Jenna Fischer defends quality of "The Office" post-Steve Carell seasons

Fischer was on Dana Carvey and David Spade's podcast and she gave her "biggest takeaway" from doing the "Office Ladies" rewatch. Said takeaway was that the show never had a lull and was always good. She specified that a "belief" exists that "the two seasons after Steve left, we were just treading water and maybe they weren’t as good." The Steve in question is, of course, Steve Carell, who was the lead of the show as Michael Scott.

From our perspective, the assertion that "The Office" wasn't as good after Carell's departure is an accurate assessment. The seasons weren't as good. It wasn't all bad, but the show did feel like it was treading water until it could wrap things up. Which, credit where it is due, the series finale was quite good.

Some actors are willing to criticize shows they have worked on, or at least elements of it. "Office Ladies" has a real "nice things are nice" vibe to it, so it is on brand that Fischer's "biggest takeaway" from rewatching "The Office" would be that it's all good all the time, no notes. It's also plausible this is Fischer's sincere opinion.

That being said, it is a byproduct of this rewatch podcast industry that skepticism is warranted about such assertions, especially when they fly in the face of the general opinion, much less our opinion. Fischer has a vested interest in people watching "The Office" and listening to her podcast. Those late-season episodes needed listeners to justify ad buys. It isn't Fischer's job to be a cheerleader for "The Office," but it benefits her for that to be the case.

Fischer isn't in the cast for the upcoming "Office" spinoff "The Paper," which really seems to just be coasting on "The Office" as a brand, so perhaps she will have some criticism for that show.

(h/t The Hollywood Reporter)