The Office Spinoff 'The Paper' Faces Early Scrutiny Ahead of Peacock Premiere
Peacock's 'The Paper,' an 'Office' spinoff set in a Toledo newspaper, explores modern journalism. It faces mixed reviews, with critics questioning its originality and depth.
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Overview
- 'The Paper,' a new spinoff of 'The Office,' is set to premiere on Peacock, focusing on a small-town newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, exploring contemporary journalism.
- The show delves into the significant challenges facing modern journalism and the ongoing decline of traditional print media, offering a relevant narrative for today's audience.
- Comprising 10 episodes in its inaugural season, 'The Paper' has already secured a second season renewal from Peacock, indicating network confidence before its official debut.
- Early reviews, however, offer mixed opinions, with some critics labeling it a disappointing copycat of 'The Office' and questioning its overall quality and originality.
- Reviewers note the show's nostalgic 2000s vibe and lighter material, but criticize its lack of emotional connection and insufficient depth compared to its highly acclaimed predecessor.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as a critical review, evaluating the new show "The Paper" primarily through a comparative lens against its highly successful predecessor, "The Office." They emphasize the similarities and differences in characters, tone, and comedic style, ultimately assessing whether the spinoff lives up to the original's legacy while acknowledging its potential for independent success.
"Once "The Paper" gets going on its own plots and jokes – which have very little to do with the actual state of smalltown papers newspapers in 2025, but we'll give them a pass – the cast and scripts start to gel into something original and worthwhile."
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FAQ
'The Paper' is a comedy series focusing on a historic Midwestern newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, and the challenges of modern journalism. It is a spinoff from 'The Office,' following the documentary crew that filmed Dunder Mifflin, now capturing life at this newspaper.
'The Paper' premiered on Peacock on September 4, 2025, with four episodes released on the premiere date, followed by two new episodes every Thursday through September 25, 2025.
The series was co-created by Greg Daniels (creator of the U.S. version of 'The Office') and Michael Koman. Executive producers include Greg Daniels, Michael Koman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, and others.
Early reviews of 'The Paper' have been mixed, with some critics describing it as a disappointing copycat of 'The Office,' questioning its originality and emotional depth, while noting its nostalgic 2000s vibe.
Yes, Peacock has ordered a second season of 'The Paper' before its official debut, indicating confidence in the series despite mixed early reviews.
History
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