[OlSkool]

Originally Posted by TV Guide

The producers of NBC's The Office spin-off have made their first casting hire, and it's Aziz Ansari of MTV's Human Giant. "We met him pretty early on and thought he was very funny," exec producer Greg Daniels tells Variety. "[W]e have a good character for him."

The spin-off's premise has yet to be finalized, as producers still are sorting through several ideas. It's unlikely that any current Office staffer will get spun off; rather, one or more characters from the new series probably will be introduced this fall on the mothership, paving the way for the companion show's midseason launch.

"We're trying to come up with the best concept and hire the funniest writers," exec producer Michael Schur tells Variety. "In the next couple of weeks, we'll be making the final move to one specific idea."

As first reported by TVGuide.com, Ansari will be featured on the final season of Scrubs, which finishes filming this August and will air on ABC.

Originally Posted by E! Online, Watch with Kristin

Consider this only a rumor for the time being. However, word has been rippling through the TV biz today that Rashida Jones (aka Karen Filippelli, presently of Utica, New York) may star in the upcoming NBC spinoff of The Office.

Sounds pretty amazing to this Office (and Rashida) fan, so I did a little digging, and here's where this stands: While one inside source (who has always been reliable) says "it's true" that Rashida will be a part of the new series, another source inside Rashida's camp says, "As far as I know, she has not been approached." Hmmm...

Meanwhile, a rep for Universal (which produces The Office) tells me: "Universal Media Studios has a talent holding deal with Rashida. It is premature to speculate about any potential projects she could be involved with."

So where does that leave us? Right back where we started, with this being—so far—just a fascinating, plausible and wholly unconfirmed rumor. (Hmph.) Still, I know many of you fellow fans are jonesing for a little Office fodder right about now, so I thought I'd share.

And since you asked (What? You didn't?), I'm definitely rooting for Rashida/Karen to join in on the spinoff fun. And if we can have Phyllis drop by for a makeover from time to time? Well, it'd be so good it almost hurts.

(That's what she said.)

rashida jones i love her

cant wait for the new offices' in the fall