Abandon show!  As if ratings weren't already falling for 'The Office's eighth season, its first after Steve Carell's departure, there's a lot of rumors flying around that suggest the "Dunder Mifflin" crew could look drastically different next year.  The latest could be the tear that brings the whole paper industry down.

The Office - Paul Lieberstein
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Entertainment Weekly has reason to report that 'The Office' executive producer, writer, showrunner and co-star Paul Lieberstien may step down after the current season.  Rumor has it that Lieberstien would clock out of 'The Office' in order to focus on the development of the tentatively-titled 'The Farm,' a spin-off that focuses on the day-to-day running of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson)'s beet farm bed-and-breakfast.  Even if the change goes down, Lieberstein could still presumably make 'Office' appearances as his series-long character, sad-sack HR rep Toby Flenderson.

Lieberstein's exit would mark yet another significant blow for 'The Office,' which has already taken harsh critique for its first post-Carell season and faced a sharp dip in the ratings.  Not only that, but fellow co-star, writer and executive producer Mindy Kaling has been eying an exit as well, developing her own potential sitcom for the FOX network.  Lieberstein's exit to produce 'The Farm' would also take with it Rainn Wilson, costing 'The Office' one of its most popular characters.

But it doesn't end there, either!  Following the departure of Steve Carell, James Spader's uneven turn as new Sabre CEO Robert California has been met with mixed results, and Spader himself will definitively exit after the current season as well.  As main series stars John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms and B.J. Novak remain in negotiations for additional seasons, only Spader's departure remains officially confirmed, though news of Lieberstein certainly doesn't bode well for the aging show.

Sigh, isn't about time 'The Office' closed its doors?  We're all for looking for a new voice after Steve Carell's departure as Michael Scott, but the show as barely limped along as is, and given all the departures, 'The Office' might be better off clocking out on a high note.

What say you?  Is 'The Office' in need of another shakeup, or should Dunder-Mifflin close its doors for good?  File your complaints, and make copies of your take on Lieberstein's departure in the comments below!

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