The Office Season 8 [NBC - Spoilers]

JP Liz V1

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/06/james-spader-office/

It’s official: The employees of Dunder Mifflin are getting a new CEO and his name is Robert California.
James Spader’s ultra-confident and sexually charged character featured briefly in the NBC hit’s May finale is set to join the cast of the show’s upcoming eighth season, NBC confirmed.
“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,” said Paul Lieberstein, one of the series’ executive producers and a series regular. “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.”
NBC is set to announce the hire, adding a new well-known actor to the ensemble series that saw the departure of its biggest star, Steve Carell, this season, and will also say goodbye to recurring performer Kathy Bates as well. Bates played the company’s CEO last season, though Spader’s character is expected to have a greater presence on the show

darragh666

Thank god its not Catherine Tate.

Venom

Spader joining the cast is very good news indeed Tate would of really been the death of the show imho.

expectationlost

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/06/james-spader-office/

It’s official: The employees of Dunder Mifflin are getting a new CEO and his name is Robert California.
James Spader’s ultra-confident and sexually charged character featured briefly in the NBC hit’s May finale is set to join the cast of the show’s upcoming eighth season, NBC confirmed.
“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,” said Paul Lieberstein, one of the series’ executive producers and a series regular. “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.”
NBC is set to announce the hire, adding a new well-known actor to the ensemble series that saw the departure of its biggest star, Steve Carell, this season, and will also say goodbye to recurring performer Kathy Bates as well. Bates played the company’s CEO last season, though Spader’s character is expected to have a greater presence on the show

er so he's taking bates position, is he's not going to take Carell's position or is he going to run the whole company from the scranton office?

JP Liz V1

Stephen Collins and Dee Wallace

will be playing Andy's parents

JP Liz V1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mHPXpMVJXo

Glebee

Have to say I was very disappointed with the first episode. I cant see this show surviving without the Michael Scott character being in it. Anyway hopefully it gets better but on first appearance im not sure. Hopefully im wrong.

stealinhorses

Yep, the first episode fell flat for me and is not a good sign of things to come.

Andy of all people? Dwight could have made it funny in a ridiculous way, but now they have to rely on Fat Pam jokes and people falling off chairs...

Kiwi_knock

I thought the episode was ok, fell flat in some places but had some funny moments. Spader is a good addition. Thought the scene with the two groups lining up and then Dwight shouting attack was hilarious.

It is going to take a while to see how this series develops, but at the moment they are missing Michael.

Skid

Disappointed with the first episode.

Andy is a limited character, not much comic potential in having him as California's number two.

California has potential but for a Season Premiere it was all very flat.

Daryl would have made a much better boss than Andy. Or even Dwight. But Andy is just.. flat.

I think James Spader has good potential in the show, but there felt something off about it. Like it's just a shell of it's former self.

Really dislike the possibility of Stanley becoming a comic relief character.

Loughc

Long time fan of the US Office, and I have to say I was very disappointed in the first episode of the new series. Hopefully it will pick up but I'm not sure.

phasers

That was so bad. Andy!? For real?

The only funny part was Dwight lining everyone up and shouting "attack!"

KeanSeenan

Wasn't that bad..there have been worse Scott era episodes.

Kiwi_knock

It sort of feels like they are trying to change Andy into Michael, the speech at the end when he is defending his workmates sounded exactly like something Michael would say.

Kiwi_knock

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

It sort of feels like they are trying to change Andy into Michael, the speech at the end when he is defending his workmates sounded exactly like something Michael would say.

Nowhere near! Michael would've delivered so much better - Ed Helms just doesn't shine a light on Steve Carrell.

Loughc

Deleted User wrote: »

Nowhere near! Michael would've delivered so much better - Ed Helms just doesn't shine a light on Steve Carrell.

I wonder did they go with Ed Helms purely because of the commercial success of The Hangover and The Hangover 2? It good to have a Hollywood star fronting your TV show in the states, I only wonder this because the promotion character wise makes no sense.

Andy was the worse sales person in the Office, and a total goof, I can't see how he would get a promotion.

lockie1983

lockie1983 wrote: »

I wonder did they go with Ed Helms purely because of the commercial success of The Hangover and The Hangover 2? It good to have a Hollywood star fronting your TV show in the states, I only wonder this because the promotion character wise makes no sense.

Andy was the worse sales person in the Office, and a total goof, I can't see how he would get a promotion.

That's probably it! I genuinely can't see any other reason. Stanley would have made a bit more interesting boss - having to actually partake in meetings rather than his usual just sitting there with a crossword.

I don't have high hopes for the Office and may have to take it off my Friday morning viewing list.

Actually, I was just thinking, pre-anger management Andy would be much better.

Thargor

lockie1983 wrote: »

I wonder did they go with Ed Helms purely because of the commercial success of The Hangover and The Hangover 2? It good to have a Hollywood star fronting your TV show in the states, I only wonder this because the promotion character wise makes no sense.

Andy was the worse sales person in the Office, and a total goof, I can't see how he would get a promotion.

Thats totally it.

That was easily the worst episode Ive ever seen, hate the new boss.

FreudianSlippers

I disagree, I like Andy as the new boss. Pam is definitely very preggers. I also agree, nobody should be planking!

The show feels really weird without Michael.

Thargor

Oh yeah Pam is fecking horrible now aswell, she was only good as eye candy because she definitely isn't funny or interesting.

amacachi

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I disagree, I like Andy as the new boss. Pam is definitely very preggers. I also agree, nobody should be planking!

The show feels really weird without Michael.

Maybe it's because I remember some of his Daily Show stuff but I like Andy a lot. They need to do something with his character other than turn him into Micheal. There were some clear signs of them trying to do that to him.

DermotOH

One of my favourite shows..

Relevant: http://www.qwertee.com/product/dwight-club/

It's really peculiar that they did an entire episode dedicated to Phylis' wedding and then Pam and Jim's, but they only mentioned that Angela got married in passing.

MaceFace

Thought it was a very good episode and up there with many of them over the last number of years.
Didn't miss Michael at all.

colinod0806

I actually enjoyed the first episode. It had some funny moments and i forgot all about michael.
I have always liked andy so I don't mind him getting the promotion even if, as mentioned, is a bit stupid considering his track record as a salesman.

Overall, I think it showed potential and some people seem to forget how stale this show had become.

Deleted User wrote: »

It's really peculiar that they did an entire episode dedicated to Phylis' wedding and then Pam and Jim's, but they only mentioned that Angela got married in passing.

Possibly because they know the marriage isn't going to last because the husband is gay

KeanSeenan

There would've been plenty of material for that wedding episode, especially for Oscar.

Loughc

KeanSeenan wrote: »

There would've been plenty of material for that wedding episode, especially for Oscar.

Great point, I would have loved that idea.

I did read somewhere they're are trying to limit the number of episodes they do outside the office this season. But they could have come up with a storyline excuse like because he is a senator he didn't want a documentary crew filming him wedding, etc....

phasers

Not a good episode at all this week, James Spader adds absolutely nothing and Andy is a rubbish boss.

I somewhat enjoyed it actually - quite liked how they were all watching Andy get his ass tattooed.

stealinhorses

Andy saved the episode in the end, the way it started off with Kevin was cringe-worthy!
The new episodes really do leave a sour taste in your mouth. It's worth to give some episodes from season 2 a go just to remind yourself how good the show actually used to be.

stealinhorses

stealinhorses wrote: »

Andy saved the episode in the end, the way it started off with Kevin was cringe-worthy!
The new episodes really do leave a sour taste in your mouth. It's worth to give some episodes from season 2 a go just to remind yourself how good the show actually used to be.

Are those starter thing longer? Kevin's one seemed really bloody long and pointless.

Kiwi_knock

Another mixed bag this week, the start with Kevin was not funny at all. Actually thought Andy was the funniest aspect of the show this week. Loved the vibrator being included amongst all the other prizes. I was worried that they were trying to change Andy into Michael after last week but I thought his character was a lot different this week. A lot of the smaller side stories are not funny at all, like Pam and Angela talking about their pregnancy. At least they stopped Stanley saying that stupid catchphrase from last week.

Still hard to know if the season will be a success, there are moments when I think it could be but then there are plenty of other times when I think that they should just end the show.

Glebee

More of the so far this season. Not great but definitely an improvement on episode one. My love for this show has gone. Can't see how it's going to come back.

Loughc

I have to say that was a big improvement over the first episode, I Laughed so loudly when as soon as Andy say the CEO the first thing he said was Hi Dad, and when he turned to the camera after the points and said, 1 day, it took them 1 day!!

I dunno.. this just wasn't a great episode at all.

FreudianSlippers

I dunno, I thought it was funny. Senior Loadenstein was pretty good.

Thargor

It was okay, its just missing too much without Micheal.

Stanley appearing at the window looking at the guy who stole his lunch was seriously funny though.

phasers

This week's was better, I liked Andy calling Darrell out and Stanley watching the guy who stole his lunch :pac:

Kiwi_knock

I thought this episode was by far the best so far, getting used to Andy as manager.

Stanley at the window was hilarious.

Kiwi_knock

Spoiler for the second half of the season.

http://www.digitalspy.ie/ustv/s155/the-office/news/a346921/catherine-tate-to-reprise-office-role-for-second-half-of-season.html

Catherine Tate will return to The Office later this year to reprise her role as Nellie Bertram.

NBC announced on Friday that Tate will return during the second half of the sitcom's current season when Nellie is hired as a special projects manager by Sabre's corporate office.

"Catherine is hysterical. We introduced her briefly in last season's finale and knew she had to be a part of the show somehow," explained executive producer and Office cast member Paul Lieberstein.

"We'll meet her again as corporate's special projects manager, and her relationship with Robert California (James Spader) will be far from professional. We're thrilled that she's joining the cast."

Tate first appeared in The Office's season seven finale as a candidate for the role vacated by departing cast member Steve Carell's on-screen character Michael Scott.

They must be trying to kill off the show.

QikBax

Worst news ever.

How you can go from having one of the funniest people around in Steve Carell to having this catchphrase wielding hack on the show is beyond me.:mad:

Forgot to say that I really loved this episode - Moze (Mose?) as a valet was just hilarious.

jamc

jamc wrote: »

Worst news ever.

How you can go from having one of the funniest people around in Steve Carell to having this catchphrase wielding hack on the show is beyond me.:mad:

In the season 7 finale she was definitely the least funniest of all the people they were interviewing.

Terrible decision to bring her back.

FreudianSlippers

This week was actually painful at times. Some funny parts, but mainly bleh.
The music thing was stupid also, Robert California is very annoying.

The funniest thing was Dwight "falling" and trying to touch Jim's crotch. "Does your husband have very soft erections? If not I just grabbed a very soft penis for no reason"

The show is definitely pointless now and it just feels like they're phoning it in now.

colly_06

Just watched episode 7, noticed this guy was on it legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItZyaOlrb7E

FreudianSlippers

This week was actually pretty good.

It's been a long time since I've lol'd at The Office, but when the water bottle fell out from between Pam's legs I did.
Andy was really on this week.

Papyr... I mean, how is this not actually a product?!

G-Money

I think it's jumped the shark this year. I will probably keep watching but I hope it gets better soon.

ste

episode 9 is excellent

Many many laughs

amacachi

Have to say the opening for this week's episode was great.

Good start so far as well, should work well.

EDIT: Excellent episode!

FreudianSlippers

Just watched episode 14 there and it was pretty good. I knew Jim was up to something, but I didn't expect them to go that dark with it :eek: