The Office: James Spader Gets 15 Episode Deal; Pam & Jim Head Into Trouble

Great minds want to know: What will happen on The Office now that Michael Scott is no longer in charge?


Vulture met up with Producer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays Toby Flenderson) at the TV Critics Association press tour earlier this week and got the scoop on the arrival of James Spader on the set and all things Dunder-Mifflin. 
Here are a few of the revelations:


On how many episodes James Spader will star in:
Paul Lieberstein: “He’ll be in at least fifteen episodes. I love what he’s doing to the cast and our characters. He’s kind of scaring them. He’s bringing out a new side of them and pushing them in ways we haven’t seen in eight years.”

On Pam’s second pregnancy:
She will be six months along at start of season. As for her marriage to Jim, Lieberstein hints at some trouble in paradise: “It’s not serious trouble. But they have to go through things; all relationships do. It’s really hard with two kids. Jim’s going to maybe not want to go home so early.”

When will we know who Michael Scott’s replacement is?

We’re not playing out the cliffhanger beyond the cold open. Then we’re done, and it’s a new dynamic.

James Spader Joins The Cast of ‘The Office’

It’s official: James Spader will be on the cast of NBC’s The Office come next season.

But it’s not what you’re thinking. Spader will not be replacing Steve Carell as the new Scranton branch manager of Dunder Mifflin. He will instead be replacing Kathy Bates as the CEO of Sabre.

Paul Lieberstein, who is executive producer of the sitcom and who plays Toby on the show, said in a statement: “James will reprise his role as Robert California, this uber-salesman that has a power to convince and manipulate, like a high-class weirdo Jedi warrior.”

“He’ll have been hired over the summer as the new manager, but within hours, got himself promoted. Within days, he took over the company. James has an energy that is completely his own, and ‘The Office’ has no tools for dealing with this guy. We’re thrilled he’s joining our cast.”

We still don’t know who will be filling the seat left vacant by the departure of Michael Scott, but rumor has it that they will be promoting from within. Who do you think will be the new branch manager? Who do you think should be the new boss head?