Exit Stage Left – James Spader Off The Office

Bar none, James Spader was the best of the candidates to replace Steve Carell in last season's finale of The Office. The producers, thankfully, had the sense to see that too, and Spader became the new boss of Dunder Mifflin. Though he isn't in every episode and in a case of rewarding the actor with the biggest film career, Ed Helms was promoted to the head of the office. While Spader became the company CEO coming in and out.

Unfortunately, the writers seemingly played all the tricks they had stuffed in their hats with the Robert California character a few shows into this season. Even picking the right actor hasn't been enough to revive The Office unlike that other time Spader took over a fledging series and brought it back to life. For those of you not old enough to remember, I'm referring to his joining The Practice and that final season going over so well, they spun off Spader's character into Boston Legal.

In the wake of that, Spader will not return for a ninth season (assuming there will be), reports Variety.

Executive Producer Paul Lieberstein (aka Toby) is trying to pass this off like it was their plan the whole time for the California character to only have one season and then move on to greener pastures. Please, don't insult our intelligence, Sir.

Carell doesn't show any signs of returning to guest-star, co-star/writer Mindy Kaling will leave if her pilot at Fox gets picked up, Helms and John Krasinski are both said to be wanting to leave (Both their contracts expire this season) and then there's the matter of that God awful sounding Dwight spin-off for Rainn Wilson. NBC, we know you're still bleeding for programming. But do everyone a favor, take The Office out back and shoot it in the head.