10 TV Shows That Went From Great To Terrible SO FAST

It's fair to say that an American Office should never have worked, let alone scaled the incredible heights the show did reach.

Anchored by an extraordinary ensemble cast and a career best turn from star Steve Carrell, the American adaptation of the dark U.K. comedy turned the mockumentary into a less merciless and warmer, though no less cringeworthy, workplace sitcom.

Boasting writing from the likes of Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak, the show managed to balance sharp wit and a warm heart. The series had an affinity for its characters but never shied away from their faults and at its core was Carrell’s kindhearted sadsack, a tragicomic antihero for the ages.

Then he left and it took all of one episode for the show to fall apart.

Michael Scott's exit was the beginning of this show's very swift fall from the top, as the series never recovered from losing its star. The show cycled through Will Ferrell (miscast), James Spader (entirely wrongheaded), and Catherine Tate (the best of a bad bunch) as Carrell’s replacement before settling on Ed Helms. By then, though, an agonising season had already transpired and the show’s messy, mean spirited tone was unrecognisable.

Thank god for that finale.