Saying Goodbye to The Office (and a request for our readers who will still be watching it)

We are officially done watching The Office. Our Thursday night schedule is too full for a show that had one of the lamest premieres we have ever seen. We didn’t even think about laughing once. The show really had one post-Michael-Scott chance to come out of the gate with a bang and show us that it still cared. Instead, we got an opening about “planking,” which is sort of old news, and a plot about Robert California making a list of winners and losers in The Office. Then Andy saved the day by telling Robert that everyone except for Gabe was actually cool. Both Pam and Angela are pregnant. Andy is branch manager and Robert is CEO.

Robert California (James Spader) was funny in the finale, but he’s seemed to have lost some of his great weirdness. We still think the character was a strong choice for this show, but it’s not enough to keep us watching. After seven seasons, we are ready to check out. We have Community and Parks and Recreation to make us chuckle on Thursdays. The last funny season of this show was season five. It should have ended there.

Michael’s send-off was the good, and last year’s Christmas episode was pretty funny, but for the most part, we leave this show disappointed more often than not. Michael brought a much-needed sweetness and joviality to the show. Now, we are left with weird people and cynics. Michael's love for life and optimism, mixed with his naivete, gave the people he worked with a reason to react. This show needs a new centerpiece, and he needs Michael's attitude, even if they go without his now-trademark buffoonery.

We may stop in for the occasional episode if someone tells us there was a funny week. So, seriously, please tell us if there is an episode that is back to form that we need to see. We enjoy Dwight/Jim rivalries, pranks, heartfelt moments, Creed, Robert California, Kelly (and most episodes written by that actress), and anything to do with beets. Keep that in mind, and keep us posted.

Seasons 1-5: A+
Season 6: D
Season 7: C+