Over a decade after The Office ended, the Emmy-winning mockumentary sitcom is getting a spiritual successor with The Paper.
Created by The Office’s original team, the new series takes the documentary crew that once filmed the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin and sends them to cover the revival of a small-town newspaper.
The series stars Domhnall Gleeson as Ned Sampson, a publisher working to bring the Toledo Truth-Teller back to life with the help of volunteer reporters. Like The Office, The Paper blends workplace comedy with awkward interactions, but this time in the world of local journalism.
In recent interviews, Gleeson reflected on stepping into a comedic leadership role, noting the challenge of balancing humor with sincerity. He discussed whether he took cues from iconic sitcom bosses like Steve Carell’s Michael Scott or Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope.
Chelsea Frei shared her approach to capturing the subtle comedic beats made famous by John Krasinski’s Jim Halpert, including knowing glances to the camera, while also carving her own style. Cast members Melvin Gregg and Ramona Young spoke about building chemistry within the ensemble, highlighting their excitement for deeper character dynamics in upcoming episodes.
Meanwhile, comedians Gbemisola Ikumelo and Alex Edelman addressed the transition from stand-up to scripted sitcoms, both as performers and writers. Returning Office alum Oscar Nunez, who appears in The Paper, emphasized that while the series captures a familiar mockumentary tone, it also establishes its own identity through new characters and storylines.
The Paper blends nostalgia for The Office with fresh comedic storytelling, setting the stage for another workplace comedy hit.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ