{"id":1998380,"date":"2025-09-05T03:26:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T03:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1998380"},"modified":"2025-09-05T03:26:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T03:26:23","slug":"the-paper-review-the-peacock-show-isnt-as-funny-as-the-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-paper-review-the-peacock-show-isnt-as-funny-as-the-office\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Paper’ Review: The Peacock Show Isn’t As Funny As ‘The Office’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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After 20 years, we\u2019re heading back to \u201cThe Office.\u201d <\/span>Well, sort of. Depends on who you ask about the latest iteration of the mockumentary hit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Peacock\u2019s \u201cThe Paper\u201d is a sitcom set in the same universe as \u201cThe Office\u201d from Greg Daniels (co-creator of the American version of \u201cThe Office\u201d) and Michael Koman (co-creator of \u201cNathan For You\u201d), although it takes place at a different kind of paper company than Dunder Mifflin: a local newspaper.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s a slight departure from what many remember from \u201cThe Office,\u201d but it brings back the same documentary crew that immortalized the wacky Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch run by ever-so-eccentric boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This time, the crew follows a historic Midwestern paper, The Toledo Truth Teller, and a publisher who has the difficult task of trying to breathe new life into it. However, optimistic editor-in-chief Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) comes in with hopes of restoring the paper to its former glory days.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s an interesting premise at a time when the journalism industry is under attack and in desperate need of more investment \u2014 one that was inspired by reporting Daniels stumbled across on \u201cghost newspapers,\u201d or local publications that have become shells of their former selves.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Even Hollywood is acknowledging the dire state of the media industry. Support celebrity.land\u2019s independent journalism<\/a> by joining our membership program today. We can\u2019t do this without you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI remember reading or listening to a radio story about it, and just about how the regional newspaper would be bought by a conglomerate, and they would get rid of the reporters and just use wire service,\u201d Daniels told celebrity.land of the show\u2019s premise. \u201cIt looks like a newspaper is serving the community, but it really isn\u2019t, because there aren\u2019t any reporters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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For the casual viewer, the Peacock series (which has already been renewed for another season<\/a>) is more inside baseball about the journalism industry than pure entertainment. Still, the show\u2019s creators were intrigued by the challenge of finding the humor in journalism\u2019s decline.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI think that there\u2019s a comedy engine in the idea of not having the money to hire real reporters,\u201d says Daniels. \u201cNed comes in. He desperately wants to do original content that serves the community, but there are all these forces in the building that won\u2019t let him, so he gets creative. \u2026 That felt like a fun story of underdogs who maybe are overmatched with their skill level, but their hearts are in the right place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Koman added: \u201cTo me, it was this little grain at the beginning that I could picture somebody like Ned looking at a newspaper that\u2019s in this shape, and having this very strong feeling, like, \u2018I could make this better, and I believe that this could happen,\u2019 and I was very excited by that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While \u201cThe Paper\u201d isn\u2019t necessarily trying to fill in the big shoes of its predecessor, it certainly calls back to the Emmy-winning hit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Below, Erin E. Evans and I discuss the major ways \u201cThe Paper\u201d references \u201cThe Office,\u201d whether it qualifies as a spinoff, what the cast brings to the table and if the show itself met our expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Sabrina<\/picture><\/div>\n
Sabrina Impacciatore as Esmeralda in the pilot of “The Paper.”<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Best Parts Of \u2018The Paper\u2019 That Connect It To \u2018The Office\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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I immediately had high hopes for the series when none other than Bob Vance (Bobby Ray Shafer) of Vance Refrigeration popped up to set the stage for the show. He has a very funny intro, and it immediately reminded me of what I loved about \u201cThe Office:\u201d the fun, quippy writing and performances that are so memorable. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Then, we see Oscar, who reprises his role from the original series. I just LOVED that he was so not into seeing that documentary crew return to the Toledo Truth Teller. Oscar\u2019s performances in the first two episodes really made me think that I was gonna love the series. \u2014 Erin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I have to say I\u2019m glad \u201cThe Paper\u201d kicks off by immediately tying it back to the origin of \u201cThe Office\u201d \u2014 and with a Bob Vance cameo, no less. I\u2019m also happy the show took a minute to explain why the documentary crew decided to return all these years later, because it sort of explains why we\u2019re getting this iteration of the \u201cOffice\u201d universe over a decade after the show ended.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When it comes to spinoffs and reboots, the biggest complaint is always how unnecessary they feel. There\u2019s also the pressure of being just as good as the original show, or at least not a complete disappointment (like a certain HBO Max series that comes to mind<\/a>). For Daniels, he said his biggest concern through the development process of \u201cThe Paper\u201d was \u201cnot to do anything that would in any way ding the original show.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He added, \u201cI liked the tone of that show, and I loved the format that was brought by the English [version], and it seemed like it wouldn\u2019t be harmful to anybody to do a new show.\u201d \u2014 Njera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Duane<\/picture><\/div>\n
Duane Shepard Sr. as Barry and Oscar Nu\u00f1ez as Oscar in “The Paper.”<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Should We Call It A Spinoff Or Nah?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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While I\u2019m definitely going to call it a spinoff, I don\u2019t think people should expect it to feel exactly like \u201cThe Office.\u201d I mean, the only obvious connections are that Greg Daniels (who adapted \u201cThe Office\u201d for American audiences) is the creator and executive producer, and that Oscar is reprising his role. And we\u2019re at a paper company, once again! I\u2019d warn audiences to go into it with an open mind and not think that they are getting \u201cThe Office Part 2.\u201d \u2014 Erin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Spinoff is the word that\u2019s been tossed around with this new series, although I keep seeing otherwise, but that\u2019s basically what it is. The best way to describe it is as an offshoot set in the same world as \u201cThe Office.\u201d The same documentary crew returns 20 years later to follow a new paper company staff, this time a dying historic newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. How we wind up there gets explained in the premiere episode, but we quickly learn this is a whole new ballgame and a whole new set of players continuing the mockumentary tradition for old and new generations. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I will say \u201cThe Paper\u201d definitely caters to audiences who are very familiar with \u201cThe Office\u201d and appreciate that same type of humor. But with different personalities in the mix, the show\u2019s creators found a way to not make it a carbon copy of its predecessor. \u2014 Njera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ramona<\/picture><\/div>\n
Ramona Young as Nicole in “The Paper.”<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u2018The Paper\u2019 Cast And Where You\u2019ve Seen Them Before<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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The cast is full of actors and performers who you might recognize \u2014 and even if you can\u2019t immediately figure out where, they\u2019ve definitely appeared in a range of TV shows and films over the last few years. \u201cThe Paper\u201d stars Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Oscar Nu\u00f1ez, Ramona Young, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman and Tim Key. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gleeson, the Toledo Truth Teller\u2019s new editor-in-chief, Ned, is best known for his roles in the \u201cHarry Potter\u201d film franchise, \u201cEx-Machina\u201d and \u201cThe Revenant.\u201d Impacciatore wowed audiences in her comedic role in Season 2 of \u201cThe White Lotus\u201d and stars as Esmeralda, the quirky managing editor. Nu\u00f1ez reprises his role from \u201cThe Office\u201d as Oscar, an accountant at Dunder Mifflin who transferred to the Truth Teller and who has a penchant for creating newspaper games. Frei stars as Mare, who\u2019s a reporter as well as the paper\u2019s compositor; she starred in \u201cThe Moodys,\u201d \u201cThe Cleaning Lady\u201d and \u201cSideswiped.\u201d Gregg portrays Detrick, who works in ad sales but becomes a volunteer reporter for the paper; he\u2019s best known for his role on \u201cAmerican Vandal\u201d and \u201cSnowfall.\u201d Young stars as Nicole, who works in circulation; she previously starred in \u201cNever Have I Ever,\u201d which was created by \u201cThe Office\u201d star and writer Mindy Kaling. Ikumelo stars as Adelola and is an accountant and reporter at the paper. She was hilarious in the short-lived TV series \u201cA League of Their Own.\u201d Edelman is a comedian and actor, and he won an Emmy for his stand-up comedy special \u201cJust For Us\u201d; he also stars as a reporter and accountant. Key portrays business strategist Ken, and he has appeared on \u201cMickey 17\u201d and \u201cThe Ballad of Wallis Island.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Impacciatore gives a really fun performance in this series, and I always got excited to see what kind of crazy she was bringing into the newsroom. Ikumelo is underused in the series, but brings a skeptical brand of humor to the ensemble. There are also some recurring characters that I really wish had more screen time, like comedian Nate Jackson, who portrays the janitor Nate. He\u2019s gone viral several times on TikTok for his stand-up comedy routines that are everything but ordinary. \u2014 Erin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Impacciatore\u2019s Esmeralda is probably my favorite character on the entire show simply because she gives Michael Scott\u2019s delusions a run for their money. She ups the crazy in every episode, but especially the finale. Gleeson\u2019s quirky nature is also pretty funny on the show, and the same goes for Gregg, who\u2019s nice to see get back to his comedic roots after his dramatic (and exceptional) turn in \u201cSnowfall,\u201d my favorite role of his ever. I loved seeing \u201cNever Have I Ever\u201d alum Young back on my screen, but I feel like she, at times, fell in that same bucket as Ikumelo of being underused. The latter was especially disappointing because she\u2019s a writer on the show, too. Out of the handful of deadpan moments and dry humor jokes we get from her character Adelola, I thought we could\u2019ve used way more. Jackson was also an underrated character who I hope makes more appearances when the show returns. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Overall, though, I liked this ensemble cast, especially the return of Oscar! Hopefully, we\u2019ll get a chance to see it expand in the future because that newsroom could use some more personalities. \u2014 Njera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ramona<\/picture><\/div>\n
Ramona Young as Nicole, Chelsea Frei as Mare and Melvin Gregg as Detrick in “The Paper.”<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s What Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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In these current times of declining media and the rapid spread of misinformation, it\u2019s refreshing to see any show make journalism and all the pitfalls of this industry a core storyline. When \u201cThe Paper\u201d was first announced, I had no idea what kind of paper company would be its focus, but I love that Daniels chose a newspaper with such a rich history in original, local reporting. It\u2019s a shame how undervalued that aspect of journalism is today, but having \u201cThe Paper\u201d put it in people\u2019s faces again \u2014 and use comedy to point out the very real concerns that exist IRL, like clickbait articles, slashed budgets, small newsrooms, etc. \u2014 is why I can appreciate what this show is trying to do, even if it\u2019s not perfect. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What I also love about the show is this wacky ensemble of characters and personalities. \u201cThe Office\u201d fans know that\u2019s a big part of what made the show such a hit. And even though this cast is a bit smaller, they each bring their own brand of humor to the table. \u2014 <\/span>Njera<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the first two episodes, it was wild to see how spot-on the characterization of the news media was on this show. The eccentric high-level editor who basically writes nonsense for the online paper \u2014 and every story has annoying ads stopping you from scrolling down to finish reading it? There were several other small moments or lines in the series that totally let me know that the writers understood the dire state of the media industry. As a journalist, I felt totally seen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Here\u2019s What Doesn\u2019t<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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I hate to make comparisons here, but for a show from one of the \u201cOffice\u201d creators with also pretty much the same format, I was expecting bigger laughs throughout the season. Only a handful of episodes stuck with me, like Episode 2, \u201cThe Five W\u2019s,\u201d where the newly recruited Toledo Truth Teller \u201cjournalists\u201d scramble to find original stories, with disastrous results. Or even the finale, \u201cThe Ohio Journalism Awards,\u201d which felt something comically akin to the Golden Globes episode of \u201cThe Studio.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But overall, a lot of the jokes in the show fell flat for me. I found myself waiting for punchlines that never came, and disappointed with the ones that did. I know there are new writers involved in \u201cThe Paper\u201d that didn\u2019t come from \u201cThe Office\u201d (some of whom star in the cast, i.e., Ikumelo and Edelman), so changes are expected. However, I had higher hopes for \u201cThe Paper,\u201d and still do when it returns next season. \u2014 <\/span>Njera<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I agree. I chuckled a little bit watching the show, but not nearly enough. Also, by the time I got to the middle of the series \u2014 I binged most of the episodes \u2014 I felt a little bit bored by it. One reason journalism stories don\u2019t make for super interesting fictional tales is because so much of what we do is just us sitting at our computers doing research or hopping on the phone to do an interview \u2014 and then we write. I think that\u2019s part of what\u2019s disjointed about the series. Making the news \u2014 and the people who write it \u2014 funny isn\u2019t such an easy proposition at the moment. As a matter of fact, one of the funniest \u2014 yet too real \u2014 lines in the whole series is when the publisher, in a flashback, says, \u201cIs it expensive? You can bet what you\u2019re sitting on it is. We only keep democracy alive is all.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now that the show has been renewed for Season 2, I hope it really finds its footing.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe Paper\u201d is streaming on Peacock.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n