Will Ferrell will replaceCarell.
I liked him in Stranger Than Fiction. I wonder if he’ll play more towards that or, say, Ron Burgundy.
Wow.
I love Ferrell but they should have just ended the show with Carell’s departure. It’s time to let it go.
I’m still hoping they’ll go with a Creed spinoff.
But yea, I got nothing against Farrel, but its time to let the show die. They long since ran out of fun things to do with the concept.
Has any sitcom survived the replacement of its main character? I can think of a few that tried (Scrubs, Northern Exposure), but none that lasted long after the switch.
That doesn’t say it’s a permanent role, just that he will be in a 4 episode arc, and that will take over management of the office for “at least one epsode.” Nothing in that article says Farrell will actually be the permament replacement for Carell. I get the impression that he’s just playing a character who will take over temporarily while the permament new manager is being decided.
*Valerie *is notable in that they killed-off and replaced the titular character. they changed the name to The Hogan Family, but it was the same show.
Yeah, he’s way too busy with movies to be a regular. Isn’t he? He’s A-list.
I don’t know if ratings are down (I haven’t been watching, so there’s at least one fewer) but if the ratings are suffering, putting a big name like Ferrell in a few episodes should help.
Well, shit.
Hmm…
Brick Tamland
Champ Kind
Ron Burgandy
I’m crossing my fingers for Paul Rudd next year.
This is just a four-episode arc (conveniently scheduled for May sweeps, no doubt), but it should be fun – I love Ferrell.
I’m with Skammer. It’ll be a good time on the show. It’s falling down this season, but if anybody can bring some life back, it’s Farrell.
Spin City did OK for a couple of years with Sheen replacing Fox.
The Andy Griffith Show went on several years without it’s true star. 
I think I was reading the writers have said the new boss this season my not even be the new boss next season; Trying to find the source. I wouldn’t set anything in stone yet, but who knows. I would think Ferrell would be expensive.
Yeah, it’s just a guest spot. I hope he isn’t the permanent replacement.
Cheers might count, if Diane is “main character” enough for you.
MAS*H lost every single character except Hawkeye, Hot Lips, and Klinger by the end, and it didn’t suffer too badly. Hawkeye would have to be the main character for the show, though.
Additional info. It was Valerie the first season, then they killed her off, brought in Sandy Duncan as the aunt, and called it Valerie’s Family for quite a while. Then they finally changed it to The Hogan Family. It was on the air for a long time, then when NBC finally canned it, for some reason CBS picked it up for a year even though it had long outstayed its welcome.
They also kept Father Mulcahy, though he was played by someone else in the pilot. William Christopher is there from episode 2 - the end.