Where you've seen him: He played the ethical yet immoral lawyer (and womanizer) Alan Shore on “The Practice” and “Boston Legal.”

Character on this show: Spader joins the cast as CEO Robert California of Sabre described by NBC as an “uber-salesman” with the selling powers of a “high-class weirdo Jedi warrior.”

Character similarities: Both are self-assured and sexually charged and Shore’s quirky characteristics (he was afraid of clowns and sometimes jumbled his words) could come in handy on a mockumentary show such as “The Office.”