Jenna Fischer: The Office Didn’t Decline After Carell Left
Jenna Fischer, the beloved Pam from The Office, decisively refutes claims the show declined after Steve Carell’s departure. In a fresh viewpoint aired on the Fly On The Wall podcast, Fischer champions the storylines in seasons eight and nine, shifting the narrative around the show’s later years. Her insights challenge the pervasive belief that The Office peaked early, revealing her favorite episodes are actually post-Carell. Fischer specifically revisited the series, and found her perspective changed on her rewatch of the whole series. Amidst the excitement surrounding the upcoming The Paper spinoff on Peacock,featuring Oscar Nuñez reprising his role,news Directory 3 is following the story closely. Discover what’s next for the extended The Office universe.
Jenna Fischer defends later seasons of ‘The Office’
Updated May 29, 2025
Jenna Fischer, known for her role as Pam beesly in *The Office*, is challenging the popular opinion that the show’s quality diminished following Steve Carell’s departure. Fischer, who appeared in 188 episodes of the NBC hit comedy, has revisited the series through her *Office Ladies* podcast.
After watching the workplace sitcom in its entirety, Fischer shared her thoughts on the show’s overall quality. Speaking on the *Fly On The Wall* podcast with Dana carvey and David Spade, Fischer said, “My biggest takeaway from having rewatched it was that it’s really good the whole time.”
Fischer addressed the common sentiment that *The Office* suffered after Carell, who played Michael Scott, left in season seven. She noted that while many believed the show peaked earlier and that the seasons after Carell’s exit were not as strong, her viewpoint changed after rewatching the series. She found some of her favorite episodes in seasons eight and nine, appreciating the storylines.
When asked about her personal favorite era, Fischer cited seasons four through six, specifically highlighting the “Dinner Party” episode from season four.
“I think there was this lore, especially among the cast and the creatives, that maybe we hit our peak in season three or season four,” Fischer explained. “And also this belief that the two seasons after steve left, we were just treading water and maybe they weren’t as good… But when I watched everything, some of my favorite episodes were in seasons eight and nine after Steve had left. There were still these amazing storylines.”
*The Office*,a favorite among fans through reruns and streaming,concluded in 2013. A spinoff series, *The Paper*, is set to premiere on Peacock. The new series, set in the same universe, will follow a documentary crew as they shift their focus to a historic Midwestern newspaper and its publisher’s efforts to revive it with volunteer reporters. Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore will star.
Oscar Nuñez is also set to reprise his role as Oscar Martinez in *The Paper*. Rashida Jones has reflected on her time on *The Office*, noting that she felt fans didn’t connect with her character.
What’s next
Fans can anticipate the premiere of *The Paper* on Peacock, expanding the universe of *The Office* and introducing new characters and storylines while maintaining the mockumentary style that made the original series a hit. the new series promises a fresh take on workplace dynamics, focusing on the challenges and triumphs of a small-town newspaper.