James Spader hired full time for 'The Office'

[July 07, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- NBC has signed James Spader as a full-time cast member of "The Office."

The network announced Wednesday that Spader will reprise his guest role as manipulative salesman Robert California when the comedy returns this fall.

California will have been hired over the summer as the new manager of the Scranton office of Dunder Mifflin paper company. But within hours, he wangled a promotion to CEO of Sabre, the parent corporation of Dunder Mifflin.

This leaves the branch manager's position vacant again. An actor to replace departed series star Steve Carell is yet to be announced by NBC.

Spader appeared as one of several guest stars on "The Office" this spring. He's previously starred in the drama series "Boston Legal" and "The Practice."

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Online:

http://www.nbc.com/

[Associated Press]

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