EXCLUSIVE: Will Ferrell has committed to a four-episode arc on NBC’s comedy The Office. He will play a branch manager who comes from the home office and is just as inappropriate as Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character. NBC is still figuring out exactly when the episodes will air, but Ferrell has committed to one episode beyond Carell’s finale, to help create a bridge.
Ferrell called the producers, offering his services because he’s a fan and wanted to commemorate Carell’s swan song by taking part in The Office star’s seventh and final season on the show. Ferrell and Carell are close friends who co-starred in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. The stint brings Ferrell back to NBC, where he launched his career on Saturday Night Live. Additionally, he has done arcs on such series as NBC’s 30 Rock and HBO’s Eastbound & Down, which he also produces.
“We found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star and we turned him into a television star,” said The Office exec producer Paul Lieberstein (who doubles as the annoying Dunder Mifflin HR executive Toby Flenderson, Michael Scott’s arch-nemesis. “We are proud to continue The Office’s tradition of discovering famous talent, and we hope that once America gets a good look at Will, they’ll see what we see, tremendous raw sexuality.”
Who’s Will Ferrell?
How could you not know who Will Ferrell is? You’re joking, right? PLEASE tell me you’re joking…
trolled sry… i feel your pain.
uhh yup, Lieberstein’s comments were definitely jokes.. do u even watch the show?
See – it is this level of person who takes part in focus groups on a sitcom pilot and buries it with questions like this? “Oh, they were JOKING???”.
did you not read it? he was speaking ironically. ITS FUNNY! GET IT!
Sarcastic is the word you want to use.
Trolled!
Just to clear this up…I was wondering if ‘Miggy’ actually never heard of Will Ferrell. That’s why i replied to Miggy’s comment. I obviously know who he is. And YES, I can tell that Lieberstein is being sarcastic and joking.
Seriously? Were you born yesterday?
He is the best actor ever!! I liked him best in blades of glory and taladega nights..
Elf was his magnum opus.
you have got to be kidding! don’t ever post anything again. until you watch all the movies that will ferrell is in. seriously.
It’s called an opinion. Calm down.
Yeah but your opinion is stupid.
wow buddy you think you’re cool or something telling people not to post because they haven’t seen every Will Farrell movie? I mean I love will Farrell but unlike you some people have other things to do with their time like get laid or have a life. Obviously YOU wouldn’t know anything about those things would you?
Or better yet, please don’t see any of his movies. He’s the same character in every movie, every one of them is exactly the same and if you are older than about 13 you will facepalm yourself everytime he brings the ‘funny’.
I’ve seen all his movies, and they are ALL TERRIBLE.
If I thought saying f*ck over and over again for no reason was funny, I’d just do it myself.
its hilarious how every one thinks this guy is serious. if you read the article you would know that he’s joking.
What’s BluRay?
OP WINS.
YEAH!!!!! I couldn’t have asked for more!!!!
wake up, miggy. i think i got somethin to SHOW you: every will ferrell movie ever….none greater
I think he’s that guy that played bullseye in “Daredevil”
No he wasn’t in Daredevil, he is the drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers.
ru serious u must be amish or something if u dont now who will ferrell is
Just wont be the same without Steve Carrell no matter what good actor takes his place. Steve as Michael Scott wont be the same without him. No one can do it like he can, ( Thats what she said), LOL. Im sad to see him go. I will be following him in whatever he appears in.
I’ve gotta second you. While I think it’s totally valid to bring Will Ferrell on for an arc and the small number of remaining episodes before the end of the season, the show’s last episode *must* be this season’s finale. Paul Lieberstein really needs to take the fate of Northern Exposure sans Rob Morrow into consideration: while Northern Exposure was an ensemble of virtually equal characters/actors, Morrow/Fleischmann was far more important to the show than any other single character and therefore NE’s showrunners (and CBS) failed to admit to themselves that the transition to new characters played (valiantly and thanklessly, mind you) by Paul Provenza and Teri Polo was never going to work.
Or, more simply put: Don’t overstay your welcome.
you’re comparing NE to the Office?
Stronglly agree with you!
Don’t get me wrong I love ALL the cast of The Office, they are SUPER talented! But Steve Carell’s face, #1, is the main reason why I tune in… not to mention his… EVERY-THING.
However, it’s weird– because my mom, for instance, likes Pam (don’t get me wrong, she is super-special & def. helps make the show what it is) a whole lot and doesn’t even notice Michael Scott much @ ALL. Does anyone else have an other-than-Steve fixation for that show (besides Dwight)??
Jim & Pam are a far better couple than Ross & Rachel ever were. For a guy that never watches romantic comedies, I love their dynamic together. I keep pitying seasons 1 & 2 Pam for her insecurities, reminding season 3 Pam it’s all her fault Jim left, and vicariously taking joy in their seasons 4-7 relationship.
I believe he was Bill Murray’s stunt double in “Broken Flowers.”
Obvious troll is obvious.
Who’s Steve Carrell and why are The Office fans such losers?
Who’s Steve Carell?
Will Ferrell plays the cowbell.
I have to side with those who question the wisdom of moving ahead without Steve Carell. Despite one of the all-time great ensemble cast of characters and an equally great romantic story arc (Jim and Pam; arc now complete), the character Michael Scott is the centerpiece of the show and the ignition for a majority of its story lines and comedy. Most every great ensemble show has an irreplaceable character (can you imagine MASH without Hawkeye or All in the Family without Archie Bunker?) and Michael Scott is it. As much as I would miss the wonderful cast of characters, I would prefer that they bring the show to a wonderful, awkward, anti-climatic end true to the spirit of the show. But, if they must go on and if the show is going to be viable going forth, they need a new brilliant charactor/actor with his/her own unique dynamics to come in as boss, shake up the office, and given all the other characters someone great to play off, as they have had with the unforgettable Mr. Scott and the brilliant comic actor who has played him.
This makes me incredibly happy!
Back in the day Greg Daniels would swear off ever using big guest stars on The Office because he thought it stole from the reality of the show.
Well I guess it’s a good thing The Office isn’t a real reality show, huh?
The Office swore off reality between the 3rd and 4th season.
Now I have two reasons not to watch this show.
I dont like will ferrell
if you do not like will ferrell, you should jump off the nearest building
Think I love you for this response…
NO YOU SHOULD BE PROUD IF U HATE HIS MOVIES, EXCEPT ANCHORMAN AND ELF AND OLD SCHOOL
TOTALLY
Will Farrell doesn’t like you either.
Me neither. What a monotonously boring actor lol. Id stop watching The Office if he replaces Carell (which he thankfully wont, i think).
I saw BJ Novak’s standup at my college, and he allowed for some Q&A afterward. He said that the person replacing Michael is going to be someone who’s already a regular cast member. It will be someone within the office, and it may not be someone you expect either.
Then you should smell the inside of a plastic grocery bag, for a long long time.
I agree. Will Ferrell’s comedy is downright stupid & will take away the intelligence of The Office’s comedy. If he stays I can’t possibly watch the show any more…. so sad to hear this.
dude intelligence? they had an episode where a sex crazed ginger gets hit by a car. Or any episode with a dwight centered story.
You say Will Ferrell will take the intelligence away from The Office, and I say you’re high. When has The Office ever been about intelligence? Do you even watch the show? It’s a comedy, not a documentary.
The writers are pure geniuses. In that sense, the show has a lot to do with intelligence. Touching on the Will Ferrell point, however, I agree that from pretty much all of his previous roles, we’ve seen that Will Ferrell’s humor is pretty much dumb humor in its purest form, consisting mostly of yelling. Though I wouldn’t rule out Will Ferrell as a recurring character in the show, if his character took Michael Scott’s place, I would be forced to commit suicide. The humor of The Office is of a very subtle breed. The show needs at least one character to route that through. As we have seen these past seven seasons, Steve Carell is a master of subtlety. I find it extremely hard to believe that Will Farrell shares this trait. Then again, I didn’t think Steve Carell was a particularly gifted actor before The Office. Maybe Will Farrell will be a good fit for the Office, but hopefully not as regional manager of the Scranton branch… or suicide will ensue. Yes.
I second that…
I think you need to have a lobotomy to enjoy Ferrell’s so-called comedy.
the intelligence of The Office? really? I love the show as much as the next guy, but the intelligence? Yeah, okay. i think Will Ferrell will do a wonderful job on The Office and I hope he stays longer than four or five episodes.
omg, you say this after all the dumb ass shit michael and dwight do?! will ferrell is right up their alley. im so excited i could sing! tho i will be sad to see steve carell leave no matter what…but even four eps with will makes me so happy :)
You’re so sick. tough guy who thinks he’ll look cool by pretending to think they’re not good, or funny actors. okay bud. If you don’t like them, why would you comment, or even read this article. nice try slick.
@jimmy
Exactly.
They doth protest too much.
But you took time to read this story? You are a moron.
Boo hiss
Well I’ll tune back in for that.
i thought they were bringing back david brent
david brent just bumps into scott. gervais said if you blink you could miss it
Darn… I feel like Will Ferrel is going to totally take away from the fact that Steve Carell is leaving the show. I don`t like this. Not one bit.
I really don’t like it either. Not only will it take away from Steve Carell’s exit, but I’ve grown tired of Will Ferrell’s humor. He’s so one dimensional. In my opinion, Steve’s acting is evidence that he is in actuality a very intelligent person. He has to be with his acting agility and comedic timing.
Ferrell has a wider range than people assume and he can easily be a part of an ensemble. He was for instance quite good as a guest star on “Undeclared” and he showed some drama chops in “Stranger Than Fiction” (even if the movie itself wasn’t that good).
His main problem is that he tends to pick the same part in different movies even if he puts a lot of energy and improv in every part. I got more respect for the guy when I watched the “Line-O-Rama” section that they tend to include on DVD. The guy says a different line take after take and they have to pick between 5 or 8 funny takes that are completely different.
Huge mistake. Will Ferrell is so terrible. Makes me sad to see one of my favorite shows going down the drain.
“was nothing but a movie star”??? oh my god. eat me.
but i love this show. its one of my favorites. that comment is just disgusting.
It was a joke. Sheesh.
Obviously kidding.
chillax, its called sarcasm. meant to be funny. laugh
pretty sure he was joking.
Pretty sure it was sarcasm, man.
It’s. A. Joke.
DUH. That was a joke. You didn’t get that?
I love that this person doesn’t understand comedy when they read it!!!
He was being sarcastic. I highly, highly doubt he believes he is “discovering” Will Ferrel.
He was joking, dummy.
Holy God – are you serious? He’s using the most obvious sarcasm I’ve ever seen in my life.
sounds like a boring life
that comment “was nothing but a movie star” was supposed to be sarcastic, not serious. pretending that they “discovered” steve carrell was a way for them to sarcastically point out that he was already huge before he came to the office, and the office was lucky to get him. the sarcasm continued with will ferrell, showing that the office feels similarly about him–that they are very lucky to have him.
It was a joke. Pretty funny too.
lol im pretty sure he is being sarcastic with that whole paragraph lol
He was speaking “tongue-in-cheek”. Read the entire quote… “discovering famous talent”? How can they discover someone who is already famous? Will Ferrell, raw sexuality? Come on… you can’t really be offended by this!
Ummm. Oh my God. It was. So obviously. A joke.
Can’t you see it was sarcastic? Didn’t you read the part about how when America gets a look at Will (as if he is also just a nothing movie star)…
Sometimes sarcastic humor is lost on the fans of a sarcastic show :-)
it was a joke..
Shut up toby, you’re the worst!
ARE YOU SERIOUS?????
I love THE OFFICE and now Wil Farrel is gonna be on the show lmao this should be good comedy.
What planet are you from?
YEY I LOVE WILL FERREL! AND I LOOOVE AND WILL MISS STEVE CARELL!!! HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM!!!
did they say we found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star? wtf…… only good seasons were one and two
again…sarcasm!
Yay! This is a fantastic idea!
Really? No sense of sarcasm?
This is the begginning of the end for ‘The Office’. Will Ferrell sucks and the show will too now. It’s a Shame they screwed this up.
you’ve got that right!
That rule still applies to Parks and Rec then.
Carell is leaving?!?! What nonsense is this….
Yay! As excited as I am, I wonder if they’ve decided to replace Carrell with Ferrel. I hope they don’t
Ferrell makes millions doing three months of work on a movie, why would he want to go back to the grind of network television? Especially after doing the brutal schedule that is ‘SNL’. Not to mention whoever DOES replace Carrell is going to have big, big shoes to fill for what has really become an iconic character, I don’t see Ferrell being up to that.
You all realize that Lieberstein is being ironic, right?
The show’s been struggling since the Pam / Jim arc ended. After that, Daniels has demonstrated no real direction with hit / miss episodes and sidelining characters in favor of newer, less interesting ones. I’ll tune in for Gervais and Ferrell’s appearance, but as for the show aging well, I’m not exactly hopeful.
Toby isn’t annoying.
Hopefully, the two will find a way to spoof their roles as Ron Burgundy and Brick Tamblin in at least one of the episodes…