Getting Excited for the End of The Office

Today is April 16 (well it was when I started writing this, it's now technically April 17).  In exactly 1 month from today yesterday, on May 16, The Office will air its final episode ever.  Only 4 episodes remain (the last 2 are both hour-long episodes), and we could not be more excited to see how the 9-season long series will come to an end.  The storylines in the episodes lately have been really great, and we've been eagerly awaiting each new episode, while simultaneously dreading how much closer we are to never seeing new episodes again.

Since Michael Scott left the series at the end of Season 7, his presence has been sorely missed on the show.  But what was also bothersome was that after being such a major part of The Office for almost seven years, he was hardly ever mentioned on the show after his departure.  When watching new episodes, it was almost as if Michael Scott had never existed.  Fortunately, as the show is coming to an end, though Steve Carell will reportedly not be returning to the show to reprise Michael Scott, the writers have been writing in some Michael references to show that he's not forgotten.  In a great throw-back to classic Office (particularly the Pilot episode), in the recent episode "Moving On", Pam interviews for a new job in Philadelphia, and her potential new manager is quite reminiscent of her former boss (there's more after the Toby/Nellie scene):

(Fun Fact: Bob Odenkirk, who plays the Michael Scott-esque boss, actually was considered for the role of Michael Scott when the show was first getting cast back in 2005!)

Another exciting aspect of these final episodes of The Office is that we're finally starting to see this documentary come together. Earlier this season we actually met some of the documentary crew, and in the episode "Promos", the Dunder Mifflin employees actually watch a promo for the documentary that they star in!  (And for the first time since he left the show in season 7, Michael Scott actually appears on-screen!)

And to further build our excitement for the end of The Office, John Krasinski (Jim) has produced a 10-episode web series entitled "The Office Farewells" which features various actors who have appeared on The Office looking back and talking about what The Office has meant to them.  So far only the first installment is available, and it features none other than the great Will Ferrell reminiscing about his classic Office role of Deangelo Vickers:

Only four episodes left!  Can't wait to see how it all ends!