Steve Carell to Leave The Office

The Office has become one of our favorite shows, so this can't be good news for its future:

It looks like Dunder Mifflin will indeed be Scott-free this time next year.

Steve Carell is reaffirming his desire to leave The Office and his role as Michael Scott at the end of the hitcom’s upcoming seventh season. “I think [season] 7 will be my last year,” he told us over the weekend at the premiere of his new animated flick, Despicable Me. “I want to fulfill my contract. I think it’s a good time to move on.”

Asked if there’s anything that could change his mind, Carell said, “No. I just want to spend more time with my family.”

Back in April, Carell made headlines when he announced in a BBC radio interview that next season “would probably” be his last on The Office. NBC entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin later told reporters that Office producers were “preparing in the event [Carell] chooses to move on.”

I can't imagine this show without Carell. His character and all of its quirks are the glue that holds the whole ensemble together. I think they'd be better off to quit at the end of the season rather than try and continue without him.