Q: In this task, you are given a text of many news articles seperated by special token "|||||". Your task is to summarize them.
The red carpet premiere of Despicable Me was probably not where NBC wanted Steve Carell to confirm that he was leaving The Office following this season—but alas, such is life for the perpetually lagging behind network. Still, even without the “face of the franchise,” NBC is planning on continuing ahead with The Office to infinity and beyond. But who should replace Carell’s infamous lead character Michael Scott? Here are some suggestions—and for NBC, they’re free of charge! 
  
 Ricky Gervais 
  
 While some people might assume that replacing Carell with Gervais would be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic because of how similar their Office characters are, consider: Not only would the return of Gervais’ David Brent allow for even more closure of his character, it would create a maelstrom of culture shock. Plus Gervais is inherently “meaner” as a comic actor than Carell, something the staid Office could use to create a major jolt. Also: Gervais is hilarious. 
  
 Zach Woods/Ed Helms 
  
 Brought on last season as a liaison for Dunder-Mifflin’s parent company, Sabre, Zach Woods’ persnickety Gabe is—at the very least—organizationally inline for Michael’s job. But there is no way NBC and The Office will leave the reigns to a very funny bit player who is most famous for the criminally underseen In the Loop. So, workaround! Make Gabe the boss and then shift the focus of the series onto Ed Helms’ Andy Bernard. The Hangover made Helms a big star, and it’s about time The Office cashed in on that completely. 
  
 Maya Rudolph 
  
 30 Rock has Tina Fey. Parks and Recreation has Amy Poehler. So why shouldn’t The Office have Maya Rudolph? Putting aside Grown Ups for a second, she’s shown herself to have not only impeccably wacky comedy chops (Saturday Night Live), but also the capacity for dramatic pathos as well (Away We Go). And as any fan of The Office knows, both are necessary in bushels to make the series work. 
  
 Follow Christopher Rosen via RSS. ||||| Earlier this week, Steve Carell told BBC Radio that next season would likely be his final one as lovable boob Michael Scott on The Office. If this rings true, I expect the series will likely wrap up altogether -- Carell is the backbone of the show and co-stars Ed Helms, B.J. Novak, John Krasinski, and Mindy Kaling are all on the verge of superstardom. But what if the show continued? The writing is still strong and hilarious, and the series boasts the best comedic supporting cast on television next to 30 Rock. Sure, Dunder Mifflin losing its "World's Greatest Boss" would be a shame, but I still think the series could thrive and fire on all cylinders with a new top paper salesman (or woman). Carell is irreplaceable but here's a few random thoughts on how The Office can stay open despite losing its leader.... 
  
 John C. Reilly, bringing with him the same level of dumb he did in Step Brothers, would be a perfect foil to Rainn Wilson's Dwight Schrute and Krasinski's Jim... 
  
 Will Arnett's got a new series in the works next year, but should it fail, the always reliable actor formerly known as Gob Bluth would be a perfect match for anyone in the Scranton branch... 
  
 Ricky Gervais? How cool would it be to see the UK/US versions of the show come together with David Brent taking over for Michael Scott? 
  
 Lisa Kudrow has been missed on the boob tube ever since The Comeback was rushed off the air. I'd love to see Schrute struggle working for a woman or for Kevin to be nervously shy around her... 
  
 Similarly, Elizabeth Banks could truly shine as a sultry yet silly boss. The work she's currently doing on 30 Rock doesn't showcase her talents enough... 
  
 Faizon Love could come on board playing the same exact character he did in Elf and I'd be happy... 
  
 They'd never do it but these actors would easily fit in at Dunder: Paul Rudd, Jason Bateman, or Simon Pegg... 
  
 Hire Jorge Garcia! He's free from Lost soon and would actually be a hilarious addition in a supporting role should Wilson, Krasinski, or Helms take over the reigns... 
  
 Crispin Glover could out-Creed Creed...so could John Lithgow... 
  
  
  
 Or.... 
  
 Why hire someone new when you can promote an existing cast member? I'd really love to see Kaling's Kelly take the reigns. She'd make Michael look like a scholar, would make the worst decisions for the company, and could make Ryan's life hell. This week's episode in which she applies for a management program could pave the way for such a move. Oh, and if not there's always the "'Nard Dog..." 
  
 Having said all of this replacing Steve Carell is far from easy, but I can't imagine a world in which The Office isn't on Thursday night. I'm banking neither can NBC. 
  
 Follow Jon Chattman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/realjonchattman ||||| Steve Carell is leaving "The Office" soon, but who will take his place? Getty 
  
 NBC confirmed last week that Steve Carell will be leaving "The Office" after the upcoming seventh season. Angela Bromstad, the network's president of prime-time entertainment told the AP: "We've been lucky to have had him as long as [we have]." Who will be lucky enough to step into Carell's show and be the new boss? Should an existing character get promoted, or should they hire from outside the Scranton branch? Here are five proposals for how to replace Carell: 
  
 1. Go back to the original 
  
 Replace Steve Carell with the "original": Ricky Gervais from the British version of the show, says Christopher Rosen at The New York Observer. Not only is Gervais "hilarious," he's also "inherently 'meaner' as a comic actor than Carell, something the staid 'Office' could use to create a major jolt." 
  
 2. Mine the Comedy Central talent pool 
  
 Sure, "it would be fantastic if Mr. Gervais reprised his role as David Brent, but that is a pipe dream," says Craig Sander in The Washington Times. For some good, but realistic options, NBC should look to the "Daily Show." "Carell and Ed Helms both are former 'Daily Show' correspondents, so why not revisit that well? Rob Corddry is one of the funniest guys who doesn’t get regular work." 
  
  
  
 3. Hire from within 
  
 The answer is as simple as "promoting" an existing cast member, says Elizabeth Kern in The Morning Call. Perhaps "it’s time that Dwight Shrute ditch the 'Assistant to' and become regional manager. Or do you give back the power to Jim Halpert who was once co-regional manager with Michael Scott? Better yet maybe you give it to a wildcard like Andy Bernard who has an ivy league schooling but has the same poor sense of humor as Michael Scott." 
  
  
  
 4. Hire the Old Spice Guy: "Hear me out," says The Hollywood Reporter staff. Isaiah Mustafa, the actor who plays the Old Spice guy, already has a holding deal with NBC. And "think about the kind of character Mustafa plays in his now ubiquitous commercials. He's basically acting like a pompous idiot, and what better show could there be for pompous idiots than 'The Office?'" 
  
  
  
 5. Or a big name comedienne: "I'd love to see [Dwight] Schrute struggle working for a woman," says Jon Chattman in The Huffington Post. Lisa Kudrow, who's "been missed on the boob tube" would be a good option, or Elizabeth Banks "could truly shine as a sultry yet silly boss." Sure, she currently has a recurring guest spot on "30 Rock," but that "doesn't showcase her talents enough." ||||| Turnover is an issue that affects every office. But when it comes to "The Office," NBC has pretty big shoes to fill with the departure of Steve Carell at the end of the coming season. 
  
 Nonetheless, NBC plans to soldier on without its star. Thus begins the guessing game: What big name will the network bring in to replace Carell's Michael Scott? 
  
 But before NBC scours the comedy world for the best and brightest, there's several options sitting under its nose. Because like any office, Dunder-Mifflin may be best served by promoting from within ("within" in the most liberal sense of the word). So what about... 
  
 1. Ricky Gervais: Sure, he's technically not a member of Dunder-Mifflin crew. But as the creator and original star of the British version that inspired the role Carell plays, how incredible would it be to see him try a new spin on his own classic? Gervais indicated earlier this year he'd be willing to do a cameo as his old David Brent character on the American series. Maybe he should stick around a little while longer (and still leave time for the occasional movie and Golden Globes hosting). 
  
 2. Kathy Bates: She reminded us what a fantastic comedic actress she is with a multi-episode arc last season as Jo Bennett, sassy CEO of Dunder-Mifflin's new parent company. How perfect would it be if the "Office" writers could mastermind some fall from grace that would plant her derriere in Michael's old chair? Nothing funnier than a rich bitc... um, woman, forced by circumstance to adjust to a middle-class, middle-management existence. Yeah, Bates has already been cast in the lead of the new NBC drama "Harry's Law," but if it doesn't work out, Scranton is waiting for her. 
  
 3. Melora Hardin: With a cast as flush with actor talent as "The Office," it's easy to overlook Hardin, but she was truly amazing those first few seasons as Jan Levinson, Michael's unstable boss-turned-lover. Given how detested she was within Dunder-Mifflin, and how dramatically she was ousted, it would be delicious to see the closest thing this comedy has to a villain take the top job at the branch office. While we dream for that scenario to return, at least we can look forward to what may very well be a love triangle this coming season when Hardin and another of Michael's old flames, Amy Ryan, return. 
  
 4. John Krasinski: It's only natural Jim would be considered for the top job since he once shared that position with Michael for a brief period last season. Together with Jenna Fischer, who plays Jim's wife, Pam, the couple have long played a dual role as the only sane staffers in an office otherwise completely filled with loons. So it would be a natural evolution to rebuild the show around Krasinski as the straight man (and would it be too much to ask he bring in new real-life wife Emily Blunt for a cameo?). Of course, Krasinski is no slouch in the movie department, either, and could just as soon follow Carell out the door. 
  
 5. Old Spice Guy: Before you say WTF, hear me out. First, the man otherwise known as Isaiah Mustafa is a member of the NBC family now that he has a holding deal with the network (and has already lined up an upcoming appearance on "Chuck"). Second, think about the kind of character Mustafa plays in his now ubiquitous commercials. He's basically acting like a pompous idiot, and what better show could there be for pompous idiots than 'The Office?' 
  
 Oh, like you have better ideas? Let's hear them in the comments area below. |||||
A:
The Office without Steve Carell as boss might be unthinkable, but think we must. Who could possibly replace him? The Week rounds up five possibilities: Ricky Gervais: He's the boss from the original British version, and he's "inherently meaner" as an actor, which could be fun, writes Christopher Rosen at the New York Observer. Lisa Kudrow: Or maybe Elizabeth Banks of 30 Rock. It would be fun to watch Dwight Schrute squirm working for a woman, writes Jon Chattman at the Huffington Post. Old Spice Guy: In his commercials, "he's basically acting like a pompous idiot, and what better show could there be for pompous idiots than The Office?," explains the Hollywood Reporter. For the full list (what about Dwight or Jim?), click here.