Don't watch it much, but the Halloween episode last year was great
^
The paintball episode was the only one I saw in season 1. I feel like this will be my office replacement when carell leaves
The Office has reached a point where it needs to be replaced on the viewing list regardless of Michael Scott's whereabouts.
It is true it has been going down hill. Really there's 3 eras of the office, The Early Era (everyone loved), the Pam and Jim are married now era and Jim is co-manager (ok) and the Sabre now owns you era (which sucks unless it's an episode with Jo)
I actually think it started going downhill a lot earlier than that, when Jim and Pam started going out (at the beginning of Season 4?). I liked the first two and a half seasons, got a little frustrated when Jim left, was happy when he came back, but then disappointed that a whole facet (and the best, IMO) of the awkward humor disappeared with the beginning of the relationship.