and predictable.

[MAJK]

02:58 AM on 06/30/2011

I agree. Ed Helm's character is the "freshest" but it's too simple and not very managerial. I thought Tate would do wonders in the role and it would be nice to see a female as head to liven things up a bit.