Spader to exit 'The Office'

Actor James Spader, who appeared in the US version of 'The Office' as oddball boss Robert California, will not be back next year.

NBC sought his star power to help make up for the absence of Steve Carell, who left the Thursday-night comedy last spring.

Paul Lieberstein, the show’s executive producer, said NBC’s initial commitment to Spader was only for last year’s finale.

However, he said Spader’s scenes proved so compelling “that those two scenes became a season”.

He added that Spader never wanted to stay beyond this year.