No Scranton Stranglers, just the wonderful, wacky world of journalism.
Disclaimer: this is not a series remake of the Ron Howard comedy “The Paper.”
20 years ago, NBC gave us “The Office,” a mockumentary, which itself was a remake of a British series co-created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. 20 years later, Peacock gives us “The Paper,” which is co-created by the same man Greg Daniels and takes place in the same world. While that series took place at the Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this new show takes place at a newspaper company in Toledo, Ohio called “The Toledo Truth Teller.”
Domhnall Gleeson with an American accent plays Ned Samson, an eager fellow, who joins the newspaper as the new editor-in-chef. His antagonizing bosses are Ken (Tim Key) and Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore). One of them serves as nice British throwback, while the other is Italian. As Ken says: “We share a certain European sophistication.” And the remaining staff consists of the compositor Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei), the ads salesman Detrick (Melvin Gregg), the accountants Adelola (Gbemisola Ikumelo) and Adam (Alex Edelman), and the circulation associate Nicole (Ramona Young).
And the returning Dunder Mifflin member to join the newspaper is the accountant Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez). That’s right! Oscar is back, and he acts like he doesn’t want to be filmed. But he does get involved with the world of journalism and he is their head accountant.
As the show begins, we get a black and white ’70s doc with Tracy Letts. We also get Detrick falling for Nicole, who isn’t all that attracted to him. Ned and Mare also collaborate for important tasks, and they could feel a more assertive version of Jim and Pam. And this newspaper is in a declining state and needs to make a comeback.
Co-created by Michael Koman, “The Paper” doesn’t exceed “The Office” when the jokes don’t always land, but it does possess the dry humor and consistency of that show. It’a nice to know that newspapers are still be published, and we should get another comical look inside that kind of business. I think it makes more sense that Gleeson is in the lead role, instead of the bosses, because he tries to have that Clark Kent-Peter Parker moxie that helps make the show fun.
At this point, the only actors I know in the main cast are Glesson, Nunez, Key, and Young. The rest of them I’m learning about for the first time, but I now like a good portion of them, and I know they can broaden their horizons in the future. After all, John Krasinski directed “A Quiet Place,” Ed Helms was in “The Hangover,” Ellie Kemper wrote a book “My Squirrel Days,” and both Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey run an “Office” podcast called “Office Ladies.” Anything is possible for these new people.
Will “The Paper” have an interactive experience like “The Office” in the future? I’m not 100% sure, but I think this show is off to a good start with the characters, moxie, and its passion for journalism. I used to write in my high school and college papers, so I totally know what it feels like. From one journalist to another.
And on a small note, there’s an episode when the staff can’t get internet and are in desperate need for stories to publish. It’s too bad I wasn’t there to share my reviews and what NEWHD Radio has done for autistic people.
All Ten Episodes Now Streaming on Peacock
