Opinion / The Office We'll Miss You, Dunder Mifflin 'The Office' closes tonight after 9 seasons By John Johnson, Newser Staff Posted May 16, 2013 10:38 AM CDT Copied The gang from 'The Office' bids farewell tonight. (AP Photo/NBC, Chris Haston) The Office signs off tonight after nine seasons and 201 episodes. A sample of the farewell tributes in advance (no spoilers in the mix): "It is not quite the same show as the one that debuted in March 2005, but it has continued to be a show I watch, grumbling occasionally, with great and in many respects increasing pleasure," writes Robert Lloyd at the LA Times. At its best, the show "was brilliant social satire," writes Lori Rackl at the Chicago Sun-Times. "Its humor often revolved around stereotypes, homophobia, misogyny, and racism, but in a way that undermined those things instead of perpetuating them. It masterfully made use of silence, letting the camera linger just long enough so the viewer couldn’t escape the awkwardness." Sure it's time to go, "but with or without Michael, I’m still sad to say goodbye. It’s hard." The finale probably marks the beginning of the end of the sitcom "mockumentary," writes Esther Breger at the New Republic. (Think Parks and Recreation and Modern Family, too.) The last few episodes in particular have called attention to the fake film supposedly being done about Dunder Mifflin. "They are an affectionate ode to the mockumentary format at its best, but also, perhaps, an acknowledgement that the genre has reached its expiration date." Entertainment Weekly has a catch-up guide. The Huffington Post has a wish list of things for the final show. US Weekly has a photo gallery of the show's most memorable couples. (More The Office stories.) Report an error