We won't know who's replacing Steve Carell on 'The Office' until next summer, but we do know...

Some interesting news has arrived concerning the forthcoming changes to NBC's The Office.  All summer, all anyone's been talking about is Steve Carell's upcoming departure from the series: would someone new be replacing him, or would someone be promoted from within?  Well, now we've got a better idea of when this information will arrive, but we've also got reason to be wary.  Why?  Keep on reading to find out, my gentle Examiner readers...

If you're a fan of NBC's The Office, you've probably spent a little time daydreaming about who might be replacing Steve Carell on the series once his contract wraps at the end of the forthcoming seventh season.  Maybe you've done a little more than daydream: maybe you've been obsessively reading about it online, looking for clues, and offering up suggestions on who the best replacement would be.  For those kinda Office fans, the news that's arrived today will probably just make your obsession that much harder to live with.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that we won't be finding out who Steve Carell's replacement on the show is until next summer (in other words, let's all stop talking about it for awhile), but that we're going to think we know by the end of the seventh season.  How does that work?  Here's what they're saying at The Reporter:  "By season’s end, one character will have Scott’s job — but that person is not necessarily Carell’s replacement as the show’s star. Sources say writers are tempted to have the character who becomes the Scranton branch's new boss fail in some spectacular manner, leaving the seat open again for another successor during Season 8."  Make sense so far?

Apparently, the seventh season of the show will operate very similarly to the way that LOST used to work: each episode will highlight a different character, turning the season into one, long series of "interviews" (of sorts) with each member of the current Office staff.  A Meredith-centric episode might show while she's the best person for the job, while a Creed-centric episode will show off his abilities and why he'd be best...and so on.  By the end of season seven, we'll know who's getting the job.  But--as the Reporter just informed us-- that won't be Scott's actual replacement.  Still making sense?

So, when season seven wraps, don't be so sure that the person sitting in Michael's office at the end of that season finale is actually going to keep that job.  Like a bajillion other people in this economy who are actually office workers, their job is in jeopardy before they've even had a chance to prove themselves.  The Reporter also informs us that NBC's going to be running polls and allowing viewers to vote on Scott's replacement in an effort to make it appear that audiences have some say in the decision, and they'll be baiting us with celebrity cameos: "In the spring, NBC expects to launch some online tie-ins — polls and so forth — trying to increase fan speculation about who should replace Michael.  Celebrity guest stars will make appearances along the way, including the previously announced Timothy Olyphant and such “Office” familiars as Kathy Bates, Amy Ryan and Melora Hardin."  It remains unclear as to whether or not one of these people might actually be the replacement, but we're guessing not.

One last thing: people associated with the show want you to know that those Harvey Keitel rumors that were going around were just that: rumors.  According to the insider who delivered all this juicy Office gossip: “That got out of control,” an “Office” insider said. “It was idea on the table. It could be a fun arc, but it’s not going to be a long-term option.”  So, anyone who was concerned about Keitel coming onboard full time can rest easy, as that was never a real option.  Unless, of course, they're still trying to mess with us, and he's actually going to be Michael's replacement.  Looks like we're right back where we started, huh, folks?

Stay tuned for more Office-related news as it becomes available, my precious snowflakes.  We'll get this whole thing figured out sooner or later, and you can hit the "Subscribe" button up top if you're worried about missing the next round of Office gossip.  While you're here, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section, and before you go, why not check out this little scene from the most recent season of NBC's show: