Confirming a rumor from last week, the producers of The Office have officially announced that James Spader will be joining the cast next season, playing extremely intense executive Robert California. Although Robert will initially be hired to fill Michael Scott's vacant position, he'll be quickly promoted to CEO of Sabre, Dunder Mifflin's parent company, which means that another character will still need to step in as manager of the Scranton branch. That leaves the door open for an existing cast member to be promoted, or for another new star to be added to the show at some point in the next few months. Stay tuned as the saga continues.
Photo courtesy of NBC
Each time I read a rumor about Charlie Sheen getting a new opportunity to showcase his drugged craziness on TV (there was his alleged talk show Sheen's Corner on HBO, and then his supposed new sitcom on TBS), I'm relieved to hear it isn't true, that TV networks aren't excusing this guy's serious problems and ugly actions in favor of a quick buck. Sadly, Comedy Central was unable to resist where HBO and TBS did; the network will be featuring Sheen as the latest subject of one of its increasingly pathetic roasts, set to air September 19 at 10 p.m. EST.
That also happens to be the same night as the season premiere of Two and a Half Men, featuring new star Ashton Kutcher. At least Comedy Central isn't airing the roast directly opposite Sheen's old sitcom, but it's still a lame publicity stunt that's likely to be drawn out by the desperate comedians and C-level celebrities who are willing to stoop so low as to appear on the roast. The only thing more petty and disappointing would be if Men's producers follow through on the rumored violent death of Sheen's character. Then we can have an entire night of so-called entertainment from entitled Hollywood jerks.
Photo courtesy of CBS
ABC Family's latest cloyingly wholesome sitcom, State of Georgia, premieres tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST. I like star Raven-Symoné, but the show is kind of cheesy and overacted, in keeping with the network's dubious house style. Read more of my thoughts about the show in my review.
Photo courtesy of ABC Family
A few bits of recent TV comedy news:
TMZ reports the (perhaps dubious) rumor that Two and a Half Men's writers plan to kill of Charlie Sheen's character in a violent fashion to explain his absence next season. I understand their anger at Sheen, but this seems like a petty move, and one ill-suited for a lighthearted sitcom.- Comedy Central has picked up two new sketch-comedy series: One from Nick Kroll, oddly titled The Nick Show Kroll, and one from former Mad TV stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Look for one poorly promoted season of each, followed by cancellation.
- Martin Short has been booked for a recurring role on the next season of How I Met Your Mother, playing Marshall's new boss at an environmental law firm. Short replaces Dave Foley, whose character appeared in the season finale but who is now booked on the new CBS sitcom How to Be a Gentleman.
- This past weekend at an event in Austin, Party Down co-creator Rob Thomas claimed that a movie version of the series is being developed, and while I love Party Down and would be happy to see that movie, for now I will file this alongside Thomas' Veronica Mars movie and the Arrested Development movie under "cool things that will probably never happen."
Photo courtesy of CBS
