Jenna Fischer Praises Office's Later Seasons, Spin-Off

Jenna Fischer, who played Pam Beesly on The Office, has publicly defended the quality of the show's later seasons, stating that it remained strong even after Steve Carell's departure in Season 7. Fischer, reflecting on a recent rewatch for her Office Ladies podcast, highlighted that some of her favorite episodes and storylines are from seasons 8 and 9. She noted a perception among cast and creatives that the show's peak was in seasons 3 or 4, influenced in part by a decline in award nominations. Fischer also expressed mixed feelings about her own performances on the series. The Office, which concluded in 2013, will see its legacy continue with the spin-off The Paper, premiering on Peacock in September and featuring returning cast member Oscar Nuñez. Steve Carell has confirmed he will not appear in the spin-off but has expressed support for the new series.