B.J. Novak Quits 'The Office'

He started out as America's most famous temp who briefly rose to lofty heights on NBC's American version of The Office, but now B.J. Novak, who played Ryan Howard and was also one of the top writers and producers for The Office, announced his upcoming departure, following the famous mini-exodus of Steve Carell (Michael Scott) and Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor).

Though NBC declined to comment, a source confirmed to MSNBC that Novak would be parting ways with Dunder Mifflin in the new season, though he reportedly still plans to make guest appearances on the show and even occasionally serve in writing and directing roles.

Other rumored departures from the office are James Spader, who plays Robert California and only recently joined the cast, replacing Carell. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) and Ed Helms (Andy Bernard), who have enjoyed increasingly visible movie careers in such respective films as Away We Go with Maya Rudolph and The Hangover franchise with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, may also be cutting back their Office schedules to focus on their film careers.

Nevertheless, The Office will return to NBC for season nine in the 2012-2013 lineup, however temporarily.

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