Casting News of the Day: NBC officially confirmed today that James Spader (sex, lies, and videotape, Crash, Secretary) will be joining The Office to play Sabre’s new CEO Robert California, replacing Kathy Bates who departs to focus on her other NBC show, Harry’s Law.

“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,” Office executive producer Paul Lieberstein (better known as Toby) said in a statement. “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.”

[thr.]