Rumors from last month that James Spader will join NBC’s The Office were proven true today. The veteran actor has accepted the role of Sabre’s new CEO and will be a series regular beginning this fall on NBC.
Spader made his debut on The Office in the season seven finale as salesman Robert California, one of several guest star cameos vying for the position of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company regional manager that Michael Scott (Steve Carell) had vacated. Per executive producer Paul Lieberstein, California will land the regional manager position over the summer and then use his power of persuasion and manipulation to quickly ascend the corporate ladder and into the role of Sabre CEO in record time.
Kathy Bates previously played the CEO part in sporadic cameo appearances. She’s now a star on NBC’s Harry’s Law which opened the door for Spader’s California character to step in. Where the new CEO will be physically stationed remains to be seen.
With Spader serving as Sabre CEO, the eighth season of The Office should start with Carell’s old regional manager position once again vacant. The battle could be on to promote from within with Jim and Darryl possibly vying for the job.
Spader is no stranger to primetime television having starred in and won multiply Emmy’s for his role in The Practice and Boston Legal. He also starred on the big screen in Stargate, Crash and Sex, Lies and Videotape.
The Office season 8 will premiere Thursday, September 22 at 9pm EST/PST. Season 7 comes to Blu-ray and DVDa couple weeks earlier on September 6.
