Though we won’t see Steve Carell returning to Dunder Mifflin in the fall, executive producers Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak say we shouldn’t fret: everything James Spader says is funny.

When The Office returns this fall, we will find Robert California, played by James Spader, the new CEO of Dunder Mifflin. And though we’re definitely going to miss Michael Scott managing wandering around the office this season, but co-executive producer Mindy Kaling says we shouldn’t worry:

“Spader has so much of a similar energy to Steve Carell,”

B.J. Novak who plays Ryan on The Office also has a high regard for Spader:

“He always feels like the alpha male in the room, which is really exciting, especially because everyone on our show is funny with an alpha male. He’s extremely intelligent, almost too intelligent. He’s an intellectual, and we’ve never had an intellectual in the Scranton office before so it’s very funny to hear him talk to people.”

So the CEO position is filled, but that leaves Michael Scott’s position as manager open. It seems that there are 3 leading candidates for that particular job: Darryl, Andy and Dwight. According to Novak:

“Those became the three leading candidates in our minds when it came time to shoot.”

This might leave some people saying, “But what about Jim?” right? B.J. Novak makes a great point about that character:

“Everyone agrees Jim would be the best manager,” he says. “And Jim has been offered the manager job before, but Jim isn’t about his job. Jim works to have a great life at home with Pam [Jenna Fisher] and his family.”

And with news that there will be some interesting developments with Pam and other Office ladies this season, it looks like season 8 of The Office is set to be very interesting and hilarious to say the least.

Are you excited about season 8 of The Office?