As for that quote from TV Guide, Rick, with all respect to Mr. Roush, I think Greg Daniels has earned the right to take a crack at this. I'm willing to bet that neither hubris nor greed is factoring into his decision, and if he's taken us this far, I think it's safe to assume that he knows exactly what he's doing. He's given no indication that he plans on making a habit out of haphazardly expanding the show beyond the half-hour format, instead limiting it to situations that demand it.

This petition is more a sign of support for the creative effort behind the show than it is some blind rally cry. Kathie (at GMMR) and I both realize that bigger is not always better; what we do know, however, is that if Mr. Daniels says he can pull something off, we have every reason to believe him.

"...but for the love of god, can we please not indulge this ridiculous mind-set that longer is better in the world of the TV comedy? When NBC started 'supersizing' its comedies out of hubris and greed, that was the beginning of the end. The very idea of sitting through the final night of Will & Grace, with a self-congratulatory 'tribute' show and an hourlong finale, makes me almost think fondly of their dreadful live outings this season. No. No. No. At its best, The Office is a model of economy in its sly, painful parables. Ballooning to 45 minutes or an hour is not the way to go. Same for Earl, Scrubs or any other NBC sitcom that starts getting too big for its britches. Less is more — fact of life."

THANKS - Jane

"We have lots of great new episodes waiting to run. I think the online petition may have worked because I heard a rumor that NBC approved of the super-sized finale. Don't quote me on that yet. It's just a rumor."

Rumor or not, it's good to hear what the cast members are hearing!

You know, I thought I was forgetting somebody. Thanks for the correction, tad. David Koechner is absent no more.