James Spader Talks Robert California

[Amy]

Just a little something my news feed picked up on.

Anyone who has followed James Spader's career of characters knows he dips into his own well. The accomplished actor for both the big and the small screen has always marched to the beat of his own drum. Maybe it's the man; maybe it's the role's he's cast in; it's likely a combination of the two but Spader has always been a distinct character actor, at the very least.

James Spader will be playing Robert California; the new head honcho at "The Office." The fact that the writers of "The Office" have made Spader's character such a wacky one likely says more about the work that he's amassed for himself throughout the years as it does about the needs of the program. Even Spader seems flummoxed by his newest characters actions.

Spader recently sat down with USA Today and allowed, "I'm not so sure I have a great point of reference for convention myself, and I think I've drawn the things that seem different and maybe things I don't quite understand yet or things I'm curious about because I may not understand them yet."

It appears as though Spader is relying as much on his discomfort with his character as with his co-workers discomfort with him to weigh the tide in the absence of Michael Scott.

"I think there's some real value in the natural discomfort of stranger. I think he's a good character to continue that. he can provide that very nicely."

While good old Michael Scott was always about good times and a sort of affable buffoon leadership style, Spader thinks that Robert California will thrive on his initial air of mystery.

"There's a certain level of intimation as well. all of a sudden you've got a new boss coming in and the old boss was very established and familiar and everybody knew the old boss's buttons and how to respond, act and confront."

Spader is counting on his initial wave of uncertainty to help carry the story forward.

"It's important this new character have a very jarring dynamic with the rest of the cast, just to have it be very different."
James Spader is no stranger to television. Fans of "The Office" will hopefully hang on to the unbelievable actions his character takes on the front side long enough to keep everyone else employed. If not Dunder Mifflin Paper could find itself going the way of the floppy disc.

Sources:
tv.yahoo.com/office/show/36001
www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2011-09-07/James-Spader-brings-a-different-energy-to-The-Office/50305650/1