THOUGHTS | THE PAPER

I just watched The Paper's trailer, the new mockumentary-style comedy set in the universe of The Office, and I’m torn. On one hand, it’s comforting to return to a familiar format—the awkward silences, the fly-on-the-wall glances, the underdog workplace chaos. On the other, I’ve seen too many spin-offs, reboots, and “spiritual successors” fall apart before they even find their footing. The Paper feels like it wants to be different, but right now, I’m not convinced it knows how.

Yes, the show trades in Dunder Mifflin for a small-town newsroom, but the DNA is clearly linked—Oscar Martinez is back as the connective tissue (recurring character), and the tone is unmistakably familiar. But where’s Michael Schur? His absence feels like a red flag, especially when you consider how much of The Office’s heart—and later Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place’s charm—came from his creative voice.

And while I get what they’re trying with Sabrina Impacciatore’s character—a new twist on the "Dwight" archetype—right now she feels more like a mash-up of Gloria from Modern Family, Abby from NCIS, and the oddball energy of a character still searching for her own space.

I want this show to succeed. I want it to prove me wrong. But with the mockumentary format already saturated and the shadow of The Office looming large, The Paper will need more than recycled quirks and callbacks to survive past a second season.