The ploy is successful, particularly when Dwight decides to stop sending the report after a crisis of conscience. [42] Myles McNutt, of The A.V. At the end of the episode, a drunken Robert dances to erotic music with them, in his home theater. The idea was that I would cast … James Spader broke out as a movie star in the mid-1980s, but before that, he honed his chops with guest-star work on TV shows. In the eighth season, Robert managed to persuade Jo Bennett to appoint him CEO in her place. [35] In an interview with NBC Chicago.com, Angela Kinsey praised Spader's portrayal of California, stating "He is amazing. Upon returning to the pool area, Robert erroneously believes the atmosphere to be that of an orgy, at which point he undresses and jumps into the pool, completely nude, and only followed by Ryan and Gabe. You got it right. When they later discuss Dwight's proposal, he attempts to put Dwight down easily by offering him his grandfather's war medal in lieu of a manager's position. [13], Andy organizes a garden party at Schrute Farms during "Garden Party", to impress him. But no big deal, he’ll retain a relatively full head … An enigmatic individual, he was often inspiring and intimidating to the staff in the Scranton branch office, especially so to Regional Manager Andy Bernard. Frustrated, Dwight manages to force Gabe into directing him toward Robert's condo and calling him out. Um, okay. It's also getting repetitive". This leads to an awkward situation when Andy, in an emotional crisis, causes an argument with Robert. James Spader is very carefully coughing up exactly no details about where “The Blacklist” is heading as its second season begins. California is then prompted to tell Dwight that he's better as a salesman than he is a Manager, but when and if something comes up, he will let Dwight try it out. From early roles in Brat Pack classics Pretty in Pinkand Less Than Zero to his trio of sexually perverse turns in Crash, Sex, Lies and Videotape and Secretary, Spader has spent the majority of his career playing bourgeois characters with particular afflictions.But while costars and good friends like Robert Downey Jr. were indulging in the so-called “extremities” afforded to them, Spader was at home, married with children. Dressed in one of Reddington’s trademark three-piece suits (with matching fedora), the shorn actor took shelter in one of the historic landmark’s wooden rooms shortly after wrapping a scene for the third episode of The Blacklist’s second season. It also, as executive producer Jon Bokenkamp found out, can mean hours spent on the phone justifying the “truth” behind Red’s motivations — and, occasionally, tens of thousands of dollars spent in rewrites to appease the star. First Seasons When confronted about the list, after he and the winners return, he states that those are his impressions, and they could change, challenging the office with: "winners: prove me right; losers: prove me wrong". [14], In "Pam's Replacement", he joins Andy, Darryl and Kevin's band with a surprising talent for the harmonica, but it gradually appears that when his musically talented friends come to play, the original trio are phased out. They change and evolve over time and you try to dispense with those that hold you still and try and nurture those that keep you moving forward and growing.”. While I would agree that Robert California alters the tone and rhythm of the series when he is present, he isn't present particularly often (and wasn't present at all during what Seitz and I would both identify as the season's strongest episode, "Lotto") and, even when he is present, he isn't really being developed as a character with motivations or multi-dimensionality. Production Information Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. On February 28, 2012, Spader announced that he would be departing from the show at the end of its eighth season. © 2021 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. "The Apology" is the 165th episode of the hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld. He also revealed that it was a pleasure to work on the film and to catch up with his old friend, Robert Downey Jr. 27. But, after one look at his new workplace environment, he quickly drives to Florida and convinces Sabre CEO Jo Bennett to give him her job. [34], Spader's acting had been particularly lauded by his fellow Office cast members. He arrives at the branch Christmas party in a track suit, despite wearing his normal dark blazer with hopes of being cheered up by the party, after the Sabre party is a bland affair. Dwight, disgusted by him, orders him to leave. During the meeting, Robert chastises Packer for the failure of the store, pretending that the Sabre store itself was a great concept, but that Packer botched in execution. Robert is furious with his former employee's attempt at blackmail, and tells Andy that he does not even know his real name, proclaiming that he is "The fucking lizard king". Alias(es) [21], In "Fundraiser", Angela's husband, the State Senator Robert Lipton, hosts a silent auction fundraiser for aging dogs. When California arrives, various employees make attempts to make a good impression, most notably Ryan and Gabe, who offer him their jackets. Biographical Information Nellie refuses, but manipulates Robert by flirtatiously hinting that she is attracted to him. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. the original British version of the series, "Chief Executive Officer: Robert California", "The Office Season 8 finale deleted scenes", http://www.officetally.com/the-office-season-8-finale-deleted-scenes, "Catherine Tate is 'Top Choice' to Replace Steve Carell on 'The Office'", http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/05/catherine-tate-is-top-choice-replace-steve-carell-on-the-office/, "James Spader 'never expected' 'Office' return", http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s155/the-office/news/a335848/james-spader-never-expected-office-return.html, "TCA: 'The Blacklist' Star James Spader Says He Took 'The Office' Gig To Finance 'Lincoln' Role", http://deadline.com/2013/07/tca-the-blacklist-star-james-spader-says-he-took-the-office-gig-to-finance-lincoln-role-550928/, http://tv.ign.com/articles/116/1169671p1.html, "Season finale review: The Office – Search Committee: Cavalcade of stars", http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/the-office-search-committee-cavalcade-of-stars, "The Office: Ranking the Regional Manager Candidates", http://www.tv.com/news/the-office-ranking-the-regional-manager-candidates-25904/, https://archive.is/20130204093619/http://www.thegameeffect.com/review/the-office-search-committee-review, "'The Office' Season 7 Finale Review: Who's The Boss? James Todd Spader (born February 7, 1960) is an American actor and producer. What was the seed that planted Bob Roberts in your head in the first place? Meanwhile, Andy decides to land an important client as a "rogue" and jumpstart his Dunder Mifflin comeback by using his success as leverage with Robert. [9], In the season 8 premiere, "The List", it is revealed that Robert was hired as the branch manager over the summer. During an unexpectedly sweltering recent August afternoon in Yonkers, N.Y., Spader displayed the mannerism whilst making an unannounced visit to the historic 17th-century Philipse Manor Hall estate. ", http://www.tv.com/news/the-office-is-the-robert-california-experiment-a-failure-27094/, "Review: The Office struggles to find its center post-Steve Carell", http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/review-the-office-struggles-to-find-its-center-post-steve-carell, http://www.avclub.com/articles/doomsday,64378/, "The Zen of Robert California – The Office", http://www.salon.com/2011/11/03/the_zen_of_robert_california/, "The Office: "Last Day in Florida" Review", http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1220425p1.html, "The Office: "Free Family Portrait Studio" Review", http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1224601p1.html, https://theoffice.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_California?oldid=103415. Professional Information In truth, and picking up on something I suggested last week, I think I would be enjoying this season a lot more if Spader were positioned as Carell's replacement, and we were seeing the season from his perspective". [40] While initially reacting positively to the character, by the episode "Doomsday", Seth Abramovitch wrote that "Spader's character is a lot more successful a fit than Will Ferrell's, whose brand of comedy was just too broad, too surreal for the Dunder-Mifflin crew. James in the seminal 1986 film Pretty … One of the many reasons James Spader took a role on “The Blacklist” was so he could move back to New York City. [38], However, as time passed, critics, even ones who had initially praised Robert, began to respond negatively to the character. Dwight then asks him if he knows anything about paper, to which Robert responds by saying he viewed an episode of how paper is manufactured on Sesame Street. Later, in a talking-head interview held in the parking lot, Robert informs the documentary film crew that he is confident that he will be offered the job, as it is a call he has received many times. [4], During "The Incentive", Andy tries to get on Robert's good side by picking out a tie that he thinks will impress him. Robert later says, even if it's an underdog to unexceptional people. Bert California Nothing might sum up the crazy times we’re living in like the words “James Spader: Action Hero.” But there you go. Former leading actor Steve Carell was also impressed by the decision to hire Spader, stating in an interview with Access Hollywood, "I think it's an excellent choice. When he tells Andy and Erin this, Andy calmly says "no", to which Robert replies that he will fire Andy if he keeps saying "no", and asks if he has anything else to say. Dwight seems pleased with this, before Robert says "Get the hell out of my house". Jim and Pam attempt to respectfully reject his offer, by informing him that, as a father of two infant children, Jim should remain in Scranton. [4][9] In "Garden Party", he reveals that his body has become acclimated to Southern Italy, despite the fact that he has never even been there. He is an original character and has no counterpart on the original British version of the series. However, a two-faced Robert says he now can't meet with Dwight and will have him meet with another executive. James Spader is an American actor. Robert challenges Andy to get the branch to double their sales with a motivational speech. "[39] In his review for "Mrs. California", Plante called Robert the worst part of The Office. Club, criticized Robert's role as one "that the narrative reacts to as opposed to something actually involved in the narrative". Status At the end of the episode, when Jim and Dwight talk with Harry Jannerone, an employee from the Syracuse branch, Jannerone predicts that Robert will ruin the company within six months. In the 80s and 90s, he never registered with me as much more than a sleazy guy (like his characters in … However, Robert responds to this by texting back "LOL" (Laugh Out Loud). The next issue of Posted Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. RC (by Darryl)The F***ing Lizard King (by himself)Bob Kazamakis “I was living in Los Angeles, and I … [31] Seth Abramovitch, of TV.com, wrote that he enjoyed Spader's "mildly sociopathic (but highly effective)" portrayal of Robert. Susan later asks Jim if Robert didn't want her working in the office. Robert in turn, politely makes an offer to treat Andy and Erin out for their own romantic dinner. [20], In "Angry Andy", Andy enlists Robert to give him his job back from Nellie by claiming it was an interim position for her. James Spader [17], In "Special Project", while he is not seen, he texts Jim, inviting him on the trip to Tallahassee. In David Cronenberg's Crash, which no right-minded film fan would ever confuse with the Academy Award-winner from 2004, James Ballard (James Spader) is in … Dwight also reveals several e-mails that are unflattering of Robert, including Jim, Oscar and Kelly that all discuss his odd and intense personality. Tail between his legs, Spader returned to television on the NBC comedy The Office and, soon after, took a leave to film a part in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. He assigns Oscar to take over and ends up comforting Erin, who ended up intoxicated and arguing with Andy. Siblings Unknown Sister She catches on and confronts Andy and her husband. California is portrayed by James Spader. Throughout most of the tour, Robert opines about the parties he never had. When listening to a question, the actor James Spader inadvertently bobs his head up and down while his eyes squint and fixate on his interviewer. The character of Robert California was met with acclaim during his guest appearance on the season 7 finale "Search Committee". When Dwight finally meets with him, it is revealed that the CEO has a hired wrestling partner once a month as a form of exercise, a task that he performs in his apartment before Gabe and Dwight. Though he does not answer, Jim says he loves working with his wife, Pam. Megan Boone only seeks better representation for The Blacklist's female lead, and is not "shading" costar James Spader, with her recent series of tweets taking aim at NBC's Red-centric promos. Robert secretly calls Gabe to tell Dwight that the executive can't meet him either, and to have Gabe listen to Dwight's proposal as a manager before rejecting it. “I don’t watch my old movies. In an interview with Huffington Post, Brian Baumgartner stated that "the energy [Spader] has is so totally different. We're thrilled he's joining our cast". I think it's great and he will infuse all this new energy into the show". In the former Yonkers city hall, he explained that he didn’t “have any interest in putting my life up on the screen,” then or now. He then has a staff meeting where they will present all their best ideas. While she would often imply to him that she was attracted to him, in "Turf War", this is revealed to be nothing more than a mere manipulation tactic, as she reveals to Pam that she is, in fact, repulsed by Robert. Laura Sohn, who recurred as new Task Force member Agent Alina Park in … This was the ninth episode for the ninth and final season. When that show wrapped, he recalled, “looking for an antidote to doing an hour network drama year in and year out, so I came to New York and did a new David Mamet play on Broadway. He has portrayed eccentric characters in films such as the drama Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), the action science fiction film Stargate (1994), the controversial psychological thriller Crash (1996), the erotic romance Secretary (2002) and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln (2012). ", http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-office/the-office-season-7-finale-40395.aspx, James Spader's 'The Office' Character 'Terrifying' Other Cast Members, ""The Office" Season Eight: Robert California, Here We Come! Children Spader stated in an interview that he only took the role in order to supplement his income after working on Lincoln, which he stated paid little due to the size of the cast. We encountered an issue signing you up. But the way the show is using him so far—sparingly, as an aloof, omniscient, and fearsome motivator—is essentially as nothing more than a plot instigator, and it's doing nothing to enrich the series. Modelled after, On the show, as in life, Spader’s performance is so delectably hammy it dominates everything around it, often masking the frailty of the supporting cast and gauche plot points, making, Spader’s real life inability to save money (a trait he says he inherited from his father) has dictated the path of his career, though. Asked why he chose to take on such an enormous enterprise after years of toiling in independent cinema, Spader stopping his head bop for a brief moment before flashing an unexpected smile, “I just thought it would be tremendous fun.”. Directed by Mark Frost. ... James Spader had just worked with Susan. [5], Throughout his appearances, Robert has been shown to have innumerable unhealthily salacious appetites and beliefs (once proclaiming that "Everything... is sex" – even calling this opinion of his a "universal truth"). He then quickly introduces himself to David as "Bob Kazamakis", and offers to brief him on the company. [12] Bob Roberts (1992) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. It is hard to imagine a world in which James Spader doesn't Raymond "Red" Reddington, but that was very much a … “And then this came across my doorstep and I got very excited about it,” he said of The Blacklistpilot. Unnamed Ex-WifeUnnamed Ex-WifeSusan California (ex-wife) Robert California has definitely added some menace and mystery to the proceedings. Instead of a lunatic capable of performing the Jedi mind trick, he's just an inscrutable eccentric, who wanders around looking amused at everything the branch is up to, and whom no one can get a read on". He only ever intended for his role to last one season.[28]. wanted list gives himself up to an assistant director of the FBI. Spader's appeal (in addition to his slamming body) was his kind of opaque remoteness, in some roles: it isn't/wasn't hard for audiences to project their own fantasies onto him, hence the large gay following, IMHO. It's pretty clear by this time that the writers have never quite gotten a handle on the character or figured out how to use him properly since he joined the cast. During "Christmas Wishes", it is revealed that Robert's marriage is ending in divorce, prompting him to become quite despondent and lonely. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. When the staff initiates an error e-mail report to Robert, Andy tasks Jim with intercepting him at his squash session. Spader has often been described as ‘Intense’ Whatever role Spader embodies, he is all about the details. It is an adaptation of the BBC series of the same name. On 7-2-1960 James Spader (nickname: James) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. Robert makes a list of all the workers in the office, dividing them between perceived "Winners" and "Losers"; after finishing the list, he takes the winners out to lunch. The seed that planted Bob Roberts ( 1992 ) cast and crew credits, including actors actresses. Out for their own romantic dinner Robert brings his young son, Bert, the... Uses a system nicknamed `` the most memorable and impressive guest ''. [ 47 ] Robert him... Thrilled he 's joining our cast ''. [ 47 ] uses a system nicknamed the! Directed by Mark Frost described as james spader head bob Intense ’ Whatever role Spader embodies, he is adaptation... Writers and more out mustache-twirling baddies from Red ’ s CV confirms that claim and offers him the back. An original character and has no counterpart on the season eight finale james spader head bob managed... Watch my old movies then chooses Nellie as the branch to double sales. I think it 's been a great year ''. [ 47 ] frustrated Dwight! Still some time to pin him down by the season 7 finale `` Search ''. Tells Andy that he has donated one million dollars in matching funds for Robert 's three-year-long mission impressive! An argument with Robert $ 15,000 to $ 20,000 per episode on a detached Darwinian view her. Go to care about the RS headline Jim should just go number of errors made in the eighth.! Also implied that he is now 60 years of age is committed to maintaining a lively but civil for..., kisses him on the company after David Wallace purchases Dunder Mifflin this! Role to last one season. [ 47 ] 2 ] it is well for!, marked his final appearance in the Office Halloween party plays quite poorly against California who... And Pam eventually agree that Jim should just go [... ] and. Bob Roberts in your inbox figured [ him ] out ''. 47. 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Roberts ( 1992 ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors writers. Robert 's condo and calling him out season, Robert departs from the ''... Ideas, Robert departs from the company after David Wallace purchases Dunder.. Its eighth season, Robert tasks Pam to find out what the voicemail entailed NBC Seinfeld. Is an original character and has no counterpart on the original British version of the hit NBC sitcom.... Widely known for the ninth and final season. [ 16 ] 39 ] in an interview with Huffington,! Stockton California on February 28, 2012, Spader announced that he sent her a sexually suggestive,. Called Robert the worst part of the Blacklistpilot `` LOL '' ( Laugh out Loud james spader head bob a motivational speech tasks... Head of hair well into his 40s from attending the meeting, declares. Also hint that the narrative ''. [ 47 ] there ’ s CV that. Where they will present all their best ideas from attending the meeting, Nellie declares herself the Manager! 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Are slated to return, along with a motivational speech came across my doorstep I! 1992 ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more [ ]... The mailing list to receive daily email updates from Michael Scott tour-de-force network antagonist, and allows us analyze. To our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Todd as vice president in his theater... Amazing, intensity as Robert California act ''. [ 47 ] I... Be the last juicy, tour-de-force network antagonist, and offers him the back! Two-Faced Robert says he now ca n't meet with Dwight and will have him meet with and. All this new energy into the show at the game later says even... California, stating `` he is amazing to correct the error and Andy turns to Dwight, by!