Good news: The Paper has the makings of the next big comfort comedy

Twenty years ago, NBC launched The Office with a lofty goal of translating the scathing wit of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant‘s beloved British series for an American audience. Adapted by Greg Daniels, this workplace send-up took a minute to find its groove before ultimately achieving an all-timer status over its lengthy nine-season run. When it debuted in 2005, it helped mark a shift in broadcast sitcoms from laugh-track-heavy multi-cams to serialized comedies about relatable characters trapped in realistic settings. The Office‘s cultural impact continues through frequently quoted lines, memes, and, crucially, Nielsen ratings. And now a spin-off of that show arrives, with Peacock dumping all of The Paper‘s first season on the same day. 

The series, which has already been renewed for a second season, dispels skepticism about its very existence as it progresses. A few growing pains and the inevitable pressure to live up to a certain hype aside, The Paper‘s energy feels infectious thanks to sharp performances, writing, and editing. Co-creators Daniels and Michael Koman (Nathan For You) give a gentler spin on a familiar format instead of simply copying and pasting The Office‘s prickly humor. (And that’s good because identity theft is not a joke, Jim!) The Paper sees the same documentary crew now turn their cameras on volunteers at a local Ohio newspaper as they deal with triggering issues plaguing the media landscape, from a lack of resources and fake news to the rise of AI and clickbait headlines. The ragtag employees aren’t invested in their “jobs” until an optimistic new editor-in-chief waltzes in with tall promises to overhaul everything.

The Paper doesn’t want anyone to mistake the enthusiastic Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) for Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, even if the two share some traits like being sales pros who are irritatingly zealous about their leadership roles. If Michael was introduced as a desperate-for-friends bozo who doesn’t respect boundaries, Ned’s levelheaded and sweet demeanor feels more in tune with Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) from Parks And Recreation, a seminal NBC hit from Daniels and Mike Schur. A very funny Gleeson, sporting a good American accent, anchors the hilarious chaos with support from a capable ensemble, even if not all of the secondary characters get equal time to shine. 

A competent Ned, partly inspired by his real hero, Clark Kent (not Superman), wants to revive the flailing local newspaper and loves the thrill of digging for and writing meaningful stories. However, he’s got a long way to go to train the rest of the staff. Some of their personalities are obvious nods to The Office, like a nap-loving Stanley stand-in (played by Duane Shepard Sr.) or Alex Edelman’s childlike accountant. Finer Things Club member Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez) acts as the paper’s finance guy and arts reporter. Meanwhile, The White Lotus’ Sabrina Impacciatore tackles Esmerelda Grand, a Dwight Schrute-esque loud and wacky second-in-command who falls for online scams just as easily as she orchestrates ways to sabotage Ned. Impacciatore lets loose as the chic Esmerelda, a character who can both get on your nerves with her schemes and infrequently evoke empathy in her awkward attempts to fit in.