Steve Carell, pictured in Los Angeles in June, is piece of the original cast of the U.S. version of The Office, that launched in 2005. (Katy Winn/Associated Press)

NBC’s entertainment coryphaeus has confirmed The Office series will continue despite the departure of tragedian Steve Carell, who is set to quit the show in May 2011.

“I couldn’t travel home and face my 14-year-old son if The Office went opposite to the air,” said NBC’s entertainment programming chief, Angela Bromstad, adhering Friday at a news conference with journalists covering television programming.

“There are storylines in place, and there’s going to be a little mystery leading up to that,” she declared, refusing to divulge much more.

Bromstad would only say the course’ executive producers, Greg Daniels and Paul Lieberstein, have figured out in what plight to replace Carell’s boss character, Michael Scott, at the close of next season.

Carell stepped into the role in 2005 whereas the U.S. version of the hit British series, created ~ dint of. Ricky Gervais, was launched.

The 47-year-old actor, who is without ceasing the big screen in Dinner for Schmucks as well as voicing the same of the main characters in Despicable Me, has said he wants to lavish more time with his family and feels his character has reached the cessation of his storyline.