The Office

Ryan Howard is back to being a temp on The Office.

TV Guide Magazine confirms that B.J. Novak is leaving the NBC sitcom as a series regular, although his smart phone-loving character will still appear as a recurring player. He may also write and/or direct future episodes, as the multi-talented star has done in the past.

Novak's departure is merely the latest blow for The Office.

Mindy Kaling has left to star in The Mindy Project; James Spader's failed experiment as Robert California has come to an end; and Paul Lieberstein is no longer a writer on staff.

The series has been renewed for the 2012-2013 season, but its status beyond that is unclear.