<P> The series was renewed for an eighth season on March 17 , 2011 , began filming on July 25 , 2011 , and the season concluded filming on March 9 , 2012 . Jenna Fischer 's pregnancy was written into the show , and Pam was again pregnant at the start of the season with a boy as she was in real life . Unlike the sixth season , there was no episode focusing on the baby 's birth ; it was instead announced on a blog . In an interview , executive producer Lieberstein stated that , with the departure of Michael Scott , the writers would explore further into the other characters on the show , such as centering on a specific character for an episode . On January 25 , 2012 , news broke that NBC was planning a spin - off series starring Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute , that would be set at Schrute Farms , Dwight 's bed - and - breakfast and beet farm . The spin - off would be created by Wilson and executive producer Paul Lieberstein , but Office developer Greg Daniels would not be involved . Due to his initial involvement in the spin - off , Lieberstein stepped down as showrunner of The Office . On October 29 , 2012 , it was revealed that NBC was not going forward with the proposed spin - off , although the original backdoor pilot , `` The Farm '' aired later in the ninth season . </P>
<P> The series was renewed for an eighth season on March 17 , 2011 , began filming on July 25 , 2011 , and the season concluded filming on March 9 , 2012 . Jenna Fischer 's pregnancy was written into the show , and Pam was again pregnant at the start of the season with a boy as she was in real life . Unlike the sixth season , there was no episode focusing on the baby 's birth ; it was instead announced on a blog . In an interview , executive producer Lieberstein stated that , with the departure of Michael Scott , the writers would explore further into the other characters on the show , such as centering on a specific character for an episode . On January 25 , 2012 , news broke that NBC was planning a spin - off series starring Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute , that would be set at Schrute Farms , Dwight 's bed - and - breakfast and beet farm . The spin - off would be created by Wilson and executive producer Paul Lieberstein , but Office developer Greg Daniels would not be involved . Due to his initial involvement in the spin - off , Lieberstein stepped down as showrunner of The Office . On October 29 , 2012 , it was revealed that NBC was not going forward with the proposed spin - off , although the original backdoor pilot , `` The Farm '' aired later in the ninth season . </P>
who took michael 's place on the office
who took michael 's place on the office
other characters on the show
other characters on the show