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Steve Carell’s final ‘Office’ episode: Which cast members cried?

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Tonight, during a very special episode of ‘The Office,’ Michael Scott’s final goodbye to his Dunder Mifflin coworkers will be extra long and hard ... that’s what she said! But seriously, ‘Goodbye Michael’ marks Carell’s last appearance on the show, and according to Paul Feig, who directed it (along with a number of classic ‘Office’ episodes), when the shoot began, the cast was still a little worked up from the previous week’s bittersweet all-cast singalong to ‘Seasons of Love’ from ‘Rent.’

“It was so emotional!’ Feig said. ‘I was prepping [for the next episode] and my assistant said, ‘You should come down here.’ The first time they started singing that song, everyone choked up in real life. It really started to land for people that the end is coming.’

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Did anyone cry during the final episode? ‘I cried!’ admitted Feig. (We also hear that Angela Kingsley, who plays Angela on the show, broke down while filming her final scene with Carell.) According to Feig, during the last weeks of filming, producers and cast members brought treats to the set, including masseuses who offered 15-minute massages between takes. After Carell finished his last shot, there was a special party with a three-foot-high cake.

‘You definitely saw presents being handed around,’ Feig said. ‘Steve was even giving out presents to the cast and the crew. I remember seeing them delivered to people’s dressing rooms. But they must’ve been very personal, because people weren’t really sharing what they got.’

Feig gave Carell a desk clock, maybe one he could use in his next office. ‘I had a Dr. Seuss quote engraved on it -- ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened’ -- because that’s how I faced the week,’ he said.

Though he’s sad to see Carell go, Feig says he’s excited that the episode makes room for a few new ‘Office’-mates, including Jim Carrey, Ricky Gervais, Will Arnett, James Spader, Ray Romano and Catherine Tate. ‘It’s a very satisfying send-off for Michael, but what I like is that it’s not the final episode of the season. That’s very much like real life. Whether it’s in business or personal relationships or whatever, things end, and then you have to get up the next day and keep dealing with your life. So I think it’s poetic to do it this way.’ Now we’re getting emotional. Sniff!

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-- Melissa Maerz

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