Capitalizing on the continued success of the hit 2005 show “The Office” in syndication and on streaming, NBC has debuted a new show set in the same fictional universe. Set 20 years after the original, with the same camera crew following the trail of the former Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, “The Paper” follows a similar premise, with a faux documentary following the fictional Toledo Truth Teller newspaper and its new editor-in-chief, Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson).
Needless to say, creator and executive producer Greg Daniels, and his production company Deedle-Dee Productions, definitely have a style. They created the previously mentioned “The Office,” as well as fellow mockumentary “Parks and Recreation.” Both aired on NBC, so it’s only natural that they would hit Daniels up again for a new spinoff. And he delivers.
The series does feature one returning cast member from “The Office,” Oscar Nunez, who plays the character Oscar Martinez in both shows. Martinez is a former employee of Dunder Mifflin who gets transferred to the Truth Teller’s parent company, Enervate. He is not a fan of the documentary crew’s return to his new workplace, and says in the first episode that they do not have his permission to use his likeness. Unfortunately for him, they do, as the form he signed in 2005 did not have an end date. Martinez’ return is likely a hook by NBC to get people interested in the new show, but he does supply a minor role in this new show.
The rest of the show follows Sampson as he tries to restore the Truth Teller to its former glory. He is joined by Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei) as one of only three people in the office with actual reporting experience prior to his arrival, even at the high school level, as well as Barry (Duane Shepard Sr.). The surrounding staff includes Martinez, as well as Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore), the managing editor, who often tries to sabotage Ned’s plans and write clickbait articles, Travis Bienlien (Eric Rahill), splitting work duties with the toilet paper company stationed on the same floor, Detrick Moore (Melvin Gregg), Nicole Lee (Ramona Young), Adelola Olofin (Gbemisola Ikumelo), and Adam Cooper (Alex Edelman).
It has a very situational comedy style, similar to the atmosphere of “The Office” (it is a spinoff, after all), with some moments that make you laugh and some that just make you cringe. The former includes a new addition to the mockumentary style: comments from the documentary crew themselves, in the form of notes on white text commenting on what characters say to the camera. The latter often involves Moore, a soft-spoken sales rep, trying to show his interest in Lee, to various degrees of success, or Grand’s various attention-seeking hijinx, or especially Ken Davies’ (Tim Key) repeated PR nightmares at the neighboring toilet paper office.
For someone who has ever worked in a workplace, or someone who has ever even been at school, you all know some people similar to the cast. It’s a very relatable and faithful spinoff to a popular show. We shall see, however, if it reaches the heights of its predecessors, and if Ned Sampson or Esmeralda Grand will one day be as popular of a character as Leslie Knope or Michael Scott.
All 10 episodes of “The Paper” are available now on Peacock, and said episodes are airing weekly every Monday on NBC this fall.
