Packing up ‘The Office’ for good

“The Office” will cap its nine-season run on NBC in May with a one-hour farewell. Ed Helms is prepped for a shoot. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

May 2, 2013 1:32 PM PT

The unconventional comedy -- a remake of a British series -- wrapping up after nine years, many as ‘must-see TV.’ Along the way, it faced near cancellation, loss of a key actor and NBC’s dwindling fortunes.

Ed Helms marks the beginning of the scene. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Ed Helms and Catherine Tate record a scene during one of the last filmings of the show. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Phyllis Smith and Rainn Wilson. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Director Matt Sohn watches the monitor of a shoot. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

A crew member checks the shooting schedule. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Phyllis Smith clamps her hand over Rainn Wilson’s mouth. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Leslie David Baker as Stanley makes a entrance after walking up the stairs. Ellie Kemper is at left. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Rainn Wilson gestures to the sign warning about the elevator out of service. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Phyllis Smith, left, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumartner, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper and Oscar Nunez. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Ed Helms, left, Jake Lacy, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper and Oscar Nunez. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Craig Robinson, left, Ellie Kemper, Oscar Nunez and Kate Flannery. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Ed Helms, left, Jake Lacy, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton, Brian Baumgartner and Oscar Nunez. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Brian Baumartner, left, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper and Oscar Nunez. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Craig Robinson between takes. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

The crew changes the light between takes. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

The series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pa., branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)

Between scenes the cast poses for a photo: Ellie Kemper, left, Craig Robinson, (director) Matt Sohn, Kate Flannery and Phyllis Smith. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)