In the IGN review for "Search Committee", Cindy White cited the guest appearance by Spader as being the "meatiest part [of the episode]", comparing Robert's role of the "dominating boss" to that of Spader's similar character in Secretary. California' was of course not a return to form for The Office, it was a good example of how the series might define itself in this new Michael-less era. In "Spooked", Robert's young son, Bert, is introduced; Robert brings Bert to the office Halloween party. Robert and Nellie's interactions also hint that the two might be attracted to one another. Andy begins trying to get on Robert's good side, and he organizes a garden party at Schrute Farms during "Garden Party", to impress him. [17], In "Special Project", while he is not seen, he texts Jim, inviting him on the trip to Tallahassee. [25] 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. [28], Salon.com's Matt Zoller Seitz wrote that "The Office loses something by having Spader's Zen master drive the action instead of Michael Scott", he also suggested that, perhaps, if Robert was still positioned as Regional Manager, instead of CEO, the series might be more enjoyable. [6], James Spader first appeared on The Office in the episode "Search Committee". Home to all of the official clips from the series, the funniest moments, pranks and fails. Robert California, (born February 7, 1960), also known as Bob Kazamakis, is a fictional character on the U.S. comedy television series The Office, portrayed by James Spader. In the episode's b-plot, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) opens a gym in the building, which intrigues Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson), who has been looking to lose weight. James Spader played the role of Robert California. In "Christmas Wishes", it is revealed that Robert and Susan are getting a divorce, prompting him to become despondent and lonely. After killing Emad Tawfilis in full view of Napa County Sheriff's officers, Robert Dahl fled in his vehicle into the hills above his vineyard . Our first table read with him was a week before we went back and at that moment I was like, 'Oh, we're going to be just fine'. Portrayed by Robert's wife, Susan (Maura Tierney) is introduced in "Mrs. California"; Susan comes to the office looking for a job, something he does not want, although he pretends to help her out. In the eighth-season finale, Robert departs from the company after David Wallace purchases Dunder Mifflin. Episode. But with the knowledge that Sabre products are inferior and will illuminate the fact that the store is a failure, he plans to sandbag it at a high-level meeting of the Sabre company board, and also strongly hints that, despite liking Dwight, he is going to fire him over it. He assigns Oscar to take over and ends up comforting Erin, who ended up intoxicated and arguing with Andy. Her daughter, Natasha, 18, was clinging to life and rushed to the hospital. Professional Information [3] It was directed by co-executive producer and frequent Office writer Charlie Grandy, the first episode he has directed for the series after previously directing The Podcast webisodes. Jim says that sales are a difficult business, while Dwight (Department Head) downplays the seriousness and skill required to be in sales. [8], He has been shown to have somewhat of a fascination with the PBS program Sesame Street (which he refers to as "The Street"). The very first scene of "Mrs. California" (outside of the cold open) suggests the potential for a very smart episode of The Office. 7 and 8 [15], "Mrs. California" received mixed responses from critics. James Spader Robert then chooses Nellie as the branch Manager and demotes Andy to a position that they will create for him. She has . In the IGN review for "Search Committee", Cindy White cited the guest appearance by Spader as being the "meatiest part [of the episode]", comparing Robert's role of the "dominating boss" to that of Spader's similar character in Secretary. The episode was written by consulting producer Dan Greaney, marking his first writing credit for the . RC (by Darryl)The F***ing Lizard King (by himself)Bob Kazamakis In the episode "Mrs. California," Robert's wife, Susan, portrayed by Maura Tierney, comes to the office looking for a job, something he does not want, although he pretends to help her out. Robert Graysmith visiting the home of Bob Vaughn in 'Zodiac' is David Fincher's most purely terrifying scene. ft. residence for $15 million, but then . He orders Andy to correct the error and Andy turns to Dwight, who uses a system nicknamed "The Doomsday Device". Only good thing is Dwight. . Andy and Jim leave the conference room and after a short while, Robert and Susan leave. "[39] In his review for "Mrs. California", Plante called Robert the worst part of The Office. Originally, the character of Robert California was just supposed to be a one-episode guest role for Spader; the character made his debut in . She ultimately gave the episode a 7.5/10. Andy asks everyone in the office to treat her poorly to drive her out, which makes everyone uncomfortable as they like her, but end up doing so nevertheless. It's also getting repetitive". The enigmatic Robert California (James Spader) breezed onto the set of The Office for a one-season character arc. 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. Christmas Wishes. The Academy Award winning and outspoken liberal actor is estimated to be worth $500 million, and Hightower believed herself to be . View Details. Status Tropes: We the jury, in the above-entitled action, find the defendant, Robert Durst, guilty . While Packer protests that he has only been vice president for half an hour, and that Dwight is to blame, Robert commends Dwight for being smart enough not to show up at the meeting, and terminates Packer. 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. Portrayed by [24][25][26] In an interview with Digital Spy, Spader stated "I never really considered whether I would do more [episodes]. California becomes a bartender for the party and notices early on that Erin is visibly unhappy over Andy's new girlfriend. After playing, Robert stuns Jim by revealing that he dislikes the business plan for the Sabre store, and that he had only approved of it because Jo Bennett wanted it. You wanna start a street fight with me, bring it on. [9] Darryl comments that Dwight's gym looks like "a scene out of Saw V."[10] Finally, Andy mentions that he "was watching a movie, and a bunch of apes took over San Francisco. 626-256-4673. Jim notes that when Robert visits the office, he spends half of his time working out of the conference room, and occasionally ventures out and wanders around, randomly choosing employees to have conversations with. [9][10], In addition, several films are mentioned or alluded to. Andy later intercedes on behalf of the 'losers', making a new list on his team of 'winners' relaying their positive and productive qualities observed over years in the office and from being their supervisor; Robert appears to gain respect for Andy's effort, as it unites the office around him. Production Information [16] Seth Abramovitch, of TV.com, wrote that he enjoyed Spader's "mildly sociopathic (but highly effective)" portrayal of Robert. A whiskey bottle found in the car suggested that the wreck may have been the result of drunk driving. Such was the case in "Mrs. California" when Robert California's wife showed up. Siblings Throughout the episode, California attempts to figure out everyone's deepest fears, in order to tell a ghost story that simultaneously frightens the entire office, itself a conscious effort to prevent the staff from allowing fear to run their lives. He then has a staff meeting where they will present all their best ideas. They say they cannot, but eventually, cave. During his interview, it's pointed out that he has experience selling oil refinery equipment. "[11], In its original American broadcast on December 2, 2011, "Mrs. California" was viewed by an estimated 5.74 million viewers and received a 2.9 rating share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49. " [Speaking to Andy over the phone] You don't even know my real name. Ryan and Susan meet each other and talk before Andy interrupts. [4] At Nellie's welcome party, Robert makes very obvious attempts to make a good impression on her. 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". Photo: Facebook (2) A California man shot and killed his wife and two teenage sons before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, say authorities. Bert California 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. [32] In her review, Kaili Markley wrote that Spader's appearance in the episode was the "high point of the show" for her. The two struggle over the phone, but Pam manages to delete the messages before Robert can hear his voicemail. I just love him as this character. At the party, Robert gives Ryan, Gabe, Oscar, Toby and a reluctant Jim a tour of his home. Education & Experience. Alive We're thrilled he's joining our cast". Over the years, Luna won praise and awards from some Long Beach organizations including the NAACP . 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. When she is introduced in the Season 8 episode Mrs. California, she and her husband Robert are happy together. The episode was written by consulting producer Dan Greaney, marking his first writing credit for the series, and was directed by Charlie Grandy. [20] After viewing "Mrs. California," Washington Post writer Hank Stuever named The Office one of the ten best TV shows of 2011 and said that the episode proved the series could still deliver cringe humor without Carell. It's also getting repetitive". The scene cuts to Ryan calling her a bitch behind her back. Police in San Bernardino, California, fatally shot a 23-year-old man on Saturday as he was fleeing, according to surveillance footage that shows an officer firing just seconds after arriving in an . In an interview with Huffington Post, Brian Baumgartner stated that "the energy [Spader] has is so totally different. But when she arrives and he says there's nothing available, Robert insists he find something, putting Andy in an awkward position. Think we should feature your favourite episode? [6] Due to Jenna Fischer's actual pregnancy Pam did not appear in the episode. But the way the show is using him so farsparingly, as an aloof, omniscient, and fearsome motivatoris essentially as nothing more than a plot instigator, and it's doing nothing to enrich the series. 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. The character of Robert California was met with acclaim during his guest appearance on the season 7 finale "Search Committee". Jobs Despite the fact that Andy is already employed as Regional Manager, Nellie declares herself the new Manager and takes over the position. . [12][13] Despite this, the episode ranked first in its timeslot, beating Bones which received a 2.8 rating/7% share in the 1849 demographic, CMA Country Christmas which received a 2.2 rating/6% share, a rerun of Person of Interest which received a 1.6 rating/4% share and a rerun of The Secret Circle which received a 0.4 rating/1% share, although the former three shows received more total viewers. Article content. 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. Robert later says, even if it's an underdog to unexceptional people. Robert first appeared in the seventh season finale, "Search Committee", as an interviewee for the Scranton branch Manager position. [11], In "Trivia", Dwight travels to Florida to meet with Robert for an interview over a potential manager position. Robert has been married three times, with his third wife, Susan, leaving him after the events of "Mrs. In season 8 episode 10 "Christmas Wishes", Kevin gives Robert a hug because his wife left him. He was proceeded in death by all of his siblings. he even tells that to Andy at one point . Robert Griffin III and Grete adeiko Griffin have added another little one to their family! Susan says, "its a date", hinting that she may have feelings for him. [5], In "Free Family Portrait Studio", Robert is surprised when he learns that David Wallace is purchasing back Dunder Mifflin. Robert California, (born February 7, 1960), also known as Bob Kazamakis, is a fictional character on the U.S. comedy television series The Office, portrayed by James Spader. Asked how that translates to selling paper, Robert explains that there isn't much difference between someone wanting to purchase a hundred dollars worth of paper or a hundred million dollars worth of deep sea drilling equipment, concluding that "he wants respect" and "wants to be attractive." Pam manages to steal her cellphone, however, as Robert goes through Nellie's messages, Pam relents and tells Robert that she will not help him anymore. "[10] Later, Dwight attempts to get Darryl to stretch his pelvic bowl by telling him that The Fonz did it to become cool. Susan later asks Jim if Robert didn't want her working in the office. One week he's quirky and zen, the next week he might be vulnerable and mopey, the next he's a ruthless, calculating executive. However, it's the later instances in season eight that make it quite . Andy gets confused and frustrated with Robert because of his mixed signals. ". Meanwhile, Dwight opens a gym in the building and tries to Robert brings his wife to the office so that she can find a job, but he gives Andy conflicting messages about whether to hire her. If you have a question, just raise your hand.". Occupation [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. Let us know in the comments! Blame . "Mrs. California" was written by consulting producer Dan Greaney, his first writing credit for the series after joining the writing staff in the eighth season. - Robert California. A Valley native, Robert has worked at The Fresno . We're thrilled he's joining our cast". He undresses and jumps into the pool completely nude, followed by Ryan and Gabe. [23], However, as time passed, critics, even ones who had initially praised Robert, began to respond negatively to the character. [20], In "Angry Andy", Andy enlists Robert to give him his job back from Nellie by claiming it was an interim position for her. During a bench-press, Dwight refuses to spot Darryl unless he says his motivation to work out. As he is about to make a speech at the fundraiser, Andy interrupts his former boss and volunteers to adopt the 12 dogs brought by the animal activists.[22]. In the meantime, we have to put up with a character who is all over the map. Erinmentions a movie with Meryl Streep who had two secretaries, (The Laundromat). [30] In her review of the season 8 finale, she wrote "At least we saw that last of Robert California, who walked away with $1 million to travel around Europe educating gymnasts. Meanwhile, Dwight opens a gym in the building and tries to persuade Darryl to join. rwstone@coh.org. In the eighth season, Robert managed to persuade Jo Bennett to appoint him CEO in her place. Robert is furious with his former employee's attempt at blackmail, and tells him that he's in for an awakening, noting that Andy doesn't even know his real name, proclaiming that he is "The fucking lizard king". [10] 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. HoneySweetie Mrs. California Only After talking with him in the conference room, David announces that Robert is leaving, but that he will be working on an important new charity: seeing college-aged girls (particularly gymnasts) in developing countries on their paths through to college. Gabe then asks Robert if he believes that he's overqualified for the job, to which Robert asks if he's someone that would waste his own time. Mrs. California [7] [17] TV Guide writer Bruce Fretts criticized the episode for under using guest star Maura Tierney. In the eighth-season finale, Robert departs from the company after David Wallace purchases Dunder Mifflin. [5], In "Angry Andy", Andy enlists Robert to give him his job back from Nellie by claiming it was an interim position for her. He was merely a tool here, and yeah, I mean that in both senses. Our first table read with him was a week before we went back and at that moment I was like, 'Oh, we're going to be just fine'. Susan California has Havana Brown colored hair, as well as brown eyes. Susan California is a middle-aged female who is the divorcee of Robert California. Um, okay. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode received 5.74 million viewers and received a 2.9 rating/7% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, staying even with the ratings from the previous episode, "Gettysburg". The character of Robert California was met with acclaim during his guest appearance on the season 7 finale "Search Committee". 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