Steve Carell Quits 'The Office': Most Bittersweet TV Goodbye of All Time?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2011/04/29 17:00:00

Related Topics: Charlie Sheen, American Idol, Twitter, Will Ferrell, Simon Cowell, Pink, Cancer, Entertainment

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Steve Carell/'The Office'

After seven seasons, Carell left the show on Thursday night … and Michael Scott said goodbye to the staff at Dunder Mifflin.

Steve Carell/'The Office'

After seven seasons, Carell left the show on Thursday night … and Michael Scott said goodbye to the staff at Dunder Mifflin.
Shelley Long/'Cheers'

Long, who played Sam's love interest, Diane Chambers, left the show in 1987 to move on to bigger and better things (unfortunately, those bigger and better things never happened).
Simon Cowell/'American Idol'

In 2010, Cowell left "American Idol" after nine seasons. And shockingly, ratings are up without him.
Anthony Edwards/'ER'

After eight seasons on the show, Edwards' character, Dr. Mark Greene, was killed off with brain cancer.
Ron Howard/'Happy Days'

Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, left the show in 1980 to kick off his directing career, leading to a slide in ratings.
Michael J. Fox/’Spin City’

Fox was forced to leave the show in the fourth season due to his Parkinson's disease. He was replaced by Charlie Sheen.
David Duchovny/'The X-Files’

Mulder was abducted by aliens at the end of the seventh season, reportedly due to a scuffle over his contract in real life. After that, he only made occasional appearances on the show.
McLean Stevenson, 'M*A*S*H'

When Colonel Henry Blake was discharged from the Army and sent home at the end of the third season, the character was killed off in a plane crash.

Steve Carell Quits 'The Office': Most Bittersweet TV Goodbye of All Time?

11,970 votes
Read all 19 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

	Steve Carell, "The Office"
	Shelley Long, "Cheers"
	David Duchovny/"The X-Files"
	Ron Howard/"Happy Days"
	Michael J. Fox/"Spin City"
	McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."
	Anthony Edwards, "ER"
	Simon Cowell, "American Idol"

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Steve Carell, "The Office"	2,734 votes	23%
	Shelley Long, "Cheers"	543 votes	5%
	David Duchovny/"The X-Files"	624 votes	5%
	Ron Howard/"Happy Days"	843 votes	7%
	Michael J. Fox/"Spin City"	1,046 votes	9%
	McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."	4,224 votes	35%
	Anthony Edwards, "ER"	1,589 votes	13%
	Simon Cowell, "American Idol"	367 votes	3%

He didn’t get a pink slip, but Steve Carell has left "The Office."

After seven seasons, Carell departed the show on Thursday night as his character, Michael Scott, said goodbye to the staff at Dunder Mifflin. (Michael is moving to Colorado with Holly.)

Tearful viewers hopped on Twitter to share their sadness about Carell's sayonara.

"Steve Carell last episode of The Office tonight. I'll miss you Michael Scott. Sniffle," tweeted "Criminal Minds" actress A.J. Cook.

And while Michael left Deangelo Vickers (played by Will Ferrell) in charge, rumor has it that Ferrell will not return after this season's finale.

But Carell is far from the first star to quit a still-popular TV show. From Shelley Long leaving "Cheers" to Anthony Edwards' character dying on "ER," click through our slideshow and let us know: What was the most bittersweet TV goodbye of all time?

Add a comment above

mm61675 2012/07/18 18:21:29

Anthony Edwards, "ER"

What about Katherine Heigl when she left Grey's?

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4teacher 2011/05/05 01:44:15

Anthony Edwards, "ER"

+1
hello? johnny carson leaving the tonight show was the single most bittersweet goodbye ever!

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kobrakai7474 2011/05/03 14:31:10

McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."

"I have a message. Lieutenant Colonel... Henry Blake's plane... was shot down... over the Sea of Japan. It spun and . . . there were no survivors."

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Stacie 2011/05/03 10:02:06

Anthony Edwards, "ER"

+2
I think I went through two boxes of kleenex when he died!

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chamchamgal 2011/05/01 19:08:59

Steve Carell, "The Office"

+1

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Joey 2011/05/01 17:20:57

Michael J. Fox/"Spin City"

I was not Winning after MJF left ..

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roughneck31 2011/05/01 10:43:59

Shelley Long, "Cheers"

Shelley Long because someone should have beat her Agent with a shovel for that dreadful decision. She went the way of McLean Stevenson, who left under similar delusions of grandeur only to wind up as a trivia question on NTN.

reply
vocalrain 2011/05/01 06:52:47

Steve Carell, "The Office"

+2
YOU CAN'T HAVE THE OFFICE WITHOUT MICHAEL!

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Gabhain 2011/05/01 03:04:10

McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."

...with a close 2nd to Anthony Edwards on ER. Duchovny didn't leave the X-Files, he just took a major break.

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Næthan Æterna 2011/04/30 23:14:12

David Duchovny/"The X-Files"

+2
Was not the same without Mulder.

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Eric 2011/04/30 18:09:10

McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."

McLean Stevenson leaving MASH was by far was the most heartfelt good-bye in American television history. There is no contest but for the series finale. If you haven't seen MASH then I wholeheartedly recommend it, it's possibly the best TV show of all time and I don't think any other show will ever come close to the drama and comedy it displays.

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saftgek to Eric 2011/05/02 20:26:53

+2
I concur with Eric. Not only the departure of Lt. Col. Henry Blake, but "Radar" O'Reilly's announcement of the plane crash & death of Henry Blake. Gary Burghoff was completely believable as he share the sad news with the doctors and nurses in the OR.

No matter how many times I see this scene, I cry!

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Depsycho 2011/04/30 01:09:41

Steve Carell, "The Office"

Miss you, Steve :( But you'll make great movies!!

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♥Hannah♥~GSA 2011/04/30 01:06:19

Simon Cowell, "American Idol"

I've never seen the other shows...

So, I'll pick him.

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magic_is_might BN-0 2011/04/29 23:01:34

Steve Carell, "The Office"

I was sad - I'm a fan of the Office. People didn't like his "silent ending" - but I thought it made it more powerful. And Michael Scott got his final "That's what she said" in there :)

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☥☽✪☾DAW ☽✪☾ 2011/04/29 22:48:15

David Duchovny/"The X-Files"

who the hell is Steve carell and why should i care
i was more heartbroken to learn mulder left Xfiles than some Shmuck like Carell who couldnt act to save his life

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saftgek to ☥☽✪☾DAW... 2011/05/02 20:30:07

+2
How sad for you! The anger & rage in your life is showing in a most untoward way. As to "who the hell is Steve carell," and "like Carell who couldnt act to save his life," clearly you have not seen him perform. Mr. Carrell is hilarious - timing, delivery, voice and body inflections, et al. He is most accomplished.

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Brother Bo 2011/04/29 22:17:48

Ron Howard/"Happy Days"

You needed to give an "Other" choice. I choose Eric leaving that 70's show (for a while anyway)

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Matthew Frankwitt 2011/04/29 18:43:24

McLean Stevenson, "M.A.S.H."

+1
This one of the shows I grew up watching because my dad really loved it and so did my grandfather. I'll never forget the episode where Col. Henry Blake dies on his back to the United States, it's definitely one of the most depressing moments of the show. Though nothing can more emotional then the show's finale where all the characters say goodbye to each other.

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