Maybe This Saturday Night Live Sketch Killed the Office Reboot Once and For All

Celebrities

Steve Carell hosted Saturday Night Live and had a delightful mini-reunion with some of his former The Office castmates during his opening monologue, mostly so he could address the constant rumors about a potential reboot of the NBC sitcom, which aired from 2005-2013.

Carell, who left the show in 2011 year, is one of a handful of former Office stars who have pooh-poohed the idea of a reboot: “Apart from the fact that I just dont think thats a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted 10 years ago,” he said in October. “The climates different.”

Nevertheless, former co-stars Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer showed up on S.N.L. to ask Carell to reconsider (never doubt the power of a TV networks power for cross-promotion, even after a show is off the air.) “Lets get that money, Steve!” Kemper implored from the audience. Helms then stood up to insist, “I just dont think you understand how much money were talking about.” Even Carells wife, Nancy Carell, who played Carole Stills, a former love interest of Carells Michael Scott, showed up with their two kids (who looked very unenthused) and told him to do it.

In the end, Carell didnt fully close the door— he teased the idea of an official announcement before pivoting to the standard intro, “We have a great show tonight!” The reported reboot has been in the works since last year, but theres been no confirmation of anything beyond that, and a whole lot of Carell saying he wants no part of it. Maybe Fischer, Kemper, and Helms standing onstage with him while he avoided the idea one more time will allow fans to let go of the notion of the entire cast happily returning, Will & Grace style. Or maybe NBC has trucks of money backing up at Carells home as we speak.

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