Actors are the most important element of any film, show or production. This is because people start associating actors with the characters they play. So Michael Scott is Steve Carell and Steve Carell is Michael Scott. When actors have to leave though, especially from shows (which are a bigger commitment), audience members can feel alienated and even stop to tune in altogether.
This is obviously not good from a revenue-generation point-of-view but also from a screenplay point-of-view. Screenwriters have to justify this through a different plot point. So not only is it a challenge for audiences to continue watching the show, but for the makers to not lose the plot.
Through this post we explore some instances when actors left “The Office” and the kind of compromises or changes that were made to the storyline.
1. Ed Helms as Andrew “Andy” Bernard
The first time Ed Helms leaves the show is not entirely on him. Initially, when he joined The Office after the episode “The Merger”, his character was written in a way that would make Dwight look cool, and he was not meant to hang out for long either. With every episode Andy got harder to bear for the audience, and it also became tougher for the writers to keep up with his antics.
But, the makers did not want to lose a strong improvisor like Ed Helms. He could take every scene to the next level. So, they decided to change his character arc. After Andy punches the wall in “The Duel”, the writers were convinced to bring back a better and stronger Andy. His battles with Dwight continued and so did his playful jabs at Jim, but in a way that was more likeable. The writers used Ed Helms’ qualities as a wonderful comedic actor and rebuilt Andy.
The second time Ed Helms left, was in a way on him (this is where the “commitment” part comes). Andy exits the show a second time with “The Boat” episode, and does not come back until “Couple’s Discount”. So Helms is absent for about 8 episodes. This absence allowed him to shoot for the final installment in the Hangover trilogy with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. Season nine is infamously known as one of the weakest seasons of the show, and the absence of Andy as a General Manager might have added to that.
This shows that the absence of a well-written character for a prolific actor can really hinder the continuation as well as the quality of a show, especially a sitcom. This is because the audiences start connecting to the characters deeply and quickly.
2. Rashida Jones as “Karen Filippelli”
Rashida Jones as Karen Filippelli became a series regular with the third season. She’s one of Jim’s fellow employees at Stamford Branch, including Andy. Karen’s character was majorly introduced to act as a hurdle in the “Jim-Pam Storyline”, something Jones was very well aware of.
After one whole season, Jones abruptly leaves the show with the episode “The Job, Part 2”. This was not only because Jim and Karen break up, but also because Jones joined the Parks and Recreation team as Ann Perkins. This role was written by Michael Schur with Jones in mind, and it was full time.
It was known to Jones and the makers that Karen’s storyline in Scranton won’t last long, but what did not sit well with the viewers was how abruptly Karen’s storyline comes to an end. Jones made some guest appearances in the show every now and then but her character was no more a part of the main plot.
3. Zach Woods as Gabe Lewis
Now we don’t know what exactly happened here. Possibly the actor wasn’t available due to personal reasons or his contract expired?
However there’s one credible source that could offer some explanation - The Office Ladies Podcast. While breaking down the season 8 episode “The List”, they play a deleted scene which would explain what’s going on with Gabe. He tells that he’s dividing his days between corporate and Scranton, citing “more money, more problems” as a reason, except that his salary is the same so, same money, more problems.
Gabe Lewis rarely makes an appearance after the end of season 7, and because no proper explanation is given as to why that may be, people assume that he probably got fired by David Wallace after he bought back Dunder Mifflin.
4. Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor
Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor remains of the more iconic characters of the show. While her appearances on the screen remain to a minimum due to her demanding role as a writer on the show. (This is the reason why her and Paul Lieberstein were stationed in the annex)
Kelly fashionably bids her goodbye to Scranton, Dunder Mifflin to move with Ravi to Miami (Ohio, not to be confused with Florida, even though Kelly very much was). Kaling went on to work on her show “The Mindy Project”, often collaborating with her “The Office” co-stars like Ed Helms and B.J. Novak.
Her exit is seamless and iconic, much like herself.
5. B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard
B.J. Novak’s exit can be likely contributed to “a burnout”. After Steve Carell’s exit in season 7 and Mindy Kaling’s exit in season 9, he was asked to be the showrunner.
According to Novak, “I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the love.”, and so, Ryan Howard was gone too. He is shown to be following Kelly to “win her back”.
When Kaling left, Novak found a way out too. A very Ryan Howard move, indeed!
A number of actors left the show at different points of time like Steve Carell, David Denman and Amy Ryan but their exits are explained by the storyline itself. Their characters left when they were destined to leave and there were no commitment issues.