I'm thinking 4-5 seasons would be sufficient. Beyond that the show could end up like friends with all possible romantic pairings having been explored and increasingly ridiculous and rehashed plot ideas.

As long as the show goes out while it's still in its current fine form I'll be happy with it. Just please don't let it limp off into the sunset.

Nightmare scenario: Michael Scott leaves the show and they try to replace him with some new boss for another season or two. No!!!!!

that would be horrible!!!!! or if they end the show and one f the actors do a show called like, "Dwight" or something. that would be horrible too!

I don't know about this whole "the show can't live without the Jim-Pam tension". The show was/is hilarious even when there are few to none Jam moments in an episode. There are plenty of things that could happen even after they're together. If you watch back in the first half of the show Jam was only a small part of the whole.

they could actually go through a season or two with jim and pam together, and still keep everyone interested.

i'm guessing around 10 years. hopefully longer.

Unfortunately.. Dunder-Mifflin is being run out of business by Staples and the like. In Business School, Ryan mentioned it happening in less than 10 years. I kind of saw that as a shout out to the eventual ending of the show. It would make a lot of sense for the last few episodes of the series to deal with the closing of the entire company.

I don't think the series is going to end with Jim and Pam getting together. There's no way the writers are going to keep dragging it out for that long.

well yeah he said less than 10 years, but it's already been on for 3. the cast is huge, and as it keeps getting more popular, they're going to need more $$ from nbc to stay on the show. i don't know, hopefully 7 more years is possible.

I figure 30 years. That way, Michael and Pam could have a baby together.

whatever the ending of the show is, it is going to be sad, especially if it gets shut down, wich it probly will. i wil cry. where else would michael go?

This is where the UK show is helpful. That ended with the boss being fired (of course) and umm... well the English Pam left to America with her fiance... it was SAD! But then they had a christmas special which was a reunion and the English Jam got together - YAY!

But the UK show only went for 14 episodes so... yeah. But still thinking the end will be the same - Michael gets fired and Jam get together. Then again if NBC is soft they might not fire Michael... never no.