NBC EXPANDS 'THE OFFICE' SPACE WITH FULL-SEASON PICKUP FOR 2005-06

Steve Carell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") Stars in Critically Hailed Comedy from Reveille and NBC Universal Television Studio

BURBANK, Calif. -- November 7, 2005 -- NBC has given "The Office" (Tuesdays, 9:30-10 p.m. ET) -- the critically acclaimed comedy starring Steve Carell (The 40-Year-Old Virgin") -- a new lease for a full-season order of episodes for 2005-06, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"We're thrilled to extend such a viewer and critical favorite as 'The Office,' which is a breath of creative fresh air," said Reilly. "We think the combination of 'Earl' and 'The Office' on Tuesday nights is one of the funniest hours in network television each week. It's immensely gratifying to see our faith in the show validated as viewers start to gravitate towards its quirky characters and offbeat humor."

"We used to be a cult hit," said executive producer Greg Daniels, "and now we're becoming an actual cult. Here's some literature we'd like you to read."

"The Office" is averaging a 3.9 rating and a 9 share among adults 18-49 with 8.0 million viewers overall this season, and is leading its time period among adults 18-34. The acclaimed comedy's adult 18-49 audience includes the second-highest concentration of households with incomes of $100,000 and more for any comedy on network television behind only "Will & Grace."

In the last two weeks, "The Office" has also delivered its two highest retentions yet of its adult 18-49 lead-in from "My Name Is Earl," a 73 percent retention on October 18 and a 71 percent retention on November 1. "The Office" is up significantly from its averages for last season, including a 56 percent increase over its 2.5 average rating in 18-49 for 2004-05.

From Reveille and NBC Universal Television Studio, "The Office" offers a documentary-style look into the humorous and sometimes poignant foolishness that plagues the world of 9-to-5 in the half-hour comedy, based on the award-winning BBC hit.

A fly-on-the-wall "docu-reality" parody about modern American office life, "The Office" delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin paper-supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Regional manager Michael Scott (Carell, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "The Daily Show," "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Bruce Almighty") is a clueless, middle-aged man who is the boastful tour guide for the documentary.

Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer, "Miss Match") is the reasonable and friendly office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael's routines. The bright spots in Pam's day are her conversations with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski, "Kinsey"), a likable sales rep with a good sense of humor who should have found a better job years ago. Jim shares his working space with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson, "Six Feet Under"), the arrogant assistant to the regional manager. Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak, "Punk'd") is a young, smart, self-possessed temp, who quickly figures out the real office politics despite Michael's interference.

"The Office" is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.