The Paper (2025 TV series)

Last updated

The Paper
The Paper (2025 TV series).jpg
Promotional poster
Genre
Created by
Based on
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
ProducerMatthew Nodella
CinematographyDJ Stipsen
EditorDavid Rogers
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time26–32 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Peacock
ReleaseSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04) –
present
Related
The Office

The Paper is an American mockumentary sitcom series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. The series is a follow-up to and spinoff [1] of the American mockumentary series The Office which originally ran on NBC from 2005 to 2013. The Paper stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, and premiered on Peacock on September 4, 2025. In September 2025, ahead of the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season.

Contents

Premise

In Toledo, Ohio, the same documentary crew that followed the workers at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch twenty years earlier focuses its efforts on the Toledo Truth Teller, a historic but declining Midwestern newspaper trying to resurrect itself with volunteer reporters.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Pilot" Greg Daniels Greg Daniels & Michael Koman September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration explains how Dunder Mifflin has gone out of business and its trademark was sold in 2019 to Enervate, a company that manufactures paper products such as office supplies and Softees toilet paper. Enervate owns the Toledo Truth Teller, an Ohio newspaper where Ned Sampson is about to start his first shift as Editor in Chief, much to the dismay of Managing Editor Esmeralda Grand. Accountant Oscar Martinez, a former employee of Dunder Mifflin who now works at Enervate, is displeased at being filmed while working at his job again. Ned hopes to return the paper to its former glory, as it has become an online newsletter full of clickbait and Associated Press articles under Esmeralda, who is content to keep things as they are. Ned bonds with Mare Pritti, a disillusioned Army veteran who works as the paper's compositor. Despite resistance from Esmeralda and Ken Davies, Enervate's corporate strategist, Ned convinces the Truth Teller staff and various other Enervate employees to volunteer as reporters to help rebuild the paper.
2"The Five W's" Ken Kwapis Greg Daniels & Michael KomanSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
The team scrambles to publish their first issue after Esmeralda spitefully cancels the wire service. Ned sends his newly minted reporters into Toledo to dig up stories while he desperately calls the police, morgue, and other emergency services for leads. Mare and Barry head to cover a water main break, but Barry immediately trips over a broken crate and is hospitalized. Adelola and Adam interview some teenagers at the dog park, who tell them about a new trend called "dogging" in which people act like dogs in public; the two do not realize they are being pranked and write a genuine article that is unusable. Travis has a lead about changes in fishing law, but Detrick realizes that the lead was a ruse for Travis to confront his ex-girlfriend and her new partner at the Fish and Wildlife office, resulting in Travis getting arrested. Ned receives a promising tip about a potential murderer on the loose, but is dismayed to find that his earlier frantic phone calls to the morgue are what the police are investigating. In the end, Ned publishes a hopeful letter from the editor and a sudoku puzzle submitted by Oscar. Oscar excitedly sends a photo of the puzzle to Stanley Hudson, asking him for his opinion.
3"Buddy and the Dude" Yana Gorskaya Patrick Kang & Michael LevinSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Esmeralda, resentful that Ned is still around, tells him that Mare is quitting to work at the Radisson. She also senses Ned's attraction to Mare and lies that she is asexual and would not be interested in him. Ned decides to go with Mare to write an exposé on the shady business practices of local mattress stores, convinced she will stay at the Truth Teller if the piece is a success. The two pose as a couple shopping for a new mattress, but Ned's awkward and nervous demeanor threatens to blow their cover. While the saleswoman is distracted, Ned calls the mattress supplier and uncovers proof that the companies are deliberately misleading customers. Mare and Ned celebrate the success of the article and Mare decides not to take the other job. Meanwhile, Esmeralda purposefully does not tell Ned about a budget meeting so that he will look bad in front of Ken and Marv. She and Ken lobby to return the Truth Teller to how it was before, pointing out the money it will save. However, Oscar sabotages them and points out that Enervate has been paying rent on a storage unit for nine years, but the unit is actually an apartment- Ken's apartment that was only supposed to be temporary. Ken agrees to use the "storage unit" money for the paper in order to avoid being found out, restoring the Truth Teller's budget.
4"TTT vs the Blogger" Paul Lieberstein Amanda RosenbergSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
The Truth Teller hosts journalism students from a local high school who tell Ned that the paper's main competition is a blog run by a fellow student named SoWesley. Ned is shocked and jealous after finding out that the blog has over 300,000 subscribers, and leaves an insulting comment on one of the articles; SoWesley uses this to turn public opinion against Ned and the paper. Ken forces a humiliated Ned to apologize, but SoWesley does not accept the apology. Esmeralda gleefully tries to entice SoWesley to come and work for TTT Online, but he turns against her as well. Esmeralda and Ned team up to take down SoWelsey by leaking fake information to him, proving he does not verify his sources and ruining his reputation. Mare, an alumnus of the high school, learns that beloved theatre teacher "Mr. K" is retiring and decides to interview him about his career. Oscar tags along to review the final musical Mr. K is directing, a gender-swapped version of Mean Girls called Mean Boys. However, Mare has only gone to confront Mr. K over not giving her the lead in The King and I while she was a student, as she believes he only gave leads to kids whose parents bought expensive ads in the program. Oscar reminds her that she has no concrete proof of her theory, and she publishes a mostly positive article alongside Oscar's scathing review. Detrick unsuccessfully tries to woo Nicole, but Travis tells him he's coming on too strong. Detrick apologizes and admits that he does have feelings for her but will be more low-key in the future. Later, Travis flies a drone off the roof and spots Nicole and Detrick kissing at a café.
5"Scam Alert!"Tazbah ChavezMo WelchSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Ned briefs the team about a catfishing scam targeting lonely Toledo residents. As he describes the catfisher's techniques, Esmeralda quietly retreats to her office; the team realize that she is one of his victims. Ned, eager to blow the story up into an award-winning six part piece, encourages the others to make profiles on the dating app "Latch" to catch the catfisher while he convinces Esmeralda to provide a quote. Esmeralda, however, refuses to cooperate as she is in denial and insists that the relationship is genuine. She provides a photo and video of "Jarson" as proof, but the others point out that "Jarson" is in fact actor Josh Holloway and the catfisher bought a video message from him on Cameo. Esmeralda remains unconvinced until Nicole buys another message from Josh so he can explain the scam to Esmeralda himself. Ned comforts a distraught and embarrassed Esmeralda on the roof, ultimately publishing the story without her quote. Detrick, having deleted Latch after his first hookup with Nicole, is discouraged to find out she has not and views their relationship as strictly casual. He accepts a date from a local weather reporter to make Nicole jealous, but she is unfazed and encourages him to go. After work, Mare, Nicole, Adelola, and Kimberly take Esmeralda out clubbing to cheer her up.
6"Churnalism" Jason Woliner Eric Rahill September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Esmeralda is eager to contribute an advertorial about a Korean skincare product to the Truth Teller, but Ned shoots it down. Instead, he decides that the team will review products in the style of Wirecutter , using free PR from Esmeralda's Amazon affiliate shop. The news team each tries a product to varying levels of success: Ned suffers a chemical burn from the skincare mask, Nicole gets food poisoning from unrefrigerated kombucha, and Adelola goads Oscar into turning up the intensity on a painful ab-workout machine, claiming it is not as painful as menstrual cramps. Adam wants to review a supplement, but Ken gives him gas station male enhancement pills instead, as he wanted to see their effects before taking them himself. Adam is terrified that the pills will work, since he cannot afford a fifth child and his wife does not believe in contraception. Esmeralda, enraged that Ned stole her story, decides that she will report on the park bathroom closure that he submitted. Ned assigns Mare to keep an eye on her, but the situation spirals as Esmeralda becomes determined to make the story into a spectacle. Despite her dramatics, Esmeralda actually uncovers evidence that the closure was not approved in a local hearing, and sends Mare undercover to flirt with the project manager and obtain proof. The story is a success, but Ned has an uncomfortable moment with Mare after revealing he believed Esmeralda's lie about her being asexual, which upsets her.
7"I Love You" Jennifer Celotta Alex Edelman September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Marv is working on the Truth Teller's floor while his offices are being painted, and the staff are on edge having him around. Adam shows Marv the pre-written obituary they will publish when he dies; Marv is discouraged to see that his only legacy is running local Toledo businesses. Ned and Marv begin to bond, and Marv accidentally tells Ned "love you" at the end of a meeting; Ned enthusiastically returns the sentiment in front of the whole office. The entire staff teases Ned about this except for Mare, who is still angry and refuses to accept his apologies. Ned and Marv begin to develop more of a father-son relationship, as Ned has a poor relationship with his own father and Marv has no children. However, things become inappropriately intense, and Marv reminds Ned that they have a strictly business relationship. Ken is convinced that Ned is trying to steal his job and partners with Esmeralda, who is still bitter that Ned outranks her. The two scheme to have Marv removed from Enervate and replace him with one of Ken's friends from college, but they are overheard by Nate, the building's janitor. They attempt to buy his silence by promising him an eventual promotion, but the plan falls apart when they realize that the documentary crew have recorded everything. In order to save face, they claim that the scheme was a test of Nate's loyalty and tell Marv that Nate has a drug problem so he will not believe anything Nate says. Later, as Nate is cleaning the office, Mare's computer shows a text conversation between her and Ned where she teases him about the "I love you" incident, indicating she has forgiven him.
8"Church and State"Matt Sohn Ben Philippe September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Ned finds out that Mare has been sleeping at the office since the plumbing in her apartment building has been broken for several days. Ken, acting as boss while Marv is on vacation, tries to get Ned to publish a glowing review of Softees' "Man Wipes", but Ned refuses, insisting on a total "separation of church and state" between the Truth Teller and its parent company. When Mare, Nicole, Barry, and Oscar go to investigate the plumbing problem, they find that a large mass has blocked the city sewer pipes- a giant block of fused Man Wipes. Mare tries to surreptitiously gather information about the flushability of the wipes from Kimberly, but accidentally tips off Ken and the Softees team. Ken demands that Ned kill the story, but he refuses. The Softees team scrambles to try and sell their remaining stock before the story breaks, while Ken recruits Travis to help him destroy evidence. Mare and Nicole discover videos of Ned's former life as an arrogant, aggressive Softees salesman, but he is embarrassed by who he used to be. Ned resigns in an unsuccessful attempt to get Ken to back down, but Mare reaches a truce with Ken to save both of their companies and Ned's job. They urge Ned to return to his salesman past to help sell the remaining stock of Man Wipes, which he does by rebranding them as all-purpose cleaning mitts that get thrown in the trash, not flushed. Esmeralda unsuccessfully tries to get her pre-teen son Matteo cast in a Softees commercial.
9"Matching Ponchos" Dave Rogers L.E. CorreiaSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
Mare and Detrick have been approved to take a road trip to investigate a potential cult, but Detrick backs out after he has a dream that he joined the cult. Ned volunteers to take his place, and he and Mare bond on the drive. When a fellow reporter calls Mare and praises her work on the Softees clog story, Mare inadvertently insults Ned's authority as her editor and boss. In response, he begins acting overly involved and ruins their chance at investigating the cult. Tensions build on the drive home, but things boil over when Ned claims that Mare sees him as unqualified for his job, while Mare claims that Ned is too obsessed with being seen as the boss all the time. However, their argument abruptly ends when Detrick calls to tell them that both Mare and the Truth Teller have been nominated for Ohio Journalism Awards, and they celebrate happily. Marv has Ken doing damage control over the clog incident, but he makes things worse and creates another PR disaster. Ken tries to use Nicole as a scapegoat, but she outsmarts him and gives his apology on a local news show, improving Enervate's reputation and impressing Marv. Oscar receives a mean comment from a troll account and becomes obsessed with tracking down the owner, despite his coworkers telling him to brush it off. He traces the account's IP address to Ann, Marv's assistant, who claims that someone else must be using her unlocked computer when she's away from it. She later reveals to the camera crew that she is in fact the one leaving the comments. Esmeralda has been having erotic dreams about Barry after seeing a young photo of him and becomes convinced he is an incubus she must rid herself of, much to his confusion.
10"The Ohio Journalism Awards" Jeffrey Blitz Paul LiebersteinSeptember 4, 2025 (2025-09-04)
The Truth Teller is nominated for three awards at the Ohio Journalism Awards, which it has not won since the 1970s. Ned claims that he doesn't care if he wins, but he secretly craves the validation from a win. Mare brings a date, Theo, and seems pleased when Ned begins acting jealous. Oscar and Mare both win the awards they have been nominated for, but Ned still insists that he doesn't care if he wins or not. Mare encourages him to admit that he wants something for once. The two leave to review Ned's speech, but Mare convinces Ned to crash a wedding in an adjacent ballroom where the two flirt and dance before getting kicked out of the building. Mare receives a text that the Truth Teller has won, and they scramble to find a way back inside so Ned can accept. Esmeralda, feeling sidelined, draws attention by hijacking both the Truth Teller's acceptance speech and the in memoriam slideshow. Ken is worried that Oscar will suggest that Marv fire him to cut costs and orchestrates a situation where he can save Marv's life; he fails, and Oscar saves both Marv and his brother from choking. Nicole finds out that Detrick has not been seeing other people like she thought, and he breaks off their relationship as he is unable to remain casual with her. Oscar, having observed that Marv is secretly in love with Ann, subtly encourages Ned to pursue Mare despite his hangups about being her boss. Ned goes to Mare's hotel room, expecting her to be with Theo, but she is actually with a devastated Nicole. Ned admits his feelings for Mare, which she returns. They agree to kiss once to get it out of their system, but things quickly turn passionate. Ned pulls away, now worried about the future of their relationship.

Production

Development

In January 2024, it was announced that Greg Daniels, the developer of the American mockumentary sitcom The Office , was developing a follow-up series set in a new office with new characters, but based in the same fictional universe as the original series. [2] In March 2024, it was announced that the series would be co-created by Daniels and Michael Koman. [3]

In May 2024, it was announced that Peacock had ordered the untitled comedy mockumentary series co-created by Daniels and Koman, which will feature the fictional documentary crew that followed the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, follow a declining historic Midwestern newspaper and its publisher try to resurrect itself with volunteer reporters. [4] In June 2024, the series title was revealed to be The Paper. [5] Production of the series began in July 2024. [6] [7] The fictional newspaper around which the series is based was later revealed to be called The Truth Teller, located in Toledo, Ohio. [8]

The series is executive produced by Greg Daniels, Michael Koman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein, and Ben Silverman. Production companies involved with the series are Universal Television. [4] In September 2025, ahead of the series premiere, Peacock renewed the series for a second season. [9]

Casting

In April 2024, it was announced that Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore would be starring in the series. [10] In September 2024, Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei and Ramona Young joined the cast. [11] The following month, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Tim Key, and Eric Rahill were cast, [12] with Allan Havey, Nancy Lenehan, Molly Ephraim and Tracy Letts added to the recurring cast in November. [13] In February 2025, it was announced that Oscar Nunez would be reprising his role as Oscar Martinez from The Office. [14] [15]

Release

The Paper premiered on Peacock on September 4, 2025, with all 10 episodes. [16] It made its broadcast debut on NBC on November 10, 2025. [17] In Australia, it streams on Binge and airs on Foxtel. [18] In the UK and Ireland, it streams on Now and airs on Sky UK. [19] In Canada, it streams on StackTV and aired on Showcase. [20]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 85% based on 91 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Paper still has edits to be made but gets off to a promising start, establishing amusing dynamics and a genuine conviction for journalism that make for a potentially worthy successor to The Office ." [21] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 39 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [22]

Polly Conway of Common Sense Media gave 3 out of 5. [23]

Viewership

The Paper was among the top 10 original streaming series during the first two weeks of September 2025. [24] [25] According to ranking data from Showlabs, The Paper ranked #1 on Peacock in the United States from September 4–14, 2025. [26]

References

  1. ↑ Porter, Rick (August 7, 2025). "Peacock's 'Office' Spinoff 'The Paper' Points Its Mockumentary Cameras at a New Subject in Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (January 13, 2024). "The Office: Greg Daniels Opening Development Room To Explore New Series Ideas". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ Cordero, Rosy; Andreeva, Nellie (March 20, 2024). "The Office: Greg Daniels To Co-Create Potential New Series With Nathan For You's Michael Koman". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Cordero, Rosy (May 8, 2024). "The Office: New Greg Daniels & Michael Koman Series Gets Peacock Series Order, Reveals Setting". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Greg Daniels - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America . June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 8, 2024). "The Office Follow-Up Gets Peacock Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  7. ↑ Otterson, Joe (May 8, 2024). "New The Office Series Picked Up at Peacock, First Plot Details Reveal Midwestern Newspaper Setting". Variety . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ Daniels, Karu F. (May 13, 2025). "The Office Spinoff About Struggling Toledo Newspaper to Stream this Fall". The Detroit News . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 3, 2025). "'The Paper' Renewed For Season 2 Ahead Of 'The Office' Offshoot's Premiere On Peacock". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Cordero, Rosy; Andreeva, Nellie (April 19, 2024). "The Office: Domhnall Gleeson & White Lotus's Sabrina Impacciatore Cast in New Greg Daniels Comedy". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 10, 2024). "The Office: Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei & Ramona Young Join Greg Daniels & Michael Koman's Followup Series For Peacock". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (October 10, 2024). "The Office: Peacock Followup Series From Greg Daniels & Michael Koman's Adds Four To Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (November 20, 2024). "The Office: Peacock Followup Series From Greg Daniels & Michael Koman's Adds 7 Including Mo Welch & Nate Jackson". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ Porter, Rick (February 27, 2025). "Peacock's Office Follow-Up Casts Oscar Nunez". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ Schneider, Michael; Shanfeld, Ethan (February 27, 2025). "Oscar Nuñez Reprising The Office Role in Peacock's Follow-Up Series". Variety . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  16. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (August 21, 2025). "'The Office' Follow-Up Series 'The Paper' Pivots To Binge Drop Ahead Of Premiere". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 18, 2025). "'The Paper' Gets NBC Run Under NBCU Windowing Strategy As 'The Office' Offshoot & 'Stumble' Join Fall Schedule; 'Reggie Dinkins' Held For Midseason". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ Barrett, Dan (August 8, 2025). "First trailer for The Office spin-off The Paper and where to stream it in Australia". Mediaweek. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  19. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS! Trailer drops for The Paper, the brand-new Sky exclusive US series from the crew that brought you The Office (US), launching 5 September". Sky Group. August 7, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  20. ↑ Nestruck, J. Kelly (September 2, 2025). "The Paper: Could this new spinoff of The Office help save American journalism?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "The Paper: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  22. ↑ "The Paper: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ "The Paper TV Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ Porter, Rick (October 2, 2025). "Streaming Ratings: 'The Paper,' 'NCIS: Tony and Ziva' Debut on Charts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  25. ↑ Campione, Katie (September 16, 2025). "'The Paper' & 'NCIS: Tony & Ziva' Put Up Promising Performances Post-Premiere, Landing In Luminate's Weekly Streaming TV Top 10". Deadline. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  26. ↑ "The Paper (2025)". Showlabs. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
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