Promoting From Within

I've always had trouble with Steve Carrell's character Michael Scott. He seemed too stupid and annoying to carry a show.  Nevertheless, The Office has been NBC's most successful comedy for several years now.

Carrell is moving on after this season--a recent episode had him saying goodbye to all his girlfriends.  So the question is who will replace him.  I think it's clear they need to go in a different direction to keep the show (relatively) fresh.

Actor/writer B. J. Novak suggested they bring in Danny McBride.  Even if McBride were willing, would his blustery style work?  In general, some big names have been thrown around, but I wonder if they won't throw off the show's balance (assuming that's a bad thing).

The show has brought in new characters before, but maybe they should try to keep this in the family--it's a tricky transition, and comedy audiences tend to like continuity.  So who of the regulars could become the new leader?

Dwight:  Too quirky and nasty.  His short moments in power have led to disaster.  They'd have to lose what makes his character tick to put him in charge.

Jim:  Too normal.  They've already tried giving him power, and it's not interesting to have a rational, intelligent person lead things.

Pam:  Might be interesting.  Would set up a possible conflict between Pam and Jim which could revivify their relationship.  But Pam, like Jim, suffers from the problem of being in on the joke.

Ryan:  He's been in charge before (though considering how he fell out of power I've never bought that the company brought him back).  But he's too much on the sidelines to take over.  It might have worked at one time to give a former temp power, but he's been around too long.

Darryl:  Another possibility, but, even when he worked in the loading dock, he was too much in control.  You want someone in charge who's not ready for the position.

Toby:  Maybe, but too quiet a character to rise to the position.

Gabe:  Coming from Sabre, it makes sense he'd be in charge, but his character is too minor to suddenly take over.

Andy:  This makes the most sense.  He's never been quite sure of his place (and this would certainly create another roadblock in his pursuit of Kelly).  The episode where Michael visited his old girlfriends also featured Andy trying to run a seminar on STDs, a very Michael-like activity.  With Ed Helms becoming a bit of a star due to The Hangover, it looks like they may be grooming him for the lead.

All the other characters seem too minor or one-note to be promoted.