The show was once a regular receiver of Emmy nominations and the like, but the majority of the reviews for Season 8 ranged from poor to average. Many critics claimed the show should have ended with the departure of Steve Carell at the end of Season 7, with Ed Helms' character, Andy Bernard, transforming from one of the funniest characters on the show to a rather irritating attempt to impersonate Michael Scott. Comments from reviewers included "the show's first postSteve Carell year has been a mess, at times bordering on a disaster" and the writing, done by several new faces, was heavily criticised by many.