News: The Office: Season 8 Episode 1 Title, Plot Revealed + Trailer

When the appointment of James Spader to "replace" Steve Carrell was announced, it certainly raised a few eyebrows, but after seeing how the show will handle the new addition to the cast, it could well be the best thing that has happened to the show since the addition of Ed Helms as Andy in Season 3.


Here's what we know:

• "Robert California" is expected to appear in 15 episodes (much more than the previous CEO played by Kathy Bates did).
• He is appointed CEO
• He is a persuasive, mysterious and "enigmatic"character

And today, EW has revealed a number of story lines that will hopefully jumpstart the series, as well as establish Spader's character as one to watch.

EW calls the premiere episode's synopsis, entitled "The List", "simple" and "brilliant", and it's hard to disagree:

Spader’s persuasive and mysterious character Robert California is appointed CEO of Dunder Mifflin and, during a visit to the Scranton branch, accidentally leaves behind a piece of paper. There’s a line down the middle of it, with the names of every Scranton staffer either on one side of the line or the other. Employees go into a frenzy trying to figure out: What does this mean?... (It) will showcase California’s inscrutable oddness and his impact on the rest of the team as they struggle to figure him out.

Showrunner Paul Lieberstein also hints at other story lines which will surface in season eight: 

California challenges the office manager to double sales. Dwight builds a productivity machine that becomes a sort of Doomsday device when it threatens to shut down the company if people make too many mistakes. The entire warehouse staff wins the Lotto and quits. And, of course, there’s Jim and Pam’s second baby.

He also has a dig at last season's criticised "The Delivery" in which Pam gave birth to her and Jim's first child: “We’re not doing what we did last time; we’re not doing any weird rush to the hospital,” before he revealed what her second delivery will constitute:

“We’re doing something fun with her hormones, [which] are in a state where she doesn’t know who to trust. After a scene of everybody being very polite to her, saying she’s more beautiful than ever, and ‘the old and the pregnant are the most beautiful,’ Dwight is the only one honest with her. She starts to think Dwight is the only one she can trust.”

And remember, they still have to decide who the new boss will be...

The Office season 8 premieres September 22 on NBC.