The Office Season Finale – Ray Romano, James Spader, and Catherine Tate to Appear

As always, the folks over at TV Line are reporting the juiciest Hollywood news morsels. Our voracious laughs are in danger of extinction as actor Steve Carell zeroes on his exit from the ever popular series The Office. In fact, his final episode is due to air on April 28. The event is bittersweet, marking the end of an era, but posing a yummy possibility for putting new blood into the lead for further hysteria and malfunction.

We reported that funnyman Ricky Gervais wanted to see Will Arnett (Arrested Development) take over The Office, but TV Line says “Ray Romano, James Spader and British funny lady Catherine Tate” are the funny people best liked to replace Carell.

Although an NBC rep declined to comment, an insider confirms that the trio will appear in The Office‘s hour-long May 19 season finale as candidates for the vacant office manager position. They join previously announced finale guest stars (and wannabe Dunder Mifflin honchos) Will Arnett and Ricky Gervais.

Of the five finalists, only two stand a realistic chance of taking over the gig full-time: Spader and Tate. Romano’s committed to Men of a Certain Age, Arnett just booked an NBC pilot, and Gervais has been there done that. Will Ferrell, meanwhile, wraps up his arc in mid-May, and — despite buzz to the contrary — is not expected back next season.

Wow! So, in a way, we’ll get to interview the candidates, or at least try them on for size. Who do you want to see emerge victorious?