'The Office': James Spader Leaving The Show

James Spader is leaving "The Office." Season 8 will be his first and last season on the NBC comedy.

"James came to 'The Office' to play a role that was two scenes long in the Season 7 finale," 'Office' executive producer Paul Lieberstein said in a statement. "He instantly brought so much life and intrigue to the part that those two scenes became a season."

According to Variety, Spader asked to be released from his contract. The "Boston Legal" veteran first appeared as one of the potential new branch managers in Season 7 before joining the cast during Season 8. His character, Robert California, was selected to replace Steve Carell's Michael Scott as branch manager of Dunder Mifflin Sabre. After convincing his superiors he was destined for better things, the character became the CEO of the printer/paper company.

"James always wanted this to be a one year arc, and he now leaves us having created one of the most enigmatic and dynamic characters in television," Lieberstein said. "He's been a great friend to me and the show, helping us successfully transition into the post-Michael Scott years, and I'm grateful for that. I'm already looking for ways to work with him again."

Variety reports Spader's contract was for a minimum of 15 episodes, with an option to add more. Spader's character replaced the former Sabre CEO, Jo Bennett, played by "Harry's Law" star Kathy Bates.

There could be a lot of changes with the cast of "The Office." It's also been reported that Mindy Kaling is heading to a Fox half-hour comedy, which she'd write and star in as an OB/GYN. And Rainn Wilson may be getting a spinoff for his character Dwight Schrute. "Spinoffs are awesome. We are talking about a Dwight spinoff," Wilson said in January. "It could be really cool 'cause it would be on his farm, which would be a bed and breakfast, and have a crazy menagerie of characters ... It would be even more far out and weird than 'The Office.' So we're talking about it. It's a good idea. We're mulling it over."

"Doctor Who" alumna Catherine Tate appeared in the Season 7 finale of "The Office" as a possible branch manager and recently returned to the fold with an extended guest arc. Could she be taking over for Spader in the CEO role?

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Comments

[DoesNotComputer]

09:35 PM on 02/28/2012

Nothing on the UK Office.

[bobbyperu]

07:24 PM on 02/28/2012

This show has been unwatchable for the last 3 years.

[rotorhead1871]

07:17 PM on 02/28/2012

make it be dwight!!!!

[Imissgeorgew]

07:12 PM on 02/28/2012

Bring back Jan Levinson-Gould!

[Talking Wall]

06:11 PM on 02/28/2012

Gervais and Freeman's characters were a constant joy... I didn't even mind the sentimental end to the series with Tim and Lucy.

I've know guys like that Gareth. All gung-ho and all talk. But that's just an example of the character development and the familiarity that it inspires. Good television. Wish we had stuff like that in the states.

[crabbyguy75]

06:06 PM on 02/28/2012

I'm not going to miss him at all. They tried too hard to make him a strange character and it never did work in my opinion. I miss Michael Scott aka Michael Scarn.

[Josh da Silva]

05:51 PM on 02/28/2012

I feel this season reeks of "jump the shark" moments. Watching the BBC version and the first five seasons of the American Office you felt like you were truly in an office. It's such a great premise and the raw awkwardness that the show once triumphed has been replaced by ordinary situational comedy. It would be great to see a revamp of the show including a new boss. Andy's character just doesn't work in a leadership postion, it defeats who he is.

[colek3]

05:47 PM on 02/28/2012

I kind of think this show stopped being relevant a few seasons back, sorry... Love Love Love the earlier seasons though!

[jjfrench]

05:31 PM on 02/28/2012

Watch the older reruns with Michael Scott and you will realize what has been missing. Especially the episode when he "accidentally" cross-dresses.

[SionShankel]

04:53 PM on 02/28/2012

OHHH Him and Creed were my all time favs on the show!

[ArlyKin]

04:49 PM on 02/28/2012

James Spader is a good actor but was not a good fit for The Office. Replacing Steve Carrell is no easy task.

[happyblackman]

04:48 PM on 02/28/2012

Robert California was as odd and quirky as Michael Scott. The delivery was different, but the results were the same. Gonna miss him.

[dztmseh70]

04:36 PM on 02/28/2012

We loved the show for quite a few seasons, but although it still is pretty clever and funny, James Spader seemed like a bad fit from the beginning. I never really got what his character was all about. Maybe it is getting time to call it quits, though all the characters are really great.

[KeyWestDan]

04:04 PM on 02/28/2012

Dwight spin-off? "After-M*A*S*H" anybody? Has disaster written all over it.

[main945]

05:01 PM on 02/28/2012

I think the same way but who knows, Boston Legal was a spinoff of something. Can't remember the something but will never forget Boston Legal.

[when will it end]

03:54 PM on 02/28/2012

Ya notice that the actor that plays Dwight doesn't act like Dwight that good anymore. And don't get me wrong, I thought he was real funny in the beginning.